TOPIC: THE TRUE MEANING OF PROMOTION
MEMORISE:
This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1 Timothy 3:1 (KJV)
READ: 1 Peter 5:1-4
1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
MESSAGE
When people are promoted in their secular jobs, they can get promoted to positions where they will have less work to do than when they were at lower levels. In the kingdom of God, however, the real meaning of promotion is more work.
I recall many years ago, when I had not yet become the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, I saw the General Superintendent praying all through the night on one occasion, and I was worried. I thought something terrible had happened, so I asked him what the problem was the following morning. He laughed and said that I would understand much later. Many years later, when I became the General Overseer, I understood because I now pray all night too. As God promotes you in ministry, the work and sacrifices that you need to engage in will increase. For example, I had never spent Father’s Day with my family until 2020, during the coronavirus induced lockdown. I am also extremely happy whenever I have the opportunity to sleep in my own bed because it now happens very rarely. The amount of time I have to rest now is less than the amount of time I had to do so when The Redeemed Christian Church of God had 100,000 members. When God promotes you in ministry, don’t get excited about it in the flesh. Instead, you should be sober because it means that you have to increase your spiritual capacity so you can be a blessing to more souls. You should seek to draw closer to God rather than waste time rejoicing among men.
When a fellow is promoted in God’s Kingdom, it is a call to more and greater responsibilities. Hence, when you see genuine ministers of God being promoted in ministry, don’t envy them. The higher you go in God’s kingdom, the more the good work you must do increases.
It is also important to know that when God promotes men and gives them greater responsibilities, He also supplies them with a greater measure of grace. You do not have to be scared about greater responsibilities that come with God’s promotion because He will make all grace abound to you as He lifts you higher (2 Corinthians 9:8). As we read earlier in today’s memory verse, Paul said that desiring a higher office in God’s kingdom is good. Therefore, you should desire for God to keep promoting you as you continue to serve Him.
KEY POINT:
Promotion in God’s kingdom is a call to greater responsibilities
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Galatians 4-6
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 8: I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR
1. I need Thee ev'ry hour,
Most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine
Can peace afford.
Chorus:
I need Thee, O I need Thee,
Ev'ry hour I need Thee
O bless me now, my Saviour
I come to Thee!
2. I need Thee every hour
Stay Thou nearby
Temptations lose their power
When Thou art nigh.
3.I need Thee every hour,
In joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide
Or life is vain.
4.I need Thee every hour
Teach me Thy will,
And Thy rich promises
In me fulfil.
5.I need Thee every hour
Most Holy One;
Oh, make me thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son!
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