Destiny 2.0

I recently heard a story about Kathryn Kuhlman that astounded me.

When God raised up Kathryn Kuhlman for her healing ministry, she fought it at first. She said to God, “Why me, I’m a woman. Do You know how hard it is for a woman to be in the ministry?” God’s reply was, “I tried to give this ministry to three men and they didn’t want it. So, I decided to give it a woman because she’ll take it.”

This story indicates that God gives people ministries that other people were not fulfilling. In other words, God will release you from your original destiny and give you a higher, more significant destiny.

But, I needed scriptural proof and He gave me four examples:

Moses

Moses had a destiny to deliver God’s people from the bondage in Egypt and to bring them into the promised land. But, Moses disobeyed God on the way to the promised land and God’s judgment placed Moses among those in the “death march”—those not allowed to enter the promised land. Joshua’s original destiny was to be a servant and minister to Moses and to be one of Moses’ most trusted and valiant captains. Due to Moses’ destiny being cut short, Joshua was given a greater destiny. Joshua served God in a greater measure because he was given and he accepted a destiny that another man could not finish.

Elisha

Elisha was plowing his field one day and Elijah walked up to him and threw his mantle onto Elisha. This symbolic act meant that Elisha was to be Elijah’s successor as a highly anointed prophet. Elisha accepted his destiny and left his family and lived with Elijah for several years, functioning as Elijah’s servant and student. When it was time for Elijah to be taken up to heaven, he asked Elisha, “What can I do for you before I am taken from you?" Elisha asked for a double-portion of Elijah’s anointing. After Elijah was taken away, Elisha’s destiny changed. He was given the greater calling, the double-portion of anointing that he asked for.

David

Samuel was a prophet and when he was nearing the end of his life, the elders of Israel told Samuel to give them a king. Samuel took their request to God and He granted their request with great displeasure because His perfect plan for Israel did not include using kings to rule His people. 

This meeting occurred approximately one generation prior to David’s birth. God’s original plan for David was to be a shepherd or something else other than a king—again, God’s perfect plan for Israel did not include kings. When God granted the elders request, David’s destiny changed from shepherd to king.

Matthias

Matthias started following Jesus at the very beginning of His ministry, he was probably among the seventy-two (Luke 10:1), and he was a witness to Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 1:21 –22). Jesus did not choose Matthias to be one of the twelve apostles. But, he was chosen to become an apostle—the thirteenth. Why? To take over the ministry which Judas left (Acts 1:25 ).

From just the above examples, we understand that our destiny can be 'upgraded from 1.0 to 2.0' for the following reasons:

• A person sinned and cut short his or her destiny
• We simply asked for a greater destiny
• God answered someone’s prayer and He needed someone fulfill that answer
• The person with the original destiny walked away from it

I believe that many who are now in the five-fold ministry were originally called with only one or two of the gifts, but are now functioning in more of the gifts. For example, someone called to be a pastor may now also be gifted to be a teacher because someone in that congregation has refused that destiny. Additionally, I believe that there are people called to secular occupations that are now being trained by the Holy Spirit to function within the five-fold ministry.

Notice that in the above examples from the Bible that the men were already functioning in their original calling. This is an important point, because many Christians do not know what their specific calling is. For example, at several of his conferences, a well-known prophetic teacher asked his audience, “How many of you know the specific destiny that God has given you?” Every time, only about 5–10% of the hundreds of people present raised their hands. This is surprising because conferences are most often attended by people who are pursuing God with a much greater passion than the average Christian.

If you do not know what your destiny is, God can reveal it to you.

If you know that you are fulfilling your calling in whatever work you are doing, but feel a pull in your heart to do more, perhaps God is asking if you would accept some or all of someone else’s destiny.

It is my prayer for you that Father will continue to help you to hear His voice, and more and more frequently.

With God’s grace and in His peace,

Gary

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Gary (gary@ears-2-hear.com), Author, Web Designer, www.ears-2-hear.com.

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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

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