Dharius Daniels - 8 Steps to The Next Level

I want to talk about this subject during our time together, family: eight steps to the next level. Clap your hands if you’re ready for God’s word! I want to ease into this introduction with this axiom today, family. This is for my note takers: our life is lived in seasons, but it is lived on levels. Our life is lived in seasons, but it’s lived on levels. Ecclesiastes 3 frames it this way: the writer says, «To everything, there is a season,» is that right? «And a time for every purpose under heaven.» There are young seasons, there are old seasons, there are seasons when you begin, there are seasons when you end; there are seasons when you speak, and there are seasons when you’re quiet; there are seasons when you sow, and there are seasons when you reap; there are seasons when you help others, and there are seasons when others help you. There are seasons when you raise and take care of your children, and there will be a season when your children take care of you. We all live through and navigate through seasons, and some of these seasons are uncontrollable and inevitable. If you keep on living, you’re going to get older. Some seasons are uncontrollable and inevitable; however, even though we can’t control our seasons—not all of them—we can determine our levels. When I say «levels,» I’m referring to the degrees of personal growth, spiritual growth, development, and achievement that we have in the season we’re in. I can’t always determine the season that I’m in, but I can determine who I am and how I am in that season. Let me say it again: I cannot always determine the season that I’m in, but I can determine who I am and how I am in that season. I can decide in that season who I’m going to be spiritually; I can decide in that season who I’m going to be emotionally. And while certain seasons come and go, we have been given the responsibility to respond to the seasons that we’re in. I may not be able to enter a new season when I want, but I can make a decision to go to a new level when I am ready. And I want to know, am I talking to anybody in this room? Am I talking to anybody online that senses it’s time for a new level? Okay, PD, how do I know if it’s time for a new level? Here it is: here’s the indication that it’s time for elevation: frustration. Did you hear what I just said? Frustration is the indication that an adjustment needs to be made regarding the level that you’re on. Even though frustration is agitating, it is also educating. God uses it. If you and I were to say, «God, take away my frustration,» what we would actually be saying is, «God, take away my ability to experience elevation.» Because you can’t experience elevation without experiencing some frustration. God will make you frustrated at the level you’re on so that you can begin to passionately pursue the level you’re meant to be at. And I believe I’m talking to some people who have come to the conclusion that God must be getting ready to send me to a whole different level because of the degree of frustration and agitation I’m dealing with. Y’all aren’t talking to me. I want somebody to agitate the enemy because he wants your frustration to infect your determination, causing you to suffer from stagnation. But I want you to give the devil agitation by giving God appreciation for the elevation you haven’t even experienced yet. God, you must be getting ready to do something significant in my life because I am no longer satisfied with what I used to be okay with. I am no longer okay with what I used to settle for. God is adjusting your appetite, and the adjustment of your appetite is a prophetic picture that you’re getting ready to make an exit from this level. Y’all aren’t talking to me. The things that used to satisfy you don’t satisfy you anymore, and now you’ve got a hunger for more that you didn’t used to have. And you’re wondering, is it greed? Let me help you: it’s not greed; it’s God. God’s got to give us a desire so that we can walk out for ourselves what he wants for us. Am I talking to anybody that’s got this revelation? I can’t control my season, but I can determine my level. I can’t always control the season I’m in, but I can control who I am in that season. If I’m making sense, say yes. The scriptures, family, are inundated with examples of what I’m articulating, but no scripture, I think, reveals and exposes this like our foundational text here in 2 Corinthians, chapter 3. In this text, the Apostle Paul, who is the author of this epistle, is having a conversation with the Corinthians regarding spiritual formation. Somebody say formation. I want you to catch this because spiritual growth is not just the accumulation of information; spiritual growth is the application of information that leads to formation. Listen to me: I didn’t say transformation because transformation makes me different than I was, but it doesn’t mean it made me more like Jesus. Am I making sense here? Yeah, I can be different than I was, but that doesn’t mean I’m more like Jesus. I can go from mean to nice and still not be like Jesus. Am I making sense? Going from mean to nice is transformation, but it is not formation. You see, the goal of spiritual formation is not just to make me different; it’s to make me like Jesus. Here’s what the Apostle Paul says in Galatians, chapter 4, verse 19: «My dear children…»