Sunday Mornings The Secrets to your Success #2 February 28th 2010
Jeremiah 29:11 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 hope and a future.
The formula for success is;
Right Decisions, Made Repeatedly,
Over Time, = Success
Right Decisions (Priorities)
Made Repeatedly (Persistence)
Last week we discussed the first and most important secret to your success and that was Putting God in His place by making Him the first in your Priorities.
Today I want to share the another ingredient to unlocking the blessing that God wants you to possess. The second secret is Persistence.
The first key Priorities emphasized the importance of discovering and doing what was most important in our lives while the second key Persistence declares that our initial action must be repeated.
Galatians 5:7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?
To often we start out well but our effort is short lived. I believe that in order to know and experience the full measure of the blessing that God we must not only get our priorities strait, we must keep them strait.
A Question: Am I counting on a one time action, (an event)
Or are am I developing a lifestyle pattern, (The way I do life).
While it is essential to begin doing what is right it is also absolutely necessary to continue on in those action until they become a part of our daily lives.
Illus. Climbing a nearby mountain to Heaven.
“I’m going to climb this mountain all the way to Heaven.”
200’ I’m on my way, 500’, 750’ I’m on my way “ “ 1000’ top
Where’s Heaven? It was a good start it just didn’t go far enough.
Lose weight. Start tomorrow morning at breakfast with a yogurt, but by mid-morning you start eating Krispee Kreeme donuts. Where’s the weight loss? It was a good start it just didn’t go far enough.
I could go on, but you get the idea.
Last week I told you that there are 3 contributing factors in obtaining the success that God has for each of us they were:
1. What We Do.
2. Blessing Ground.
3. God’s Supernatural Intervention.
#2 has been predetermined by God, set in the Bible
#3 is at God’s discretion, but #1 is left up to you and me.
Well how does this play out in real life?
How do I move form making a decision about what is most important (my priorities) in my life and initiating an action to repeating that action until it becomes a part of who I am?
Right Decisions (Priorities), Made Repeatedly (Persistence)
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
5 important steps to seeking God’s Kingdom
1. Church Attendance Hebrews 10:25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Question What do you get from church? Fellowship, direction, purpose, opportunity to serve and be served, accountability and shared worship.
Actions Sunday School Morning Worship Evening Worship
Week day Wednesday nite circle what you do regularly
I am trying my best needs improvement
2. Bible Study II Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
The Bible is a road map for this life. It is GPS God’s Positioning System for daily living
You and I have never been this way before. God has some good advise, Take him up on it.
Actions Daily Devotions Sunday School organized Bible study circle what you do regularly I am trying my best needs improvement
3. Prayer Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
There is an old saying that say’s, “Prayer Changes Things” And the very first thing it changes is me. When I begin to talk to God don’t be surprised if He just doesn’t start talking back to you a little bit. Listen to what He has to say He just might offer a few course corrections.
Follow His leading.
I Thess. 5:17 Pray continually
Make a prayer list of 30 things and spend 30 seconds on each one every day. Start with yourself and expand it to others.
Galatians 6:19 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up
We need to pray as though everything depended on God and work as though everything depended on us.
.
Action: Daily once a week crisis circle the ones you do regularly I am doing my best needs improvement
4. Tithes and Offerings Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Action: Tithes, Offerings, Weekly every now and then once a year never circle what you do regularly I am trying my best needs improvement
5 Christian Conduct Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control.
Our society has become exceptionally good at compartmentalizing our daily lives. We live by one set of standards on Sunday at church and another when we are at home or work or play.
What face do you wear at:
Sports/Work/Home/with Friends?
If your religion is based upon the current circumstances then you are at the mercy of whatever is going on around you.
God wants to give you victory over your circumstances so that you can be the same person every hour of the day 7 days a week.
Pastor, you don’t know my situation, the circumstances are just to overwhelming. Your right but there is nothing that you will ever face that will be bigger then God. I Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
So let me ask you again, How are you, Sports/Work/Home/with Friends?
Action: circle what you do regularly I am trying my best needs improvement
