Formula for Success Part 1
FORMULA FOR SUCCESS (Part 1)
Scripture passage:
Philippians 3: 7-127But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before
When we consider a formula for success in life, we ask two questions:
1. What is success? What is the goal?
2. What is the formula? What are the steps to achieve that goal?
Example from secular world:
When we google the words “formula for success” we get 17,300,000 (17 million) hits!
The words "life seminars" draws 1.2 million hits.There are as many goals in life as there are individuals bold enough to stand up and proclaim something. And their charisma and persuasive power attracts many. They call it motivation. It could just as easily be called manipulation.
Motivational seminars run in hundreds of places every week. There are tips on investing, money management, life principles, spiritual success etc. All kinds of names are given, from "Power of Positive Thinking" to "Get Rich with Safe Investment Principles".
Why do we have so many? What are the goals? And what are the steps they advocate?Secular definition of success is either:
1. Get rich, powerful or famous, and be set for life
2. Get inner happiness and enjoy life to the fullest.
Do they work? We can see from the results! Seminars continue to be held but one speaker recently said that less than 5% actually follow what they are taught once they leave the seminar! Speakers themselves fall into bankruptcy or broken relationships.
Why do these seminars not work?
Firstly, the goal is man made....
Riches? Fame? Many rich have troubled lives e.g. Howard Hughes, Anna Nicole, and Britney Spears.
Power? Even Premiers of large Canadian provinces have problems with drink or corruption. Happiness? Anti depressant use is a billion dollar industry, surpassing the pain killer medication.
Any goal that is man made will flounder. Why? The source is man himself.Question for us today: Are we in danger of doing the same thing? Do we set goals in our own flesh and not God’s will?What is God's goal for our life?
The only options in life are to be in God's will. What is God's will? Our goal is to KNOW Jesus and to inherit eternal life.
When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, something happened to him. It was not a physical change (blindness temporary).
- It was a heart change (affecting the feeling)- It was a perspective change (affecting the intellect)
- It was a lordship change (affecting life choices)
Paul had a conversion experience – one that happens when a man accepts that he is a sinner. He realises that he cannot save himself and accepts Jesus Christ as Savior by faith. This conversion experience is the greatest miracle that can happen in one’s life.In Paul’s’ case, and in any Christian life, it resulted in the following: HE HAD A NEW GOAL
(Phil 3:12) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
What does God want us to take hold off? What does he want us to have? What does he want us to know? Verse 11 – that we may “attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
The blessed hope that we will one day be with Jesus is the goal that drove Paul and should drive us. There is a life after death. Many choose not to think about it. But not thinking about it does not mean that we will not have to face it.It amazes me that people will spend weeks planning a wedding or a vacation or for their education to the Caribbean, but not spend any time thinking about where they will go when they die. Not thinking about it does not mean it is a question that will go away. All of us will die one day and we will then find it is too late to do anything about the one most important decision we had to make in life.
Prominent atheists and deists have discovered that not having a hope after death is a frightening prospect:
Thomas Payne: "Stay with me, for God's sake; I cannot bear to be left alone ... O Lord, help me! O God, what have I done to suffer so much?What will become of me hereafter?"
Sir Thomas Scott: "Until this moment I thought there was neither a God nor a hell. Now I know and feel that there are both, and I am doomed to perdition by the just judgment of theAlmighty."
Voltaire: "I am abandoned by God and man; I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months' life." (He said this to Dr. Fochin, who told him it could not be done.) "Then I shall die and go to hell!"
(Source: http://www.bibleweb.com/content/atheists.htm)
Do you want to wait till death to decide?
The Bible says
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment
2 Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
The Lordship and heart change that occurs in our lives when we ask Jesus into our life results in a dramatic change in what we perceive as success. In this world, we seek know Him more and to do His will, and in the world to come, we have the blessed hope of eternal life with Jesus.
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17:3
Part 2.................next blog
Amen
Dr Joshua Raj
Scripture passage:
Philippians 3: 7-127But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before
When we consider a formula for success in life, we ask two questions:
1. What is success? What is the goal?
2. What is the formula? What are the steps to achieve that goal?
Example from secular world:
When we google the words “formula for success” we get 17,300,000 (17 million) hits!
The words "life seminars" draws 1.2 million hits.There are as many goals in life as there are individuals bold enough to stand up and proclaim something. And their charisma and persuasive power attracts many. They call it motivation. It could just as easily be called manipulation.
Motivational seminars run in hundreds of places every week. There are tips on investing, money management, life principles, spiritual success etc. All kinds of names are given, from "Power of Positive Thinking" to "Get Rich with Safe Investment Principles".
Why do we have so many? What are the goals? And what are the steps they advocate?Secular definition of success is either:
1. Get rich, powerful or famous, and be set for life
2. Get inner happiness and enjoy life to the fullest.
Do they work? We can see from the results! Seminars continue to be held but one speaker recently said that less than 5% actually follow what they are taught once they leave the seminar! Speakers themselves fall into bankruptcy or broken relationships.
Why do these seminars not work?
Firstly, the goal is man made....
Riches? Fame? Many rich have troubled lives e.g. Howard Hughes, Anna Nicole, and Britney Spears.
Power? Even Premiers of large Canadian provinces have problems with drink or corruption. Happiness? Anti depressant use is a billion dollar industry, surpassing the pain killer medication.
Any goal that is man made will flounder. Why? The source is man himself.Question for us today: Are we in danger of doing the same thing? Do we set goals in our own flesh and not God’s will?What is God's goal for our life?
The only options in life are to be in God's will. What is God's will? Our goal is to KNOW Jesus and to inherit eternal life.
When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, something happened to him. It was not a physical change (blindness temporary).
- It was a heart change (affecting the feeling)- It was a perspective change (affecting the intellect)
- It was a lordship change (affecting life choices)
Paul had a conversion experience – one that happens when a man accepts that he is a sinner. He realises that he cannot save himself and accepts Jesus Christ as Savior by faith. This conversion experience is the greatest miracle that can happen in one’s life.In Paul’s’ case, and in any Christian life, it resulted in the following: HE HAD A NEW GOAL
(Phil 3:12) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
What does God want us to take hold off? What does he want us to have? What does he want us to know? Verse 11 – that we may “attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
The blessed hope that we will one day be with Jesus is the goal that drove Paul and should drive us. There is a life after death. Many choose not to think about it. But not thinking about it does not mean that we will not have to face it.It amazes me that people will spend weeks planning a wedding or a vacation or for their education to the Caribbean, but not spend any time thinking about where they will go when they die. Not thinking about it does not mean it is a question that will go away. All of us will die one day and we will then find it is too late to do anything about the one most important decision we had to make in life.
Prominent atheists and deists have discovered that not having a hope after death is a frightening prospect:
Thomas Payne: "Stay with me, for God's sake; I cannot bear to be left alone ... O Lord, help me! O God, what have I done to suffer so much?What will become of me hereafter?"
Sir Thomas Scott: "Until this moment I thought there was neither a God nor a hell. Now I know and feel that there are both, and I am doomed to perdition by the just judgment of theAlmighty."
Voltaire: "I am abandoned by God and man; I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months' life." (He said this to Dr. Fochin, who told him it could not be done.) "Then I shall die and go to hell!"
(Source: http://www.bibleweb.com/content/atheists.htm)
Do you want to wait till death to decide?
The Bible says
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment
2 Cor 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
The Lordship and heart change that occurs in our lives when we ask Jesus into our life results in a dramatic change in what we perceive as success. In this world, we seek know Him more and to do His will, and in the world to come, we have the blessed hope of eternal life with Jesus.
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17:3
Part 2.................next blog
Amen
Dr Joshua Raj
posted by The Rev. Dr Joshua Raj at
7:50 AM
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