Pastor Joel @ Lakewood
We all want to rise higher but when we're focused on ourselves we'll get stuck.
When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!
Job 42:10 NLT
He did something for others then he rose higher.
Some people are unhappy because they are only thinking about themselves. Is not healthy to have yourself on your mind all of the time.
Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. "Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
Isaiah 58:7-8 NLT
When you make it your business to serve THEN the light will come in.
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
Matthew 6:3-4 NKJV
Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
Matthew 6:4 NLT
God sees everything so don't worry about whether or not you get credit from people.
Sometimes we're not serving because we think it's small and won't make that big of a difference.
Success is not an elevator it's a staircase. God leads you step by step.
David had been annointed king but he was sent back to work in the shepherd's field. His dad also called on him to serve his brothers. On one of those errands was taking his brothers lunch and had he not done something that didn't seem regal he would have never met goliath for whom there was a reward ordered that would bless his entire family.
David was led to his destiny by delivering a sandwich.
So the men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel; and it shall be that the man who kills him the king will enrich with great riches, will give him his daughter, and give his father's house exemption from taxes in Israel."
I Samuel 17:25 NKJV
David didn't deliver the lunches with an agenda. He was just faithfully serving.
Joel used to work behind the scenes faithfully serving his father's vision. Picking out clothes, video recorders, editing video.
You have to be faithful in the wilderness before God will take you into the promised land.
You have to carry a crown before you can wear one.
And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?
Luke 16:12 NKJV
Elijah & Elisha
Some six or seven years before the end of Elijah's mortal ministry, the Lord revealed to him that Elisha would be his successor (see 1 Kgs. 19:16). So Elijah went to meet him and found Elisha plowing a field. Elijah approached him and threw his mantle (cloak) over Elisha's shoulders, signifying Elisha's call to be his attendant and disciple. Elisha then kissed his parents good-bye, gave away all he owned, and "arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him" (see 1 Kgs. 19:19–21). Elisha served and matured spiritually under Elijah's direction through several major events.
Elisha's loyalty to Elijah and his response to the sons of the prophets reminds us of the importance of sustaining our leaders right up to the time they are formally released, even when we know this may be soon.
And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." So he said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so. "
II Kings 2:9-10 NKJV
Joseph
Sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, he rose to become vizier, the second most powerful man in Egypt next to Pharaoh, where his presence and office caused Israel to leave Canaan and settle in Egypt. He was able to rise higher because he served faithfully with integrity whether he was a servant or in jail.
Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
Psalms 100:2 NKJV
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