DETERMINATIONS versus DESTINATIONS

We thank God Almighty for giving us the grace to see the last Sunday in this 7th month which is our month of Determination.

As our Father in the Lord, our General Overseer Pastor O.O Abel whom I humbled called had declared this month of July for us as our month of Determination and also having followed all the sermon from other preachers as well.
 Today, we shall be looking at a Topic I titled 

 YOUR DETERMINATION WILL ADD TO OR SUBTRACT FROM YOUR SUCCESS DESTINATION IN LIFE*

TEXT: *Read Luke 15:11-20*

11. Then He said: “A certain man had two  sons. 
12. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to  them his livelihood.  
13. And not many days  after, the younger son gathered all together,  journeyed to a far country, and there  wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 
14. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 
15. Then he went and  joined himself to a citizen of that country,  and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 
16. And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
17. And when he came to himself, he said, how many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare and I perish with hunger.
18. I will raise and go to my father, and will say unto him, father, I have sin against, and before thee.
19. And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servant.
20. And they arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck and kissed him.

*INTRODUCTION*
Life has four components, which are time, birth, death and decision. However, we influence each of these variables per event.

 Decision is something somebody had chosen or makes up his or her mind about something after considering alternatives. Also, it is the process of coming to a conclusion, or determination about something. Looking at the bible reading earlier, in Luke 15:11-20, it told us about the life of a man who had two sons, whose names are not mentioned, but the younger is regarded as the prodigal son. Prodigal is a French word that has been adopted in English language. It means being wasteful, or extravagant. The prodigal son, who was the younger of the two sons, decided to have his own share of the yet-to-die  father's wealth. Having bequeathed it to him, he went ahead to squander it. The decision he made determined and dictated what he eventually got.

This simply means that you are the architect of your decision, but you aren't the master of the consequence. You have control over your choices but have no power over the consequences. You make the choice, and the choice automatically dictates the outcome. The young man, who was very rich, ended up in penury, to the extent of trying to share meal with pigs.
Now I have a question for you listening to me right now or if you are reading this sermon.

 1. What decision are you about to make? 
 2. What decision have you made in the past already? 
 Think twice about it before you act on the next one.

 In fact, let God preside over that your decision. Allow God to show you the way, at all times. It is costly to make Him the last option. 

A lot of people had made a decision during this covid-19 pandemic era that had destroyed their life & destiny. Same on the point, a lot had made a decision that has changed their lives for the better.

Negative decisions automatically produce negative results. A good decision you make goes a long way to show how great and glorious your life would be. The decision you make today, will determine your destination tomorrow. Most times, God does not interfere with our decisions. Rather, He permits it.

 Get His perfect will instead of been permissive. Only then you are guaranteed of His backings in all your endeavours.

When you look at the story of that prodigal son critically, thank God he quickly realised that he had made a terrible decision in the past and he decided to repent and go back to his father.

Now let us pick some points from our G.O's First Sunday sermon on Determination. Let me quickly refresh our memories on some of the attributes of Determination he gave us.

1. Question:  Ask questions when you are confused on the next step to take. Nehemiah 1 vs 2.

2. Information: Gather the necessary information you required for that business you wanted to embark on or on that course you wanted to study in the University first. Nehemiah 1 vs 3.

3. Feelings :Have a good feelings to succeed on that project, business, ministry or that job you are doing. Nehemiah 1 vs 4.

4. Prayers: It is said that Jesus Started with prayers and ended with prayers, therefore prayers is the only weapon that you can use to change any unpleasant situations as it is the Masters Key Nehemiah 1 vs 5.

5. Keep your Mouth: Unguarded tongue or mouth can put you in trouble.  Proverb 17 vs 28.

Conclusion
My brothers and sisters in the Lord, it will be a shame, after following or reading or listening to all the sermons by our Dad G.O, and by our Parish Pastor & also by all the other preachers and your life still remain the same way it was in the past or your life went back to abnormal.

You need to make a decision today that will reshape your destiny, life & future for the glory of God. I pray that you and I will not miss the opportunity to make a decision plus determination that will add to our Success Destination in life in Jesus mighty name. Amen. Shall we pray

PRAYER POINTS
1. Father lord, I thank you for another opportunity you have given to me again today to make a good decision that will reshape my life, Glory & destiny. 

2. Oh Lord, pls forgive me for all the foolish decisions that I have made in the past.

3. Lord by your mercy, cancel all calamities that my past decisions had caused my life progress.

4. Oh Lord, please deliver me from rash and wrong decisions; help me to always wait on you for a good decision to make from now on.

5. Whatever has been shattered in my life because of rash decisions, O Lord, in Your mercy, help me to amend them.

6. O Lord, help our leaders to always put You first in their decision-making process for the  sake of our dear country in Jesus name.

7. Pray and tell God what exactly you want him to do in your life quickly that will attract immediate results and progress.

God bless you all in Jesus name. Amen

                                                                                        Minister Olomo Adewale Joseph.