Sermon Central
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Biblical Success
Contributed by Shane Brooks on Jan 30, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: See how the apostle Paul, measured success.
How can we become successful
Never met anyone who wanted to be a failure
Met a lot who have embraced it
Go to childrens church and ask, what you want to be- You won’t hear: I wanna be a pimp, drug dealer, on welfare and knocked up by 18
You’ll hear dreams and goals that are positive.
We should always have god’s word in our mouth
Speak the things that God has already spoken
What does god think success is
1. Not measured by how I look- the world thinks it is
Cost of Abercrombie shirt
Buy things we don’t need- with money we don’t have- to impress people we don’t know
1 Sam 16:7- God looks on the heart, not our outward appearance
that’s why god chooses who he chooses
2. not measured by what I have- wealth doesn’t make you a success
wealth means you have more opportunity to be successful
Just watch those Hilton girls, they’re rich, THEIR STUPID-
They’re not successful, they’re a freak show
There is nothing wrong with things, WEALTH IS AWESOME- I”VE HEARD
“If I had a million dollars, I’d never work again”- that’s why you ain’t getting it
The more money our church has- the more we can bless people
3. not measured by who I know
Ecc 10:6
Popularity means nothing- ask Tom Selleck, Farrah Fawcett, Boy George
7 Attitudes of Acheivement
Paul was a success- If he’d had a jet and tv station, he’d been unstoppable
Lets see what Paul thought success was.
1. He had a Direction ---Romans 15:20
Paul was a builder, architect
Paul wanted to start churches, not go to one where the pastor had left
Pool of Bethesda- 38 yrs sick- “Do you want to be well?”
Get a job, lose handicap sticker, no sympathy
Paul had a clear vision- didn’t care what it cost him
Phillipians 3:13
He didn’t say I’m a great loser-
I PLAY TO WIN- WHY! I WANT THE PRIZE
Paul knew what he wanted
If you want to hear;
politics—end times (old men slobbering)— wrong place
I have a direction
People saying, God’s coming back- See the signs- Same sex marriage, What are we going to do
What if election doesn’t go how we want?
Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, Shadrach…. All ministered in heathen natiions
Give me a break- whatever happens around me- I will serve a good God
We’ve reduced religion- hairbuns, make-up, demons and Harry Potter,---
We need a direction
ARE LIVES BEING CHANGED?????
2. Be Content--- Phillipaians 4:12-
I have learned to enjoy what I have-
I have dreams, goals, hopes, ---But I’m going to enjoy today
Whether things are going good- or I’m Broker than 10 Commandments
IF I ONLY HAD…
3. Commitment – Acts 20:24
People are afraid of commitment- marriage, job, church, God
WE want the benefits- I’ll have sex with you, but if a BABY COMES, I’m outta here
Some people will never commit to The church,
But when chips are down… they look to us
People say, ‘I’m afraid to commit” bull- commit to a car payment, drinking,
You’ll find success where you find commitment
4. Compassion- 1 cor 13:2-3
You gotta love people
The whole Bible “LOVE GOD< LOVE EACH OTHER”
“A new comm.. I give… love one another
Choose to love---If it wasn’t a choice, wouldn’t have made it a comm.
5. Enthusiastic FAITH- Romans 8:31----Phillipians 4:13
I love Orange COUNTY Chopper
Paul SR. – menopausal lion Paul Jr. ---creative Mikey- Dumb as a rock
They scream and yell, cuss,
But they’re enthusiastic- makes you watch- It’s CONTAGIOUS enthusiasm
Crocadile Hunter- Crawling in alligators, Shorts so short- undrerwear
O she’s a BEAUT.
ONE BITE OF THIS SNAKE WOULD KILL 50.000 HIPPOS
SHE”s a bit wirey, she’s a naughty girl
Why are these shows so popular- they’re enthusiastic
If we had that enthusiasm for God…it would be contagious,
and people would have to watch
Too many Christians saying you can’t do it
Bumble cant fly- according to science, Don’t tell him
6. Service- “Paul a servant of the Lord
2 Cor 8:19
2 Cor 12:15
The more we give ourselves away, the more we’ll get to give away
Look for needs and find a way to meet them
7. Staying power- Don’t quit
2 Cor 4:8-9
If I can succeed, I won’t have any problems---
KNOCKED DOWN, BUT NOT KNOCKED OUT
Most people quit too soon
Pray for healing twice, aint healed, I GIVE UP
We can’t be quitters
2 Cor 4:16-18
