Chapter

Twenty-Four

JOSHUA 1 : 8

S. U. C. C. E. S. S. :

JOSHUA 1 : 8

8: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

This lecture series on SUCCESS is a means of self - evaluation to determine where you are in relation to your personal success.

No one can identify your goal of success but you.

These lectures on SUCCESS can be an aid in determining what your goal is and where you are concerning its achievement.

25: And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

According to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance the word SUCCESS is used in the KING JAMES HOLY BIBLE only once -- Joshua 1 : 8

Here Joshua take up the leadership of Moses over the Children of Israel.

God’s admonition to Joshua for successful leadership is to be THROUGHLY saturated with God’s law, meditating in its concepts always, and obeying its precepts.

This “throughly” is like that of a brick in a kiln -- if not THROUGHLY burnt it will crumble as in II Timothy 3 : 17:

17: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

If this is not your daily habit then quite frankly you have failed instead of succeeded.

The Apostle Paul acknowledged God’s part in his success in I Corinthians 15 : 10:

10: But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Notice the active participation of “I laboured”, but also the overriding favour of “God...with me”.

Success is promised and can be obtained by

UNDERSTANDING God’s law,

LABORING under its direction,

LIVING under the grace of Jesus Christ.

“It’s not a choice that anyone else can make for you. You’ve got to do that yourself.”

Don Soderquist, V-Chairman, Wal*Mart Stores

Psalm 19: 7 - 11:

7: The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8: The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9: The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 10: More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11: Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

So, “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the MARK” as Paul said in Philippians 3: 13 - 14:

13: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14: I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

With this resolve we will now enter the subject of S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

Basically we will discuss seven aspects using the seven letters of the word success as an acrostic:

S: A Sense of Direction

U: Understanding Your Goal

C: The Courage of Faith

C: Charity: Love Thy Neighbor

E: Esteem or Self-Talk

S: Self Confidence

S: Self Acceptance

Aspect Number One: S: A SENSE OF DIRECTION

Do you know where you are going?

From 1979 to 1984 I worked as a supervisor for Pee Dee Ceramics, Pee Dee, South Carolina. I was responsible for the brick kiln.

During that time I asked the Plant Manager three questions:

Where am I at?

Where can I go?

How do I get there?

After that - each year - the Manager and I would sit down and would set both short and long term goals for me both professionally and personally.

You should set both a GOAL and OBJECTIVES.

The GOAL is your pot at the end of the rainbow - the end accomplished.

The objectives are expressed in the acrostic word S.P.I.R.I.T.:

S: SPECIFIC, with a

P: Particular Performance that

I: Involves you

R: Realistically

I: IN an observable

T: Testable Outcome

Example: ANGER: Memorize a verse of Scripture

The goal comes before the objectives.

Remember the goal is the overall big apple,

The objectives are the bites that get to the core.

To establish your goal answer these questions concerning yourself:

I: What is success for you?

Not the definition, but success for you as an individual (i.e.: doctor, lawyer, etc.).

One summer Saturday afternoon in the early 70’s I was walking down Main Street, Columbia, South Carolina.

A woman asked me these four questions, how would you answer them?

My answer to this first one was and still is

TO DO AND BE THE BEST I CAN FOR JESUS CHRIST!

II: Have You Reached That Goal?

Simply “yes” or “no”.

Either you have or you have not!

In my case I had not then and I have not as yet.

“One of the dangers that we all face when we see success is thinking that we’ve kind of accomplished it ALL”

Don Soderquist, V-Chairman, Wal*Mart Stores

III: If Not, To What Percent Have You Reached That goal?

How far down (or up) the road have you gone since you set your goal?

For me, I said 50 %.

After these years to reflect and increased knowledge I would say 20 to 30 %

Not that I’ve “backslid”, but I have a larger understanding of the overall goal.

IV: Do You Expect To Accomplish Or Reach That Goal In Your Life-Time?

Again “yes” or “no”, providing you live long enough.

For my goal the answer is an obvious NO because “all have sinned and come short”

My goal will only reach completion when I get to Heaven.

However, the goal can be striven after with attainable objectives which can be measured both by self-evaluation and by others.

How about you?

By answering these four questions you can pin yourself down and identify your goal.

The next question will aid in Setting objectives. I added it to the other four.

V: What Are You Now Doing To Accomplish That Goal?

“You’ve got to do what it takes to make yourself the best.”

David Glass, President & CEO, Wal*Mart

Just exactly what can you say you are doing at this period of time as a stepping stone toward that goal of yours?

i.e.: school? internship? apprenticeship?

To accomplish my goal I am presently doing the following things in accord with the

S.P.I.R.I.T. of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. :

S: Scripture Memory

P: Prayer that claims the Word of God for answers

I: Intense, specific Bible study with depth

R: Regular, daily, personal devotions

I: Intake, by reading good Christian publications and other matters of interest

T: Tell the Gospel to others

Each of these will fit all the categories of the word SPIRIT.

Now you list some for yourself.

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SUCCESS

LECTURE 2

Aspect Number Two: U:

UNDERSTANDING YOUR GOAL

To accomplish your goal and be a success you have to understand your goal and how to arrive at its end.

To do this you will have to communicate and open yourself to the communication of others.

Isaiah 50:4:

4: The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

I learn and pick up many bits and pieces about life, and about many of the jobs I’ve had, along the way, by observing others at work and by listening to those around me whether it be formal instruction or simple conversation.

II Timothy 2 : 1 - 4:

1: Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2: And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3: Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4: No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Communication need not only be vocal words but can come from the written page or recorded tracks as well.

In the accomplishment of my goal the overriding input of Knowledge is communicated from the printed pages of the Bible.

“...we need to be equipped to exceed expectations by becoming students of the business.”

Jim Haworth,Sr. V-Pres. Operations

Psalm 119: 105:

105: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

“you have to change if you want to succeed.”

J. R. Campbell, Sr. V-Pres., Merchandising, SAM’s CLUB

Read literature available on you goal.

Put into your objectives what you can.

If possible and practical attend school or take special courses.

At any rate -- increase your knowledge.

II Peter 1 : 4 - 9:

4: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5: And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6: And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7: And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8: For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9: But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

As you receive this knowledge be sure to separate FACT from OPINION:

FACT - all races of men are human.

OPINION - all Pollocks are dumb.

This may be an over simplification, but demonstrates well how we can be swayed both publicly and privately by our acceptance and usage of fact and/or opinion.

So, in all your gathering of knowledge be sure to sift it though the sieve of TRUTH!

Once you face and accept the truth it will set you free to operate and function at your best:

John 8 : 32:

32: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

After you have gained the knowledge and truth you are after to accomplish your goal it must be used prudently and wisely.

Remember people are still human and humans are not perfect:

Proverbs 4 : 1 - 9:

1: Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2: For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3: For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4: He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. 5: Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6: Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7: Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8: Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9: She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

Therefore, in the use of your knowledge applied through truth always consider the WHAT of right or wrong, not the WHO.

Playing on WHO is guilty breeds guilt, and guilt interferes with freedom to operate in the truth:

I John 1 : 9:

9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Proverbs 17 : 9:

9: He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

Two good examples of both sides of this situation are given among the disciples of Christ:

SIMON PETER: during the crucifixion Peter cursed and denied knowing who Christ was or having any relationship with Him;

but when the cock crew Peter went out and wept, and then returned to become a strong pillar of God’s Church.

JUDAS ISCARIOT: Judas thought to bring in the kingdom by putting Jesus on the spot.

When the truth of his failing mistake came to light Judas went and hanged himself.

We see then that in order to gain an

UNDERSTANDING of your goal

we must COMMUNICATE

with KNOWLEDGE,

sifting FACT, OPINION, and TRUTH

in order to do that which is RIGHT.

Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. said “Do right, till the stars fall.”

The capstone or the bottom line in this vein of understanding is given in Ephesians 5 : 17:

17: Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

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SUCCESS

LECTURE 3

Aspect Number Three: C:

THE COURAGE OF FAITH

In my meditation of this section I have equated courage with faith.

And where do we get faith?

From God’s Word!

Romans 10 : 17:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Over the years as I have studied and applied God’s Word to my life I have also had an increase in faith.

This expansion of faith, both in God and self, has given me more courage to face life, accomplish tasks, and attempt things un-attempted.

Faith is the building block of life.

Without faith you are doomed to fail.

Hebrews 11 : 6:

6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him

Here then is a formula for building faith into your life to make you a SUCCESS:

Let us Make Brick

for building a tower to Heaven

Genesis 11 : 1 - 5

1: And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2: And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3: And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4: And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5: And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

Note verse 4:

: And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth

THE LABOURER

I: Genesis 3 : 17 - 19

17: And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18: Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Work at it

Sweat it out

Not an easy road

“If you want it, you’ve got to deserve it. If you want to run a four-minute mille, you’ve got to be willing to train and do whatever it takes to get there.”

Rick Pitino, Boston Celtics Coach

II. I Corinthians 3 : 6 - 15

6: I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7: So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8: Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9: For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10: According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13: Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14: If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15: If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

A. (I Cor. 3:8) the laborer is rewarded

8: Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour

1. (I Cor. 3:13) must go through a fiery trial

13: Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

a) I Peter 1 : 6 - 7

6: Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

yields honor

b)I Peter 4 : 12 - 13

12: Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

rejoice over the trials

B. (I Cor. 3:9) the laborer is part of the building

1. I Peter 2 : 1 - 9

1: Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2: As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4: To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6: Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7: Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8: And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

5: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

C. (I Cor. 3:10) strive to be a MASTERBUILDER

10: According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

D. (I Cor. 3:11) lay the foundation - JESUS

11: For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

THE FOUNDATION

I: I Corinthians 3 : 12

12: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

“We aren’t afraid to try something new and possibly fail in the process.”

Lee Scott, President, Wal*Mart Stores

Different material is used in construction

SIX LITTLE PIGS

You’ve heard the story of three little pigs

the big bad wolf and such

Now here’s a story of my own

of six little sheep and much

These six little sheep one time were pigs

were converted so they say

They laid the great foundation stone

against the judgment day

From that day forth they began to build

on their foundation sure

Of different substance each their own

hoping that his would endure

The first of stubble begin to build

He gathered here and there

But when the day of judgment came

with smoke it filled the air

The second began to build of straw

with many bails of hay

The fire devoured with one big puff

it on the judgment day

Of hardest wood of solid oak

the third thought he was wise

But when the fire of judgment fell

was consumed before his eyes

The fourth now she was wiser

“of precious stone” said he

It is the best with which to build

for all eternity

The fifth said “No, this better

to use the silver dross

For it speaks of humanity

of Jesus on the cross”

The sixth said he would use

the finest golden ore

for when the day to reckon comes

he would have far more

Now when the day of judgment came

upon these latter three

The results remaining of what they built

were quite a sight to see

The stones they sparkled as finest gems

and the silver lost its dross

The gold was made transparent glass

as the sea the heavens cross

Now which way are you building

your house upon this land

When the day to reckon comes

what of your life will stand

So take the advice of David

and say “let God build for us”

For any other way you do

would likely end in divorce.

When all else fails - follow directions

A. Hebrews 6 : 1:

1: Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

1. From the foundation of faith - ADD

II Peter 1 : 4 - 9:

a) one preacher has commented that virtue is courage to do battle

b) Note verse 8 about being barren and unfruitful.

8: For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

the fruit for he Christian is found in

Galatians 5 : 22 - 23

22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23: Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Proverbs 11 : 30

30: The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

“...equip themselves...commitment....,and what...are [they] doing with the knowledge that they already have. don’t ever think you’re too big to learn something else.”

Jim Haworth, Sr. V-Pres. Operations

HOW ARE YOU BUILDING?

For a comparative analysis read Hebrews Chapter Eleven.

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SUCCESS

LECTURE 4

Aspect number four: C:

CHARITY: LOVE THY NEIGHBOR

For total success - an all encompassing ingredient - you should saturate yourself with love.

Romans 12 : 3

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.

Not inward, self - diluting, love or conceit but outward manifestations of

CARE AND CONCERN.

Isaiah 32 : 1 - 2:

1: Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment. 2: And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

The list in Galatians 5 : 22 - 23 was discussed in Aspect Number Three:

22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23: Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law

INWARD: LOVE, JOY, PEACE

OUTWARD: LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS

GOD-WORD: FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE

LOVE is the one ingredient Jesus said would show total compliance to the law.

Mark 12 : 28 - 34

28: And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? 29: And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31: And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32: And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. 34: And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

Verse 29: God is One God

29: And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord

Verse 30:

30: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

LOVE: (25) ajgapa>w, — ag-ap-ah’-o; perhaps from a]gan (much) [or compare Hebrew {5689} (`agab)]; to love (in a social or moral sense): —(be-) love (-ed). Compare (5368) (file>w).

HEART: (2588) kardi>a, — kar-dee’-ah; prolonged from a primary ka>r (Latin cor, “heart”); the heart, i.e. (figurative) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle: — (+ broken-) heart (-ed).

SOUL: (5590) yuch>, — psoo-khay’; from (5594) (yu>cw); breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstract or concrete (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from (4151) (pneu~ma), which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from (2222) (zwh>), which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew {5315} (nephesh), Hebrew {7307} (ruwach) and Hebrew {2416} (chay)): — heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us,

+ you.

MIND: (1271) dia>noia, — dee-an’-oy-ah; from (1223) (dia>) and (3563) (nou~v); deep thought, properly the faculty (mind or its disposition), by implication its exercise: — imagination, mind, understanding.

STRENGTH: (2479) ijscu>v, — is-khoos’; from a derivative of iJv (force; compare e]scon, a form of (2192) (e]cw)); forcefulness (literal or figurative): — ability, might ([-ily]), power, strength.

THIS IS WHAT CHRIST SAID WAS FIRST !!!!

SECOND TO THIS FIRST COMMAND IS THE SECOND COMMAND

Verse 31:

31: And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these

This is not the love of Karl Marx, Politicians, or Communistic Socialists

34: And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

For a detailed description of the attributes of love read

I Corinthians 13:

Verse 4:

4: Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

SUFFER LONG: long - spirited, forbearing, patient

KIND: show oneself useful, act benevolently

ENVIETH NOT: feelings of covetousness, desire

VAUNTETH NOT ITSELF: braggart, boast

NOT PUFFED UP: blowing, inflate, make proud, bag of wind

Verse 5:

5: Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

BEHAVE UNSEEMLY: unbecoming, out of character

SEEK NOT OWN: endeavor or plot for self

NOT EASILY PROVOKED: to sharpen along side, exasperate

THINKETH NO EVIL: worthless, depraved, injurious

Verse 6:

6: Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

REJOICE NOT IN INIQUITY: not cheerfully happy in injustice or wrongfulness

REJOICE IN TRUTH: sympathize in gladness with truth

Verse 7:

7: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

BEARETH ALL THINGS: to cover with silence

BELIEVE ALL: have faith in persons, trust

HOPE ALL: expect, confide, trust

ENDURE ALL: to stay under, preservere

“You need pressure, not stress....It makes you perform at your best.”

Rick Pitino, Boston Celtics coach

Verse 8:

8: Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

NEVER FAIL: never to drop away, driven out, inefficient

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SUCCESS

LECTURE 5

Aspect Number Five:

E: ESTEEM

What do you think about yourself?

Remember God’s second command is to love thy neighbor as THYSELF!

So, the reason you respond inappropriately to others is because you do not feel appropriately about yourself.

For a good exhortation on THYSELF read Psalm 37

1: Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. 2: For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. 3: Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4: Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 5: Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6: And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. 7: Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 8: Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 9: For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 10: For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 11: But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 12: The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13: The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. 14: The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 15: Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 16: A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. 17: For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. 18: The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. 19: They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. 20: But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. 21: The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. 22: For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. 23: The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24: Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. 25: I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26: He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. 27: Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. 28: For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. 29: The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. 30: The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. 31: The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. 32: The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. 33: The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. 34: Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. 35: I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. 36: Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. 37: Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. 38: But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. 39: But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 40: And the LORD shall help them and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Verse 1: says don’t fret or envy

Verse 2: says to delight in the Lord

Verse 7: says don’t fret over the prosperous or wicked

Verse 8: says to cease anger, wrath, and fretting to do evil

Notice that three of these verses are concerned with FRETTING OURSELVES!

Verse 1:

1: Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

has to do with being angry and grieved over evil doers, and with envy concerning sinners

Verse 7:

7: Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.

has to do with displeasure and jealousy over those who are prosperous

Verse 8:

8: Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.

Stop being angry and grieved to the point of your own sin

One is to our delight

Verse 4:

4: Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

STRONG’S 2734 FRET : charah - grow warm, to blaze up, anger, zeal, jealousy, displeased

STRONG’S 6026 DELIGHT - anag - soft or pliable, effeminate or luxurious - delicate - sport self

The first three are self - indulgent and breed contempt and self pity

The latter takes the view point off of self and places it on God.

This is as it should be for Paul admonishes us to think soberly and not to think more highly of ourselves then we should:

Romans 12 : 3

If we get our eyes off our “self-indulgent pity” and onto the LAW (God’s Word) we will attend unto our brothers’ needs because we will not be thinking ourselves nothing when we are something or visa versa:

Galatians 6 : 1 - 5

1: Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2: Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3: For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4: But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5: For every man shall bear his own burden.

We are not “sufficient” to think properly about ourselves:

II Corinthians 3 : 5

5: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Jesus Christ set the example of putting others first knowing who and what He was:

Philippians 2:

1: If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2: Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3: Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4: Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9: Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11: And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12: Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13: For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14: Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 16: Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

A look at verse four (4) will again tell you to stop looking at yourself and think of others.

4: Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others

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SUCCESS

LECTURE 6

Aspect Number Six:

S: SELF CONFIDENCE

Be a “Can Do” person.

You have all the ability to do what God wants you to do!

Philippians 4 : 13

13: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me

When Moses was on the back side of the desert, and God called him out of the burning bush, and would send him to lead Israel out of Egypt, Moses began to bicker and make excuses about his abilities to perform such a task.

Exodus 3:

Exodus 4: 10 - 16

10: And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11: And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? 12: Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. 13: And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. 14: And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. 15: And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. 16: And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

Moses wasn’t ready, but Isaiah the prophet was ready and willing:

After confessing his sin and receiving a purging Isaiah responded to the call “who sill go for us?”

and he said “send me”. Isaiah 6 : 8

Further he even asked “how long?” Isaiah 6 : 11

8: Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9: And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10: Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. 11: Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,

Today there is a great need in the avenue of leadership for the United States at every level of government and business.

This statement of the Lord could well be used by today’s business seekers:

30: And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

To be truly successful you must adopt the self confidence motto:

I CAN’T IS NOT AN OPTION

“If you believe you [deserve success] , then choose to make it happen.”

Mark Hansen, SAM’S CLUB Pres. & CEO

I CAN’T IS NOT AN OPTION

Haggai 1 : 11 - 15

1: In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, 2: Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD's house should be built. 3: Then came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4: Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? 5: Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 6: Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. 7: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. 8: Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD. 9: Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house. 10: Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit. 11: And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the labour of the hands. 12: Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him, and the people did fear before the LORD. 13: Then spake Haggai the LORD's messenger in the LORD's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith the LORD. 14: And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, 15: In the four and twentieth day of the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

Haggai 2 : 1 - 9

1: In the seventh month, in the one and twentieth day of the month, came the word of the LORD by the prophet Haggai, saying, 2: Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, and to the residue of the people, saying, 3: Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? 4: Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts: 5: According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. 6: For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7: And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. 8: The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. 9: The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

These events took place on or about 21 October 520 BC.

Verse 3: the first glory - now nothing

3: Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?

II Peter 2 : 19 - 20

19: While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20: For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

When you first got saved, there was glory, but if after you were saved you got entangled once again in the world’s system, then your latter end is less glorious.

Revelation 3 : 14 - 20

14: And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16: So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17: Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

LAODICEAN CHURCH - hot and cold

LAO - laity - people - “We the people”

“of - by - for the people”

DICEAN DOCTRINE - (1349) di>kh, — dee’-kay; probably from (1166) (deiknu>w); right (as self-evident), i.e. justice (the principle, a decision, or its

execution): — judgment, punish, vengeance.

Again, “we the people”, not God

Revelation 3:20

20: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

But there is more punishment for the rejector:

Hebrews 10 : 29

29: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

But for the starter who looks back there is a loss of pleasure with God:

Hebrews 10 : 38 - 39

38: Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39: But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

The first glory - after salvation - go back and pick it up!

If you were ever closer to God than you are now you’ve baskslide

If you are not saved - then you are already defeated!

YET NOW

Verse 4:

4: Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts:

be strong, work, I AM with you

No matter what the past, no matter what the pile of rubble, work on it, I AM with you.

Philippians 4 : 13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me

No such thing as “I CAN’T”

“We all need to strive to be a 98-2 person: positive 98% of the time and negative only 2% of the time.”

Denise Remington, Wal*Mart Today

John 4 : 35

35: Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

The harvest is white, will you go?

Close your eyes and get a mental picture of your house from the air - get high enough to see a radius of 10 miles. How many souls are there in that circle that need Jesus?

Do the same with your goal

Luke 10 : 2

2: Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

This is on my daily prayer list for Thursday when I pray for missionaries - are you praying

Matthew 28 : 18 - 20

18: And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Remember that Jesus is with you alway to the end

Verse 6:

6: For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while,

and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and

the dry land;

There’s going to be a shaking of things before the coming of the Lord

and then

Verse 7:

7: And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all

nations shall come: and I will fill this house with

glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

He will come and fill the house, He came before, He is coming again

Matthew 12 : 41 - 42

41: The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here. 42: The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

A greater is here and a better house is coming

Verse 9:

9: The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.

John 14 : 1 - 3

1: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Matthew 6 : 19 - 20

19: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

So how is it? Hot or Cold? Ready to Harvest? Treasure in Heaven?

Joshua 1 : 8

SUCCESS IS SELF CONFIDENCE TO SAY

“I CAN’T IS NOT AN OPTION”

“The reason we’ve won early is that we get everybody to earn it and deserve it. I make their self-esteem go a mile high. High self-esteem is the key that turns all of us on to be extraordinary.”

Rink Pitino, Boston Celtics coach

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SUCCESS

LECTURE 7

Final Aspect

Aspect Number Seven:

S; SELF ACCEPTANCE

We started this discussion with Joshua 1 : 8 stating that SUCCESS begins with God’s Law.

If the beginning of SUCCESS is God’s Law, then the end of SUCCESS is Self Evaluation relative to that law.

We will deal with this through self acceptance

Law does little good to anyone personally, or to society without obedience

To hear the reading of the law, then to turn away from it, is like looking in a mirror at your reflection, and then going away and not knowing what you look like.

But to look into God’s Law and then to follow in its principles is to be set at liberty and to be in a place to receive God’s blessings.

James 1 : 22 - 25

22: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23: For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25: But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed

The first thing we will find from the law is that all are sinners:

Romans 3 : 23

For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

The law was given for one major reason -- to show men they were guilty,

Romans 3 : 19 - 20

19: Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

But out of this guilt that same law becomes our “schoolmaster to lead us to Christ”

Galatians 3 : 23 - 26

23: But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.24: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.25: But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

If you will acknowledge and accept what the law shows you to be and then receive Christ and His forgiveness you can then climb the ladder of SUCCESS.

Relative to God’s law you should confess and forsake your sins of disobedience

By doing so you receive the mercy of God -- to do otherwise will not prosper

Proverbs 28 : 13

13: He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

When you follow these rules you will sooner or later be able to say:

I Corinthians 15 : 10

This then is the basic position of self - acceptance

Confess and admit who and what you are and then forge ahead, forgetting the past and reaching toward your place of SUCCESS!

Are you a success?

Will you ever be one?

Are you really trying?

“We’ve got to raise our expectation level.”

David Glass, President & CEO, Wal*Mart

We asked five questions at the beginning to help in finding your goal and where you are relative to that goal.

What is success for you?

“What makes a person or a company successful”

“Does a decision to be successful automatically make it a reality? NO. but it is the strating point”

“Ask yourself and those around you what each of you need to do to be more successful....”

Denise Remington, Wal*Mart Today

Have you achieved that goal?

If Not, to what percent have you achieved that goal?

Do you expect to achieve that goal in your life time?

What are you now doing to reach that goal?

To sum them up in one word each they could be:

IDENTIFICATION

ATTAINMENT

PROGRESSION

EXPECTATION

PURSUIT

and conclude with

“WHY DO YOU DO, WHAT YOU DO, THE WAY YOU DO?”

One day you will reach the end of your life,

I hope you can say with the Apostle Paul:

I have fought a good fight

I have finished my course

I have kept the faith

II Timothy 4 : 7

“When living in the mansion becomes more important than the struggle to get there, then you better start looking over your shoulder for failure.”

Rick Pitino, Boston Celtics coach

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