David [00:00:00]:
You know, last week we’ve been looking at what it means to imagine what’s possible with a God that all things are possible with. And what we talked about last week actually goes back to a moment when God spoke over Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. My hope and expectation today is that you, all of us, will begin to see even more clearly that God designed you to be a big deal. A big dreamer, to join with him in his purpose here on earth. And God is a big dreamer.
David [00:01:06]:
And so let’s go to Genesis 1:27 and 28, and we’re going to start there in verse 27 of Genesis 1 and begin our journey of discovery there today. Genesis 1:27-28, and I’m reading from the New King James Version. So God created man in his own image. In the image of God he created him, male and female. He created them. Then God blessed them We’re going to stop right there, that part of verse 28, and then God blessed them. There are two key definitions I want us to explore here as we go forward from this verse, and the first definition means God blessed them. And that word “blessed” there in the Hebrew, it simply means this.
David [00:02:20]:
There are two definitions of the word “blessed”— let me say that again— that we’re going to look at, but this first definition simply means to kneel down and be blessed. So there’s a twofold meaning here even for that first definition. What this word implies in the Hebrew is that Adam and Eve were bowing before God as He blessed them and spoke over them. Now, that’s something we see throughout history. When you came before royalty, you bowed, and royalty would honor you by receiving you, by blessing you, by extending some gift or crown on you. But the second part of this word “bless” there in the Hebrew of this definition was that we were giving while we were bowing before God. As Adam and Eve were bowing before God, they were giving themselves a reciprocal blessing. Adam and Eve blessed God by kneeling before him as an act of adoration, an act of acknowledging who he is, an act of receiving his blessing over them, recognizing this is a benefit for us and to us.
David [00:04:01]:
Wow! This is why we see throughout Scripture the child of God bowing in prayer and worship. It’s an act of blessing, an act of adoration, an act of acknowledging who God is. We still do this today as a way of honoring and acknowledging who God is. We come to the altar and kneel to pray. We kneel down before him in worship sometimes. We honor him as we prostrate ourselves before him. So to come and be blessed by kneeling before God is that first definition. Wow.
David [00:04:56]:
The second definition of the word blessed means blessed is prospered by God. To be blessed is to be prospered by God or to be caused to prosper by God. Blessing implies that an impartation is taking place. You are being empowered with power and authority to be and do by the power and authority that flows from the throne of God, the highest place of authority. Okay, so why is blessed defined as prospered by God? The word prosper here in the Hebrew means this: Prosper means to advance, to make progress, to succeed, to profit, or be profitable. When God blessed Adam and Eve, He empowered them to advance, to make progress, to succeed, and be profitable. This was a very intentional act of the Lord. This wasn’t something He just did in prep passing, he was standing there talking with Adam and Eve, and they’re looking at him, and he goes, “All right, y’all be blessed.
David [00:06:21]:
I’ll see you tomorrow.” No, this was a very intentional act. And a part of this was this blessing that he spoke over Adam and Eve wasn’t just for Adam and Eve. The blessing spoken by the Father God over Adam and Eve was and is a mandate for all humanity. It is still active and operative within mankind today. Wow! Think about that. Also, this blessing was for every dimension, every area of their life, not just finances. They didn’t need finances in Financial system hadn’t been invented then. God wants his blessing for us in every dimension of our lives: spiritually, mentally, physically, relationally, personally, professionally, and financially.
David [00:07:37]:
In all these areas, he wants us to advance. To make progress, to succeed, to be profitable. Why? God wants blessing to flow to you so it can flow through you, and you touch others, you bless others. That’s why he went on to say in Genesis 1:28, And I’m reading this from the Amplified Classic. And God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, using all of its vast resources in the services of God and man. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and over every living creature that moves upon the earth.’ What He did there was He defined for them how to bless the earth and everything on it and everyone who would come after them. And as it says here in Genesis 1:28, subduing the earth is using all of its vast resources in the service of God-man. This is how we advance, how we make progress, how we succeed, how we’re profitable— by using all of God’s vast resources that he’s placed here in the earth to serve God and to serve man.
David [00:09:24]:
Wow. Genesis 1:28 in The Passion Translation says this. It says, “And God blessed them in His love.” Everything I’m sharing with you today flows out of God’s love for all mankind. God is love, and everything He does flows from His love for us. God loves you, and He wants you to know you are blessed. You are prospered by God. Now, we said 4 things here that that word prospered by God means. Prosper meant to advance, to make progress, to succeed, and to be profitable.
David [00:10:16]:
So let’s start with advance. Let’s look at what it means to advance., and I’ll give you a really good example. Pastor Conya and I both use this example, and we appreciate it very much. This morning, today, I got out of bed and turned my shower on, and guess what? Hot water was running out of my wall so I could take a shower. I didn’t have to go to the well and draw the water. I didn’t have to take that water then and heat it over a fire in a big pot, or take it into the house and put it in a pot on a stove and heat it. I simply rolled out of bed and headed to my shower. Many mornings, seriously, many mornings, I thank God for the hot water in my shower..
David [00:11:18]:
I thank God for the water department that brings it to me consistently without interruption. I thank God for the person or persons who he inspired to create the whole process of bringing water to our homes many decades ago. God’s creativity was working in and through man for man so we could advance. Because of what the Lord declared to Adam and Eve, we are still advancing today in so many ways. We are still making progress today in every area of life. We are still seeing successes and profiting from God’s daily blessing. His daily insight, His daily flow of creativity. God is in every good thing that comes forth.
David [00:12:26]:
We can’t really take credit for anything. God uses us, He flows through us to bring the advancement, But it is His blessing and the power of His blessing working through us that causes all this advancement and progress to come forth here in the earth. Our advancement is being powered by the presence of God. And that word He spoke over Adam and Eve in the beginning. You know, one advancement I’m truly grateful for is our ability to fill the earth with the good news of the gospel every week via our online streaming service, the internet. I remember years ago, we couldn’t do what I’m doing with you today. It would have cost millions of dollars to do this. And look where we are.
David [00:13:36]:
We have people from all over the world who reach out to us and say, we’re watching you every week. Because of the advancements we’ve seen in the past decade, just the past 10 years, billions have access to the preaching and teaching of the Word of God 24 hours a day, each and every day. And through the centuries, mankind has learned, as it says there in Genesis 1:28, to optimize and maximize the vast resources of the earth for all of our benefit. As we move forward, we will continue to do so because God mandated by his words in Genesis 1:28, that is, who we are to be and what we are to do. Now I want us to look at some ways God prospers us by advancing us. Godly advancement is not about human ambition. Our ambition is a good thing, when it is submitted to God and surrendered to Him. The enemy has twisted it up and tries to get into our heads and make it about self-promotion and striving to have more or be more or looking like you’re better or smarter than everyone else.
David [00:15:08]:
That’s not what it’s about. Godly advancement is God moving His purpose forward in and through his people. God moving his purpose forward in and through his people. I like what Brother Keith Moore says. He goes, well, what’s his purpose? His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. God’s purpose is heaven on earth. That’s what his purpose has been since the beginning. That’s what He was empowering Adam and Eve to do.
David [00:15:48]:
He set them forth to bring heaven on earth. With God, advancement is never accidental. We just don’t stumble into it. It follows a divine order. And today we will begin to uncover what God’s divine order looks like. There are 5 Hebrew words that can be translated to advance or advancement, which identify the divine order of God, the order He uses to advance us. And so let’s look at what those 5 words are, because all 5 of them is one way God works in us and through us, with us and for us. To bring advancement.
David [00:16:41]:
The first dimension of advancement in God’s presence— Adam and Eve began by bowing down before His presence. Let me say this again because I didn’t say it clearly. The first dimension of advancement is God’s presence, being in His presence. Adam and Eve began by bowing down before the presence of God. And God’s presence brought blessing. The Hebrew word here is qadam, and it means to go before, to proceed, to advance ahead of someone. So what we see throughout Scripture is this: when God goes before us, our paths are prepared for us. Psalm 32:8 in the New Living Translation says it this way: The Lord says, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
David [00:17:47]:
I will advise you and watch over you. Wow! He’s going to guide us. He’s going to be our guide. He’s going to show the way, and then He’s going to advise us. Every day you can sit with God and get His advice, His plan, His insight for the day. You just got to sit there and ask Him. Then Isaiah 30:21 in the Amplified Classic says it this way. They’re talking here, not only are our paths prepared, the way is made plain.
David [00:18:27]:
Isaiah 30:21, and your ears will hear a word behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it. And when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left hand, God will tell you. Even if you turn the way he doesn’t want you to, you’ll hear it. Now, That’s not the way. And then you’ll hear, yeah, this is the way, walk in it. We have to be listening for his voice. Advancement is about where God is guiding and directing you. Advancement is not just about opportunities and possibilities that show themselves.
David [00:19:18]:
It’s about being in God’s presence, receiving his guidance and his advice. God’s presence moves and doors open. Praise God! You don’t have to force them open. You don’t have to find a way around them, drill holes and bust through them. When you’re in the presence of God daily, walking with him, God’s presence moves and doors open for you. The second dimension of advancement is God’s power. So we’ve got God’s presence. Being in his presence makes his power available to us.
David [00:20:08]:
So that second dimension of advancement is God’s power. The Hebrew word Salah means to push forward, to prosper, to break out successfully, to succeed. This word appears repeatedly as the writers talk about the life of King David. 1 Samuel 18:14 in the New Living Translation says this: David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him. You see, David’s success flowed from God being with him. Being prospered by God flows from God’s presence empowering you to be, do, and have more. And when you can be, do, and have more, you can serve more, you have more to give. True success is about the advancement of God’s divine purpose in you and through you by God’s power.
David [00:21:23]:
And the Apostle Paul shares that with us in Ephesians 3:20 in the Amplified Classic. You’ve heard me share this before, but let’s, let’s hear it again. Now to him who by, in consequence of, the action of his power that is at work within us, he is able to carry out his purpose and do superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams. God’s power at work within us carries out His purpose in us, through us, with us, and for us. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Guys, God is with us. God is for us. He wants to work through us. We don’t have to make it so hard.
David [00:22:25]:
God’s ready to go. He’s just saying, come do it my way. Come walk with me. Surrender to me. Let me show you the way. What Paul described here in Ephesians 3:20 is the power of advancement working in you, through you, with you, and for you. Infinitely beyond means it will never end. God’s going to be doing this for all eternity.
David [00:22:56]:
God desires, God’s thoughts, God’s hopes and dreams for you are super abundantly far over and above anything you dare ask or think. God has a purpose and a plan for you throughout eternity. It’s not just here on the earth we’re talking about. This is forever. Wow, wow, wow. So His presence and His power. And then the third dimension of advancement is God’s process. We are on a journey with our Father God, and a journey is a process.
David [00:23:39]:
A journey is a series of steps and stages or phases and strategies. The third Hebrew word for advancement is nasah. It means to pull up tent pegs and journey. Hahaha! We’re going on a trip here! Pull those tent pegs up, let’s go! When God brought Israel out of Egypt, they didn’t teleport into the Promised Land. No, they moved in steps and stages and strategies. When the cloud of God’s glory moved, they moved with it, and when the cloud stopped, they stopped. And what we take away from this is a truth that says advancement is progressive. Advancement is progressive.
David [00:24:35]:
A lot of us don’t like to hear that. I mean, we live in a world of drive-throughs, Amazon delivery, and no need to go to the grocery store. I make a phone call and they’ll just drop it off. We live in a world where we want acceleration without formation. We just want it to happen, be done. We live in a world where we want to accelerate without a process, but true acceleration works because there is a process. They say it took Edison 10,000 experiments over 14 months before he found the right filament for a light bulb. That was 1879, 147 years ago.
David [00:25:39]:
And think about it. Look at all the different ways we light things today. We’ve got many, we found many more filaments now that work. But if he hadn’t have done those 10,000 experiments, we wouldn’t advance to where we are today. And he goes, I haven’t failed 10,000 times. We’ve just shown 10,000 ways not to do it. You see, God wants to accelerate us, but he does it through a process of growth and development, of growth and empowerment, through steps, stages, strategies. And King David is another example of this.
David [00:26:24]:
Where did David start out? He started out in the field as a shepherd, and God taught him things there. Then he transitioned. God gave him a new stage, and he entered a phase of serving in the palace for the king, and God taught him things there. And then he entered a different stage. And I’m sure when he entered the whole thing of living in the wilderness and running from King Saul, I’m sure there were a few times he was going, “God, did I miss you? Is this right? What are we doing out here?” But God was preparing him. And then the fourth stage was he took the throne. He became the king of Israel. You see, God’s process working through us does four things to advance us.
David [00:27:38]:
First, it builds us up. It edifies us. Second, it equips us. It teaches us all the skills, everything we’ll need to make progress and succeed. Third thing it does, it shapes us, it forms us, it fashions us. In essence, God’s process transforms us into who we need to be. So the fourth thing it does for us, We are empowered to be all he has created us to be. Which takes us back to this verse we’re familiar with, but Joshua 1:8 in the Amplified Classic says this: This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it.
David [00:28:38]:
For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. This is the way. Walk in it. God’s process to advance you is daily and ongoing, and it never ends. Paul says it this way in Romans 12. Romans 12:2 in the Amplified Classic: Do not be conformed to this world, this age, fashioned after and adapted to its external superficial customs, but be transformed and changed by the entire renewal of your mind, by its new ideals, its new attitude, so that you may prove for yourself what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect in his sight for you. Wow.
David [00:29:42]:
Wow. Come on, let’s go. Let’s go. Let’s run the race. God, work your process in me, through me, for me, with me. I want to be all you created me to be. Here’s another principle. If you despise God’s steps, stages, his strategies, you will mishandle your destiny.
David [00:30:10]:
You will miss what God’s trying to teach you and show you and empower you with, and you’ll be doing it on your own and mishandle your destiny. You see, God advances us in and through defining moments and movements. Defining moments and defining movements. Which brings us to the fourth dimension of advancement, which is God’s path. Walking with God. The fourth Hebrew word for advancement is halak, which means to walk. It just simply means to walk. Deuteronomy 5:33 in the Amplified Classic says, you shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land which you shall possess.
David [00:31:26]:
You see, walking with God is partnering with Him as He guides you through the process of advancement. He isn’t asking you to do this on your own. He’s saying, I know the best way to do this. Walk with Me. Isaiah said it this way in Isaiah 55:9 in the Amplified Classic. He said, the Lord is speaking And the Lord says, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” That word “ways” here in the Hebrew means “my manner of living,” “my lifestyle.” God was saying, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so is my way of living, my lifestyle, higher than yours, and the way I think and do things is a lot higher than the way you think and do things. God’s going, I’m living a lot better off than you are. Which brings the question, how are you living? What are you doing daily to advance? Are you coming and spending some time in his presence every morning? Are you letting him wrap you, surround you in his power? Are you yielding yourself to God’s process and going, which way are we going today? How do you want me to walk? What’s the path, Lord? And then going, I’m following you today.
David [00:33:05]:
I’m walking with you, Lord. 3 things that walking with God implies. Walking with God implies rhythm, the rhythm of life, which includes cycles and seasons. He’s walking with us through all the cycles and seasons in our life. Walking with God on his path implies direction. We have an aim, a course of action. A place we’re headed to. And then the third thing is walking with God on his path implies consistency.
David [00:33:49]:
It means a standing together like we have linked arms. It means to be in agreement and harmony, to be of one mind, I’m not questioning God every step I take, and I’m not saying, “Well, shouldn’t we have turned left there?” or “Why are we going this way, Lord?” Walking with God is a relational daily journey of aligning your will, your spirit, your actions with his divine will, rather than just a fleeting feeling that goes, “Oh yeah, I I’m with you, Lord. This daily walk, this daily commitment to be in God’s presence and to walk with him brings you peace, a sense of purpose, love, connection as you advance in God’s way, God’s path. You see, private obedience, surrendering ourselves and being obedient, we’re not talking about it, we’re not telling people, but private obedience precedes public authority because in private obedience God sees that he can trust you with the public authority. Another way to say that is what you prepare for privately in God’s presence, you present publicly by his power. That’s good. What you prepare for privately in God’s presence, you present publicly by his power. Advancement is hidden in our daily yes to his purpose and plan.
David [00:35:55]:
Yes, which brings us to the 5th dimension advancement, God’s place for us. We have his presence, we have his power, we have his process. He shows us his path, and as we walk in all of this it brings us into God’s place for us. The 5th Hebrew word for advancement is alah, which means to go up, to ascend, to rise. Part of learning to advance is learning to walk in all God has promised us, to take our place. All Christ bought for us on the cross and through his death and resurrection In Hebrew thought, you always go up into the promise. You rise to another level. It’s what Paul talked about in Ephesians chapter 2.
David [00:37:04]:
We’ve been seated with Christ in heavenly places. As we walk with Him, He takes us to a place where we’re seated with Him in heavenly places. That is our place. That is God’s place for us that He’s given to us. Stepping up, or going up, rising up into God’s promises requires active faith. It’s taking the first step forward to claim what He’s already given us. That’s mine. It involves aligning your actions with His Word, rather than waiting for circumstances to change on their own.
David [00:37:52]:
Let’s look at what Hebrews 11:1 in the Amplified Classic says: Now faith is the assurance, the confirmation, the title deed of the things we hope for, being the proof of things we do not see and the conviction of their reality Faith perceiving as real fact what is not yet revealed, not yet revealed to the senses. Faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses. It is by faith we step up, go up, rise up, and ascend into all he has for us. We advance by going from faith to faith. And Paul said it in Romans 1:17 in the Amplified Classic: For in the gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing forth from faith and leading to faith, disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith. Hallelujah! As it is written, the man who through faith is just and upright shall live, and shall live by faith. From faith to faith speaks of a progressive growing development of faith, from one degree of faith to another. Paul makes this reference again to going up to another level in 2 Corinthians 3:18.
David [00:39:26]:
This is also— I’m reading from the Amplified Classic. 2 Corinthians 3:18: And all of us, as with unveiled face, because we continue to behold in the word of God, as in a mirror, the glory of God, are constantly being transfigured into his very own image in ever-increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. We’re advancing in ever-increasing splendor from one degree of glory to another. That is never-ending. We will always be advancing in faith throughout eternity. So we will always be blessed, prospered by God. Now, here’s the truth to consider as you look to step up, rise up, come up.
David [00:40:28]:
You cannot ascend while clinging to what is behind. 2 Corinthians 5:17, Amplified Classic: Therefore, if any person is engrafted in Christ the Messiah, he is a new creation. He is a new creation, a new creature altogether. The old previous moral and spiritual condition has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come. And again, Philippians 3, Paul speaks of letting go of the past again. You see this, guys? Philippians 3:13-14, Amplified Classic: I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own yet, but one thing I do: it is my one aspiration Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the supreme and heavenly prize to which God in Christ is calling us upward. There it is.
David [00:41:43]:
He’s calling us upward. He’s calling us to that place he has for us, seated at the right hand of the Father in Christ Jesus in heavenly places. What we see here is advancement culminates in elevation. Advancement causes us to rise. There is a divine pattern, a divine order that we’ve identified here for kingdom advancement. So let me review this real quick. God’s presence goes before you. God’s power works in you, through you, with you, and for you.
David [00:42:27]:
God’s process shapes you, transforms you. God’s path shows the way, and God’s place elevates you. This is not random. This is his covenant in motion. What began in His presence lifts us to experience His promise as we advance into His purpose by His power working in us. Praise God! Praise God! Praise God! Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord, for prospering us. Thank you, Lord, for advancing us. Thank you, Lord, for showing us in your Word and teaching us how to advance.
David [00:43:17]:
How to go forward, how to rise up, Lord, and be all you created us to be, how to sit in heavenly places above all authority and power and dominion and represent you and your kingdom here on the earth as your ambassador here in the earth, as a king and a priest here in the earth, Lord. Thank you, Father, for your word. And Father, I pray that we get this word down inside of us, that it’s not just head knowledge, but Father God, it just takes root in our spirit and begins to bear fruit in us that brings glory to your name and all we do, all we say, with everyone we engage with every day. And we thank you for it, Father. Praise God. Hallelujah! Praise God! Hallelujah! You are prospered by God. Glory to God. Go out there and advance this week.
David [00:44:21]:
Be all God created you to be. Pastor Conyers coming now with a closing thought and a prayer. God bless you.
