YOU ARE DESTINED FOR GREATNESS

Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28

Destined: to decree beforehand; to set apart for a special purpose

Greatness means largeness in size.

Ø It means to be prominent, imposing, grand and distinguish.
Ø Greatness has something to do with achievement, ability, character and of course the anointing.
Ø Greatness: knowing your purpose in life and sowing into the lives of others

Jeremiah 29:11
• KJV- For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an
expected end.

• NIV - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future.

Ø Did you know that AS God’s CHILD, you are a carrier of greatness?
Ø When God created the earth, it contained the seeds that brought forth life.
Ø When GOD CREATED YOU, He Placed Seeds Of Greatness In You.
Ø Part of the reason that many of us DON'T REALIZE that we CARRY SEEDS OF GREATNESS is because
we've had so MANY NEGATIVE THINGS that HAPPEN TO US.
Ø GOD'S PLANS AND PURPOSES (SEEDS OF GREATNESS) for our lives have become buried and/or they
are dormant, WAITING FOR THE RIGHT WORDS OF LIFE to grow them into action.
Ø In other words, you were SET APART for a special purpose in life and THEN USE THAT LIFE to BLESS
OTHERS – that’s what God has destined you for GREATNESS!
Ø Some people will put you in a box.
Ø Infact, you have put yourself in a box.
Ø They are labels given to you.
Ø What can be those labels?
ü Poor, Broken Home, Old, Fat, Divorced, Single, Depressed, Looser, Lazy ,No Future, Weak,,
Nobody
Ø But this morning, I have 8 words for you!
§ IT’S TIME TO GET OUT OF THE BOX. (narrate Jollibee training about out of the box)
Ø You have to learn how to get out from these STEREOTYPES IN THE BOX.
Ø Every child of God must know that “IT IS NOT OVER UNTIL IS OVER”.
Ø I believe that it Cannot Be Over Until I Receive what I asked from God, UNTIL YOU & I WILL BE TRULY
GREAT.
Ø Turn to someone and say, “I’m getting out of this box, BECAUSE I am destined for greatness!
Ø Many of you today Do Not Realize just how CLOSE YOU are to the Success Or Greatness God has
destined for you.
Ø There is a dream in you that is bigger than you that is really the REAL YOU –
ü that’s the DESTINED FOR GREATNESS God has deposited.
• Let us examine the life of one of the bravest woman in the Bible who fulfilled her prophetic destiny!
• QUEEN ESTHER – means star

ESTHER 2:5-8
Ø 5 Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei,
the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
Ø 6 Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of
Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
Ø 7 And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the
maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
Ø 8 So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were
gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai (HAYGAY), that Esther was brought also unto
the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

ESTHER 2:13, 15, 17 - 13 When it was time for her to go to the king’s palace, she was given her choice of whatever
clothing or jewelry she wanted to take from the harem. 15 Esther was the daughter of Abihail (Or Hebrew, ABIHA-IL)
who was Mordecai’s uncle. (Mordecai had adopted his younger cousin Esther.) When it was Esther’s turn to go to the
king, she accepted the advice of Hega (HAYGAY), the eunuch in charge of the harem (HEH-RUM). She asked for nothing
except what he suggested, and she was admired by everyone who saw her.
. 17 And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the
royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti.(VASH TYE)

The title of our message this morning is YOU ARE DESTINED FOR GREATNESS!

What are the steps to getting out of the box to move forward in the purpose God has for you? (4)
(What can you do to break free and move closer to the purpose God has for you?)

1. IF YOU DON’T SEE THE POTENTIAL OR SEED IN YOURSELF, GOD HAS ORDAINED SOMEONE TO
RECOGNIZE THE SEED OF GREATNESS IN YOU.
Ø Parents, Relatives Grandparents ,Cousin, Teacher, Friend, Pastor
Ø TESTIMONY – DAPRISA President, Sis Abing
Ø ESTHER HAD MORDECAI.
Ø He was her cousin and he saw the beauty in her that would make her a queen.

• Because Esther was promoted to become the queen, she was in a favored position to protect all the
Jewish people in the kingdom from being killed.
• When the Lord promotes you, He gives you the influence to be a blessing to the people around you.

• Ephesians 2:10 (NIV): "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which
God prepared in advance for us to do."
o This verse highlights that we are created with purpose by God and equipped to fulfill the good
works He has prepared for us.

2. YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO TURN LEMONS INTO LEMONADE AND CHICKEN INTO CHICKEN
SANDWICHES
Ø Story – Truett Cathy is the founder of Chick-Fil-A , it created the 1st chicken sandwich in the fast food
industry.
ü In the year 2000 it became a billion-dollar company.
 ü Despite facing challenges and skepticism, Cathy persisted in pursuing his vision for Chick-fil-A,
showcasing the power of perseverance in achieving success.

Ø Romans 8:28 (NIV): "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose."
ü This verse reminds believers that God can bring good out of any situation, even difficult ones.
Ø God’s people needs to take the gift in them and learn to maximize it.
Ø God has deposited a gift in you – perhaps you love children, good in playing games, love to help the
elderly, good at speaking, good at cleaning, cooking, - MAXIMIZE IT! MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL GOD
HAS GIVEN YOU..
Ø You need to learn to REJECT REJECTION.
Ø Look at what you have ( MAXIMIZE IT) and don’t compare yourself to others.
ü (SHOULD YOU COMPARE, THAT IS TO INSPIRE YOU TO BE BETTER, NOT TO CAUSE ENVY)

3. FIND THE OFF-RAMP FROM THE EXCUSE FREEWAY

Ø Stop making excuses. Excuses are the crutch of the uncommitted. (panagang)
Ø EXCUSES cause you to:
1. Cover Up - It’s human nature; don’t waste your energy covering up excuses.
2. Dig Up - Keep digging and digging and never acknowledging you are digging because it is the place
where you want to hide. You constantly making excuses.
3. Give Up - 90% of all people who make excuses are not defeated, but they quit.

Romans 14:12 (NIV): "So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God."
Ø Believers should remember that they are ultimately accountable for their actions and cannot rely
on excuses when facing judgment.
Ø Remember the box?
Ø Many have placed labels on you and you use them as excuses NOT TO MOVE FORWARD into YOUR
DESTINY AND PURPOSE.
Ø It’s time to WAKE UP and STOP MAKING EXCUSES!
Ø Find a way to stop making excuses and take responsibility or action instead.

In our text :
Ø Mordecai, found himself in a challenging situation when his cousin Esther became queen, and
Haman, a high-ranking official, PLOTTED TO DESTROY THE JEWISH PEOPLE.
Ø Instead of making excuses or remaining passive in the face of danger, MORDECAI TOOK ACTION.
Ø He urged Esther to use her position to intervene on behalf of their people, even though it put her
own life at risk.

• In the end, MORDECAI'S BRAVERY and ESTHER'S COURAGE led to the SALVATION OF THE JEWISH
PEOPLE
• He took the responsibility, trusted God, and stood up for what is right, even in the face of
adversity.
Ø The only way to get off the excuse freeway is to Take Full Responsibility For Yourself and Your
Mistakes.
Ø Change your excuses by accepting responsibility.
ü Millenials and the Gen Zs (most especially the Gen Z’s)
Ø You make excuses because you do not want to Take The Consequences of Your Mistakes Or The
Responsibility.
Ø WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?
ü Develop a plan to build up your strengths.- INSTEAD OF Always Looking For Excuses because
of your limitations , LOOK FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE AND BETTER YOURSELF.
ü Change yourself and things will change.
ü Say Good Bye To Yesterday
Ø To move forward into your greatness, you must learn to say goodbye to yesterday’s tragedies and
baggages.
Ø The failures of the past impact you in two ways: BREAKDOWN OR BREAKTHROUGH
ü Use your stumbling block as a STEPPING STONE
ü INSTEAD OF GOING DOWNHILL, GO UPHILL

Ø Mordecai did not let the fact that “Esther was an orphan “stop him from entering her into the beauty
contest.
Ø He did not let her past PARALYZE HER FUTURE.
Ø Don’t let your present affect your future!-
ü Imagine a student who is facing academic challenges in their current semester
ü Despite struggling with his grades and feeling discouraged, he refuses to let these setbacks
define his future.
ü Instead of giving in to despair or making excuses for his performance, he chose to seek help,
work diligently to improve his study habits, and remain focused on his long-term goals.

4. DON’T YOU DARE MISS IT!

Ø Be bold.
Ø Use your opposition into OPPORTUNITY
Ø You cannot afford to miss any opportunity that comes up to propel you into your destiny.
Ø Mordecai saw the opportunity to enter Esther into the beauty contest and she became queen.
Ø But Esther almost missed the opportunity to save her nation

Esther 4:7-13
Mordecai told him the whole story, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal
treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 Mordecai gave Hathach (HE-TAK) a copy of the decree issued in Susa that
called for the death of all Jews. He asked Hathach to show it to Esther and explain the situation to her. He also asked
Hathach to direct her to go to the king to beg for mercy and plead for her people. 9 So Hathach returned to Esther with
Mordecai’s message.
10 Then Esther told Hathach to go back and relay this message to Mordecai: 11 “All the king’s officials and even the
people in the provinces know that anyone who appears before the king in his inner court without being invited is
doomed to die unless the king holds out his gold scepter. And the king has not called for me to come to him for thirty
days.” 12 So Hathach[a] gave Esther’s message to Mordecai.
13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when
all other Jews are killed.

Ø But she became a DON’T DARE MISS IT Person!

Esther 4:15-17
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or
drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to
see the king. If I must die, I must die.” 17 So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
Ø She faced her inadequacies
Ø She fished for solutions
Ø She finalized her decision - …If I perish, I perish.
RECAP: - (What can you do to break free and move closer to the purpose God has for you?)
1. If you don’t see the potential or seed in yourself, god has ordained someone to recognize the seed
of greatness in you.
2. You have to learn to turn lemons into lemonade and chicken into chicken sandwiches
3. Find the off-ramp from the excuse freeway
4. Don’t you dare miss it!

Closing:
Ø You were set apart for a special purpose in life and then use that life to bless others – that’s what
God has destined you for greatness!
Ø WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS?
Ø Greatness involves dreaming big.
Ø Great people are motivated by dreams which are beyond their capacity to fulfill.
Ø Pursue your dreams and you will get there in Jesus name.