Here we are in the month of May. You know, May has become a month of celebrations. We begin with Cinco de Mayo and then Mother’s Day. And we end the month celebrating those who’ve given their all for our freedom as we celebrate Memorial Day. And then among all this celebrating, we’re celebrating graduations from kindergarten to first grade, from elementary school to junior high, from junior high to high school, from high school to college, and from college into all that will follow through life.
Wow. What we learn as we go through all of this is that graduation never really ends. We are always graduating from one season to another until we finally graduate into that eternal place God has prepared for us. From a biblical perspective, graduation can be seen as a significant milestone that reflects growth, stewardship and the fulfillment of our God given purpose. Now it all begins here. Rolling over, crawling, walking, talking. These are all considered significant milestones. In fact, in numerous ways, we’ve been graduating all of our lives.
The reality is, as we continue to experience the significant milestones of life, we will graduate from from one season to the next. Today, I want you to know this graduation is more than a celebration of your academic success. It’s actually a spiritual milestone. A spiritual milestone is a defining moment that shapes our mind and our heart. It has a significant impact upon us. It is a marker on our journey that identifies how far we have come and points in the direction we should go. It is a step into God’s purpose for you. Today we celebrate just not what you’ve achieved as a graduate, but how.
God has been with you every step of the way, whether you realize it or not. He’s been there and he is there right now with you. Think about this through every late night, every test, every challenge. Those weren’t just academic moments. They were opportunities for your personal growth, for discipline and trust. And I want to say to you today, congratulations. You made it through. And here we are celebrating.
There are a couple of key things I would like for us to discuss about this milestone of graduation that we all celebrate throughout the seasons of our life. And the first thing is this faithful steps. The Bible teaches us that when we are faithful in the small things, God prepares us for greater things. We see this in Matthew 25:23 and I’m reading from the NIV version. It says here in Matthew 25:23, his master replied, well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness.
So this is from the story of the faithful servant. The master went away and it left him responsible for some things, and he took such good care of them, he actually increased the master’s wealth while the master was away. And so this is a sign that if we’re faithful in the good things, the small things, God will reward us by blessing us with even greater things. To receive your certificate of graduation, you have to take faithful steps. Mr. Zig Ziglar said, A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. Then we get up every morning and keep stepping. Faithful steps are actions that reflect steadfastness, loyalty, and commitment.
It is a willingness to follow the path laid before you, even when faced with challenges or uncertainty. Scripture emphasizes the value of our faithful steps and what we’re entrusted to do. Colossians 3:23 from the Amplified says, whatever may be your task, work at it heartily from the soul as something done for the Lord, not for men. Taking Faithful Steps Taking faithful steps is a sign of your commitment to be all that God created you to be. Often this requires courage and trust in the outcome, because even when the path is before us, a lot of times there’s uncertainty or there’s difficulties. This involves us stepping out into what I call the unknown. It’s trusting that the path chosen will lead to a positive result, and the Lord promises us this in Proverbs chapter 3 Proverbs chapter 3, verses 5 and 6 and this is from the Amplified version. Lean on, trust in and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and your mind, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
In all your ways, know, recognize and acknowledge him, and he will direct and make plain and straight your paths. Wow. The Lord wants to show us the way and to walk with us so that it’s just plain and straight before us. Here’s the way, here’s how you go. But wait, that’s not the finish line. Knowing the path and walking in the path is just the beginning. It’s a launching pad. A launching pad into your future.
Graduation marks the end of one season and the beginning of another. Ecclesiastes 3:1 in the Amplified says this to everything there is a season and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven. A launching pad process provides the insight to equip you by building new habits and understanding, thereby creating an easy transition between existing routines and new behaviors that will serve you as you move forward by walking out. Proverbs 3:5 6 Trusting God to show you the way God will launch you into the new season he has for you. And that’s true for all of us. Hallelujah. Just simply trust the Lord. Earlier I mentioned that faithful steps require stepping out into the unknown and trusting the path the Lord has shown you.
Well, stepping into the unknown or stepping into the unknown is simply stepping into a new season of possibility. A possibility is a power of being. It’s the power of existing. It’s the power of happening or becoming. It’s the state of being possible. There are possibilities before us every day. God brings them into our life. A lot of times we don’t see them, but they’re there.
We see an example of this new season of possibility coming in Luke Chapter one. And the angel of the Lord has come to Mary and shared with her that she, by the Holy Spirit, she is going to be the mother of Jesus, the mother of the Savior of the world. And she says, how can this be? She’s just, wow. And the angel says to her in Luke 1:36 38, and it’s from the King James Version. Now, indeed, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age. And this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God, nothing will be impossible. Then Mary said, behold, the maidservant of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word.
And the angel departed from her. I mean, wow, talk about a milestone in someone’s life, a graduation into a new season. You’re going to become the mother of the Savior of the world, the Son of God, Jesus Christ. And Mary believed and said, let it be. This promise to Mary is true for us also. When we trust God and follow his path, nothing will be impossible. Nothing is too hard for him. A word that’s related to this word, Possibility is the word potential.
Potential means the capacity to be or become more. That’s where our creativity flows out of. Our creativity flows out of our potential. And we all have within us the capacity to be or become more. We all have potential within us. Mark Batterson, who is the author of the Circle Maker, says this. God’s gift to you is your potential. What your gift to him is how you maximize it.
Let me say that again. God’s gift to you is your potential. Your gift to him is how you maximize it. How do you want to maximize your potential for the Lord? We all have the power of possibility within us. And as we graduate from one season to the next, we have all we need within us to succeed, to make progress, to move forward. Second Peter 1, verses 3 and 4, the King James says this as his divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, us through the knowledge of him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Listen to what that verse says there. He has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.
Everything you need to live this life and to walk with the Lord and to be successful. And what God has called you to, no matter how challenging the journey may be at the moment, God has equipped you with everything you need to overcome, to push through, to succeed again. As Mr. Zigler said, we get up every morning and just keep on stepping. Remember, as you move forward, stepping into each new season, the word of encouragement God gave to Joshua as he was stepping into leadership after Moses. And I encourage you to take this verse and put it up somewhere so you can see it everywhere every day. But the Lord said to Joshua in Joshua 1:9, and this is from the amplified have I not commanded you? And that word command there means instruction. It could be translated, have I not instructed you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous.
Be not afraid, neither dismayed. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. God is with you wherever you go. Whatever you’re facing, whoever you’re talking with, God is with you. So be strong, be courageous. Don’t be dismayed or afraid. God is there with you to help you. So be faithful, to get up every day and keep stepping.
Faithful steps will lead you to your greater purpose, which is the second thing I want to talk about right now. We are called to a greater purpose. God is with us. God has equipped us. God has empowered us to graduate into all he has for us. And what does he have for us? I just said it. A greater purpose. Graduation from a biblical perspective is not just about personal achievement.
It’s a spiritual marker. You know, throughout the the Old Testament, we see that the children of Israel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, they all would stand up stones and create these milestones, these markers that became indicators of what God had done in them and through them and for them. And so what we see is the graduation is a spiritual marker. It’s a milestone. It’s an invitation to step into the next season with purpose. God has a purpose for all of us. He has called us, invited us, summoned us, he’s positioned us and appointed us to his intended purpose for us. Jeremiah 29:11 from the NIV and I’m sure you’re familiar with this verse, but it says this.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. That’s God’s heart for us. Hope, a future. Know this. God has plans for your life. For every season of life, God has a plan for you.
The Apostle Paul expresses this in Ephesians chapter 2. In this way, Ephesians 2:10 in the Amplified says, for we are God’s own handiwork, his workmanship recreated in Christ Jesus born anew, that we may do those good works which God predestined or planned beforehand for us, taking paths which he prepared ahead of time that we should walk in them, living the good life which he prearranged and made ready for us to live. Think about this, guys. Before time began, God had you in mind. He thought about you and he planned for you. He planned good works for you to do. He prepared paths for you to walk in. He has a good life made ready for you to live.
Are you going to walk in your way or you going to follow him and walk in his way? As we celebrate this season of graduation, let’s determine to walk boldly into what lies ahead of us. God has equipped you for more than a career. He’s called you to make an impact. Whether in business, ministry, the arts, education, medicine, leadership, politics, or your family life, Your life is his tool for hope, truth and love here in the world. And we all have the opportunity every day to bring hope, truth and love into our world. My father taught me this little truth. He said, life is an adventure. Get up every day and go find yours.
You see, everything we’ve talked about can happen and will happen. Just get up every day and keep taking faithful steps into your greater purpose. And God will be right there celebrating with you as you graduate into each new season. He is prepared for you. Congratulations. Happy graduation. Let’s bow our heads for prayer. Lord, we come in Jesus name to celebrate all of our graduations.
And I thank you for this moment of transition. I thank you for the strength and wisdom you’ve given through this journey and that you’re giving us as we move forward, as we step into what’s next. Lord, help us to walk in faith and keep taking faithful steps. And help us to pursue your purpose for us and reflect your light in all we do. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen. Praise God. Pastor Kanye’s coming with a closing thought and a prayer.
God bless you. Have a great week.
