Pastor Mark Schwarzbauer Phd family Worship Center 1/4/15 Introduction

Pastor Mark

Schwarzbauer PhD

Family Worship Center 1/4/15

Introduction: In 2014 we focused on “Faithful”. As we begin 2015 our focus and theme will be “Your Destiny.” We will learn why it is so essential to understand your role in your destiny, why God gives you a free will and how to empower your life to break free, move forward and experience the fullness of life God has for you.

Part One: Man’s Denial

1. 
   Destiny defined.
   

1. 
   Fatalistic view- Destiny is – “the inevitable or necessary fate to which a particular person or thing is destined; one's lot. A predetermined course of events considered as something beyond human power or control” (Dictionary.com).
   
2. 
   Free will view- “Destiny is the end result of your choices. An open course where you may not control all events, but you do control your responses. Through Christ you can do all things!
   

2. 
   Denial’s Destiny is Destruction.
   

1. 
   There are two types of fatalists; material fatalist and spiritual fatalist. The material fatalist believes man is nothing more than a programed chemical machine where free-will is an illusion. Some spiritual fatalists believe God is absolutely in control choosing irresistibly who goes to heaven and creating others for hell. Some spiritual fatalists believe forces control their fates.
   
2. 
   Failure of Fatalism 1: Fatalism Disregards our everyday conscious lives and choices.
   
3. 
   Failure of Fatalism 2: Fatalism Disassociates us from our actions; since we have no control we are made out to be no longer responsible for our behavior and sins.
   
4. 
   Failure of Fatalism 3: Fatalism Destroys hope since you can’t really change there is no point in trying.
   
5. 
   Both the material fatalist and the spiritual fatalist suffer from these toxic effects of fatalism.
   

3. 
   Fatalists teach man has no control over his destiny.
   

1. 
   Atheists like Sam Harris who wrote on “The illusion of free will.”
   

1. 
   Atheist Freud declared man helpless in the face of bio urges.
   
2. 
   Nature and nurture are often seen as too powerful to escape.
   

2. 
   Spiritual Fatalists.
   

1. 
   Astrology can be fatalistic - the stars as controlling your destiny.
   
2. 
   Fatalism in Islam.
   
3. 
   There are even Christian fatalists - Calvinists who teach that God irresistibly chooses who to send to heaven and creates people for hell and that people have no choice whatsoever.
   

3. 
   Fatalists – people who believe they are powerless to change their own destiny affect others in their lifestyles and beliefs.
   

4. 
   Man’s denial slams up against God’s design and desire.
   

Part Two: God’s Desire

1. 
   To answer the material fatalist:
   

1. 
   “Why I am not an atheist- Part 3; Free Will.” From July 14, 2013, at www.i-fwc.com
   
2. 
   There is a loving God who created you to have a relationship with Himself. He cares so deeply for you that Christ, God in the flesh, died for you to pay the consequences for your sin. He sets you free and gives you power to truly change.
   

2. 
   To the spiritual fatalist:
   

1. 
   In some weeks ahead I will cover why God gave you a free will and clearly demonstrate from God’s own Word the reality and responsibility of your choices.
   
2. 
   The Calvinist grossly distorts other views of God and fails to realize that free will is not our concentration; it is a consequence of our belief in the loving and good nature of God.
   

3. 
   2 Peter 3:9 ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
   

1. 
   “Willing” is from the Greek word βούλομαι (boulomai) which means…
   

1. 
   Deeply passionate desire with a plan to accomplish.
   
2. 
   ‘To purpose, to plan, to intend.”
   

2. 
   It is NOT God’s desire, will or plan for anyone to go to hell. With this deep desire God has made a plan to accomplish this by sending His Son to die for our sins.
   
3. 
   His deep desire is that everyone would repent.
   

4. 
   Remember, God did not create hell for man, but for satan and his angels. Man only goes there because man rejects Christ. Matthew 25:41.
   
5. 
   God’s desire has an invitation.
   

1. 
   Romans 10:13 – “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
   
2. 
   Acts 2:21 “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
   

6. 
   Prayer – the power to change things through God.
   

Part Three: Your Decision

1. 
   Whosoever will may come… the ultimate invitation.
   
2. 
   Wedding invitation from Peter and Kirsten.
   

1. 
   The invitation on phone and email and text.
   
2. 
   Admission paid, meal provided, no fees for parking.
   
3. 
   Difficulty in accepting.
   
4. 
   Waiting for a decision.
   
5. 
   Finally, chose to go and so glad we did.
   

3. 
   The wedding invitation from Jesus.
   

1. 
   The invitation the Word, from preaching and others inviting.
   
2. 
   Admission paid, meal provided, free transportation.
   
3. 
   Difficulty in accepting.
   
4. 
   Waiting for a decision.
   
5. 
   Finally, chose to go and so glad we did.
   

4. 
   2015 will be a year of important choices.
   

1. 
   Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.”
   
2. 
   Your Commitment determines your thoughts… (PM)
   

Your Thoughts determine your behaviors Your behaviors determine your habits

Your habits determine your character Your Character determines your destiny

Choosing Your Destiny - Worksheet for 2015

1. 
   Goals
   

1. 
   “Without goals you have no chance of a different 2015 than you experienced in 2014. The default in your life will always be more of the same.” Pastor Rick W.
   
2. 
   Long-term goals keep us from being discouraged by short-term setbacks.
   
3. 
   Long term goals keep us from just coasting through life.
   
4. 
   Goals alone aren’t the answer…
   

2. 
   The Goals that God blesses are Motivated in Love for God, others and self.
   
3. 
   Start with a purpose statement for your life as encouraged in the Purpose Driven Life pages 312-319…
   

SMART~

S = Specific M = Measurable A = Attainable R = Realistic T = Timely
I can realistically accomplish _____ (goal) by ______(timeframe)
The purpose of my life is_________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________
My priorities are:

1. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
2. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
3. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
4. 
   ________________________________________________________
   

Example… Live to really please God in everything I do.
My gifts are:

1. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
2. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
3. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
4. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
5. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
6. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
7. 
   ________________________________________________________
   

My Long Term Goals are:

1. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
2. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
3. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
4. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
5. 
   ________________________________________________________
   

My Goals for 2015:

Physical:

1. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
2. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
3. 
   ________________________________________________________
   

Example: 1. Follow Daniel Plan 2. Be a healthy xxlbs
Spiritual:

1. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
2. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
3. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
4. 
   ________________________________________________________
   

Example: 1. Read through New Testament this year. 2. Attend church consistently
Financial:

1. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
2. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
3. 
   ________________________________________________________
   

Example: Read (or reread) The Money Map and put it work.
Relationships:

1. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
2. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
3. 
   ________________________________________________________
   

Example: Be active in my small group or start one.
Other:

1. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
2. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
3. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
4. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
5. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
6. 
   ________________________________________________________
   
7. 
   ________________________________________________________
   

Lord with your help I pledge to be faithful in 2015 __________________________
Proverbs 16:3- “Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established.”

Post them where you will regularly see them and review them and pray over them.

Keep your goals in a place where you can regularly see them and review them at least once a month. Please let me know if this has been helpful for you.

Your friend, Pastor Mark ~ [e-mail]