Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase ~ Job 8:7.
Introduction
King Solomon observed several years ago that the end of a thing is more important than its beginning (Ecclesiastes 7:8). Nevertheless, every glorious ending is a product of principled beginnings. Yes, your destiny is time-bound, but, with creative planning you can always get ahead!
Many people failed to realize that greatness has a beginning (Genesis 10:8). They ignored and despised their beginnings and, consequently, having missed the essential ingredients of greatness, they lived and died in great sorrow without any appreciable record of achievements in life.
Never despise your beginning just because you think it is small. Most great things usually appear small at the beginning. Jesus Christ whose name rings the loudest bell and means everything to so many people throughout the world today was actually born in a manger to a little known carpenter.
Life unfolds in stages, but what you put at the early stages of your life is crucial to who you eventually become. And, the wonder of it all is that you can begin anew today by making clear room for change!
Changes label the milestones of life (Isaiah 9:10). You must identify the gray areas of your life needing change — your heart, your sacrifice, your reverential fear for God, your discipline, your friendliness,your obedience to God, your yieldedness to the Holy Ghost, etcetera — and retouch them even as you trust in the divine ability for help (Jeremiah 13:23).
You didn’t determine how and where you were born, but you can actually choose how you live and die if you occupy your right position in destiny. When you do, you come on board to God’s side, begin to reign with His authority and your adventures start to turn to brilliant achievements.
Provoking The Supernatural Forces of Lifting
The Almighty God enjoys raising the poor and lifting the needy, repositioning them completely to re-order their socio-spiritual status (Psalm 113:4-9). Little can become much when God is involved (Joshua 3:7).
At one time, David was totally abandoned in the bush, yet the hand of the Lord fetched him at the season of his enthronement. Jacob went abroad with only a dry walking stick, but he returned as a nation in two bands (Genesis 32:10). Remember Joseph also! Our God is truly awesome, and in Him, “there is lifting up” (Job 22:29). Amen.
Meanwhile, an array of contrary forces that disable lifting exists in the spirit realm. Therefore, until a man learns to neutralize their stagnating forces of drag and gravity by the power of God, he may just grope through life without any success story to tell.
Happily, certain spiritual forces also work in synergy to secure the platform for divine lifting. Very fundamental amongst these is the force of preparation and training.
Preparation is an essential requirementfor everyone that hopes to generate benefits and remain relevant in life. Training is crucial to operating in excellence and prominence, just like sport stars, doctors, lawyers, engineers, etcetera, do before they become who they are celebrated for.
Jothan became mighty because he prepared himself before the Lord (2Chronicles 27:6). Certainly, you must yield to training in order to reign in your fields of endeavor, including spiritual matters.
One aspect of your training that must be accorded top priority is discipline. Discipline as a critical ingredient of success holds the key to the fulfillment of dreams and aspirations. It’s the bridge between your thoughts and their realization.
Drifting aimlessly through life can only lead to frustration and disappointments. And, great failures in life are consequences of accumulated little failings, which happen as a result of too little discipline.
Next is right association. Somebody somewhere has what you’re looking for. Someone somewhere is already done with what you’re desperate to accomplish. And when you associate rightly with such people, your struggles to rise in life become terminated.
Undoubtedly, there is great strength in right relationships. Remember Elijah and Elisha, Moses and Joshua, David and Jonathan, and Aquila and Priscilla: they all perfected the beauties of right association. Indeed, your greatest asset in life is access.
The most important force here is acute sensitivity to the Holy Ghost. When you “know” what God is doing at a material time and you join Him, and you also“discern” what the devil is doing at any particular time and you confront him, you naturally become a showpiece of wonder to your generation.
The Voice of the Lord is majestic. David traded in it and his record of victories remains unbroken for many generations (1Samuel 30:8).
The Holy Spirit is the critical factor for supernatural exaltation and finishing strong! Running laboriously alone doesn’t guarantee honor, for “by strength shall no man prevail” (Psalm 75:6-7; Romans 9:12-16). To ignore this fact is tantamount to choosing to labor like a dying ass.
Moreover, yokes never respond to pleas, strong-will, or agonizing cries of self-pity, but only to the anointing of the Holy Spirit, which works through covenant understanding and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Of a truth, strong oppositions naturally arise against strong positions in destinies, to the end that major voices would not be heard. Happily, it was in this world also that David saw war, fought war and conquered to maintain his exalted throne till the end.
By the strength of his practical affinity for Holy Ghost anointing, David fought with beasts, killed Goliath, escaped the hits of javelins and scaled the plots of a rebellious offspring, Absalom (Psalm 89:20-29). He also squared up to the threat of the Amalekites in Ziglag, and came out much better and richer for it (1Samuel 30).
Now, fresh oil requires a fresh touch. As we stay close to the Father in loving relationships, with obedience, commitment and humility, this same anointing will secure and maintain divine promotion for us. Notwithstanding, you must stay under authority!
You need someone to pour oil on you. Find an address for yourself in the body of Christ by doing something for God in a lively assembly of God’s people. God always wishes to reach out to you at the location where He placed you.
Of course, in all of these, you must be bold! The future belongs to covenant “risk-takers”, not to lily-livered “caretakers”. David killed both the lion and the bear, and without extra efforts, his throne was garnished with supernatural assistance.
To finish well in the line of greatness, you must dare where others are dismayed.Boldness is a manifest evidence of faith!
The Privileged Position of Sons of God
None is as privileged as the sons of God. For receiving Jesus Christ into his heart, a believer gains the status of God’s son and, thereafter, he is no more an ordinary man but a brand new creature with dominion rights (John 1:12). This is the position of dignity which every believer now occupies, and this is the surest foundation and the most crucial beginning of greatness.
Noble birth always inspires noble ambitions. When you give a chance to the innate sense of sonship through Christ, nothing can stop you from taking a walk of power with God on to a place higher than where you are. Contrariwise, you may never know where you are heading.
Friends, let’s keep moving till we get to the finishing line, at the top (Philippians 3:14). This race of destiny is not designed for “casual walkers”but for “determined runners” (Habakuk.2:2).Arise, the place where you are now is not your resting place (Micah 2:10).
Albeit, obedience to God in all things is the badge of strong finishers (Job 8:6-7). Give attention to His details of a principled lifestyle. Be organized. Accept responsibility for your passion and decisions. Your tomorrow will come, but please note that it actually starts today.
God is set to bless you until you’re satisfied, if you aren’t bored of kingdom accomplishment! Just like the greatness of Moses was unpreventable, your testimonies of grace and glory will be unstoppable.
Mercy will overtake you, the goodness of the Lord will overwhelm you, and you will standout as a great finisher. Supernatural prominence is your destination. You won’t miss it, in Jesus Name. Happy Sunday!
____________________
Bishop Taiwo Akinola,
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Connect with Bishop Akinola via these channels:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bishopakinola
SMS/WhatsApp: +234 802 318 4987
