God knows exactly where He has pointed your life toward. In fact, He's already at the destination. That's why I love serving and I'm the present God. God is already where He's taken you. He's with you, but He's already where you are going.
I make known the end from the beginning, says the Lord. That's Isaiah 46, 10 And this is Destined for Victory with Pastor Paul Shepard Thanks so much for making this part of your day You know, God is never surprised or taken off guard Long before your problems surfaced He already had them solved And the best part is He is powerful enough to be everywhere all at once He's with you during the journey And He's waiting for you at your destination When you get a chance We hope you'll stop by PastorPaul.net You'll be able to find out more about Pastor Paul's legacy ministry there and hear any recent Destined for Victory message on demand, including today's. That's PastorPaul.net.
Now let's listen to our Destined for Victory message. No matter what happens, keep moving forward. Deuteronomy chapter 31, beginning with verse 1. Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel. I am now 120 years old, and I am no longer able to lead you.
The Lord has said to me, you shall not cross the Jordan. The Lord, your God himself, will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said. Skip down to verse 6.
Be strong and courageous. do not be afraid or terrified because of them, the nations. For the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. I want to say in this message, no matter what happens, keep moving forward.
No matter what happens, keep moving forward. Throughout redemptive history, when you read your Bible, you'll see a God who is on the move. We serve a God who has never been stagnant, never been inactive, never been without a purpose being realized. Our God's plan is ever evolving, ever unfolding. God is a moving God.
And when you get saved, you realize that you are in the course of God's movements. In fact, when you got saved, God swept you up in what he was already doing. He was moving before you got saved. You just weren't aware of God's movements in your life and around you. but God was moving all the time.
In fact, when Paul preached in Athens, it's recorded in Acts chapter 17, and he was talking to people who didn't know the true and living God. How did he describe him? He said, it is this God in whom you live and move and have your being. Before you got saved, you were living in God. You were moving because of God.
You need to understand that God isn't only active in the lives of Christians. God is active, period. This is his world. This is his creation. Yes, man has fallen and all kind of craziness is happening because of the fall of man.
And yes, it is true that there's all kinds of hatred and murder and killings and craziness in our world, rapes and all kind of stuff is going on. And those things are not as God would have them. But make no mistake, we serve the one and only sovereign God. And even when God is allowing sin to reign for this season, do not think for one second that God's hands are tied. Don't think for one second that, oh, I tell you what, even God can't do anything.
Foolishness. God is in control. He is in control. The only reason crazy folk are getting to do crazy things is because God is allowing it for this season. But make no mistake, the day is coming when God will call everything into judgment.
Why is there going to be a judgment day? Because so many things are going wrong.
So many people have disobeyed God and have rejected him. But they're going to run smack into him one of these days. you might get by but you're not getting away people who have done you wrong they might seem to be prevailing sin might seem to be prevailing wrong might seem to be prevailing listen make no mistake we live in a world where wrong sometimes is in temporary charge but overarching all of it there is a sovereign god and he is moving and those of us who have submitted to him We're experiencing the reign of God in our lives and we are part of his kingdom because he indeed is the king of our lives. And here's my point in this opening section of this message. Our God is a moving transitory God.
He is on his way somewhere taking you somewhere doing some things in your life. And he is never without a purpose for what is going on in your life. that purpose began before you even got saved some of you don't realize it the only reason you got saved is because God had raised up some people who were praying for you some of them were in your family but even if you say no I came from a total heathen family Everybody in my family was a pagan I the first one for generations who knew the Lord Don think nobody prayed for you just because your family wasn't saved. There was somebody walking your neighborhood. There was somebody stretching out their hand towards your city.
There are saints who just do prayer walks. There's one church has a SWAT team and SWAT stands for saints walking around town. Tell you no lie. Saints walking around town and they train their people. Just walk.
Take walks. It'll not only help you with your exercise, but while you walk, pray for the people in the houses you're passing. Ask God to save them. Ask God to bring them out of darkness into his marvelous light. And listen, you need to know something.
God answers prayer and he answered prayer on your behalf before you even knew somebody was praying for you. I love that song.
Somebody prayed for me. had me on their mind, took the time and prayed for me. I'm so glad they prayed. I'm glad somebody called my name to the Lord in prayer. And that's why I'm saved.
That's why you're saved. And we are now part. We've been swept up in the movement of God. And so when you look at this story of Israel getting ready to go from the wilderness into the promises of God, it is a great picture of what's going on in your life and mine. No matter what wilderness you have found yourself in to this point in your life, God is moving you into his promises, into his purpose.
And there is a method to all that God is doing in your life.
Now, I want you to know on that with that foundation laid that our God is not making it up as he goes. He knows exactly where he has pointed your life toward. In fact, he's already at the destination. That's why I love serving and I'm the present God. God is already where he's taken you.
He's with you, but he is already where you are going. Here's what the Bible says about that. Isaiah chapter 46 verses 9 and 10. Pick it up in the middle of verse 9. It says, I am God and there is no other.
I am God and there is none like me. And then it says in verse 10 of Isaiah 46, I make known the end from the beginning. Did you get that? God said, I make known the end from the beginning. I am well aware of.
In fact, I have ordained where you're going and I ordained that before you started. I make known the end from the beginning from ancient times. What is still to come? I say my purpose will stand and I will do all that I please. I need somebody to be encouraged and to understand that God is not handicapped.
God is not subject to circumstances. God isn't saying, well, I was going to do something in your life, but look at what happened. I mean, look at the economy. Look at how the downturn. Look at the job market.
I was going to give you a house, but look at what they did. I was going to do. That's not God. that's your uncle that's your family members that's your husband your wife said we can't do it now god is not handicapped he knows from the beginning where he is taking you and nothing and no one can stop you from getting where god has ordained you to go he said i'm god there's nobody beside me nobody like me and from ancient times i declared what was yet to happen and he said my purpose is going to stand i need somebody to know that god's purpose is going to stand in your life i don't care the noise the devil is speaking i don't care all the threats that he's breathing against you god said my purpose will stand and i will do all that i please god is a god who thinks in generations He's a moving God. He thinks way ahead of where you are.
He is a moving God. He is a progressing God. In fact, you see that in the very beginning of time in Genesis three, when man first fell and God is pronouncing judgment on the serpent and on mankind. He started with the serpent in Genesis three. And have you ever stopped to notice what he said in Genesis three 16?
He said to the serpent, I will put enmity between you and the woman, Eve. Then he said, between your seed and her seed. NIV says offspring, but the word is seed. God said, I'm going to put enmity between the serpent. Satan came to her in the form of a serpent and the woman between your seed and her seed.
what in the world does that mean a woman doesn't have seed the man has seed the woman has the egg that results in the pregnancy and she brings forth but God said back in Genesis that the seed of the woman is going to crush the head of the serpent woman doesn't have seed what's he talking about back in Genesis, God is pronouncing, while he's pronouncing the curse, he is talking about Calvary. Don't go away. We have more of today's Destined for Victory message coming up next. If you enjoy listening to Pastor Paul, you may want to subscribe to our podcast. It's the easiest way to get the program delivered to you and listen on demand.
You'll find us on your favorite podcast platform. And of course, you can always listen to recent programs at our website, PastorPaul.net. That's PastorPaul.net.
You know, for over a decade now, we been sharing these Destined for Victory messages the whole year through on radio online and in recent years with our free Destined for Victory mobile app And we have listening friends and partners like you to thank for helping us create and maintain these platforms You the ones who provide all of our financial support and we so grateful for all you done To give generously today, please visit PastorPaul.net or call 855-339-5500.
Now, let's get you back to the rest of today's Destined for Victory message. No matter what happens, keep moving forward. While he's pronouncing the curse, he is looking ahead to the cross. And he said, on the cross, my son is going to hang there. And through his death, through his substitutionary death, he is going to crush the head of Satan.
Way back in Genesis. We hadn't even gotten into trouble good yet. And God is already talking about the solution. What a mighty God we serve. I need you to know before you get in your trouble, God has your solution worked out because you are called according to his purpose.
And he said, my purpose is going to stand.
So God is a moving God. He is a God who thinks in generations. He is a God who moves with purpose from age to age. And you and I are just swept up in that pattern. And so if you're going to hang out with God, you got to learn how to keep it moving.
you got to learn how to keep it moving you got to learn that God isn't hanging out somewhere and just going to plant you there and you stay there no no God is always moving in your life God's always speaking to you about the next thing God is always moving you towards something you have not yet seen and that that is true no matter what happens around you so no matter what happens You got to learn to keep moving. You got to learn how to keep on flowing. You can't get stuck anywhere. I can't tell somebody your stuck days are over. You got to change your mindset.
You got to realize new things are going to be happening. New things are going to be developing.
Some of them you understand or seem to understand.
Some of them you will have no clue about whatsoever. But you got to learn to walk by faith and not by sight. And you just keep it moving with God.
Now, how do we do that?
Well, there are three simple directives I want to share with you about moving forward no matter what happens. The first is to remember, to remember, remember what you need to remember what God has done and take those lessons with you as you move toward what God is doing.
Now, in our text, look at what what is said here in Deuteronomy 31. Moses went out spoke to Israel said I'm 120 years old I'm no longer able to lead you he said the Lord has made it clear to me I'm not going to cross over and so I'm getting you ready for the fact that something's going to happen that will be a significant change in your life what is that that Moses will no longer be with them and you need to understand there are going to be some things and some people in your life who are there for a season but they are going to be with them. are no longer going to be with you. And you've got to understand what do I do when I lose especially good things, precious things? What do I do when something I was really dependent upon, leaning on, enjoyed?
What do I do when that's gone? What do I do when that happens? And here's what you got to understand. That is going to happen. And so you take the blessings and the benefit and the joy of having had that experience and everything that they put in you, take it with you into your future, but don't try to take them into your future.
You remember. You don't drag the past into the present and future.
Now here's our challenge. A lot of us tend to remember what we're really supposed to forget. And then we forget what we're really supposed to remember. The Bible says, forgetting those things that are behind, that's talking about the unhealthy things, that if you keep them in your mind, they will distract you and they will prevent you from experiencing the best of what God has. Things like when you let your haters, when you bring your haters into your future.
You got to understand, haters' job is to do what they do, but you cannot afford to transport your haters from your past into your present and future. You got to learn how to drop those jokers off. When people have done their best to beat you down and dissuade you from going where God is taking you. When people have done their best to persecute you and do you harm. You don't owe them any allegiance.
You got to learn how to forgive their sin in your heart and move on to where God is taking you.
Some of you, I don't know why you are giving your haters all of that free real estate in your head. You're letting them live rent free in your head. Always thinking about these people. Always focused on them. Always reacting to what they did.
And you're letting them live rent free in your head. God says, no, no, I'm moving forward. and whatever they did was in the past. You can't change it. You can't help it.
But I'm going to overcome despite what they did. And so you got to learn that they are part of what you forget. How do you forget your haters? How do you forget unpleasant situations? You forgive them in your heart.
Now, I've taught you many times and it bears repeating. You do not speak words of forgiveness to people who have not asked for them. when people have not repented you don't walk up to them and say I forgive you I was watching on television here recently and one of the mass murderers of many in America was being sentenced for his murders and they were having the victim impact statements before the sentencing and one of the one of them looked at him and said I forgive you for what you did And I was watching on TV but I said no no no no No, because he's sitting up there grinning. He glad he shot everybody. No, no, you don't express forgiveness to somebody who hasn't repented.
You know why? Because their sin is still held up before God. I cannot release you when God has not released you. and God will not release you until you repent from the heart. To repent from the heart is more even than to say I'm sorry.
Because you know every now and then somebody will try to make up, they did you a world of harm and then they just want to shoot you a quick, I'm sorry. And you can tell by their attitude that they haven't repented, nothing has changed on the inside of them and they're glossing over their sin. Their sin is still before them. God requires a contrite spirit. God requires that people get it.
I did you wrong. I slandered you. I molested you. I did whatever I did. And I'm so sorry.
Please forgive me. That is the person God can forgive. That is the person you speak forgiveness to. In the meantime, you say, well, my pastor, I have people, I have haters who are glad that they did me wrong. What do I do to them?
You forgive them in your heart.
that means if they ever do repent and ever do come to you you have forgiveness ready to give them as an offering of grace but until and unless they come you release them in your heart and you move on into your future with god don't drag these raggedy people where god has taken you lead these raggedy folk right where they're supposed to be some of y'all today when you leave here, God's directive to your life is drop off some folks. They've been living rent-free in your head. You are to give them an eviction notice. They don't have to know anything about it. They don't know what's been going on, but in your heart, you write up an eviction notice.
You have not three days. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. You have about three minutes to get up out of my head. I'm done with you. I'm not taking you anywhere else.
If I see you, I wave and keep on moving. I'm not even going to bother having an attitude. I got to have too much energy to have an attitude with you. You don't deserve that much energy. I'm going to just wave and keep it moving.
Some of y'all got to learn the lesson of that great theologian Beyonce to the left, everything your own in the box to the left. Time for you to roll up out of here. You got to remember the right things. You got to forget the right things. When people have wronged you and what have you, you forget all of that.
You forget things that'll bog you down, that'll preoccupy you. The same God who brought me this far is going to get me even farther. That's what Caleb did when he was an 85 year old man standing on the promised land and he said I want to claim Hebron which is a mountain country that still has enemies in it and he said to Joshua don't think about giving me land that's already been claimed and already been cleaned out and the giants have all been killed no no don't get that to me because that's not what God promised me he said God promised me 45 years ago that I would get Hebron and I know that the enemy is still there. He said, I'm 85, but I'm still able. I can do now whatever God needs me to do to give me that land.
And I need somebody to have the spirit of Caleb on you and say, I remember what God has done in the past. And based on what he did in the past, he is going to see me through now. Think back to the garden of Eden before mankind ever had a sin problem, God had already worked out the salvation solution.
So whatever your challenges may be, whatever your struggles, God knew them in advance, and He will bring you to your destiny in Christ. Thanks so much for being here with us for today's Destined for Victory, featuring Pastor Paul Shepard. You know, Destined for Victory could not exist without the faithful prayers and financial support of listening friends and partners like you. You've been the lifeblood this media ministry since its inception, and it's because of you that we can share the gospel of Jesus Christ with people all over the world. For your generous gift today, we've got a great thank you gift to share with you, one that will challenge you to persevere through life's challenges or maybe through a past you can't quite forget.
Introducing our booklet, Keep Moving Forward. Drawing from Israel's transition from Moses to Joshua, this booklet will help you understand that God will go before you as your leader and your protector, even when you're facing new challenges. It's a great resource for anyone who wants to be more fully equipped to move confidently into the future God has prepared. Again, that's called Keep Moving Forward, our thank you gift for your generous donation to Destin for Victory today. You can give by phone by calling 855-339-5500.
That's 855-339-5500. or visit pastorpaul.net to make a safe and secure donation online. You can also mail your gift to Destined for Victory, Post Office Box 1767, Fremont, California, 94538. Don't remember what you ought to be forgetting and don't forget what you ought to be remembering. You ought to remember the goodness of the Lord.
You ought to remember the lessons you learned. You ought to remember the joys of having had certain people in your life for a season. that's tomorrow in our message no matter what happens keep moving forward until then remember he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion in Christ you are destined for victory Hãy subscribe cho kênh Ghiền Mì Gõ Để không bỏ lỡ những video hấp dẫn
