"Will You Prevail in Your Test of Promotion?"

 

Have you been experiencing spiritual warfare lately? Does it feel like there are blockades and obstacles in your way? Have things been difficult? Listen: This is happening because you have just been promoted!

Promotion in the Month of Adar

On Thursday, February 11, at sundown, we entered a brand-new Hebrew calendar month, Adar. Adar means completion and is known as the month of joy. It is the 12th month on the ecclesiastical calendar which started at Passover in 2020.

During this month, the Jewish people celebrate Purim. Purim this year is at sundown on Thursday, February 25 – Friday, February 26, when the Jewish people remember how Esther went boldly before the king to share Haman's evil plan for the annihilation of the Jewish people. Esther risked her life to properly position the Jews and their nation to be saved. God gave her favor and a plan. Just like God prepared, promoted, and put her in a place in front of the king, for "such a time as this," He is doing the same for you, for the purpose and destiny that He has called you to.

Mordecai, Esther's cousin, told her about what would happen to the Jewish people if she did not speak up. These were the words that invited Esther to her place of promotion. They were words to save her nation.

We are never truly promoted until we are faced with a situation where we have to stand for righteousness. There are steps to the promotion, and Esther's first promotion was coming into the palace and being purified for a year before seeing the king. The second promotion was when she was asked to stand in her position to save her people. Your promotion is not just about you, it is about others too. (Photo via Pxhere)

Esther 4:12-14 reads, "When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: 'Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?'"

With Promotion Comes Testing

We need to remember the importance of our promotion as we see the increase in spiritual warfare and our response to it. The enemy always wants to push back whenever we get promoted. Let's not forget that in January we gave God our lives for the new year and consecrated ourselves before Him. He brought us to a larger capacity and expanded us upon the strong foundation, JESUS CHRIST our Lord! You've gone to the next level! This is why you feel the friction in the spirit realms. You have been given a greater responsibility than you have ever had before.

God has properly positioned you not to sit around like royals, but to minister to His remnant. He has given you a sphere of influence to use the power He has given you to make changes. You must open your mouth! God has given you a voice and His Word. When you speak, it's like a spark of God releases and ignites things. You can change a nation!

The promotion comes with a test that proves we walked into the promotion. The enemy is prepared to convince you that this promotion didn't happen, that you're not good enough or that you couldn't possibly be called to do this. He tries to get involved in the things of God and the progression of the Lord. He tries to push it back by bringing hindrances.

The Secret to Getting Past the Pushback

Let's go back to Esther. What did she do? Esther 4:15-16 (NIV) reads, "Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 'Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.'"

She asked her people to fast and pray for her for three days and nights. They joined in agreement  Fasting and Prayer, that she would obtain the strength needed to go before the king. If she didn't go, she and her people would perish. The secret to getting past the pushback of the enemy is to step into the heavenly places. We must operate in the joy of the Lord. Remember, you're a citizen of Heaven and the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). (Photo via Unsplash)

In His presence, there is fullness of joy. That is where you need to position yourself: in His presence. Get in that secret place with the Lord and let Him build you up. Fasting and praying will discipline you to sit with the Lord and hear Him. He will give you strategies and show you how to navigate the sphere of influence He called you to. Our God is forever moving and does not stagnate. We have to keep up with Him!

God's Cycles of Promotion

The Lord will promote you many times to "next" levels. Two times a year there are regular times of fulfillment of the promotion; those are at Passover and Rosh Hashanah, the two main Hebrew New Year.

God usually starts adjusting us for the promotion about four to six weeks beforehand. Why? Our God is cyclical. He works in cycles. God wants you to walk in the totality of each promotion for six months. This brings strength. It helps you stay in the proper position, keeps your joy steady, and allows you to carry His power until He turns the calendar again with your new promotion.

So be encouraged! You have stepped into a new season, a new time and place where God is using you in a mighty way. Do not shrink back. The righteous do not shrink back; they live by faith.

No matter the opposition, press forward. The enemy cannot take your promotion. There is joy in His presence, and that is what it's going to take for you to fulfill your purpose and destiny.