The Destiny Trap
Destiny
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We all want to think that our lives count for
something bigger than just the daily grind;
something bigger; something that might even
change the world.
This is particularly true for us as black people
who have had a history of being told we have
contributed little or nothing to the world.
Destiny
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Indeed, God in the Bible tells us:
“In him we were also chosen, having been
predestined according to the plan of him who
works out everything in conformity with the
purpose of his will, in order that we, who were
the first to hope in Christ, might be for the
praise of his glory.”
(Ephesians 1:11-12)
Bigger Question?
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There is a bigger question, even beyond the
question of we African Americans in relation
to the world, a significant question indeed
that cannot addressed here.
It is, will we as individuals or as a social
group find our significance in God and His
plan or will we employ God to realize our
significance through our plan or some shared
plan?
What is the Destiny Trap?
The Destiny Trap – Thinking that God comes into
my life primarily to cause me to find and fulfill
my destiny in life and realize my potential.
It is a trap because as a result:
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2.
The Redemptive Story of Scripture is subordinated
to My Story.
Thinking and living a biblically grounded lifestyle
becomes secondary, optional or a means to an end.
This trap is particular tempting to a people who have
struggled so much against a past that says “you
are worthless”.
Our (Israel’s) Concern
Heart (The Way)
Believe/Obey
Power
Voice/Sight
Destiny (Promised Land)
Prescriptive Will
(Written)
Word
Ordained Will
(Hidden)
Wilderness
Destiny Trap Diagram
God’s Concern
The Wills of God
“The secret things (ordained will)
belong to the Lord our God, but the
things that are revealed (prescriptive
will) belong to us and to our children
forever…”
Deut. 29:29a ESV
Example – Ordained Will
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Samson – “I have seen a Philistine woman in
Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.”
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Parents – “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among
your relatives or among all our people? Must you go
to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?”
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God’s ordained will – “His parents did not know that
this was from the Lord, who was seeking an
occasion to confront the Philistines; for at that time
they were ruling over Israel.”
(Judges 14:2-4 – NIV)
Abraham
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God’s concern – I am God Almighty; walk
before me and be blameless. I will confirm
my covenant between me and you and will
greatly increase your numbers. (All the world
would be blessed. 12:3)
Genesis 17:1-2 (NIV)
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Abraham’s concern – Will a son be born to a
man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a
child at the age of ninety?
Genesis 17:17 (NIV)
Samson
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Manoah’s concern – “When your words are
fulfilled, what is to be the rule for the boy’s life
and work?”
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The angel’s concern – “Your wife must do all
that I have told her. She must not eat
anything that comes from the grapevine, nor
drink any wine or other fermented drink nor
eat anything unclean. She must do
everything I have commanded her.”
Judges 13:12-14 (NIV)
The Disciples
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Twelve Disciple’s concern – “Lord, are you at
this time going to restore the kingdom to
Israel?”
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Jesus’ concern – “It is not for you to know the
times or dates the Father has set by his own
authority. But you will receive power when
the Holy Spirit comes on you : and you will be
my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea
and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:6-8 (NIV)
Observation
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When we focus on our personal destiny, we
miss the Bible’s own story – the story of
Christ coming into the world to redeem a
people and to reconcile the world unto
Himself.
We miss how our lives fit into Christ’s
purpose for His body as a whole and how our
own story fits into His Story.
Destiny Writers
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Juanita Bynum – Walking in Your DestinyHow to Receive your Spiritual Inheritance
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Ministerial Destiny
T.D. Jakes – Reposition YourselfLiving Life Without Limits
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Potential and Broader Personal Destiny
Books’ Characteristics
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Wealth of Practical Instruction
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Some of that instruction however is wrong.
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Obscures the Central Message of Scripture –
Christ, His Person and His Work
It’s a trap!
Bynum
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Builds an entire theology of leadership progression
from the historical narrative of Saul and Samuel
In the process it sets up pastors as OT prophets
over individuals in the church.
See handout (pages 42-43)
Now look at the relevant passages Samuel 8-10
I Samuel 8:4-9, 19-22; 9:1-3, 15-21; 10:1
Saul loses his “destiny” because he failed to believe
and obey the Word of the Lord.
(I Samuel 15)
Jakes
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Gleans the Bible for timeless principles for
getting out of our ruts in life and moving
forward to self-realization.
Engages in a reading of Scripture that
obscures, perhaps even turns on its head,
the actual message of Scripture.
See handout – pages 81-83
Continue reading Luke 5:6-11
Jakes
“When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish
that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the
other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both
boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he
fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful
man!" For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of
fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of
Zebedee, Simon's partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be
afraid; from now on you will catch men." So they pulled their boats
up on shore, left everything and followed him.” (Luke 5:6-11)
Pattern
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The Bible is primarily a handbook for how to
tap God’s power and guidance.
The Old Testament is used in an Exemplary
fashion without the Redemptive-Historical
connections through to the New Testament.
It is one thing to explain a NT text with an
OT example. It is another to take an OT
historical text out of context and build from it
practical instruction disconnected from the
unique role that passage has in
It’s a trap!
Redemption’s Story.
Pattern
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This kind of perspective and focus can render
you unable to actually see what the passage
is saying by reading into and out of it these
kinds of practical applications
It’s a trap!
There is practical direction in Scripture under
the heading of wisdom.
Biblical Wisdom does not obscure the overall
message of Scripture. It is part of the
Prescriptive Will.
Pattern
The New Testament is constantly
pointing towards Christ.
It is Christocentric.
Gospels – Days of Noah
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the
angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it
was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the
Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were
eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up
to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing
about what would happen until the flood came and took
them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the
Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:36-39)
Peter – King David
"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch
David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this
day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had
promised him on oath that he would place one of his
descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he
spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not
abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God
has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of
the fact.” (Acts 2:29-32)
Paul – Ancient Israel
For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact,
brothers, that our forefathers were all under the
cloud and that they all passed through the sea.
They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud
and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food
and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank
from the spiritual rock that accompanied them,
and that rock was Christ. (I Corinthians 10:1-4)
Paul – Abraham
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law
by becoming a curse for us, for it is written:
"Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He
redeemed us in order that the blessing given to
Abraham might come to the Gentiles through
Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive
the promise of the Spirit.” (Galatians 3:13-14)
Marks and Consequences
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The Voice of the Heart trumps the Word in Scripture.
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Religious version of Self-Realization/Fulfillment.
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Has lead to the denigration and distain of ordinary but
crucial aspects of life (marriage, parenting, mundane life
building daily tasks, regular people with regular lives)
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Damages and limits the vision of life of the young Pastor Sonny Oliver.
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Destiny focus obscures issues of character and holiness
of life (unless they hinder your destiny)
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Redefines the role of the devil as Hinderer rather than
Tempter.
It’s a trap!
What sets us free?
The Call of Significance and Destiny in Christ
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the
kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither
fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous,
nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit
the kingdom of God.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but
you were sanctified,”
I Corinth 6:9-11a
Set Free to Be
“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined
according to the plan of him who works out everything in
conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who
were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his
glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard
the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having
believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised
Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance
until the redemption of those who are God's possession-- to the
praise of his glory.”
Ephesians 1:11-14
Set Free to Be
“you also, like living stones, are being built into a
spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus
Christ. But you are a chosen people, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,
that you may declare the praises of him who called
you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once
you were not a people, but now you are the people of
God; once you had not received mercy, but now you
have received mercy.
I Peter 2:4, 9-10
Trinity – to His Glory
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Father – Calls and chooses us
Son – Saves and give us His righteousness
Spirit – Cultivates and works the fruits of
righteous character into us.
Through this way we live out our real destiny
– members of a holy nation in a particular
ordained context.
All to the Glory of God