Pursue spiritual growth, by Funmi Komolafe

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Let’s begin with thanks to the Almighty God that has brought us to the last Sunday in the month of April. Glory be to God.

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Brethren, having gone through four months, we all know that we have eight months left in the year. Within this period, a lot can still happen but what happens depends on you

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Why do I say it depends on you? It is simply because your relationship with your Maker, the Almighty God determines what you get.

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Bear in mind that it is what you ask for that you will get.

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Numbers 14 vs. 28: “Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you”.

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This is the word of God that connects what you say with your tongue with the ears of God to answer you.

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Brethren, there are many things we cannot do by ourselves. If the Lord had put us in a position to be able to do all things ourselves, then, very few people would turn to God for help.

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So in many situations, we actually need the Lord to elevate us.

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What is Divine Elevation? It is simply put, supernatural uplifting.

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You need to ask yourself some questions. For example, if you want to be elevated from the one that is mocked to the one that is celebrated, only God can help you.

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Brethren at the stage of mockery, it is only you or you and your spouse that are being mocked because of barrenness, poverty, stagnation, illness, loneliness or failure in any area of life.

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But when celebration comes, you won’t be the one to celebrate yourself, other people will celebrate you.

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Genesis 21 vs. 6 ( KJV) : “And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me”.

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God elevated her from the woman mocked with barrenness to a woman celebrated as the mother of a promised child . It happened at a time that people had written her off and she also had written herself off.

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Another person that God elevated was Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob. Indeed the child of Jacob and Rachael. Joseph was born after his mother’s years of waiting on the LORD.

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God didn’t just give her a child, he gave a special child just like Isaac.

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Joseph that was to be buried alive, the one that was sold into slavery, the one that served as a servant to Potiphar suffered intimidation, humiliation and even betrayal but God elevated him above all these to make him the prime minister of Egypt.

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Genesis 41 vs. 41 &42: “ And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt .

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And Pharaoh took of his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck”.

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Brethren, perhaps you have been working hard without anything to show for it. Don’t lose hope, see yourself as going through challenges just like Joseph but consistently seek the LORD’s help for elevation.

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Isaiah 40 vs 31 states : “ But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”

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Perhaps there is a lady reading this and you are saying to yourself, “ I am 50 or close to 50 yet unmarried and without children”.

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Thoughts like these are not helpful. They could in fact delay miracles..

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What is helpful is prayer. Ask God for Divine Elevation.

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Divine Elevation has consequences.

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When the Lord responds to your prayer for divine elevation, your oppressors physical or spiritual will bow to your God.

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Not only that, God will restore lost opportunities.

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This could mean that for a woman who has suffered several miscarriages, she could conceive and give birth to multiple babies. When this happens, she that has been mocked would be celebrated.

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My prayer for you is that this would be your story very soon in the name of Jesus.

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Another consequence of Divine Elevation is that God empowers you to rule over those more qualified than you.

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You may apply for a promotion in your office just as others but when it is time to make a choice, the board could say, let’s appoint Mr. X though others have better academic qualifications, we’ll choose him for his skill, dedication, loyalty and the trust we have in him. That way, you are divinely elevated above those that posses higher paper qualification.

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Divine elevation also moves one from obscurity to prominence . Joseph moved from the prison to the palace, Hannah moved from the sorrowful woman to a joyful mother of children.

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However, there are principles that guide Divine Elevation.

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The first is that your activities must be in line with the LORD’s ways.

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Psalm 119 vs. 9-11: ‘ Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

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With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

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Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee”.

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Secondly, let God lead you in all that you do and this means that you have to be patient. You may have been praying for some days or even weeks without an answer. It doesn’t mean that God is doing nothing about your case. It only means that neither you nor your Pastor can decide when God answers.

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Psalm 115 vs. 3 ( NIV): “ Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him”.

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Besides this, brethren, be confident when you pray. Prophesy good things to yourself daily. Use your words to provoke your desire to manifestation.

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For instance , a woman that was told it is an abomination to have twins in her husband’s family rejected it. She didn’t just reject it in her mind, everyday while bathing. She would say to herself “ I am a mother of twins”. Touching her stomach , she said, regularly “ I will carry my twins in my body and I will deliver safely”.

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Brethren, she appeared stupid when she said these but God honoured her words and today against all antics of the devil and witches, today, she is a mother of twins.

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Finally, be under the right Anointing. Be sure that you are being led in worship by a genuine man of God and watch the Lord elevate you.

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To end the year joyfully, you need Divine Elevation.

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Jesus is LORD!

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