The Lord our God spoke unto us in
Horeb, saying ye have dwelt long enough in this mount….(Deut 1:6)
Irrespective of our present
situation (whether physical or spiritual matters – Education, work, singleness,
health, etc) there is always a time to move to the next level. There is always
the next level that we need to move to in our lives both in the physical and in
the spiritual.
However, there are principles that
we must understand and follow if we must connect to our next level. Some of
these principles and the necessary actions that we require are summarized in
this lecture as we must all of necessity move on to our next level in life.
These principles are highlighted below in answering the question: How do I
connect to my next level?
- You must let go the past: This may include prejudices, past successes, failures etc. (Acts 10: 13 – 16). A time comes when you need to do things differently or have a new experience. Don’t insist on the status quo
- Come down from your Carmel: – Humility (Gen 24: 63 –
64). Not minding your privileged position at a higher altitude, don’t forget
that what will move you to the next level may be at a lower elevation. You may
need to come down to that level to fully discover, appreciate and
appropriate it. This will call for humility.
(I Peter
5:6; Prov 18:12; Prov 22:4; James 4:10) Humility also involves meditation in
prayers to God as a sign of dependence on God and not on our own wisdom or
ability. You may need to take the position of a servant before you become the
boss! The way up may be the way down! You may also need to loose before you
gain!
- Let God do it His own way: (Romans.11: 33; 2 Kings 5)
God can
meet the same need in different ways. (Ex 14:16; Joshua 3:8; 14-16; 2 Kings 2:8)
Don’t
believe that you can determine the way the Lord will act at a particular time
even if you have had a previous experience over the same matter or seen how God
dealt with the problem in the life of another individual. God’s ways and means
are limitless and He can choose the way and means to act over a particular
problem differently as He may choose. Allow Him do it His own way.
- Prepare for that next level: Preparation leads to success. You need to prepare in prayer and fasting, (seek ye first the kingdom of God…Mat 6:33).
- Also prepare your heart (Prov.23:7). You may also need to improve on your training or skill or knowledge (2 Tim 2:15); Prov.4:7; Prov.24:5; Hosea 4:6). This may be spiritual knowledge or physical.
- You must believe that you can reach that next level: (Hab 1, Numbers 13; Number 14:28-38) You must not give up on God. The just shall live by faith (Heb 11:1-6; Hab 2:4) There is the need for persistency in prayers and expectation. Don’t loose focus or loose heart because of what you are seeing even when they are contrary.
- Help the people you meet on the way as they may be your ladder to the next level: (Rebecca – Gen 24:18; Joseph – Gen 40 & 41; David – 1 Sam 30:1-20). Be friend to those that may be feeble as you meet them today. They may be the path to your success tomorrow.
- Engage in fruitful service (1 Sam 9) As you do fruitful service, you may find yourself in the unexpected. Every act of fruitfulness has the potential of fruitful reward or encounter.
- Be expectant: What you don’t expect you may not experience except God just in His special kindness grant it. Expectation is the mother of manifestation. Your next encounter may be the leading path to your next level. Be expectant (Act 3)
- Don’t give up until you get to your next level: (Saul – I Sam 9; Elijah/Elisha – 2 Kings 2: 1-12). Insist prayerfully on getting to your desired level.
- Remain connected to God: (John 15:5; Phil 4:13).
Remember
that without God you are nothing. A Godless person will certainly end up a
failure. In God lies true success. Also remember the word of God which says:
what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul (Mt
16:26)
Finally arise, and shine for your light has
come…. (Isaiah 60:1)
I welcome you to your next level in Jesus name amen.