How to be Successful
III John, Verse 2
By: JB Hall
Introduction: Here in our text verse, God, through the pen of John, tells us that He wishes above all things that we may prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers.
God does not wish poverty, oppression, and suffering for His children. Instead, He wishes prosperity, or success, and health.
God provides for this to be a reality; not just an idealistic dream, by supplying commandments and principles in His word, that, if followed, will produce these blessings in our lives.
He not only has the desire for us to be successful; He provides the means by which we can be successful.
First, let me say that the principles we will be discussing this morning are universally applicable; meaning they will work in any venue in life. But, we will be discussing them primarily as they relate to success in ministry.
Every child of God has been called to ministry.
II Corinthians 5:18 says, “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled the world unto himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.”
God has reconciled the world to Himself in Jesus Christ; but He has given us the ministry, the responsibility, to take that message of reconciliation to the world of lost people; that they might be partakers of this great reconciliation that He has made available.
This ministry then, involves a wide array of gifts and specific callings.
Each of us is uniquely equipped and stationed to fulfill the ministry God has called us to.
I’d like us to look at some things that are ‘musts’ in our lives if we want to be successful.
1. We must understand the difference between curse, consequence, and correction.
A. Curse – One of the numerous definitions of curse, and the one I’m talking about is: Affliction; torment; great vexation.
B. A curse, as it relates to what we’re discussing, is an affliction or vexation explicitly imposed by the work of Satan or his demons; via an intrusion into our lives.
C. Consequence – A negative result that is the direct product of a choice or action we have made.
D. Correction – Or chastisement as it is called in scripture, is God-imposed difficulty , designed and inflicted for the express purpose of correcting a flaw or flaws, in us.
E. We give Satan too much credit.
F. We credit him with almost every failure or difficulty we experience; when in fact, most of our problems result from our own bad choices, attitudes, or actions.
G. Success begins with learning to make the distinction between curse, consequence, and correction; for each requires a different response from us.
H. When we are experiencing a curse, a satanically imposed affliction; we must submit to God, resist Satan, and pray.
I. Both consequence and correction require repentance and correction of our error – confession of the sin; abandoning it; then proceeding in the will of God.
J. Consequence and correction are avoidable, if we follow God’s prescribed way of doing things; but unavoidable if we do not.
K. Understanding the distinction between curse, consequence, and correction, will allow us to stop blaming Satan for every failure and difficulty, and accept responsibility for our actions.
L. Then, instead of blaming Satan for our failure, we can correct the choices and actions that led to failure, and set ourselves on a path to success.
M. We must understand the difference between curse, consequence, and correction.
2. We must operate in our gift and in our calling.
A. Gift - Power; faculty; some quality or endowment conferred by the author of our nature;
B. In other words, a gift is an ability or quality given by God for use in the work He has called and appointed you to do in His kingdom.
C. Calling - Vocation; profession; trade; usual occupation, or employment.
D. In other words, your calling is the specific job or work that God has called or appointed you to do; your specific office or place of service.
E. We often meet with failure, not because of lack of passion or commitment, but because we are doing a job God has not equipped us for or assigned us to.
F. An ink pen does a great job when it comes to writing; but makes a poor scalpel when it comes to surgery.
G. While a knife can be used to pierce the top of a can of meat, and open it; its best use is to slice the meat once it is out of the can.
H. Much like the ink pen or the knife, you and I are only really effective when we operate in our element; when we are doing what we were designed for, and operating in the venue we were designed to operate in.
I. One of the most frustrating in life or ministry is to try soooo hard, and yet feel like you’re failing.
J. Clarity and confidence only come when you have identified your gift, and discovered an opportunity to exercise that gift as it was designed to be used.
K. This places responsibility upon you as an individual; and upon church leadership; on you to identify your gift; and upon church leadership to help you with the identification process, and to provide you with a ministry venue to exercise your gift once you have identified it.
L. If God gifts individuals in a particular church with particular gifts, He intends those gifts to be utilized in the ministry program of that church.
M. He does not uniquely gift and call you, for you to sit idly by because you do not know what your gift is, because you do not have the opportunity to exercise it, or because you are unwilling to get involved.
N. Simply refusing to identify your gift, thinking this will exempt you from being responsible to use it, is not an excuse God will accept.
O. To be successful, we must operate in our gift and in our calling.
3. We must develop our knowledge and gift.
A. I preached not long ago that we cannot do what we do not know.
B. Every child of God should have a desire, like a baby craving milk, to feast upon the word of God; to learn the word of God.
C. I Peter 2:2 says, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
D. If there is not a desire to learn the word of God, there is something afoul in you; some sin or sinful condition that is causing you to resist the will of God.
E. The will of God is for you to grow, and expand, and advance in your knowledge, and in your ability to use your gift.
F. I’m not just talking about academic knowledge, but genuine applicable and implemental knowledge; knowledge that translates into practical everyday living.
G. To be successful in your ministry, you must train yourself.
H. You must train yourself in basic living principles that apply to every child of God; but also in the particulars of your specific ministry.
I. Your pastor will help you put together an educational plan that will allow you to develop your knowledge and expertise in utilizing your gift in your ministry.
J. This development of knowledge, and of your gift, is a process that will take time; it is not a quick shot-in-the-arm exercise that provides immediate proficiency.
K. You must be willing to invest the time and effort necessary to develop your knowledge and gift.
L. We must develop our knowledge and gift.
4. We must walk in truth.
A. III John, Verse 4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
B. Academic knowledge of the truth is of little value or consequence if we are not living it out on a moment by moment basis.
C. Truth is that condition of the heart and character that moves us to cease resistance to God, and to simply submit wholly to Him.
D. To not walk in truth means that there is some area or areas of our life in which there is an act of sin, or a sinful condition of the heart, that we are unwilling to relinquish, and are therefore resisting God in.
E. Such resistance does 2 things: it distorts our perspective; and it disallows peace.
F. An unwillingness to completely submit to God causes us to lack crisp clarity in our thoughts and understanding.
G. We operate in a mental and spiritual fog; only seeing vaguely what some seem to see with crystal clarity.
H. When we finally give in, and give up the thing we are holding on to, and submit completely to God’s control; the fog immediately clears and clarity is restored.
I. An unwillingness to submit to God in some area also causes unrest; a lack of peace.
J. You see, when we submit to God in almost every area with the exception of only one area, our peace is not complete.
K. There is unrest, uneasiness, a lack of confidence, restlessness.
L. We feel like there is something we are lacking, and are always seeking something to complete us.
M. This arises from a resistant area in our life that we have refused to surrender to the will of God.
N. We are very resourceful when it comes to protecting our favorite sins.
O. We even attempt to put up confusing smokescreens for ourselves; convincing ourselves that there is some other factor causing our unrest.
P. You see how this is refusing truth for a lie; even lying to ourselves?
Q. It’s only when we are willing to fight through the smokescreens, even the personally imposed smokescreens, and with great decisive intention, specifically identify the sin we are refusing to relinquish; and repent and turn from it, that truth is restored in our life, and peace comes.
R. When we honestly relinquish and turn from that sin, and shrink down in complete surrender to the will of God in that area; peace, rest, ease, and confidence are immediately restored.
S. Now, we are able to proceed with peace, confidence, and clarity of thought and understanding; making success in what we endeavor to do, inevitable.
T. We must walk in truth.
5. We must have passion.
A. We’re told in I Timothy 4:14a & 15a, “Neglect not the gift that is in thee…” “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them…”
B. This is having a passion for the gift and ministry God has given us; meditating on them, and giving ourselves wholly to them; in other words, giving our life’s focus and energy to God’s gift and calling.
C. This is our purpose; and must be our focus.
D. Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;”
E. Ecclesiastes 9:10a says, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might…”
F. These 2 verses make it clear that God intends us to serve with passion.
G. Passion can be described as ‘refusing to take no for an answer’.
H. When practicality gives up, passion surges ahead.
I. When practicality finds no way, passion will find a way.
J. Passion is personified in the sports team who, with far less talent and skill than its opponent, wins despite the odds stacked against it.
K. Passion refuses to quit; passion refuses to give up; passion will not stop until the objective is accomplished.
L. Passion pushes aside lesser priorities to pursue the supreme priority.
M. Passion produces determination; and passion produces innovation.
N. Determined to accomplish what lies before it, when faced with no possibility, passion will invent other ways of accomplishing its goal.
O. Therefore, it gives rise to creativity and innovation because of its determination.
P. Passion overcomes not only external obstacles; but also internal obstacles.
Q. When discouragement attempts to set up shop in you, passion resists its encroachment and refuses to allow its presence.
R. Discouragement has no power to stand in the face of passion.
S. Passion is the champion of success.
T. It will defeat anything that stands to oppose or threaten success; so that success is guaranteed by its power!
U. We must have passion.
6. We must be faithful.
A. I Corinthians 4:2 says, “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
B. Steward - In Scripture and theology, a minister of Christ, whose duty is to dispense the provisions of the gospel,
C. A steward is one who has been entrusted with the gospel and all the provisions of it.
D. It is one who not only stands behind a pulpit to preach, but also one who stands in a classroom to teach.
E. It is the one who ministers the love of Christ in meeting the basic needs of others.
F. It is the one who ministers to others in helping them mentally and emotionally through difficult times.
G. It is the one who works to create unique ways to communicate the eternal message of the gospel – such as through media outlets.
H. It is one who cleans the church house and bus, and who drives the bus so others will have a way to come and hear the message that they can have their sins forgiven.
I. It is the one who gives of his own resources so that ministry needs can be met and the ministry can move forward, not being restricted because of inadequate operating funds.
J. It is one who speaks kind words to those who seem to get no attention except for harsh looks and gestures; and to those who are overlooked.
K. A steward is one who is entrusted with the gospel; and, with all the provisions of it.
L. It is said of such an one, he is required to be faithful.
M. In other words, he is not to be inconsistent, hit and miss, in his duties.
N. Regardless of opposition, difficulty, discouragement, or lack of support, the faithful steward just keeps doing what he has been given to do.
O. He is not willing to shrink from steadfastness, from consistently working his ministry because of opposition or lack of support.
P. His motivation has come to rest in the fact that though his service is to people; in reality, he is ministering unto the Lord.
Q. We must be faithful.
7. We must realize our purpose and rely upon God.
A. We must come to the place in our lives that we understand our place in this great drama called life.
B. We are not our own; we were not created as independent beings designed to live as if our lives and purposes were for our own exclusive benefit and enjoyment.
C. We were created for God; and are complete in Him; and fulfill our purpose only when we fulfill His will for us.
D. I Corinthians 6:19 & 20 say, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
E. To be successful we must accept the fact that our purpose is to accomplish God’s will for us; not to further our own cause, our own praise or approval, or our own net worth.
F. Serving in God’s kingdom, but with goals of personal advancement, is to completely miss the nature and definition of success.
G. To discover God’s purpose and plan for you, to identify your gift and calling, to develop your knowledge and gift, and to give yourself wholly to God’s purpose and plan, is to put yourself in a position that God can use you for His intended purpose.
H. Even when we get it all right though, success ultimately rests with the Lord.
I. Our knowledge, submission, giftedness, wisdom, and passionate persistence, alone cannot produce success.
J. Success in what we’re trying to accomplish is completely dependent upon the Lord working in and through us and on our behalf to cause our efforts to succeed.
K. When speaking to Goliath concerning their battle that was about to take place, in I Samuel 17:47 David said, “And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands.”
L. God wants all to know that He provides the success we experience; and will work through us to accomplish the success; but, will do so in a way that we, and all around us, will know that He is the One Who granted the success.
M. Developing our knowledge and gifts, getting ourselves into a fully submitted relationship with Him, giving ourselves to our calling; all simply develop us into useful tools for Him to use to accomplish His will.
N. Submitting to His purpose and following His guidance yields success in your life; which provides the fulfillment we all so desperately seek.
O. We must realize our purpose and rely upon God.
In Conclusion:
None of us want to be a failure. We all want to succeed; to accomplish something of value and significance. In order to be successful, there are some ‘musts’ for each of us. These ‘musts’ are principles for success; and are universally applicable; meaning they will work equally well in any venue of life. We, however, have chosen to look at them as they relate to ministry.
Let’s quickly review these musts.
1. We must understand the difference between curse, consequence, and correction.
2. We must operate in our gift and in our calling.
3. We must develop our knowledge and gift.
4. We must walk in truth.
5. We must have passion.
6. We must have persistence.
7. We must realize our purpose and rely upon God.
The Question: Has God revealed an area in your life that must be corrected for you to experience success? Will you submit to God’s will for you in that area right now? Will you make that correction?
