Intro: There are no shortcuts. Our mind is being conditioned w/ instant foods(noodles, coffee, cocoa, coconut milk, ginger, computers, etc.) but our blueprint, God's plan towards our destiny is progressive, little by little we're taking ground.
Key verses:
Mark 4:30 Then He said, "To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? It is like a mustard seed w/c, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth, but when it is sown, IT GROWS UP and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade."
Luke 16:10 "Whoever can be TRUSTED W/ VERY LITTLE CAN ALSO BE TRUSTED w/ much, and whoever is dishonest w/ very little will also be dishonest w/ much."
Job 8:7 "Though your BEGINNING WAS SMALL, yet YOUR LATTER END WOULD INCREASE ABUNDANTLY."
"Though you STARTED WITH LITTLE, you will END WITH MUCH."
I. YOU MUST IDENTIFY WHAT GOD HAS PUT INTO YOUR HANDS AND BE FAITHFUL TO USE IT FOR HIS GLORY.
Exodus 4:2
1. Can perform miraculous signs w/ it.
2. Through it they drink from a rock when it was struck by the rod.
3. Through the rod Nile river turned into blood.
4. It divides the Red Sea.
5. It leads the people of Israel.
*Moses' hand was nothing, but the Lord put His Word that carried His authority and power that performed the miraculous.
-through you the blind will see, the lame can walk, the deaf can hear
-through you the people are being led to His presence and in their destiny
II. THERE ARE CONDITIONS TO ENTER INTO THE PROGRESSIVE PLAN OF GOD
A. WE MUST CHOOSE THE PATHWAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Prov 4:18 "But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn, THAT SHINES MORE AND MORE (BRIGHTER AND CLEARER) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared].
Job 17:9 YET THE RIGHTEOUS WILL HOLD TO HIS WAY, AND HE WHO HAS CLEAN HANDS WILL BE STRONGER AND STRONGER.
Example: Joseph. Look at God's progressive plan to him.
-loved by his father. Gen 37:3-4
-his brothers threw him into the cistern. v.23
-sold him into the Ismaelites. v.28
-sold in Egypt to Potiphar. v.36
-Gen 39:2-6 The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered
-Joseph was tempted. v.6-7, 11
-he was put into prison. v.20
Gen 41:39-44 "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you."
-He has two sons. Gen 41:50-52 Manasseh ---"It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household," Ephraim "It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering."
-God's plan for Joseph. Gen 50:20-21 ---"Don't be afraid. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid, I will provide for you and your children."
-Joseph chose the pathway of righteousness that he chose not to be buried in Egypt. Gen 50:24-25.
B. WE MUST CHOOSE TO WALK IN THE LIGHT OF HIS WORD
Isaiah 2:5 "O Israel, come, LET US WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD and be obedient to His laws!"
We need to obey and follow His Word because God knows us. We don't copy on another's calling.The Lord said, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jer 29:11)
Psa 119:105
C. WE MUST WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE FAITH
Heb 11:8.
Gen 12:1-4.
-At God's call, Abraham left his city and spent his life wandering in the wilderness. Moving his flocks from place to place, fighting the skirmishes and pitched battles with hostile local people, Abraham had to be strong to survive. Lots of strong nomads wandered also in Middle East. What made this particular wanderer so important?
-Abram traveled---every land he traveled...God always spoke His promise and Abram believed.
-When God spoke to him, Abraham listened. He was far from perfect. Sometimes he strayed away from the path God put him on, yet in the decisive moments of life, he listened to God and obeyed. He was willing to sacrifice anything for God---even his only son.
-What about you? Are you willing to sacrifice yourself for the cause of God's glory? Can you leave your comfort zone just to attend overnight prayer meetings? Sunday morning devotionals?
D. WE MUST BREAKTHROUGH IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
-Every time God spoke to Abraham, "Abraham built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord."
Psa 84:7. THEY GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH [increasing in victorious power]; EACH OF THEM APPEARS BEFORE GOD IN ZION.
E. DEVELOP A LIFESTYLE TO BE FAITHFUL IN LITTLE THINGS
Luke 19:17.
Remember:
a.) Everything big starts small. If God instruct you to do something though it is small in your eyes, when you do it faithfully it is big in His sight. Be faithful to the end. God wants to reveal great things to us if we are faithful in little things the Lord gave us.
b.) This is the law of progression; success lies in our daily routine. (deevos)
c.) Our life is made up of series of assignments. Our faithfulness to our current assignment will largely determine the timing of our next assignment.
d.) We cannot go to the next level until we finish our present level. In the kingdom there is no social promotion. God gives the promotion to the faithful.
e.) To fulfill our part is to prepare our self; days of preparation are not lost of time, though it's not easy.Because there are sacrifices that we need to make. Contained in your current assignment is a preparation for your future assignment.
f.) To move outside God's timing is to move outside God's will. We must be promoted by God not by our own aggressiveness.
Be diligent in making your election sure. He will not give you something that you are not capable to handle. He cannot give you something to ruin your life. Rejoice over the small things for we are on our way to greatness, His purpose is to promote you.
2 Peter 1:10 "Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."