When it comes to Destiny, we must realize that our GOD has placed each of us alongside one another for very specific reasons.
For example, Simeon, a man of GOD, had received a message about the Coming of our Savior JESUS CHRIST.
Let’s take a look at Luke 2:25–35 together:
25 There was in Yerushalayim a man named Shim‘on [Simeon]. This man was a tzaddik, he was devout, he waited eagerly for God to comfort Isra’el, and the Ruach HaKodesh [HOLY SPIRIT] was upon him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Ruach HaKodesh that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah of Adonai. 27 Prompted by the Spirit, he went into the Temple courts; and when the parents brought in the child Yeshua to do for him what the Torah required, 28 Shim‘on took him in his arms, made a b’rakhah to God, and said, 29 “Now, Adonai, according to your word, your servant is at peace as you let him go; 30 for I have seen with my own eyes your yeshu‘ah, 31 which you prepared in the presence of all peoples — 32 a light that will bring revelation to the Goyim [nations/people] and glory to your people Isra’el.” 33 Yeshua’s father and mother were marvelling at the things Shim‘on was saying about him. 34 Shim‘on blessed them and said to the child’s mother, Miryam, “This child will cause many in Isra’el to fall and to rise, he will become a sign whom people will speak against; 35 moreover, a sword will pierce your own heart too. All this will happen in order to reveal many people’s inmost thoughts.”
GOD had told His servant Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Savior, JESUS CHRIST. Simeon had grown very old, but GOD had kept him alive because of what He had told him.
When JESUS CHRIST was born, eight days later, He was brought to the Temple to be presented to GOD. Since Simeon was a servant of GOD, CHRIST was brought to him. To offer a blessing to GOD in those days, one had to bring goats or sheep. But since CHRIST’s parents were poor, they had to bring a pair of doves or two young pigeons, as Luke 2:24 tells us. It was Simeon who presented JESUS CHRIST to GOD and spoke to Him, as revealed in the passage we have just read.
The mother and father of JESUS CHRIST were happy about the coming of the LORD, but they did not yet understand their Son’s Destiny: a brutal death…
Likewise, you and I have destinies that are both positive and difficult.
JESUS CHRIST could do nothing outside of His Destiny… It was in line with this same principle that Jacob blessed his children, including Judah, by declaring each one’s Destiny to them. No one can change anyone’s Destiny except GOD.
Let’s read 1 Samuel 13:8–14:
8 He waited seven days, as Sh’mu’el [Samuel] had instructed; but Sh’mu’el didn’t come to Gilgal; so the army began to drift away from him. 9 Sha’ul [Saul] said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings,” and he offered the burnt offering. 10 As soon as he had finished sacrificing the burnt offering, there was Sh’mu’el — he had come, and Sha’ul went out to meet and greet him. 11 Sh’mu’el said, “What have you done?” Sha’ul answered, “I saw that the army was drifting away from me, that you hadn’t come during the time appointed and that the P’lishtim had assembled at Mikhmas. 12 I said, ‘Now the P’lishtim will fall on me at Gilgal, and I haven’t asked the favor of Adonai,’ so I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.” 13 Sh’mu’el said to Sha’ul, “You did a foolish thing. You didn’t observe the mitzvah of Adonai, which he gave you. If you had, Adonai would have set up your kingship over Isra’el forever. 14 But as it is, your kingship will not be established. Adonai has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and Adonai has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you did not observe what Adonai ordered you to do.”
After waiting in vain for the prophet Samuel for seven days, and seeing that the Philistines had gathered to attack, Saul decided to offer a sacrifice to the LORD himself before going into battle. But it was precisely after he had finished offering that sacrifice that Samuel returned to him. GOD’s plan was to strengthen Saul’s reign. But GOD changed his destiny because of his disobedience to GOD’s Word.
Samuel told Saul that the LORD had therefore decided to take the kingdom out of his hands and give it to someone else whom He had destined to be “prince over his people.” That is how Saul lost the kingship…
Some of you say that what GOD has ordained for you will eventually come to pass. But you say this because you do not understand the Scriptures… In reality, the fulfillment of GOD’s promises in your life depends on your relationship with GOD. If you remain in sin, GOD will eventually take back the promise He had planned for you! That is exactly what happened to Saul.
Let’s now read 2 Chronicles 33:1–13:
1 M’nasheh [Manasseh] was twelve years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for fifty-five years in Yerushalayim [Jerusalem]. 2 He did what was evil from Adonai’s perspective, following the disgusting practices of the nations whom Adonai had expelled ahead of the people of Isra’el. 3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hizkiyahu [Hezekiah] his father had smashed; he erected altars for the ba‘alim [Baals], made sacred poles and worshipped all the army of heaven and served them. 4 He erected altars in the house of Adonai, concerning which Adonai had said, “My name will be in Yerushalayim forever.” 5 He erected altars for all the army of heaven in the two courtyards of the house of Adonai. 6 He made his children pass through the fire [as a sacrifice] in the Ben-Hinnom Valley. He practiced soothsaying, divination and sorcery; and he appointed mediums and persons who used spirit guides. He did much that was evil from Adonai’s perspective, thus provoking him to anger. 7 He set the carved image of the idol he had made in the house of God, concerning which God had told David and Shlomo [Solomon] his son, “In this house and in Yerushalayim, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Isra’el, I will put my name forever. 8 Also I will not remove the feet of Isra’el from the land I assigned your ancestors, if only they will take heed to obey every order I have given them, that is, all the Torah, laws and rulings that came through Moshe [Moses].” 9 M’nasheh caused Y’hudah [Judah] and the people of Yerushalayim to go astray, so that they did even worse things than the nations whom Adonai destroyed ahead of the people of Isra’el. 10 Adonai spoke to M’nasheh and to his people, but they paid no attention. 11 Therefore Adonai brought against them the commanders of the king of Ashur’s [Assyria’s] army. They took M’nasheh captive with hooks, bound him in chains and carried him off to Bavel [Babylon]. 12 Then, when he was in distress, he began to appease the anger of Adonai, abjectly humbling himself before the God of his ancestors. 13 He prayed to him; and God was moved by his plea, paid attention to his entreaty and brought him back to Yerushalayim, to his kingly office. Then M’nasheh understood that Adonai really is God.
Manasseh became king at the age of 12 after the death of his father Hezekiah, who walked with GOD. But once on the throne, Manasseh began to do evil all around him and led many of the children of Israel into sin.
GOD had promised David and Solomon that His Name would remain in Jerusalem forever. But since Manasseh refused to obey Him, GOD delivered him into the hands of the king of Assyria.
Many people complain that others do not love them, but in reality, everything depends on their relationship with GOD. If GOD grants them His grace and blesses them, some end up becoming proud or falling into some other sin. Because of this, their destiny will eventually take a turn for the worse.
My Brother, my Sister, it is up to you to examine yourself. How are you walking with the LORD? How are you behaving? What are your thoughts and words? You must search your own heart! Then you will know why GOD has turned the Light in your life into Darkness!
Let’s continue with Isaiah 65:8–16 and 20–23:
8 This is what the Lord says: “As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and people say, ‘Don’t destroy it, there is still a blessing in it,’ so will I do on behalf of my servants; I will not destroy them all. 9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah those who will possess my mountains; my chosen people will inherit them, and there will my servants live. 10 Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for my people who seek me. 11 But as for you who forsake the Lord and forget my holy mountain, who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, 12 I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will fall in the slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me. 13 Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ’My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; my servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; my servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. 14 My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit. 15 You will leave your name for my chosen ones to use in their curses; the Sovereign Lord will put you to death, but to his servants he will give another name. 16 Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the one true God; whoever takes an oath in the land will swear by the one true God. For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes. (…) 20 Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. 21 They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.
Sisters and Brothers, the LORD may preserve one of His servants because of the Fruit that servant would bear… Many wish to have the HOLY SPIRIT. Yes, it is good to have the HOLY SPIRIT but know also that what you need is to bear the Fruit of the SPIRIT.
Let’s examine Galatians 5:22–23: 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
It’s good to lead people through the Baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT so they can stay alive. You can die with the Word of GOD on your lips! You can be attacked right in the middle of a vision!
Yes, it is good to have the HOLY SPIRIT, but it’s even better to bear its Fruit—the Works of the HOLY SPIRIT… And Love is the first of the Fruit of the SPIRIT! There are many who have the HOLY SPIRIT but do not have Love!
What does the Word tell us? Isaiah 43:23-25 declares:
23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings, nor honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with grain offerings nor wearied you with demands for incense. 24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me, or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins and wearied me with your offenses. 25 I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.
The LORD tells us here that we did not lavish on Him “the fat” of our sacrifices. But it is because of His Love that He has forgiven us all our sins!
My Brother, my Sister, you have the HOLY SPIRIT, but you cannot bring yourself to forgive the person who has offended you… In that case, will the HOLY SPIRIT give you Life? No! You will receive Death! There are people who dare to partake of the LORD’s Supper—that is, the Body and Blood of CHRIST—with hatred in their hearts!!! That is suicidal…
The Bible declares that GOD is Love! Whoever does not forgive their neighbor does not love! You say to your neighbor, “I have no problem with you. I’ve already forgiven you…” But you speak to them this way while still harboring hatred in your heart. Hypocrisy! On the other hand, once GOD has forgiven your sins, He no longer remembers them!
Yes, you have the Anointing, but GOD wants to see the Fruit of His SPIRIT in you! Unfortunately, the Church is still full of hypocrites!
If you have GOD’s Love within you, then you will forgive everyone who has wronged you! Our LORD JESUS CHRIST taught us to pray, saying, “Forgive us what we have done wrong, as we too have forgiven those who have wronged us” (Matthew 6:12)… Don’t dwell on the past to dwell on the wrongs done to you, but to turn away from sin and move forward with your GOD.
Today, the Church has become poor. What has GOD told us about this? He has clearly told us this in Isaiah 65:13: “Therefore this is what Adonai Elohim says: ’My servants will eat, while you go hungry; my servants will drink, while you go thirsty. My servants will rejoice, while you will be ashamed”.
So why are you always hungry? Because you’re a hypocrite! You don’t live in the Truth. It’s sad to see that when GOD blesses His children, many will say that those people managed to get rich or receive this or that Blessing through magic! No, it’s not magic! GOD is simply showing the difference between those who serve Him and those who do not! If you remain in your hypocrisy, you’ll eat gravel, you’ll suffer, you’ll have health problems, and you’ll remain in confusion. But those who live in the Truth will move forward.
You complain that people are blocking you. If you live in hypocrisy, you’ll remain stuck in those blockages. But if you live in the Truth, if someone blocks you, GOD will clear the way for you!
Take the case of our country, the Central African Republic. Many foreign nationals come here and reap gold and silver, but you reap only scarcity… Others live in good health, but you live in sickness! Others move forward, but you move backward!
We must live in Truth and in Love! And we must forgive! Matthew 6:14–15 states, “14 For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 but if you do not forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will not forgive yours”.
I invite you to read Isaiah 65:11–15 again carefully…
Instead of walking with the LORD, you turn away from Him and see sin everywhere! As soon as you see your Brothers and Sisters moving forward with the LORD and enjoying the Blessings He has bestowed upon them, you say, “That’s magic”! When you insult your Brothers and Sisters, you unleash the power of darkness! But know that the Power of the LORD is even Greater and protects His children.
GOD has a Destiny planned for each one of us. Consider the case of Saul: He was a King, not a Priest. When he tried to act like a Priest, he brought GOD’s Wrath upon himself. Likewise today, people stand up—without GOD having asked them to do anything—and declare, “I am a Prophet! I am a Pastor! I am a Doctor!” and so on.
Those who have compassion for their Brothers and Sisters are the ones who serve GOD. But you—you serve a human being; you serve yourself! You have no Love within you. On the contrary, you have a spirit of judgment and condemnation!
My Brother, my Sister, GOD loves you. And He has planned a Destiny for each of us. But our individual behavior can cause GOD to change our Destiny… If we choose what GOD does not like, He may end up changing our beautiful Destiny.
People of GOD, change your bad behavior. GOD is Love. The first Fruit of the SPIRIT is Love (Galatians 5:22)! What does Matthew 7:19 tell us? “Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire!” It’s about the fruit you bear!
Have you forgiven those who have wronged you? If you keep talking about the wrongs done to you in your conversations with others, it means you haven’t forgiven yet! And if you do not forgive others, your FATHER in Heaven will not forgive your sins either (Matthew 6:14–16), and you will go to Hell…
Receive this Word in the Name of JESUS CHRIST.
“GOD’s Destiny”, translated into English from a sermon by Pastor Léonard Matchide Gonitoua on March 8, 2026 at the HOPFAN Church of Boy-Rabe (Bangui, Central African Republic – CAR). Unless otherwise stated, the Bible verses presented here are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible by David H. Stern. Copyright © 1998. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Messianic Jewish Publishers, 6120 Day Long Lane, Clarksville, MD 21029. www.messianicjewish.net.
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