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In life, Transition is a circular process that can cause you to rise to new heights or sink to the murky depths. Your choices will always determine how your life unfolds. There are nine stages in a full tranisition. The more you can handle at one time, the faster you will mature as a Christian. These nine stages are:

1.) Crisis Produces Opportunity
2.) Opportunity Produces Ministry
3.) Ministry Produces Favour
4.) Favour Produces Promotion
5.) Promotion Produces Increase
6.) Increase Multiplies Responsibility
7.) Responsibility Produces Rewards
8.) Rewards Attract Attack
9.) Attack Creates Crisis

Do not fear transition. Do not fear change. If you do, you will be boxed in, contained by Satan. Remember, his strategy is undrmine one thing and then let you self-destruct. Fear of change is one of the best targets that he has. If he can keep you contained long enough, your dreams and desires will fade and you will settle for far less than your potential.

The best time to deal with crisis is up front and head on. People often try to avoid attack using one of three methods:
1.) They backtrack or run away from the crisis.
2.) They perform the ostrich manuever. When an ostrich is threatened, it sticks its head in the sand, thinking that because the problem is out of sight, it is no longer there.
3.) They water themselves down and take the path of least resistance.

We have been given three weapons to attack with, not just to defend. It does not matter where the attack comes from, these weapons make us formidible fighters.

Weapon 1: Seed
In Genesis 1, God blessed the man and woman and in that blessing was seed. Seed creates your future. When you let go of something in your hand, God will let go of something in His. Jesus was a seed that produced an eternal family for God.

Genesis 3:15 KJVR
(15) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Weapon 2: Faith
What is faith? It is our transfer mechanism. Faith is similar to the transporters in Star Trek.

Hebrews 11:1-3 NLT
(1) Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
(2) Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
(3) By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

Because our technology is more advanced than in Paul’s day, we have even more evidence that this is true. Annette Capps published “Quantum Faith,” which is a mini-book that explores some of the links between Quantum Physics and Faith. You can also view some excerpts from the DVD series that she and her father Charles Capps has produced. On page 8, Annette writes, “The interesting thing is that scientists have discovered that the electron that is shown orbiting the nucleus is not always there in particle form. It exists in a wave state (like a cloud, everywhere at once) until someone looks at it. When the scientist observes it, it suddenly appears as a dot (particle). What we all want to know is, ‘How does it know someone is looking at it?’ It is obviously responding to the observer.”

Faith is something that you must develop, because everyone starts their Christian walk with the same amount of faith.

Romans 12:1-3 KJVR
(1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(3) For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Weapon 3: Your Voice Speaking God’s Word
In every case that we have looked at, the Word spoken in Faith broke the crisis. Let us look at some examples:

Remember, Daniel handpicked his minister’s who would not worship another. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego publicly declaredtheir loyalty to God.

Daniel 3:14-18 NLT
(14) Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up?
(15) I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”
(16) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.
(17) If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.
(18) But even if He doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Joseph was attacked by Potiphar’s wife and framed for a crime that he did not commit. Instead of being executed, he went to prison and encountered two of Pharoah’s servants. He interpreted their dreams and said:

Genesis 40:14 NLT
(14) And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place.

Jesus was attacked and resolved the issue by speaking the Word. Knowing that He was about to die the most horrible death for all people for all time, Jesus needed to keep His body and soul in line for the coming attack.

Matthew 26:39 NLT
(39) He went on a little farther and bowed with His face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from Me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.”

Going through an attack and the ensuing crisis is not always fun, but as I said before, you do have the Word to assist you in overcoming. I like what Rocky Balboa said to his son in the last of the Rocky movies.
“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!”

Increase does not always mean financial increase. Financial increase is usually a byproduct of increase. Increase usually comes to you in the realm of more responsibility, more work and more favour. You can look at any number of people in the Bible to find how increase changed them. Joseph, David, Solomon Jesus, the Apostles and Paul all had increase in their lives.

As David was promoted by the Lord, increase happened. He did not have mighty men with him when he defeated Goliath. David obtained multi-billionaire status because he sought God. Silver was worthless by Solomon’s reign because there was so much gold. The total cost of reproducing the Temple would be in the range of about 50 billion dollars. David’s personal donation was in the neighborhood of 15 billion.

Daniel moved through the civil service and eventually became the First Satrap (Minister).

Daniel 2:48-49 NLT
(48) Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men.
(49) At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.

Jesus promoted Paul to take the Gospel to the Gentiles and God’s family increased mightily.

Acts 26:13-18 NLT
(13) About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions.
(14) We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is useless for you to fight against My will. ‘
(15) “‘Who are You, lord?’ I asked. “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting.
(16) Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as My servant and witness. You are to tell the world what you have seen and what I will show you in the future.
(17) And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles
(18) to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in Me.’

The key to lasting promotion is to be different. Accepting the responsibilities that come your way will set you apart from the masses that do not have any desire to achieve. David chose to be responsible for Israel as did Solomon. Daniel chose to serve in the Public Service as did Joseph.

Be different.

When you have favour, promotion soon follows. It has been said many times that you do not need everybody tolike you, only the right person. Favour is a byproduct of solving problems for those that have the authority to promote you.

Promotion comes in two forms. The first type of promoted results in you being promoted. Looking at Joseph’s life, one might conclude that Joseph was one of the most successful failures that ever made it to the top. He received a vision and was thrown into a pit by his brothers and sold as a slave to the world by his cousins. He worked hard until he was successfully running the household for Potipher only to be thrown into jail for a crime he did not commit.

Joseph again worked hard until he was promoted and was second only to the Jailer in the prison. He interpreted the dreams of Pharoah’s Baker and Cup-Bearer and was totally forgotten about for years – until Pharoah had a dream. Then he Joseph was promoted by Pharoah because he had a plan that would save Egypt and ultimately Israel and the world from starvation.

Second, your favor can cause others to be promoted. It is only lonely at the top if you do not help others get there. In the Book of Esther, Mordecai was promoted to Prime Minister second only to King Xerxes.

Esther 10:1-3 NLT
(1) King Xerxes imposed a tribute throughout his empire, even to the distant coastlands.
(2) His great achievements and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Media and Persia.
(3) Mordecai the Jew became the prime minister, with authority next to that of King Xerxes himself. He was very great among the Jews, who held him in high esteem, because he continued to work for the good of his people and to speak up for the welfare of all their descendants.

How did this happen? It was Esther who found favour in the sight of the King. Her favour not only kept Mordecai and the Jews alive, but also allowed the King to recognize the problem solving ability in Mordecai.

Looking at another example, David’s Mighty Men were not so mighty when they formed their association.

1 Samuel 22:1-2 NLT
(1) So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there.
(2) Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.

These are the same men that became high ranking officials and advisors during David’s reign. It would not happen if David failed to become king. His promotion lifted others to new heights.

Favour is not difficult to obtain if you know how to solve problems for those capable of promoting you.

When we examine the life of Joseph, we find that Joseph made the decision to believe God. This is the most critical desion that anyone can make. Once Joseph made his decision, he stuck with it despite all the negative circumstances that he landed in. Sticking with this decision allowed Joseph to excel in both his work and work ethic.

Genesis 39:2-3 NLT
(2) The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.
(3) Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did.

Joseph was annointed for business and administratration. In fact, Joseph was not only able to read and write, but also able to interpret diagrams and architectural drawings. He was more than capable in this area and Potiphar noticed this.

When you are in the right place at the right time doing the right thing the right people will notice you. The world calls this luck or brown-nosing. Whatever it is that you are called to do will not grow beyond a seed unless you grow it in the proper environment. Joseph was just a boy, a younger brother to be tolerated by Isreal and his family. To Potiphar in Egypt, Joseph was a capable, shrewd administrator.

It did not happen only to Joseph. Step through the Bible and look at opportunities taken. David took the opportunity to move beyond the “back forty” into the Palace. Remember, nobody told David to fight Goliath, yet it released the warrior in David.

1 Samuel 17:23-37 NLT
(23) As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, came out from the Philistine ranks. Then David heard him shout his usual taunt to the army of Israel.
(24) As soon as the Israelite army saw him, they began to run away in fright.
(25) “Have you seen the giant?” the men asked. “He comes out each day to defy Israel. The king has offered a huge reward to anyone who kills him. He will give that man one of his daughters for a wife, and the man’s entire family will be exempted from paying taxes!”
(26) David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”
(27) And these men gave David the same reply. They said, “Yes, that is the reward for killing him.”
(28) But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!”
(29) “What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!”
(30) He walked over to some others and asked them the same thing and received the same answer.
(31) Then David’s question was reported to King Saul, and the king sent for him.
(32) “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”
(33) “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”
(34) But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock,
(35) I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.
(36) I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God!
(37) The LORD who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the LORD be with you!”

Solomon took the opportunity to pass up riches and wealth to gain wisdom. That wisdom was known throughout the European and Middle-Eastern Areas. He was so wise, that world leaders came to him with their riches seeking what the wisdom he had asked for. Solomon is the embodiment of:

Proverbs 24:3-5 NLT
(3) A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense.
(4) Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.
(5) The wise are mightier than the strong, and those with knowledge grow stronger and stronger.

Paul took the opportunity to be redeemed.

Acts 22:6-21 NLT
(6) “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me.
(7) I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
(8) “‘Who are You, lord?’ I asked. “And the voice replied, ‘I am Jesus the Nazarene, the One you are persecuting.’
(9) The people with me saw the light but didn’t understand the voice speaking to me.
(10) “I asked, ‘What should I do, Lord?’ “And the Lord told me, ‘Get up and go into Damascus, and there you will be told everything you are to do.’
(11) “I was blinded by the intense light and had to be led by the hand to Damascus by my companions.
(12) A man named Ananias lived there. He was a godly man, deeply devoted to the law, and well regarded by all the Jews of Damascus.
(13) He came and stood beside me and said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight.’ And that very moment I could see him!
(14) “Then he told me, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know His will and to see the Righteous One and hear Him speak.
(15) For you are to be His witness, telling everyone what you have seen and heard.
(16) What are you waiting for? Get up and be baptized. Have your sins washed away by calling on the name of the Lord.’
(17) “After I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple and fell into a trance.
(18) I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, ‘Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won’t accept your testimony about Me.’
(19) “‘But Lord,’ I argued, ‘they certainly know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you.
(20) And I was in complete agreement when Your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.’
(21) “But the Lord said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!’”

What opportunities have been staring you down from the other side of the crisis you are facing. Remember this: Battle is the seed for territory. Battle is also the seed for your future. If you choose to let the crisis go unchallenged, it will grow into a mountain. Take the opportunities and exploit them for God. After all, how many mountains does it take before you are hemmed in and your progress is nullified?