Embracing Transition: God's Path to Growth and Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Discomfort for Divine Promotion

Transition is often God's way of promoting us, even when it is uncomfortable. It is essential to recognize that God's purpose often requires us to move out of our comfort zones and into new places where His plans can unfold. Just as Abraham was called to leave his home to fulfill God's covenant, we too may be called to step into the unknown. This process can be challenging, but it is a necessary part of spiritual growth and alignment with God's purpose. Trusting in God's plan, even when it leads us into discomfort, is a testament to our faith and willingness to be used for His glory. [00:46]

Genesis 12:1-2 (ESV): "Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel God is calling you to step out of your comfort zone? How can you take a step of faith in that area today?

Day 2: Purpose and Place

There is a place for every purpose, and certain purposes can only be fulfilled in specific places. It is vital to remain in place until the purpose is fulfilled, as emotions are not reliable indicators of God's timing or direction. Understanding that God has a specific plan for each of us, we must be patient and discerning, waiting for His timing to reveal the right place for our purpose. This requires a deep trust in God's wisdom and a willingness to stay put until He moves us. [02:46]

Acts 17:26-27 (ESV): "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him."

Reflection: Are you currently in a season of waiting? How can you seek God's guidance to understand the purpose He has for you in your current place?

Day 3: Standing Firm with the Armor of God

The armor of God is essential for standing firm against the enemy's deception. Each piece of armor is rooted in the Word of God, and it is through the Word that we claim and hold the ground that is rightfully ours in Christ. The belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit all work together to help us withstand the enemy's attacks and advance the kingdom of God. By equipping ourselves with this armor, we are prepared to face spiritual battles with confidence and strength. [20:03]

Ephesians 6:13-17 (ESV): "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace."

Reflection: Which piece of the armor of God do you feel you need to strengthen in your life? How can you actively incorporate it into your daily spiritual practice?

Day 4: Covenant vs. Promise

Understanding the difference between a covenant and a promise is vital. A covenant is a contract that contains promises, and while promises are God's guarantee of future action, a covenant requires both parties to fulfill their obligations. Our relationship with God is not just about receiving His promises but also about fulfilling our part of the covenant. This involves a commitment to live according to His will and to uphold the responsibilities He has entrusted to us. [46:27]

Hebrews 8:10 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

Reflection: Reflect on your relationship with God. What is one way you can actively fulfill your part of the covenant with Him today?

Day 5: Claiming Our Inheritance in Christ

Our inheritance in Christ is legally ours, but we must intentionally receive and possess it. This involves declaring, possessing, and holding the ground that Jesus has given us. It is not enough to know about our inheritance; we must actively claim it through faith and action. By doing so, we live out the fullness of what God has promised us, experiencing the abundant life that is available in Christ. [52:09]

Colossians 1:12-14 (ESV): "Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: What aspect of your spiritual inheritance have you yet to fully claim? How can you begin to take hold of it today through prayer and action?

Sermon Summary

Transition is often God's way of promoting us, even though it may not always be comfortable. It is essential to recognize that God does not prioritize our comfort but rather our growth and alignment with His purpose. There is a place for every purpose, meaning that certain purposes can only be fulfilled in specific places. This is why God sometimes calls us to transition, as He did with Abraham, who had to leave his home to fulfill God's covenant and purpose for him. It is crucial to remain in place until the purpose is fulfilled, as emotions are not reliable indicators of God's timing or direction.

In this season, Chi and Tracy are transitioning to Nashville, Tennessee, as part of God's promotion for them and the church. Their move is not a departure from the community but an expansion of their influence and ministry. They will continue to be involved with the church, particularly in youth ministry and other projects. This transition is a testament to God's faithfulness and the unfolding of His purpose in their lives.

The armor of God, as described in Ephesians 6, is essential for standing firm against the enemy's deception. Each piece of armor is rooted in the Word of God, and it is through the Word that we claim and hold the ground that is rightfully ours in Christ. The belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit all work together to help us withstand the enemy's attacks and advance the kingdom of God.

Understanding the difference between a covenant and a promise is vital. A covenant is a contract that contains promises, and while promises are God's guarantee of future action, a covenant requires both parties to fulfill their obligations. Our inheritance in Christ is legally ours, but we must intentionally receive and possess it. This involves declaring, possessing, and holding the ground that Jesus has given us.

Key Takeaways

1. Transition is God's way of promoting us, even when it is uncomfortable. It is essential to recognize that God's purpose often requires us to move out of our comfort zones and into new places where His plans can unfold. [00:46]
2. There is a place for every purpose, and certain purposes can only be fulfilled in specific places. It is vital to remain in place until the purpose is fulfilled, as emotions are not reliable indicators of God's timing or direction. [02:46]
3. The armor of God is essential for standing firm against the enemy's deception. Each piece of armor is rooted in the Word of God, and it is through the Word that we claim and hold the ground that is rightfully ours in Christ. [20:03]
4. Understanding the difference between a covenant and a promise is vital. A covenant is a contract that contains promises, and while promises are God's guarantee of future action, a covenant requires both parties to fulfill their obligations. [46:27]
5. Our inheritance in Christ is legally ours, but we must intentionally receive and possess it. This involves declaring, possessing, and holding the ground that Jesus has given us. [52:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:46] - Transition as God's Promotion
[02:46] - Place for Every Purpose
[04:46] - Chi and Tracy's Transition
[20:03] - Armor of God
[46:27] - Covenant vs. Promise
[52:09] - Claiming Our Inheritance
[57:36] - Peace and the Armor of God
[63:01] - Speaking God's Word
[70:00] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

"I want to say something that I'm, it's bittersweet right now, but I know when God does something, it's vital, it's important, and there's always promotion. I've heard it said many times that transition is God's way of promotion. So when God wants to promote you, increase you, or increase those around you, he always brings transition because you can't move into a new season until you walk out of a season and pass through a transition." [00:00:00] (29 seconds)

"And transition is not always comfortable or easy, but whenever it's God, it is full of his wisdom, and there's peace that comes with it. You know, you can be, it could not be comfortable, but you could have peace. Have you ever been in a season to where you didn't like it, but you knew it was God? Come on, let's all just raise our hands to that, right? God doesn't always say, I want you to be comfortable." [00:00:30] (21 seconds)

"Have you ever heard the statement, there is a purpose in every place? Has anyone ever heard that before? It's kind of like whenever somebody's discouraged or maybe complaining about something and then someone comes along and says, hey, I know, but there's a purpose in every place. That means even though you don't like this moment, even though it's hard, there's a purpose in every place. That means look past the circumstances and find the purpose there." [00:01:04] (22 seconds)

"That's why transition is God's way of promotion. No one said amen. You must be taking notes. Really good. I want you to think about that. God says it's not just about finding the purpose. It's finding the place for that purpose. That's why he told Abraham, Abraham, go leave your family, leave your hometown, and go to a place that I will show you because I have a purpose, a covenant, and a blessing for you." [00:02:00] (28 seconds)

"So your emotions are not God's sign that you're supposed to transition, that you're supposed to move, that you're supposed to walk out, quit, scream, slap somebody, walk the other direction. How you feel has nothing to do with it. Actually, I would say most of the time, how you feel, ready, is the opposite of what you should do. Because you must, if there's a place for every purpose, then you must remain in place until the purpose is finished and then you graduate." [00:03:02] (29 seconds)

"God transitions God's way of promotion. That means she and Tracy are being promoted in this season. The youth ministry of Life's Church is being promoted in this season. Come on, our worship team, our media team, everything that you have done, there's grace on both sides of these things. And faith and friction still will go on. I mean, they have to come back on average once a month just to film." [00:05:46] (20 seconds)

"So God's new covenant in Christ contains promises that belong to us, or an inheritance is another way of saying it, that belongs to us. But you still have to receive it. You have to actualize your inheritance. It can be in your name, but you have to possess it still, even though it's in your name. Now, I'm taking time on this legal jargon because I want to make sure that you get this revelation that we're going to close with." [00:44:13] (28 seconds)

"How did you get saved the first time? You didn't just get saved by hearing the gospel. Some of you might've heard it 10 times before you received. So salvation wasn't just hearing. Salvation is not just going to church or being around people that are saved. Salvation was intentional on your behalf. You had to intentionally make a decision to receive and to accept the conditions of the covenant or the contract with God signed in Christ's blood." [00:44:50] (29 seconds)

"So when the enemy tries to come and get you to back up and take territory, you have the armor of God to withstand Ephesians 6, 13, the enemy to hold your ground in the evil day. And having done all to stand, withstand, hold your ground, hold your ground and stand some more. That means your purpose now, in order to actualize all of the inheritance Christ gave you, you have to actively withstand the onslaught of the enemy and claim the ground that is yours." [00:47:40] (34 seconds)

"To use the word offensively, you have to put it in your mouth because Jesus is the high priest of our confession of faith. So now let's start speaking what God speaks. Why is it so important not to speak foolish things out of your mouth? Because you are doing the opposite of how the kingdom of God advances and the will of God is released." [01:03:21] (21 seconds)

"So the spoken covenant, you need to be speaking your contract. So guess what? The next time the enemy comes and says, it's impossible. It's not going to happen. You messed up too much. It's too late. You don't have enough money. You're not smart enough. You don't know the right people. Instead of saying what is being spoken to you, you need to out of your mouth speak what you know to be true." [01:04:49] (21 seconds)

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