How to be Promoted in God’s Kingdom
Psalm 75:6-7 – Promotion doesn’t come from the east or west but from God. He brings one down and exalts another.
1 Chronicles 29:12 – Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. It lies in your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.
Prerequisites to Promotion:
Humility
Matthew 20:26 – If you wish to be great, be a servant.
Proverbs 15:33; Luke 18:15-17 – Humility comes before honor.
Luke 18:15-17; Mark 10:13-16; Matthew 18:1-4 – Humility like a child.
Experience
1 Timothy 3:6 – Don’t promote a new convert.
1 Timothy 3:19 – Let them be tested before promotion.
1 Timothy 5:22 – Don’t lay on hands too suddenly.
Maturity, Stability
David, Moses, Paul, even Jesus were all prepared for ministry through the general experiences of life.
Serving Under Others
Eric Johnson – Submitting to authority is serving someone else’s vision.
Elisha served under Elijah
The Disciples served under Jesus.
Luke 16:10-12 – God won’t give you our own until you are faithful under another.
Eccl 9:10 – Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.
1 Peter 2:18-19 – Submit to your masters – even those who are unreasonable.
Faithfulness where you are
1 Corinthians 4:2 – It is required of stewards to be found faithful.
Proverbs 20;6 – Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but a faithful man who can find? (Phil 2:20-22).
Proverbs 25:13 – A faithful man is refreshing.
1 Timothy 1:12 – God counted me faithful and put me in the ministry.
Luke 19:11-26; Matthew 25:14-29 – Faithfulness with what you have while waiting for the kingdom to unfold.
Luke 12:42-44; Matthew 24:45-47 – Do what the Lord has give you to do, and He will give you more.
How to live while waiting for promotion:
Psalm 37:1-9
- Trust in the Lord and do good.
- Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
- Delight yourself in the Lord – He will give you the desires of your heart.
- Commit your way to the Lord.
- Trust also in Him.
- Rest in the Lord.
- Wait patiently for Him.
- Do not fret when others prosper.
- Those who wait for the Lord will inherit the land.
- He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday.