Promotion in the Kingdom vs. the World

Welcome to this week’s teaching.

Today, I want to share with you the difference of being promoted in the Kingdom of God versus how the world views promotion.

Promotion is very “tasty” to the flesh. Humans love to look and feel important. Promotion can carry with it mindsets of pride, elitism and superiority. That is why every emerging leader will to go through a time of brokenness in his or her life. The world views promotion as being the “top dog”. Yet in the Kingdom of God, the higher up you go the more of a servant you become.

The word “brokenness” is used many times when explaining the dealings of God in a leader’s life. God purposefully allows situations in your life that will ultimately expose the character defects of pride, superiority, independence and other forms of sin that you may not be aware of. For many, negative emotions emerge from past failures, deep rooted inferiority complexes and lack of trust in God. When you see your sins and attitudes for what they really are, you will begin to genuinely repent from these lifestyles and attitudes. You will then learn to put on humility and develop a new, fresh trust in God. This stage is very painful, so you will also experience a time of mourning. In the end, however, the result will be refreshing and empowering because Christ will be beautifully reflected in you as the true Hope of Glory.

Another problem found in promotion is that of being passed over. People work very hard for many years and feel extremely disillusioned when their leaders promote others instead of them. As a consequence, many attempt to push themselves into promotions before their time. When they succeed in pushing themselves into higher levels of responsibility, they quickly learn that they are incompetent in working at the new level. This is followed by a great frustration of being fired due to incompetence. A godly leader recognizes that true promotion ultimately comes from the Lord.

“For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” (Author’s emphasis) — Psalm 75:6-7 (KJV)

The NIV states it this way:

“No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man. But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.” — Psalm 75:6-7

While everyone else is fighting and jockeying for position, the patient, godly leader understands that at the right time God will provide the way of promotion. A good example of this is found in the life of King David. No one in his family realized nor recognized that a king was in formation in the life of David. The Prophet Samuel also did not initially recognize David’s potential. Nonetheless, God took David from tending sheep to shepherding Israel.

Samuel judged David by his appearance and size, and wrongly expected God to choose one of David’s brawny brothers. But in God’s Kingdom neither fame, nor size, nor looks are determining factors for promotion. God looks at our hearts, motives and lifestyles. While David may not have looked as impressive as his brothers, God promoted him above them, and the rest is history.

Another excellent example of promotion in the midst of extremely contrary circumstances is that of Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob. Joseph lived in a difficult environment. Jacob’s preferential treatment of Joseph caused him to be hated by his siblings. Jacob openly showed more love to Joseph than to his other children, and even made Joseph a coat of many colors. As a result, Joseph’s brothers could not speak well of him nor to him. An even greater hatred was eventually developed between the brothers when Joseph shared several dreams with them. Joseph’s dreams seemed to infer that his family would bow down to him one day. This ultimately led to an unspeakable action. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery and faked his death. They reported this awful lie to their father in the hopes that they would never see Joseph again.

Joseph’s fate appeared to be sealed. Under the scenario his brothers laid out for him, he would never gain the opportunity to live above them again. By the actions of his brothers, Joseph was rendered an official nobody—a slave. It seemed that Joseph’s life couldn’t possibly get any worse. But it did. It worsened much more as Joseph became accused of raping his master’s wife and ultimately ended up in prison. Under this state of affairs, it appeared that Joseph would never become anyone of significance. Yet God took this outcast of society, a forgotten soul, and promoted him beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. In a prison cell, God gave Joseph favor with the right people and he was eventually elevated to the highest position alongside Pharaoh (Genesis 39: 21-23; 41: 14-16; 41: 37-45).

In the end, Joseph’s brothers, including his father Jacob, bowed before him, just like the dream foretold. Even though Joseph experienced every conceivable challenge and hardship, God “turned his mourning into dancing”. The Lord divinely ordered Joseph’s steps. This account strongly teaches that if you are faithful and obedient, God will turn any contrary situation around for your good. Like Joseph, God will also order your steps and promote you in His time and season.

There are various principles found in Joseph’s life and promotion:

• God prepares you in secret.
• God initiates your ministry, not by your own design; it is revealed to you step by step during the course of your walk with God.
• God’s will is based on seasons in your life.
• Without God you cannot do anything of eternal value.
• You will recognize the high importance and value of obedience, faithfulness and integrity of character.
• God prepares the way for you and orders your steps.
• God permits you to enter into a wilderness experience that will expose things within you that must be dealt with.
• Opportunities are many times hidden within your problems.
• In the end, you will possess your inheritance.

Now that you have had the opportunity to read through this week’s teaching, you probably are experiencing one or more of these processes in your life right now. Be encouraged, because you are well under way to your promotion in God’s Kingdom. Always remember: As you humble yourself, God will exalt you.

Applying wisdom to everyday life for extraordinary results,

Victor Nazario