SUCCESS: THROUGH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

Since many of us have been saved we have been learning of God. We have been taught the suffering message in so many ways. Some may say that God has not called His people to suffer, and some may say that our whole life as saints is one of suffering. We believe as the scripture has said;

Romans 8:14-17

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

So we know that we, as sons, are called to suffer. But does all suffering have to be in the natural? Does suffering mean that we will live and die poor? Does it mean that as long as you are saved, you will never obtain success in the natural world? With this, I cannot agree. All suffering is not natural, as it pertains to success and the wealth of this world. We can fulfill our obligation to suffer and still be successful. Whether we are rich or poor, as long as we have the Holy Ghost, there will be a way for us to suffer some things no matter what state we are in.

So why is it that we never even aspire to do anything with our lives? We have become so settled in the fact that God does not desire us to be successful in anything, until we have set to spend our whole life “waiting on God”. It sounds so noble to say that we do not want to move and do anything because we are waiting on God, but that is not real. There is no reason why sons of God should just sit around with no aspirations or motivations about life. There is no reason why sons should look at their life and be depressed because they did nothing with their life. Why should we as sons of the Most High God get bored with our lives? There was a point in time when none of the young people wanted to go to college. The ministry was moving and they all decided to stay home from college. But to be honest, some people need to go to school. You need to aspire to be something. Those of us who have gone on to do things, God has put us in touch with so many people who we can minister to. So we need to lose the mindset that God has not intended for us to succeed, and that ministry is only right here at home.

Ministry starts with God, and no matter where the sons are . . . ministry is there. But without that mindset many have become frustrated and depressed because we have seen the world moving forward in success, and even some of the church world moving forward, but we have been stagnant “waiting on God”. So sometimes it becomes difficult to even praise God, because we try to praise with that frustration. But it is not hard to be frustrated if you cannot see where your life is going. Life with no purpose IS depressing. But thank God for the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost has the awesome ability of manifesting Himself in so many different ways. He is not bound to only showing up in our churches, but He can manifest Himself in our schools, on our jobs, through witty inventions and even through our prosperity. There is nowhere that it is written where God is confined to just one thing, He can manifest and do whatever pleases the Father. The Old Testament has been our school master in so many things, and it still is as it relates to success. There are people of God in the bible who were successful and still pleasing to God. We should strive to be the best at everything we put our hands to do. We would expect the Holy Ghost to teach us how to preach and teach the Word, but let me give a little of my testimony. I never finished high school or went to college. I never even went to school for music or producing, but I have the Holy Ghost. I set my mind to be the best at what God has given me and the Holy Ghost has taught me all that I know about engineering music. He has helped me perfect the gift He gave me. But that is not something we would have expected the Holy Ghost to care about. I went to God and asked Him to teach me engineering. I told Him that those in the world have perfected their art. Satan taught them all that they know because it promotes his plans in the earth, but I want sinners to be able to hear God through what I do, so I sought God to teach me, and He did.

If we include God in all we do, then He will ensure that He teaches us, and perfects us in what we do because we will be doing it to His glory. God not only wants to teach us His Word, but He wants to teach us how to live, survive, and take care of ourselves, and our families. If we will just follow God, then we will achieve success because we will become the best at what He gives us. So success itself is not a sin, but we must ensure that the pursuit of success does not deter us from becoming manifested sons of God. Now that I have gained a skill in the natural, my focus is not just to gain money, but in all that I do I want to do my best because I know that the gift was from God.

Whatever we do not only represents ourselves, but we represent God, so why not be good at what we do? So how is it that we know what to do? God has given each one of us gifts, talents and skills that He designed to use for His glory. If we take those things seriously, and work to perfect them, then we can glorify God with our lives, and in turn be successful in God and in life. Some of our suffering now is because of us, a lot of it is because we are lazy and don’t want to work at anything but we say we are suffering for Christ’s sake. Our own misconception of the Word has caused us to become very complacent in life. But there has to be a balance of the Word and life. The message has been taught, but we grab only the part that we want. If the Word says we are to suffer then we get comfortable not even trying to make anything of our life. But let’s be real. Some of us need to work. If no one works, who will support the ministry? Tithes and offerings run the church and if no one works to pay tithes, how will the church run?

1 Kings 3:4-5

4 And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.

5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

Solomon loved the Lord and had offered many sacrifices of praise to Him. He had a heart towards God and God came to visit him. Now it is something special when God comes to tell you to ask Him for something. If God deems you faithful then He will reward you with the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4)

Hebrews 11:8

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”

So as long as we are faithful to do what God has set us to do, no matter if it seems that it is not going anywhere, keep doing it and be faithful; because your faithfulness will provoke God Almighty to visit you.

1 Kings 3:6-7

6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day.

7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.

Solomon’s character was one of humility. Here is the king of Israel and God Almighty asked him what he wants, but Solomon’s character caused him to bless God. God knew that Solomon’s heart was towards Him. God will never come to see about us because of our deeds alone. He has to see humility in our heart. God has no problem with success, He can cause success, but He expects even the successful to be humble in heart. We have to make sure that we know that whatever it is that we are going to be doing in life, the ability is not our own. Our skill or position is given from God, and either He will do the work or will enable us to do it. We have to realize that we need God to lead and guide us in our entire decision making. We may try to do things on our own, and then later on down the road find out that we made the wrong decision, but by then we have to live with our decision. But the time has come for us to seek God in all we do. Even those of us in leadership need to be led by God in all that we do. Those who think we can live and decide without God are fools. How do we expect to please God without consulting Him about what to do? And sometimes we need to seek God through each other. Some of us might just want to look for God in a vision or in a sign from heaven, but sometimes God may want to speak through our brother or sister. God has planted wisdom in those around us and we ought to listen to the counsel they have for us.

Ephesians 4:16

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. We all have a part to play in each others lives, and we should not be ashamed to recognize it.

1 Kings 3:8-9

8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

Solomon knew that God would have given anything that he asked of Him, but he had the people in his heart. He was already king so there was no office higher than his, but asked that God would give him wisdom as to how to be a king. He wanted to be the best king that he could be, for his people and for his God. Solomon wanted to be the leader to his people who loved them and wanted them to be better people. In that same way we should want to be better at whom we are so that we can make others better. We should not want to be better and then in turn extinguish the fire and the passion in others, but we should be there to encourage that passion.

1 Kings 3:10-14

10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.

11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.

13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.

14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

So success was given to Solomon even beyond what he already had, just for having a heart to please God. So we see that success is not a sin unless you become its slave. As sons of God we should strive to be the best at what we do, in order that we might glorify God through our lives. Let us not stay in the rut that we have dwelled in for so long, where we become lazy and complacent in life. Let us go on to perfection spiritually and naturally, always keep God as our focus and let Him add to us what pleases Him. I love you and stay encouraged, Apostle Mike.