5 Ways To Live A Purposeful Life by Bishop Funke Felix-Adejumo: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

Destiny Is Discovered, Not Created

Acts 13:36 — David, after serving his generation by the will of God, fell asleep. That is the very definition of destiny. You have a name. You serve your generation by the will of God. And when you finish, you fall asleep.

Destiny is not something you create. Destiny is something you discover. When you were born, despite being naked, you were not empty. God had already placed something inside you. Jeremiah 1:1 — God had charged you before you were formed. Your destiny is the reason you have the breath of life. Your destiny must be shown in the things of God, in your family, and in your own life.

How to Discover Your Destiny

It begins by answering certain questions:

What do you like to do? This could be a sign indicating your destiny. Do not think that only people holding a microphone have a destiny. Your destiny may have nothing to do with a platform.

What do you have — and what do you dislike? A deep dislike for injustice, a passion for family, an instinct to represent and defend — these are indicators. God builds us with specific sensitivities as signs of what he has called us to. Destiny is discovered when you recognise what God has sweated out of you to be a sign for others.

Stages of Calling

When you discover your destiny and begin to walk in it, here is what usually happens:

1. People won't understand you. They will give you different kinds of names. You may feel you need to give up. They will tell lies about you.
2. They will begin to study you. Is this real or not? Where does this power come from?
3. They will start copying you — holding prayer meetings like yours, adopting your style, making signs like yours.
4. They will thank you. They will celebrate you. If you had given up before they judged you, who would they be thanking today? Do not give up. Your future is very great.

Ecclesiastes 5:9 — The profit of the land is for all. Not only pastors, not only men, not only women. There is what is called the profit of the land, and it is for everyone. Keep cooking. Keep nurturing your children. Keep sewing. Keep writing. Keep preaching. One day, profit will come.

Faithfulness Before Promotion

Many years of service were spent standing next to a husband — going to church, sweeping, cleaning the toilets, calling out amen during preaching, making sure his life was comfortable. Raising and educating children. Working. For many years. And when it pleased the Lord, he decided to reward that faithfulness. At a petrol station, the Lord said: "You have been faithful by standing beside him. Now I am giving you something for yourself. I am going to raise you up and send you out."

Service is being served. It's not about competing, struggling, or talking. Your destiny will be revealed while you serve others. God will find you faithful. He will test you, and then he will lift you. If he throws you up too fast, you cannot maintain the height. Preparation in obscurity is his method.

The Image of Destiny

What do you see? An architect first sees the building before he ever starts to draw. Wake up in the morning and greet yourself with the vision of who you are becoming. Compose the future over your children. Speak to what you see.

The way you speak of your spouse determines the atmosphere of your home. When a husband rises in the morning and says, "Good morning, my queen," and the wife responds, "Good morning, my king" — destiny is being reinforced.

The Company of Destiny

Your scent will be determined by the scent of the people you walk with. Friends are the exact prophecy of your destiny. Pay attention to the people you walk with, the people you follow on social media, the people you copy. Some people are not going anywhere — and they are looking for people to join them.

The Discipline of Destiny

As a man, you cannot be adjusting your mirror because a woman walked by. Adultery has no respect for anointing. Go and ask Samson — the most anointed man of his time. The discipline of destiny is separation from all appearances of evil, especially in your areas of weakness.

You cannot afford to go everywhere. Where your absence does not matter means your presence was not important there. Discipline how you treat your mind, your body, your soul. Health is your priority — the health of your stomach will determine the health of your heart. Exercise. Walk. Sweat. Get your medical checkups. God has given you a great destiny — be alive to fulfil it.