The Secret of Success
Phil. 3:12-14
Intro – People love hearing a secret don’t they? Many of the books on the best seller list are those that have to do with supposedly “Secret” methods on everything from weight loss to wealth beyond your wildest dreams! I am sure that many of you remember the popular book from a few years ago by Stephen Covey on ‘The 7 habits of Highly Effective People’. I’ll be honest with you; I only remember the one – “Begin with the end in mind…” Now, I know that there were 6 others, but I honestly don’t remember what they were!
What if I told you that there was a “Secret” methodology for success in your spiritual life that is revealed in the pages of the bible. And what if I told you that there’s only one thing that you need to do to enjoy a solid, secure and successful Christian life! Paul talks to Christians of the 1st century about how he has been able to re-define success in Christ. I believe that if applied, the same methodology can empower us to successful, dynamic Christian living.
Application: Now Paul say there is ONE thing that can help you be successful in your Christian journey – that one thing happens to have three parts!
1. TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS; I MUST FORGET THE PAST:
One of the reasons that most people are unsuccessful in life is that they have experienced some failure in the past and they allow that past experience to cloud and shape their PRESENT – FUTURE! Just because you’ve had some disappointment, some heartache along life’s journey, just because you’ve been hurt or failed in some way doesn’t mean that you can’t rise above your past to attain SUCCESS!
( cf. Mt. 5:11-12, Jn. 16:33, II Tim. 3:12, I Pet. 4:12 )
2. TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS; I MUST REACH FORTH :
I believe that Paul wanted the Christians of Philippi to know that the secret to real success is not measured in terms of cultural or societal accolades; rather it is determined by one’s willingness to take advantage of the opportunities God places before us day by day.
( cf. Acts 2:40, Jn. 10:10, I Cor. 15:57-58 )
3. TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS; I MUST PRESS ON:
You know, I often wonder what is this mark that Paul presses toward. I believe it is the mark of endurance! The secret of success in Christ is that it requires a dogged determination to keep on keeping on no matter what. I believe this mark is the standard that Christ set for each of us!
( cf. Heb. 12:2, II Tim. 4:7-8 )
*Today, you can do the one thing that will determine you spiritual success, accept the invitation to be united with Christ in the waters of baptism as we together stand and sing…
