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  TAKING YOUR JOURNEY INTO YOUR DIVINE DESTINY
  by Gbile Akanni
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Summary: Gbile Akanni teaches that obedience, diligence, and humility
are essential steps on the journey to fulfilling God's divine destiny
for each believer.

Duration: 35:04 Topics: "Divine Destiny", "Obedience", "Faith and Trust"
Scripture References: 1 Samuel 9:1-10, 1 Samuel 9:15-17, 1 Samuel 10:1, 1 Samuel 10:9-11

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In this devotional sermon, Gbile Akanni explores the biblical story of
Saul to illustrate the essential qualities needed to embark on and
fulfill one's divine destiny. He emphasizes obedience, humility, and
persistence as key factors in responding to God's call. Akanni
encourages believers, especially young people, to recognize divine
opportunities and to trust God’s provision and timing as they pursue
their God-ordained purpose.

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CONTENT
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Living Seed Media brings to you God's Word, which is his comprehensive
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encounter his Word. For further enquiry or counsel, contact Peace House,
PO Box 971, Boko, Benue State, Nigeria.

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livingseed.org or visit our website at www.livingseed.org. Let us sit
back and listen as the servant of God brings forth the Word of Life.
Thank you Lord for the desire of your heart towards us.

Lord we bless you. We honour you God for the thought for each one of us
that Lord has brought us even to your purpose at this time. We are
grateful.

We bless your name. Eternal Lord, as we look unto you and to hear from
you again this morning, we ask Lord that you will show us your mercy.
You will send us your Word.

You will bring us eternal counsel that will push us, even Lord, into
your will and your purpose for our lives. Thank you everlasting Father.
Take control oh God and let your name alone be glorified.

In Jesus name we have prayed. Amen. Amen.

For our devotional challenge this morning, we will be reading from the
book of 1 Samuel. We will read a few verses from chapter 9 and we will
take some verses also from chapter 10. 1 Samuel chapter 9 from verse 1
to 10 and from verse 15 to 17 and a little more verses before we go to
chapter 10 and we take some.

I'm reading now 1 Samuel chapter 9 from verse 1. There was a man of
Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zerub, the
son of Bekorath, the son of Appiah, a Benjamite, mighty man of power.
And he had a choice, an unsung son, whose name was Saul. There was not a
more unsung person than he among the children of Israel.

From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people of God.
Please take one of the servants with you and arise, go and look for the
donkeys. He passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land
of Shalisha, but they did not find him.

Then they passed through the land of Shalim and they were not there.
Then he passed through the land of Benjamite, but they did not find him.
When they had come to the land of Zulf, Saul said to the servant who was
with him, Come, let us return, least my father is caring about the
donkeys and become worried about us.

And he said to him, look now, there is in the city a man of God and he
is an honorable man. All that he says surely comes to pass, so let us go
there, perhaps he can show us the way that we should go. Then Saul said
to his servant, but look, if we go, what shall we bring the men? For the
bread in our vessels is all gone, and there is no present to bring to
the men of God.

What do we have? And the servant answered Saul again and said, Look, I
have here at hand one-fourth of a shekel of silver. I will give that to
the men of God to tell us our way. Formerly in Israel, when a man went
to inquire of God, he told us, Come, let us go to the seer.

He who is now called a prophet was formerly called a seer. Then Saul
said to his servant, well said, come, let us go. So they went to the
city where the man of God was.

Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day before saying, Tomorrow
about this time, I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and
you shall anoint him under over my people Israel, that he may save my
people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon my
people because pride has come to me. So when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord
said to him, There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you.

This one shall reign over my people. Then Saul drew near to Samuel in
the gate and said, Please tell me, where is the seer's house? Verse 27.
As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to
Saul, Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.

And he went on. But you stand here a while that I may announce to you
the word of God. Chapter 10 from verse 1. Then Samuel took a flask of
oil and put it on his head and kissed him and said, Is it not because
the Lord has anointed you commander over his inheritance? Verse 9 to 11,
which will be the last portion.

So it was, when he turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him
another heart. And all those signs came to pass that day. When they came
there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him.

Then the Spirit of God came upon him and he prophesied among them. And
it happened when all who knew him formally saw, who knew him formally,
saw that indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to
one another, What is this that has come upon the son of Kish? He saw
also among the prophets. May the Lord bring the reading of his words
into our hearts, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now what I have found the Lord laid on my heart to share with us and
bring us a challenge as we wait on the Lord again for his visitation
over us today in this Congress is taking journey into your destiny or
taking journey into your divine destiny. Praise the Lord. Now I want to
quickly use the story of Saul that I know that several of us are quite
familiar with just to bring a few issues of challenge onto our hearts
and to use it to plead with the Lord that none of us will miss that
which God has intended for us in the course of this Student and Youth
Congress in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Before I begin to take the issues one after the other I want to first
let you know, beloved brothers and sisters that like the Englishman
would say a thousand mile journey begins with a step and I want to let
you know that that which is going to bring you into the destiny that God
in his mercy has prepared for you has set for your life could begin with
this meeting. Everyone who fulfilled and arrived at God's destiny for
their lives they have an encounter, they have a time and a place where
God encountered them that took them from where they were before that
took them from whom they were before and launched them into a journey
that eventually delivered them eventually brought them into God's
purpose and destiny for their lives whether in biblical days or in
contemporary times everyone, everyone who had fulfilled divine purpose
who arrived at God's destination for their lives has their story and a
point of reference a day of reference I suppose that God also in his
predetermined counsel and in his love to us all is wanting to use this
student and youth congress as the reference point to bring several of us
and particularly several of you young people into contact with your
divine destiny so now coming to the story that we have read about Saul
you will notice that his background was given as to the family where he
came from now but even though the scripture talks about the fact that he
was the son of a man called Kish who was a man of power but I want to
let you know that the journey that took Saul to his divine destiny began
so casually it began so casually it just began with a little errand now
but even that errand as I begin to look at it though could be something
not uncommon particularly with people in his profession in the family
profession of being shepherds who take care of cattle who take care of
animals at some time in their journeys as they go about with animals or
as they keep their animals they could have one or two that stray and
they will go after them to look for them Saul possibly could have been
doing that before now but this particular one this particular journey
this particular assignment from his father to go and look for the lost
ass I would say that was divinely orchestrated was divinely motivated it
was God behind it I have no doubt in my heart that this particular
student and youth congress sincerely speaking it is God that is behind
it now I know that by the grace of God several of the meetings that God
has allowed us to hold that many of you have been part of it yes it is
also God but honestly as we were waiting on God and you know praying and
trusting God what is it about this meeting and as I began to receive the
contents of the meeting I was particularly overwhelmed and that nobody
whom God will grant the privilege none of you whom God has given the
opportunity to be part of this student and youth congress should take it
for granted I wish to let you know that an opportunity is before you a
chance is before you regardless of how many congresses how many
conferences how many meetings honestly that you might have attended
including the ones that are organized by Peace House by LivingSeed but I
want to let you know that this particular one this particular one God is
particularly behind it for a reason for a definite purpose for your own
life and so my immediate counsel to you as you take into this journey is
that don't take it light your participation in this student and youth
congress your exposure to this student and youth congress must not be
taken light you are on a journey to your destiny God has administered
this he has brought you grace to be part of this because there is an end
in view as the Lord began with us yesterday talking about Mr. Ruben you
know that he forfeited something the end that could have been for Ruben
by the raising of his birth into the family of Jacob was forfeited
because he took some moment for granted but in order for us to avoid the
that kind of an end that Ruben himself I want you to take a particular
attention pay particular attention to this journey of this congress this
year that God has brought you in praise the name of the Lord now looking
at Saul the Bible says that the donkey of Iadah were lost in verse 2 and
Kish said to his son please take one of the servants with you and arise
go and look for the donkeys so he passed through the mountains of
Ephraim before I go to how he journeyed now an instruction came to him
and again I'm just imagining why Saul why Saul among the many other
children of Mr. Kish and that brings me a question at this student
congress why is it you that the Holy Spirit through whichever means God
through whosoever brought you into this congress why you now looking at
the end of Saul in that journey that it was because God was behind this
I want to let you know that it is also because God is behind you God is
ready to bring you into the destiny he has for your life that is the
reason why you are having a space you are having a place you are having
the opportunity to be part of this congress now but look at what's
happened when the bible says the father said go and look for the donkeys
and Saul obeyed it must have also been perhaps that he had always been
an obedient child to his father maybe he had always been doing that kind
of an errand for him and he was good at it that could be the reason that
the father went for him but he could see that because of what God want
to do with his life at this time was the reason why he was the one that
was sent but something that Saul did that I want to bring to your notice
it was that he obeyed and if you will arrive if you must arrive at the
destiny that God has set for your life that this journey through this
students and youth congress is bringing you into you must also be
obedient obedience is very very very crucial just as God began with us
yesterday you know that he has raised the issue of obedience. What was
the obedience yesterday? That whatever the error the problem that you
have found yourself, you have put yourself into wrong things, wrong life
wrong behaviour, wrong attitude sinful character that you have put
yourself into which even for that God has not discarded you but he was
simply asking you to come to repentance can you please obey and let let
nothing deceive your heart particularly as young people you know one
thing about us as young people is that somehow we are full of ourselves,
we feel that we are young and we know much but at this time I want to
appeal to you in view of the destiny that is set which God in his
predetermined concept want to bring you into through this congress can
you please be obedient be obedient to the instructions of God that will
be coming on your way whatever the Holy Spirit will be saying in all the
sections either at a time like this devotional challenge, the talk the
seminars the workshops, the bible studies even during the prayer operas
the Lord can give you an instruction, a word of counsel, something you
must do will you trust God that he will help you to be obedient now if
Saul had not been obedient to his father and he would not go on this
journey, he would have missed a divine moment my prayer for everyone of
us and particularly for those of you who are young is that you will not
miss this divine moment and not to miss it you must be obedient be
obedient to every instruction now verse 3, I mean verse 4 says so he
passed through the mountains of Ephraim and through the land of
Shalisha, but they did not find him, then they passed through the land
of Shalim and they were not there, now see all the places they passed
through because of our time up till they got to the land of the bedrides
and the donkeys were not there, the donkeys were not there one thing I
saw was that Saul was dutiful I saw something like diligence, the fact
that he got to one point and he didn't find the donkey does not make him
to say look I'm going, he tried he kept trying, he kept trying and he
kept going from one place to the other, now what is it that has to do
with you as you take your journey, you are on a journey don't let your
heart be easily discouraged either at this meeting or even when the
meeting would have been over don't let your heart be easily discouraged,
that's one thing or the other you are looking for, one thing or the
other you are seeking for, it's not yet coming on your way, don't let
that discourage you to return from your journey if you heard a promise
of God and you are waiting on it and it looks as if it's not coming to
pass don't let that discourage you to return may the Lord grant help to
all of our hearts in the name of Jesus now verse 5 when they came to the
land of Saul Saul said to his servant who was within come let us return
lest my father cease caring about the donkeys and become worried about
us now but the servant said to him there is a man of God in the city and
all of that, let's go to him, now Saul said but I don't have what to
give to the man of God, how do I go empty handed, the servant said
that's no problem I want you to know that God has made adequate
provision all that you need on your journey towards your destiny the
destiny of God for your I want to assure you that there is an adequate
provision, now only be like Saul at this point I saw a humble man a
humble man that would not mind to receive help from a servant a humble
man that would not say oh why would I allow you a servant to pay for me
to make provision for me he was humbled, no wonder the scripture says
God gives grace to the humble so I want to challenge you that from this
point onward in this congress and thereafter can you trust God for a
heart of humility that receives help from whosoever God would be
bringing on your way no matter who they are for instance at your Bible
study section the person that may be leading your Bible study may be
quite younger than you may your heart not be closed the provision for
your journey at that point of the Bible study has been put into the hand
of that young person, may your heart be humble enough, meek enough to
receive it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ so eventually they went
but you know before they got, I'm jumping now to verse 15 before they
got to Samuel this is very important in verse 15 it says, now the Lord
had told Samuel in his hear before Samuel Saul came saying, to know
about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin you
shall anoint him commander over my people and so on and so forth now
what is it that I want you to note before this time before this student
and youth congress before your arrival God has spoken something about
you about the generation of the young people at this time in the years
of his servants so there is a divine connection and you must be praying
as you continue in this student and youth congress that nothing will
stop you until you have arrived at that connection you know if Saul
continue in the journey and he did not arrive to Samuel something will
have been missing in his life a divine connection that which will
connect you unto your divine destiny please insist in the place of
prayer that you will not be disconnected from it you will continue in
your journey your heart will continue with this meeting your heart will
not be discouraged your heart will not be disconnected until you have
arrived there is an end this meeting has an end for you please pray and
beg the Lord you will arrive at that end in the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ so when God spoke to Samuel so when Samuel saw Saul verse 17 the
Lord said to him the man of whom I spoke to you this one shall reign
over people then Saul draw near to Samuel ok I leave that so God spoke
to Samuel here is it and as you have arrived at this congress I want you
to know that God has taken particular attention particular notice rather
of you here they have come here they have come here he has come here she
has come God has taken notice of your life and what he want to do he is
determined and he committed to do it in order for Samuel not to miss
Saul in order for Samuel not to take Saul for just any person when he
arrived God came back again I am just bringing you the commitment of God
the determination of God the the resolve of God ensure that you don't
miss what has been prepared to you praise the name of the Lord I will
jump now to chapter 10 no verse 27 chapter 30 of chapter 9 as they were
going down to the outskirts of the city Samuel now there was already a
journey with Samuel Samuel said to Saul tell the servant to go on ahead
of us and he went on but you stand here a while that I may announce to
you the word of God that is the word of God you must hear if you see
Samuel if you saw Samuel and he didn't hear what is it that God has for
him since Samuel will have been a waste I don't know where you are
sitting down where is your centre being at the centre will not amount to
anything travelling all the way from where you travelled and you had
come to where you are will amount to nothing if you don't hear what God
wants you to hear there is something that must be said to you that will
launch you into that purpose of God into that destiny of God even for
your life so Samuel now took a flask of oil and poured it on his head
and kissed him and said is it not because the Lord has anointed you with
the commandment of his inheritance when you have alright so Samuel
poured the oil and God is set to release his anointing that will place
you onto that divine purpose this morning again as I was you know
praying what came on my heart again the Lord let there be a fulfilment
of that which you said even in 2 chapter 2 that in the last day you will
pour your spirit upon all flesh but that the young people, young men
young women they will see vision that at this student and youth congress
in all the places where we are seated where we are watching even those
of you who are listening just at the comfort of your home because you
are not able to go out perhaps because of the lockdown or maybe because
there is no organized center around you let me say to you that the
spirit of the Lord can reach you anywhere if only you will be rightly
positioned in your heart if only you will not allow any servant
whatsoever to distract you so before the anointing was poured on Saul
Samuel said tell the servant to go as you have come and you are seated
at your center, can you please plead with God, nothing will distract
you, nothing will distract you, nothing will take you will take your
heart away drive your heart away from that which God has planned for you
as I round up this devotional challenge this morning Samuel had told
Saul that as it goes it will prophesy and all of that in verse 6 he said
it will prophesy with them and be turned into another man, my prayer is
that each one of us, each one of you no matter how you came, no matter
who you were, as you are returning from this student and youth congress,
you will be turned into another man, something divine will come on you
that people will they will meet you thereafter they will be amazed an
amazing thing what will begin to come out of your life we are amazed
even your family members, we are amazed your friend, that you left me
and say oh is this my friend, you know when Saul has turned to another
man another heart came on him he prophesied is this Saul the son of Kish
something different, something new something completely beyond the
comprehension of human being came on him and I'm praying that that also
will be your own experience as you continue with this student and youth
congress and as you press on into the purpose of God in this journey,
that God will cause his spirit to rest on you, you will be given another
heart, we trust the Lord who has told me that a new heart I will give to
you a new spirit I will put in you, is going to do that which he had
already said and as we are returning, none of us, even if you have been
doing well let me say to you that this congress want to place you on a
higher pedestal of grace on a higher pedestal of anointing on a higher
pedestal of responsibility in your generation may the Lord in his mercy
do this unto us and far beyond that which we can ask even in our prayer
in the name of Jesus Christ, shall we pray together let us pray together
just a word of prayer from you before I conclude just ask the Lord, Lord
I have come progress with me you saw you saw there were young women,
young ladies that sought and the servant met who gave them a good
description of where they will find Samuel will you like to pray, Lord
please all who must be of help to me, that will push me to the end you
have for me for this congress Lord please place them on my way and help
me O God to be open to receive help from them thank you father thank you
father in Jesus name we pray Lord we give you praise thank you Lord that
you have brought us, each one of us to this congress and you are saying
this is a journey unto divine destiny Lord I ask O God since you are the
one behind it, you will push each one of us to the very end that this
congress must bring us to the praise and glory of your name thank you
our father in Jesus name we pray Amen

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/gbile-akanni/taking-your-journey-into-your-divine-destiny/
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