DNA
Your DNA Is Not Your Destiny
The creation of the human body is one of the greatest unrealized miracles. The complexities of the human body continue to fascinate and astound the science community.
David Fearnhead: “We celebrate our ability to create machines that move as man, yet we take for granted the miracle that is the human body.
The more we learn about the human body, the more we recognize the body could NOT have been made by chance, but rather we see evidence of a designer. Design features are evident in the structures and functions of each of the body systems.
This morning, we are going to learn how we actually have a choice in the person we become. We do not have to be limited by our personality traits or our genes. We are going to see how science is catching up to what God has been telling us from the beginning.
The process of your creation is complex, intentional, and miraculous.
Psalm 139:14-16
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. (ESV)
This scripture is saying we should be able to look at creation and see God’s fingerprint. Essentially, the more we discover about the world, our bodies, and systems, the more it should point to a designer.
DNA is a great example of our miraculous complex make up.
DNA is often referred to as the language God used to create life.
Your DNA is the genetic code that makes you ( Eye color, hair color, physiology, behavior, and personality). Your DNA contains the information. That information is transcribed to RNA. RNA are little molecules that leave the cell nucleus to go to the outer portions of the cell and carry that information to the ribosomes, that create proteins. The proteins go out into the body and they create the building blocks to human physiology. DNA is a double helix. It’s wound around itself and protein in the middle. The protein DNA complex is called a chromosome. The portion of the DNA that has the information for the body is called a gene. your genes are coded for the different parts of your body and physiological behavior. It is said that the information in your DNA could stretch from the earth to the sun and back 600 times. At conception, you get half your DNA from your mom and a half from your Dad. – Babies in the womb have their OWN DNA.
These machines called bodies are so complex and intentional in their creation, they didn’t just happen by accident or chance. Think about me. When is the last time you threw paint up in the air and down came the Mona Lisa? Never, and it never will, regardless of how much time passes.
Your body and your whole being was created intentionally with purpose in love. The enemy wants to destroy this knowledge and convince you that you are purposeless and valueless. But God has provided the truth and evidence in creation, and Romans 1:18 is true. Creation does in fact point to a creator! Our bodies are evidence of God’s design. You are a miracle!!
Your DNA is NOT your destiny!
Some of you may be confused right now because I just spent the first part of this sermon talking about the intentionality and seemingly fixed process of DNA in our creation. You might be saying How are you now saying “My DNA is not my destiny” “It’s my DNA, I can’t control it?” “This is how I was made”. I will attempt to address this from a spiritual perspective and a physiological level *
The Holy Spirit has the power to supersede your Genetics- When you become born again in Christ, the Holy Spirit makes you NEW!
2 Corinthians 5:1
1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (ESV)
When we say “Yes” to Jesus, we begin a Sanctification journey. Sanctification is the purification process that happens as we mature. We will ALWAYS be in this process as long as we live. (Ex: you might be a genetically predisposed alcoholic, but If you choose not to drink alcohol or are intentionally disciplined with alcohol, you won’t be a victim of alcoholism.
It’s the process of receiving God’s heart as our own. This process creates change inside of us and can supersede our tendencies and genetic makeup; like personality. We just have to be willing.
Ephesians 4:17-24
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (ESV)
The key problem for the Gentiles was their thinking. It was their mind! Their mind was darkened and God said their understanding was darkened because their thoughts excluded God. Their darkened mind is what leads to a hardened heart and bad behavior. The end result was a Callousness towards truth or the light. Paul goes on to say the way to overcome our OLD self and way of thinking, is to RENEW OUR MINDS IN CHRIST, Which is the light. In other words, the pathway to a purified or healthy you is through protecting your mind and allowing it to be renewed and purified with God’s truth, so our behavior changes (Repentance when we fall short).
The mind is the gateway: God is saying a darkened mind leads to an unhealthy lifestyle and a Renewed Mind in Christ leads to a healthy lifestyle.
We get to choose where we allow our mind to go.
– Depression might be in my Genes, but THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH!(Nehemiah 8:9-10)
– I might be predisposed to anxiety, but I have the peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7)
– I might be an introvert, shy, and afraid to speak or pray publicly, But Christ can have you standing before Pharaohs and powerful leaders declaring the word of the LORD.
– I might be an extrovert, loud by nature, and always ready to argue my point of view, but the Lord may be calling me to be silent as Jesus was before Pilate.
-Anger might be in my family history, but I am choosing to live a life of forgiveness and love! – It stops with me!
When Jesus is allowed to be in the driver seat of our lives, there are NO restrictions because we are willing to surrender our feelings/desires and take on his.
Change happens when our love for obedience to what the Lord is asking, is greater than our comfort or desires.
All you need to be is willing!! Your DNA is NOT your destiny!
Science is catching up to scripture – The concept of your DNA not being your destiny is a newer scientific discovery through the study of Epigenetic’s
1. On January 18th, 2010 – Time magazine published on its front page the statement “Why your DNA isn’t your destiny”
2. Epigenetics: The science that shows how our choices, lifestyle, behaviors, drugs, and chemicals, the amount of love in our young life/old life, our THOUGHTS, can change our genes. Remember, the old paradigm in the science community was that our genetics was fixed; meaning it was all predetermined before you were born and you can’t change it. Epigenetic proves this is not the case. (Dr. Caroline Leaf- a great person to follow)
What was discovered? – On our chromosomes are control mechanisms on the DNA, which is a protein called histone. This protein can regulate the DNA and cause it to open up and express, or it can keep it closed up Cause it to Coil back- This is the new science of Epigenetics.
How does it work? In Chromosomes, at the end of them are telomeres. Telomeres are like the cap on the end of a shoelace. They form a cap on the end of the DNA. The cap on a shoelace stops the lace from becoming frayed, the telomeres protect the DNA from destruction/disrepair. It’s been found that the telomeres are so important to protecting the health of the DNA and the health of your body, however, they degrade with age. They get shorter. This gives less protection to the DNA, which allows the DNA to get corrupted which leads to chronic issues. There is an enzyme that takes care of the telomere. It’s called Telomerase. This enzyme has been related to aging and chronic disorders. It maintains the telomere, which maintains the DNA and its integrity.
Howard University and the center for natural medicine and prevention received funding from the NIH to study this subject. – They had two groups. One Practiced meditation and the other had extreme lifestyle changes. They measured before and after 16 weeks – Lifestyle change group had changes in their telomere expression- But those meditating twice a day had major changes in the Telomerase. Wall Street Journal ran an article with these findings.
Studies show that if we meditate (pray) on the deepest levels, we can change our DNA. It’s been found that many diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, cancer, chronic disorders of aging, are caused by or helped to be caused by Epigenetics.
Proverbs 4:20-22
20 My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. (ESV)
Proverbs 4:12
12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. (ESV)
This is why the enemy works so hard to darken our minds, this is how he steals our life!
1.You can overcome you!
– Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who give me strength”
-Your faith in God’s CAN has to be bigger than your belief that You CANT.
You can pray for people.
You can share the word of God.
You can be healed and set free.
2. Guard your mind: A darkened mind leads to an unhealthy life.
Philippians 4:8-9 “ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- meditate on these things.
Ask God to help you identify anything that may contribute to a darkened mind.
3. Remind yourself every day that you are a miracle.
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