Acts 20:20
2 Timothy 4:7 (KJV)
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, and I have kept the faith
A good fight is a fight that has internal value and rewards in this life and afterlife.
Lessons to draw from Paul’s teaching (2 Timothy 4:7):
1). There is a dimension to life and destiny; life is a battleground that requires spiritual warfare.
2). Life is a race; a journey akin to a race.
3). Life is a gift; a treasure that must be guarded and protected.
At certain seasons in a believer’s life, God can emphasize different trainings per time; it is pertinent to respect, believe and discern the various forms of training God is taking you through.
Life is a battleground but not a battleground alone. Life is a race, but not a race alone.
You must learn to respect and honour the various forms of spiritual trainings God is taking you through.
Do not be surprised when God suddenly switch in His trainings with you, such as becoming more strict.
God didn’t change, but a change needed in your life necessitated the training he’s taking you through.
God trains believers differently, according to the nature of their calling.
Do not judge another believer based on your perception of how God’s training should be.
In the school of destiny, every class (the season of trainings and dealings) you miss, you’re bound to re-take it, regardless of the number of years it has lingered on.
In the Name of Jesus, every dimension of training you need in your life, you will not lose it. Receive the grace to submit and complete the race you’re meant to run until you finish it!
‘The Roadmap To A Triumphant Destiny’ (Proverbs 4:18-19, Jeremiah 29:11, Ecclesiastes 10:15).
Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV)
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Proverbs 4:18-19 (KJV)
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Daniel 11:32 (KJV)
And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
It is not enough to know you have a great life and destiny, it is important to identify the roadmap to your destiny; failure to identify this roadmap will lead to a life of shame and reproach.
Every believer in Christ has a prophetic destiny in Christ, regardless of the sphere of influence God wants you to function in.
The labor of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city. (Ecclesiastes 10:15)
For the fool whose labor wearies him, his error was not in knowing.
In studying the Scripture, it is pertinent to:
i. Approach it logically, if you don’t comprehend at this stage…
ii. Approach it contextually, if you still don’t understand it…
iii. Draw out the prophetic meaning, by approaching it from a prophetic dimension.
According to Daniel 11:32, in approaching life and destiny, there are three phases to actualizing your prophetic destiny. They include:
1. Know – talks of knowledge
2. Be – talks of transformation
3. Do – talks of action
Actualizing your prophetic destiny is knowledge-dependent more than desire-dependent.
The only people who can “Do” (action) are those who can “Be” (transformation), and the only people who can be are people who “Know” (knowledge).
The Implication of Know-ing (knowledge):
1). You must be meek enough to receive. (James 1:21; Acts 20:32)
2). Master the art of asking questions.
You’re not authorized to receive an answer without asking questions. (Mathew 7:7-8, James 4:2)
Those who know how to ask questions never remain in the same position for long.
What It Means to Ask:
1). To request information or an answer by verbalizing or writing.
2). To invite into or to allow into your space; authorizing information or realm of information to come freely into your space.
3). To inquire the price or cost implication of that which you want to have.
The Implication of Know-ing (knowledge):
3). Be willing to sacrifice your time, energy and resources to buy the truth. (Mathew 14:44-46, Proverbs 2:4-6)
4). Have the power to value and retain superior knowledge. (Mathew 13:47-48, Proverbs 4:20-22)
When your way is not working, stop trying and “ask” – inquire about the possible reasons why it is not working.
The currency it takes to buy the truth comes from selling the inferior knowledge you posses, to gain the truth.
You can buy the truth with the following:
1). Meekness
2). Honour
3). Hunger
When you truly desire knowledge, you seek and pursue it with everything you’ve got.
Revelation is beyond knowledge, it is knowledge combined with understanding.
Knowledge is not as powerful in itself, it must translate to transformation before action can be taken.
When you “do” what you’ve not become (transformed into), there would be a negative repercussion.
To Contend for Transformation
You must recognize and acknowledge that you’re not yet your best version, there is more to achieve and become.
Forward-thinkers do not only rejoice at their current level of success, they pay the price to move higher. They never settle, they understand that there is always a greater and better version to attain.
Champions do not let their tears spare the discipline of going forward.
To be transformed means to change state spiritually, mentally and otherwise.
Criteria to Receiving Transformation:
1). Recognize that you are not yet your best version (Philippians 3:12-14)
2). Change your references and models to higher standards.
You can never be fully transformed until you sustain the courage to change your models and references.
Transformation cannot happen until there is a superior reference and model.
3). Be willing to give up age-long, limiting, unscriptural and anti-destiny beliefs. (John 1:6-7)
4). Be willing and prepared to face and endure the consequences of growth and progress (Daniel 3:6,12-30)
As a believer, in your journey through destiny, you can be pressured into providing answers to certain questions about your God, don’t be in a haste to prove a point to people, let your God answer for you.
The journey of becoming (transformation) in a believer’s life is a painful process that happens in the “wilderness”. You must obtain grace from God to not give up during the process.
When you don’t understand such realms or painful seasons of your life, trust in the Lord your God.
Criteria for Taking Action (Doing Exploits – Daniel 11:32):
1). Be courageous – Action requires courage (Numbers 13:30, Deuteronomy 20:1-4)
2). Resilience and persistence in the face of negative, discouraging situations. (Galatians 6:9)
3). Conviction (2 Timothy 1:12).
The strength of your conviction determines the speed of your action.
4). Unbending focus (Phillipians 3:13-14, Proverbs 4:25, Luke 9:62, Hebrews 10:38)
5). Patience (Hebrews 6:12, 1 Peter 5:10, Romans 8:18)
Thankful to GOD HALLELUJAH HALLELUJAH HALLELUJAH ????