2016 Antioch Graduates Edition

It's best defined as "the deserving right bestowed upon one as a reward for diligence, competence, caliber, and quality." It is called a promotion. When kids in elementary school pass all of the tests at their level successfully, they are promoted to middle school. When middle school kids handle their business well they are promoted to high school. And, when high school kids do what it takes to get their diploma after 12 years of hard work they are promoted to graduation. It happens every time you see a receptionist become a sales representative, a teacher become a principal, an associate minister become a Pastor, a nurse aid become a registered nurse, a GED become a Ph.D. and an apprentice become the foreman. It's called a promotion!

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t is a time of celebration for you but it does not come easily. It only comes to the best, the brightest and those that are highly favored. It comes only with going through the valley of difficulty – called hard times, past mountains of evil called enemies, through days of weeping and worry called preparation, by way of heated moments of testing called examination and through ditches of silence called isolation. But, it happens and when it does your haters still hate, but they have to do so from beneath you because you now walk and live at another level. The size of your devils increase because with new levels come new devils. And, the benefit for your labor and reward come with power and blessing. It is called a promotion! The shouting news for those of you reading this devotional today is this, there comes a time in your life when God looks at where you are and says "you've been in the same spot long enough, you have learned the lessons, passed the tests, you've endured the burden, you have stomached the heartache and I am ready to take you to the next level! You have been promoted!"

It is what happens in the life of Joseph. Here’s what the scripture says,

“And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison...And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck, and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt" (Gen. 39:20 & 41:39-43, KVJ).

Now if this happened in the life of Joseph it can happen in your life too. But, here's the question, what has to happen in your life in order for God to promote you?

THE PREPARATION First of all, you have to see what's behind you as preparation for what God has planned that's ahead of you. Be honest for a moment. You’ve been through a lot haven't you? In fact, thoughts of it can bring tears to your eyes if you think about it long enough. Some of the things that have hurt you have been because you have made some bad decisions. And other things that have caused pain in your life are not your fault at all. But, all in all, you have seen some ups and downs. But, here's some shouting news for you, God was in control the whole time and it was His way of preparing you for what lies ahead of you!

Joseph was favored of his father, hated by his brothers, sold into slavery, lied on by Potiphar's wife and is now living life in a pit. This is not where he wants to be. He did not sign up for this, but God has allowed it. Why? Because the long range plan of God is to promote him and this is his moment of testing! It is preparation now for his elevation later. You may have endured a lot and be through with it, but God let it happen and He is not through with you. Get this, the Lord has been busy working in your past to prepare you for the promotion that is to come in your future!!!

THE REALIZATION Secondly, you have to hold fast to the realization that your gift will make room for you. Listen, you may not have everything, but you have something. And when you start to use the something that God gave you the flood gates of blessing are going to open in your life and you will not be able to contain it or restrain it. Are you shouting yet? Our problem is that we spend too much time not using what God gave us because we think that what we have is not as good as what He has given someone else. But, hear this, use what you have to the glory of God and the blessing of the Lord will soon follow. Joseph was not a great hunter. Joseph was not a great philosopher or a banker. Joseph was not a statesman or a fisherman. All he could do is interpret dreams. How boring right? But, he kept using his gift until the Lord used that gift to open a door for him that no man could close. Get this my friend, when you start really using your gift the day will come, the opportunity will arise, the contract will surface, the position will open for you to use it. And, when you use the gift that God has given you the flood gates of blessing are going to flood you and you will find yourself promoted!

THE EXALTATION And lastly you have to be ready for divine exaltation. Now get this, the ultimate test for elevation is not how high you can climb, but how low you can bow. You see, before God can lift you, you have to let some people go. And, the people that you must let go are those that have caused the most damage in your life. When you release them the Lord is going to cause you to rise in their presence to a new level of living. It is what happened to Joseph. The same brothers that hurt him had to return to him for help. But, he had already released them in forgiveness privately so when he saw them publicly he could tell them "you meant it for my evil, but the Lord meant it for my good!" Are you shouting yet? You should be! You see, your promotion lies in the fact that you have the power to release the pain of your past for the prosperity of your future.

The choice is yours!!! And when you choose to let them go God elevates you by lifting you up! It is divine promotion at its best!

Now if this happened in the life of Joseph, it can happen in your life too.

But, here’s the question….what has to happen in your lift in order for God to promote you?

THE CELEBRATION Now for the best news of the year! Now for the greatest news of the week! Now for the most wonderful news of the month!

If you have God's favor, God's gifts and the power to forgive you have been promoted! The CEO of the nation's largest global enterprise has been looking for people like you to represent Him at the next level! He needs people that can love when they are hated, forgive when they have been wounded, survive when they are supposed to be defeated and soar when they were supposed to be down for the count. His name is Jesus Christ and when He promotes you He does it in the presence of your enemies all for the glory of the Father who sits high and looks low! Now when promotions happen the people that have been promoted celebrate! So don't hold your celebration until Sunday morning shout right now because the promotion is yours to receive!!!

Newly Elected Texas Southern University Student Government Association President Congratulations are in order to the newly elected Texas Southern University Student Government Association President, Justin Lee. Lee was elected into office on April 28, 2016, after previously serving as the organization’s Executive Secretary and Executive Vice President. Since becoming a Texas Southern University Tiger, Lee has served as a writer for the Tiger Ambassador, served on the President’s Advisory Board, worked on the Tuition and Fees Committee, the TSU Homecoming committee, the TSU Communication Club, and the University Program Council.

Lee is also a collegiate member of the 100 Black Men of America. Not only is Lee a Honor Society member and maintains a 3.0 Grade Point Average, he is also an active volunteer for the Salvation Army, the Texas Southern University Campus Beautification Initiative, the United Negro College Fund Tour, and he is a university tour guide for Middle School Day, Tiger Day and Preview Weekend. Lee graduated from Central Medical Magnet High School in Beaumont, TX in 2014, when he was selected as a 100 Black Men of Greater Beaumont Scholarship Winner and mentee.

Justin is a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Justin was a diligent member of the Antioch’s Graduation Ministry and served faithfully in the Junior Usher’s Ministry.