yourtown4jesus.com

DETERMINING DESTINY

Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good
of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

ALL things. In the original Greek, the word “all” means ALL.

We humans live a seed-time-to-harvest existence (Genesis 8:22). Life
is not linear, meaning we don’t live from event-to-totally-unrelated-event
without consequences or benefits. Life is cyclical. We reap, we sow.
Over and over. Good and bad, the type of seed we plant determines the
kind of harvest we’re going to get. This is NOT to be confused with the
teaching of karma of Hinduism which has come to refer, basically, to how
one lives in this life and its affect on the quality of life in the next
incarnation (by the way, it’s interesting how an Eastern practitioner will
be reincarnated as a rat or dung beetle while a Westerner who ascribes to
the belief will have once been Napoleon, Joan of Arc or Jesus Himself).

One of this ministry’s most faithful supporters often sends notes with her
offerings saying how she either needs a financial blessing or has been
financially blessed and wanted to share. Though she struggles financially,
just like any of us, recently, she inherited a large amount of money and
I’m convinced it’s because she has sown out of her lack of funds. Why
not? If you want watermelon, sow watermelon seeds. Others who’ve
been obedient in supporting this ministry have prospered similarly.
These principals do not only work for Christians. They simply work
for everybody. What The Church refers to as “reaping and sowing,” here
in Texas we say, “What goes ’round, comes ’round.”

Inevitably, someone will respond to this reaping/sowing message by
bringing up the unfortunate death of a godly relative or an infant. Those
who do so are forgetting that we are spirit beings and, as adults, we
live forever in the destination of our choosing. As Christians, our
deceased beloved are probably having a glorious time with their Savior
in Heaven. To the Christian who mourns their death, in time, “as they
sow in tears, they will reap in joy.”

As the seasons pass, we can discern that reaping and sowing is simply
the cycle of life. Understanding this, Wisdom calls us to begin sowing
positive, life-giving seeds every chance we get. So, how does this relate
to one’s destiny?

FACT: we have been apprehended by the Holy Spirit to DO something
for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Embracing that fact is critical to
determining one’s destiny. Life’s not about us. We are a Kingdom of
casualties because our churches are filled with “casual Christians,”
people who don’t really have a clue regarding their purpose. So, it’s
imperative that we comprehend our reason for being apprehended…
then apprehend that reason! Become “purpose-driven”!

God has determined our future. He’s already there. He has
foreknowledge. He’s never surprised. Our obedience in the
moment-to-moment situations will keep us more in-tune with that
which the Father already knows. Too many believers have no vocation,
no calling, and are being led by philosophies, or people, who aren’t
prepared to help them find their way to the next level.

If you’re seeking direction, the first question to ask yourself is “Do I
have a burden?” Is there a heaviness of heart for a cause, to meet the
needs of a people group? Do you care about souls? When the phone
rings at 3AM, what is the one subject the caller could wish to discuss
that would wake you out of a dead sleep? Burdens are not fleeting;
they bring us face to face with the need to DO SOMETHING. They
come as a result of being moved in our spirit. Be advised: every need
does not constitute a burden. Every need doesn’t NEED you. If you
go, you could cause problems, even though your heart is in the right
place. Send someone else. Send your prayers, your money, but you
don’t always have to go yourself.

Just because a situation conjures up sympathy, that does not mean
you have a burden. Sympathy is an emotion therefore, it comes from the
soul realm (mind, will, emotions), not the spiritual realm. A burden is
based upon the potential of your spiritual or motivational giftings,
stemming from your relationship with God, first, and then with people.
Remember, Jesus didn’t come promoting religion but to initiate
relationship between Creator and Created. So, your relationship with
God is primary to determining your destiny.

Are we passionate about anything? With knowledge comes accountability.
So, as we grow in our knowledge of anything, there exists the possibility
that we can become passionate about it, perhaps even becoming looked
upon as an expert in that arena, whatever it may be.

But are we willing to GROW? This is what separates the men from the
boys. Seems we don’t WANT to be accountable. Most believers are pretty
content to learn no more than they manage to absorb sitting in church or
from the TV. Shame! There must be an appetite pertaining to an issue
if a burden is ever to evolve. Although this passion will move us in our
soul realm, the truth is that it developed out of the fertile soils of our
spiritual giftings. This is when human emotion can become sanctified;
set apart for Kingdom purposes. That’s when our lives start impacting
others, we really start making a difference and we begin separating
ourselves from the stuff of life that was once so precious to us.

John Wesley said, “We have nothing to do but win souls.” That’s pretty
much bottom line. The burden for such comes forth out of spending time
with God through His Word, through prayer, and through fellowship.
Wesley realized that the Christian walk had nothing to do with external
obedience to God or manmade traditions and dogmas. Real heartfelt
obedience, coupled with a desire to advance the cause of Christ, comes
only as a result of an emotional relationship. Any time two hearts become
joined, as in the intimacy of the sexual union, something is bound to be
birthed. In this case, it’s a God-given burden.

As we cast down our own agendas, His purposes do become ours.
We’ll become burdened with that which burdens Him. THAT is when
we stop just making a living and start making a difference.

Every blessing,
Michael Tummillo
A servant of God
www.YourTown4Jesus.com

Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” ALL things. In the original Greek, the word “all” means ALL. We humans live a seed-time-to-harvest existence (Genesis 8:22). Life is not linear, meaning we don’t live from event-to-totally-unrelated-event without consequences or benefits. Life is cyclical. We reap, we sow. Over and over. Good and bad, the type of seed we plant determines the kind of harvest we’re going to get. This is NOT to be confused with the teaching of karma of Hinduism which has come to refer, basically, to how one lives in this life and its affect on the quality of life in the next incarnation (by the way, it’s interesting how an Eastern practitioner will be reincarnated as a rat or dung beetle while a Westerner who ascribes to the belief will have once been Napoleon, Joan of Arc or Jesus Himself). One of this ministry’s most faithful supporters often sends notes with her offerings saying how she either needs a financial blessing or has been financially blessed and wanted to share. Though she struggles financially, just like any of us, recently, she inherited a large amount of money and I’m convinced it’s because she has sown out of her lack of funds. Why not? If you want watermelon, sow watermelon seeds. Others who’ve been obedient in supporting this ministry have prospered similarly. These principals do not only work for Christians. They simply work for everybody. What The Church refers to as “reaping and sowing,” here in Texas we say, “What goes ’round, comes ’round.” Inevitably, someone will respond to this reaping/sowing message by bringing up the unfortunate death of a godly relative or an infant. Those who do so are forgetting that we are spirit beings and, as adults, we live forever in the destination of our choosing. As Christians, our deceased beloved are probably having a glorious time with their Savior in Heaven. To the Christian who mourns their death, in time, “as they sow in tears, they will reap in joy.” As the seasons pass, we can discern that reaping and sowing is simply the cycle of life. Understanding this, Wisdom calls us to begin sowing positive, life-giving seeds every chance we get. So, how does this relate to one’s destiny? FACT: we have been apprehended by the Holy Spirit to DO something for the sake of the Kingdom of God. Embracing that fact is critical to determining one’s destiny. Life’s not about us. We are a Kingdom of casualties because our churches are filled with “casual Christians,” people who don’t really have a clue regarding their purpose. So, it’s imperative that we comprehend our reason for being apprehended… then apprehend that reason! Become “purpose-driven”! God has determined our future. He’s already there. He has foreknowledge. He’s never surprised. Our obedience in the moment-to-moment situations will keep us more in-tune with that which the Father already knows. Too many believers have no vocation, no calling, and are being led by philosophies, or people, who aren’t prepared to help them find their way to the next level. If you’re seeking direction, the first question to ask yourself is “Do I have a burden?” Is there a heaviness of heart for a cause, to meet the needs of a people group? Do you care about souls? When the phone rings at 3AM, what is the one subject the caller could wish to discuss that would wake you out of a dead sleep? Burdens are not fleeting; they bring us face to face with the need to DO SOMETHING. They come as a result of being moved in our spirit. Be advised: every need does not constitute a burden. Every need doesn’t NEED you. If you go, you could cause problems, even though your heart is in the right place. Send someone else. Send your prayers, your money, but you don’t always have to go yourself. Just because a situation conjures up sympathy, that does not mean you have a burden. Sympathy is an emotion therefore, it comes from the soul realm (mind, will, emotions), not the spiritual realm. A burden is based upon the potential of your spiritual or motivational giftings, stemming from your relationship with God, first, and then with people. Remember, Jesus didn’t come promoting religion but to initiate relationship between Creator and Created. So, your relationship with God is primary to determining your destiny. Are we passionate about anything? With knowledge comes accountability. So, as we grow in our knowledge of anything, there exists the possibility that we can become passionate about it, perhaps even becoming looked upon as an expert in that arena, whatever it may be. But are we willing to GROW? This is what separates the men from the boys. Seems we don’t WANT to be accountable. Most believers are pretty content to learn no more than they manage to absorb sitting in church or from the TV. Shame! There must be an appetite pertaining to an issue if a burden is ever to evolve. Although this passion will move us in our soul realm, the truth is that it developed out of the fertile soils of our spiritual giftings. This is when human emotion can become sanctified; set apart for Kingdom purposes. That’s when our lives start impacting others, we really start making a difference and we begin separating ourselves from the stuff of life that was once so precious to us. John Wesley said, “We have nothing to do but win souls.” That’s pretty much bottom line. The burden for such comes forth out of spending time with God through His Word, through prayer, and through fellowship. Wesley realized that the Christian walk had nothing to do with external obedience to God or manmade traditions and dogmas. Real heartfelt obedience, coupled with a desire to advance the cause of Christ, comes only as a result of an emotional relationship. Any time two hearts become joined, as in the intimacy of the sexual union, something is bound to be birthed. In this case, it’s a God-given burden. As we cast down our own agendas, His purposes do become ours. We’ll become burdened with that which burdens Him. THAT is when we stop just making a living and start making a difference.

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo A servant of God www.YourTown4Jesus.com