March 16, 2008 Summit PM

Being A Success In God's Eyes

Introduction

A. Text – Joshua 1:1-10

B. Question – in your eyes what is it that spells success

            1. How would you define it?

                        * Ability to afford a new or bigger home

                        * Leading your neighbor to Christ

                        * Getting that promotion at work

                        * Seeing your children walk in the Lord - Grandchildren

                        * Having a stable marriage

                        * Watching God change lives through your ministry

            2. Another question - Would God define success the same way?

C. Pray

 

I. What’s Not A Part Of God's Picture Of Our Success

            A. The size of our bank account - our portfolio

                        1. In World - rated by these things

                                    a.  Kind of car we drive - Having a beautifully decorated home

                                    2. Having new & trendy clothes

3. Often feel intimidated - inferior because not have these

                        2. Wealth can be a sign of God's blessings

                                    * OT - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Job, & Hezekiah blessed this way

                                                Deut.8:18 - was a part of covenant God made

                                    * NT - Mt.6:33 - seek 1st kingdom - all added

                                                2 Cor.9:10.11 - abundance so can share

                                                Mt.19:27-29 - 100X now + eternal life

                        3. Yet the opposite is also true - sign that one is out of God's favor

                                    * Rev.3:16,17 - Laodecia

                                    * 1 Tim.6:9,10 - seek riches - trap - pierce self with many sorrows

            B. Being accepted & respected by those around us

                        1. Taught to be respect others accept us

                                    * Elder - spoken well about

                                    * Rom.12:14-21 - do all can to be at peace

                                    * Prov. - ways please Lord - even enemies be at peace

                        2. Other side - righteous will be persecuted

                                    * Mt.5:11 - blessed are you when men speak evil of you

                                    * Isa.53:3 - Messiah was despised by men - yet pleasing to God

            C. Having a fruitful ministry

                        1. Jn.15:5,8 - what Jesus seeks & promises

                        2. Many think - if only more respond as I teach = God pleased

                        4. Look at several of God's faithful ministers

                                    * Moses - people constantly rebel against - wander 40 years

                                    * Jeremiah - rejected, put in prison

                                                Jer.37:2 - no one paid any attention to Jeremiah's words

                                    * Stephen - stoned to death

            D. Other things

                        1. Good looks - 1 Sam.16:7 - God look at heart

                        2. Wisdom & understanding - 1 Cor.1:20 – foolishness to God

                        3. Our strengths & abilities - Jer.9:23,24 - (must know Me)

                        4. Truth - these things often get in the way of our being pleasing to God

 

II. What Is It God Is Looking For That Makes Us Successful In His Eyes

            A. Growing in Faith

                        1. Heb.11:6 - without it - can't please

                        2. Look at ones Jesus commended while here on earth

                                    * Mt.8:5-13 - Centurion

                                    * Mt.8:25,26 - apostles during storm

                                    * Mt.9:1,2 - healing of paralyzed man

                                    * Mt.9:27,28 - heals blind man

                                    * Prov.3:5,6 - trust Him with all heart

                        3. God wants people who will trust Him - pleases Him

                                    * Faith instead of fear & worry - Trust, not panic                        

                                    * Relying on Him to deliver, not self

                        4. Question - what are we doing to build up our faith? 2 Pet.1:5-8

            B. Full & complete Obedience

                        1. Phil2:5-10

                                    * Jesus honored because walked in obedience

                                    * Always do the will of my Father - even though hard = garden

                        2. God isn't interested in works - is in way we respond to His word

                                    * Knows we are imperfect - always fall short

                                    * Wants us to keep on trying - even though seems foolish & futile

                                    * 2 Chron.20:20-22 - went out singing - God destroyed enemy

                        3. Attitude - we never give up trying - striving

                                    * Labor is never in vain - 1 Cor.15:58

                                    * Even when seems odds are overwhelming - Lk.18 (widow)

            C. Seeking & maintaining a deep relationship with God

                        1. Jer.9:23,24 - boast in this - know God

                        2. Jn.10:14 - I know my sheep & they know Me

                        3. Sad that many would rather focus upon the external works

                                    Pharisees - did & didn't know God - lost

                                    1 Cor.13:1-3

 

Conclusion

A. Bottom line- It's an inner attitude not just doing external deeds that please God

            1. Not how many have I brought to Jesus

            2. Not how disciplined I am spiritually

            3. It's being totally focused upon pleasing Him

B. Prayer