Journey to the Next Level: Arise, Advance and Progress in Every Area of Your Life

By Fatai Kasali

Every human being that has a record of success encountered one difficulty of the other. It is a reality that there are things that hinder progress. Similarly there are things that promote progress. You can't stay in one position in life because of the fear of things that could potentially hinder your progress. You have to arise and advance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Glory Publisher
• Release date: Apr 11, 2018
• ISBN: 9781999790325

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

BEYOND THE SKY

In the beginning, God put man in the Garden of Eden to work it. After the fall of man, God sent man out of the garden. Since then, man has been spreading over the surface of the earth. Man has become a goal-seeking creature. No man was designed to live in stagnancy. Man is naturally a progressive being.

According to the old adage: ‘The sky is the limit.’ Today man has gone deeper into the journey of discoveries; the sky is no longer the limit. Man has gone beyond the sky and then explored further into the realm of galaxies. Have you set the sky as your limit? Never allow stagnancy in any area of your life. The reason you were elevated to your present level was to give you a ladder to climb to the next level. Until you get to Heaven, the final destination for Christians, never stop rising. Three different scenarios shall be considered in this chapter to give the understanding that Christians should always aspire to look beyond their present level of achievements.

Beyond Horeb

Deuteronomy 1:6-8

The Lord our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount:

Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.

Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

Horeb was the place where God first appeared to Moses in Exodus 3:1. God told Moses in Exodus 3:12 that when the Israelites are delivered out of Egypt they would serve God on this mountain. To fulfil this word from God, the Israelites eventually came to mount Horeb: - a place where they worshipped God. Though, this had come to fulfilment it was not their final destination. They had been brought to Mount Horeb in order to further their journey. According to the above passage part of their inheritance was waiting for them to possess it. God had to tell them that they had stayed too long at the mountain; the land of their inheritance was waiting to be claimed. Many Christians have come to their Mount Horeb and the fulfilment they are experiencing there is making them stay too long at this place such that they have forgotten advancement. Many have turned temporary dwelling place to their permanent place of stay.

The comfort and fulfilment at Horeb may deceive many Christians to develop a sense of great achievement and unknowingly the devil can tie them down. It is time to aspire to move to the next level. It is true God has brought you to where you are presently but did He tell you that you have reached your final destination? Majority of individuals are locked up in their comfort zone and, as such, are unable to progress to the next level.

Beyond Potiphar’s House

Genesis 39:1-9

And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither.

And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.

And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Joseph had dreams of greatness. In Genesis 37:6-11 it was revealed to him that he was born to be great; but the time and location were kept secret from him. He had no idea of the time and place of fulfilment of this dream. The above bible passage revealed Joseph’s life at Portiphar’s house. The Lord was with Joseph. That is, Joseph carried God’s presence even as a slave in Portiphar’s house. Furthermore, Joseph became an overseer in Portiphar’s house ruling over Portiphar’s possession. That is, at Portiphar’s house Joseph was the second in command after Potiphar. This could be likened to the position of a prime minister. What a success in a foreign land! After sometime Mrs Potiphar proposed love affairs to Joseph. The Devil would have interpreted this situation to Joseph as an opportunity to fortify his stay in Portiphar’s house. With Mrs. Potiphar on his side, the sky would be Joseph’s limit in that house. He would be able to do as he pleased. Mrs. Potiphar would no doubt lure her husband to grant more authority to Joseph. Probably the greatness God revealed to Joseph in the past had come into fulfilment in this place. The Devil is a liar. At this stage Joseph had no idea of the future but yet, he looked beyond the ‘sky’. He looked beyond Portiphar’s House. He didn’t allow himself to be deceived by the devil’s promise. The fear of God in him enabled him to say ‘NO’ to the enemy’s proposal. There are so many individuals destined to rule nations but because of greed and lack of self-control are ruling a few individuals. Even where they are presently, they will soon be kicked out because the positions they occupy are not from God. Blessed are you if you are able to look beyond your present level of achievement. You can do better. You can go further if you can think further. You are not a success, until God calls you a success. So until God calls you a success never stop rising. It is time for you to go to the next level. Don’t stop here, you are on a journey.

Beyond Goliath

1 Samuel 17:48-51

And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone,