What is Success?

Below are the notes from SUnday's sermon on success.  As usual, these are rough preaching notes, and thus much more was added to it.  And, quite honestly, a lot always comes out in the sermon that varies from the notes.
Yuo can find the audio at http://holidayshoresbaptist.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=34&Itemid=74

What is Success in the Christian Life?

As it relates to family and all of life.

We should long to hear of God’s approval, our successful life with the crowning words “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” Luke 19:17

 Thus God has two factors, both by His standards, that we be,

·         Good

·         Faithful

 

The measure of these is taught throughout the Bible.

Again, let me remind you of your purpose, just as a screwdriver makes a poor hammer, you have a designed purpose to pursue.

You were created to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

This is to say you are to be a worshipper of Him in Spirit and in Truth. (Being good and faithful to God’s intentions)  John 4:23-24

 

Because the worship of things and anything other than God Himself is idolatry, we can ascertain that the accumulation of things is not success. Ecclesiastes 12:11-14

Further, the making much of self is a misplacement of glory, so personal achievements, education for the purpose of status, and entertainment experiences are fleeting failures of the use of a life.

 

Success is not living an unscarred life.  For it is within the context of suffering that success is most often merited.

Success lives and thrives within the bounds of the Ten Commandments, and can be rooted in loving God with all your heart and soul, and loving your neighbor.

Success, by the nature of God, is attainable, yet through God, and therefore He is the instrument of success (every good and perfect gift comes from God) and He receives the glory.  Our success is in partaking of the joy in God when He is glorified.

 Therefore, success is not an attainment of anything within the self, other that the heart that abides in Christ. 

 Success is an enduring and tested worship of God.

Success is measured by our

·         Perseverance under trial

·         Longevity in ongoing devotion

·         Abiding in Christ

·         Attitude of worship rather than complaining

·         Love for God

·         Love for others

 Again; success is not things.  It is not what we attain, but more of what we do with what God brings to our life. Matthew 25: 21, Luke 19: 17 are truths to this direction.

Success is a heart that glorifies God, not self accomplishment. 

Success is the being on mission of making the glory of God known (because we love Him and love others).

This is the essence of the Great Commission, that in the making of disciples we are fulfilling all of the desire of God for our life.  The perishing are rescued and the Kingdom of God is built.

 Success is the heart worshipping in Spirit and in truth and proven under trial.

Trials are mere opportunities to successfully live to the glory of God. (Romans 8, James 1)

·         Romans 8 is not just verses 28 and 29.  It is a chapter that shows that we fail in chapter seven, but we thrive by abiding in the Holy Spirit.

·         James 1 is all about trials from the perspective of success being found in abiding in God, who, by the way, orchestrates wisdom and perspective changes of the heart for true success.

All this being said, we fail at life when we fail to take great pains to have our hearts conformed to God’s standard of success.

            Like every calorie consumed works upon your body, every influence of life works upon your heart.  Unfortunately we too often spiritually consume junk, exercise little, and become spiritual failures.  However, when we consume that which is spiritually healthy and avoid the poisons of the world, when we exert spiritual discipline, we are more apt to have a spiritually healthy and pleasing life unto God.

 But the choice is ours.

We will serve that which we value, that which we worship.

 The successful life is one that is oriented unto God.

 As I said, it is proven under trial.  Each trial is a testing of your success to worship God and glorify Him forever.