| Succeeding by Grace | ||
| World Harvest Church > About Us > Ministry |
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| Developing a Section to multiply disciples for accomplishing the Great Commission is a long-term project that succeeds in the grace of God. • God's work must be done in the anointing—a supernatural enabling of the Holy Spirit—to achieve the result that God wants (see Zechariah 4:6). 1. Find grace to succeed God gives us grace or assistance to accomplish the works that He assigns. So the Lord said to Moses, "I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name" (Exodus 33:17 NKJV). • Moses 'found grace' from God to achieve success. • 'Grace' (Gk. charis) is God's favor or assistance. God gives grace for you to accomplish an assignment (see Luke 1:28, 30) and to do something you want to please God (see Acts 7:46). • You minister according to the amount of grace given (see also Romans 12:3; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:7). a. Means to receive God's grace God releases grace when you humble before Him and people. Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace (Gk. charin) to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:5-7 NKJV). • God resists the proud. He dismantles their works, takes them from positions, and replaces them with the humble (see Luke 1:51-52). When Nebuchadnezzar ignored Daniel's warning and boasted on his ability of building the great city for his own glory, he became deformed and was driven out of his palace. After seven years, he was restored to normal living when he humbled before God (see Daniel 4:28-37). • God gives grace to the humble and promotes them to success. Christ who did not count equality with God, put aside His glory in heaven, came down to earth to identify with us. He served as a servant, and died on the cross though He had not committed a crime. God therefore exalted Christ to the highest position, in heaven and on earth (see Philippians 2:5-11). The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility (Proverbs 15:33 NKJV). • God's timetable for equipping begins with humility and graduates in honor. • Moses humbled for forty years before he was put to use in the exodus. Elisha and Paul learned from senior ministers before they had their own ministries. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side (Psalm 71:21 NKJV). • God will 'exalt you in due time' (see 1 Peter 5:6). After the time of renewing the mind and molding the character, God will increase your greatness. b. God's grace brings success By operating in the grace that you have obtained in humility, you will succeed. • With God's favor on you, people will favor you. Potiphar became favorable with Joseph and let him manage all his things after he had seen God's favor was on Joseph to make him successful (see Genesis 39:2-4). Similarly, the pharaoh of Egypt favorably made Joseph a governor over the kingdom (see Acts 7:9-10). When I was prosperous I said, "Nothing can stop me now!" Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain (Psalm 30:6-7a NLT). • God's grace, or favor, brings incumbency—success that will not be taken away. His favor lasts for a lifetime (see also Psalm 30:5a). c. Live in the favor of God The following qualities also keep God's grace or favor on your life. Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man (Proverbs 3:3-4 NKJV). • Be merciful and truthful. You will enjoy the favor of God and man. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield (Psalm 5:12 NKJV). • Live in righteousness and you will have God's favor always (see also Proverbs 11:27). A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of wicked intentions He will condemn (Proverbs 12:2 NKJV). • Be a good-hearted person, you will obtain favor from God. For whoever finds me (wisdom) finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord (Proverbs 8:35 NKJV). • Seek wisdom and you will obtain favor from God. 2. Work diligently to succeed As you receive God's grace for promotion, you need to work diligently to succeed. But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than all the other apostles, yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace (1 Corinthians 15:10 NLT). • Paul's success was because he made best use of God's grace on his life. a. Make your way prosperous With God's grace, you still need to put in planning and diligence to succeed. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success (Joshua 1:8 NKJV). • After Joshua had renewed his mind by meditating and confessing God's Word, he had to make his way prosperous to achieve a good success. The hand of the diligent will rule (Proverbs 12:24a NKJV). • Diligence puts opportunities and works under your leadership and control. Hardworking farmers are the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor (2 Timothy 2:6 NLT). • Diligence ensures you to reach the intended results. b. Determine and strive for success Your journey to achieve the Great Commission requires determination and focus. He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough! (Proverbs 28:19 NKJV). • 'Frivolity' is lack of seriousness; it is a irresponsible self-indulgence. Be serious with your life and refrain from empty talks. Gain understanding and wisdom to achieve (see Proverbs 14:23; 12:11). Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might (Ecclesiastes 9:10a NKJV). • Do the best you can. Treasure your opportunities (see also Ephesians 5:15-17). If the Lord doesn't build the house, the builders are working for nothing. If the Lord doesn't guard the city, the guards are watching for nothing (Psalm 127:1 NCV). • Concentrate your efforts on God's assignments to achieve much. A faithful man will abound with blessings (Proverbs 28:20a NKJV). • Success takes time. You must have staying power to reach success. 3. Strive for excellence The grace that God provides is for you to achieve excellence. Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel (1 Corinthians 14:12 NKJV). • Spiritual gifts are given for us to excel in building the Church. a. Excellence begins in the heart To excel, you must desire to reach higher than the accepted standards. If there is any virtue (Gk. arete) and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things (Philippians 4:8b NKJV). • Arete, translated as 'virtue', means excellence. 'Meditate on excellence and you will achieve higher than the accepted standards. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm (Daniel 6:3 NKJV). • Having 'an excellent spirit' is having the heart to excel. Daniel distinguished himself above other high achievers to excel. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10 NKJV). • Daniel, though in his young age, had 'purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself'. And God gave him wisdom to excel (see Daniel 1:8, 17). And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore. Thus Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt (1 Kings 4:29-30 NKJV). • God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding because he had asked (see 1 Kings 3:9). God gives wisdom liberally if you desire (see also James 1:5). b. Journey to excellence To achieve excellence, you build your integrity, reputation, and a good track record. Establish your integrity Integrity is the firm adherence to good values and standards. Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me (Job 27:5b NKJV). • Job vowed to keep his integrity and allowed God to search his heart to prove it (see also Job 31:6). • God permits trials to test your integrity. When you pass the testing, He rewards you with the 'crown of life'—honor and authority (see James 1:12). Build a good reputation When your integrity is recognized, you have built a good reputation. Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips (Proverbs 27:2 NKJV). • Reputation is your public identity, an evidence of your trustworthiness. • A good reputation draws trust and favor (see Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastics 7:1). Guard your good name, image, and honor though you may have to suffer some inconveniences and incur a sacrifice (see 2 Corinthians 6:3-10). Keep a track record Maintain a good record of excellent accomplishments. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful (2 Timothy 4:7 NLT). • Paul had faithfully managed his ministry to reach its full accomplishment. Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. And as Christ's soldier, do not let yourself become tied up in the affairs of this life, for then you cannot satisfy the one who has enlisted you in his army. Follow the Lord's rules for doing his work, just as an athlete either follows the rules or is disqualified and wins no prize. Hardworking farmers are the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor (2 Timothy 2:3-6 NLT). • Dedication, discipline, and diligence sustain good performances. |
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