Spiritual Success
What is true Success?
Is it having all the millions of dollars? Is it having everytihg you want? New care, new house, new job? Is it being well known for doing something good?
What is true success? Illustration? If you ask the Tampa Bay Buccaneers what success is? They’d say being Super bowl Champians?
How should Christians define success?
Joshua 1:8, 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

I believe Success is doing the will of the Lord. Some have said Success is accoplishing a prefered or predetermined course of action.
The first Step to true Success is.
I. Commitment to Christ
Psalm 37: 4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. 6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.

a. Some Christans fall short of pleasing God because they are not totally committed to Him. They insist on asserting their will over God’s will.
How can we be totally committed to Jesus?
“When you say yes to one thing, it means you say not to something else.” Pam Tillis Some of a problem here. You get promoted, you are noticed for what you have done. Often because you’ve done such a great job you employer things that you can do other things just as well and so he goive you more work!!!! Give a busy person a task, and they will get it done!
But the problems is that when a Christian takes on to much, their commitment to Jeuss is weakened. A well known pastor Once identified. Three types of Christians. Yawners, Maimer, and Killers.
a. Some believers are yawners, they yawn at the tasks God has called us to perform in His kingdom and can never be counted on to advance the cause of Christ.
b. Other Christians periodically rise to the occaision if nothing is more interesting catches their attention. As Soliders for God they maim the enemy every once in a while, but seldom do they deliver the death blow.
c. The final group, Killers are the people that make a strong and vital chruch Their commitment is constant and Zealous. They recognize the seriousness of the spiritual battle and are dedicated to be victorious for Christ and His kingdom. Killers are few, but they can turn the tide of the battle. He says, While this group represents a small minority in the church. But they are the most powerful group, a tiny group of “killers” can help build a “killer” Church.
We need to evaluate which group best describes us and our level of committment to God. Jesus, because you may have been a Yawner or Maimer does not mean you can’t change and become a killer. Success is sweet, but it usually has the scent of sweat about it.
TM 206-207 “Many have been altogether too long in a sleepy
condition. While some have worked intently, and have
manifested unfailing energy, others have stood as
spectators, and have been ready to make remarks of a
critical character as to methods and results. This they
are ready to do, though they have never exercised their
minds in originating any plans whereby precious souls
might be saved for Christ. They stand ready to find
fault with those who do something. When these
indolent souls awake and show some signs of returning
consciousness, they are disappointed if others do not
at once find them pleasant places in the work. It is a
great shock to them to find out that work cannot
be done without painstaking, self-denying, self-crucifying
efforts. They expect success, and think that
they must have the same order of success as did the
apostles on the Day of Pentecost. This success they
will have when they go through the experience of
humble, self-denying sacrifice as did the apostles. When
they present as earnest supplications from broken,
contrite, believing hearts as did the apostles, then the
same proportion of success will attend their labors.

Spiritual success demands complete abandonment to self. And the acceptance of God’s will. His will makes everything work together for our good and His glory. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

The Second Step to Spiritual Success in
II. Confidence in Christ.
“...This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us. 1 John 5:14 Confidence parrhsi,a,, Courage, Boldness, a joyful sense of freedom.
a. The World and nations conditions have caused a breakdown in trust and confidence. This holds true in the government, business, school, church and family.
Illustration: Trust is like stucky tape, peel off once, peel off atgin, again, nor more sticky left. When yo uloos your confidence things fall apart. It can be with anything and any relationship. For spiritual success, we must ask ourselves, are we truly trusting Jesus or are we trusting in our own abilities to save us?
b. Christ is still the truth “ I am the way, the truth and the life”. We can safelty place our confidence in Him. He never misrepresents or undermines. Like the tape Jesus never peels away from us, we pull away from Him. His promises are true, He will never leave us for foresake us. Trusting Christ leads to spiritual success. COL 145 “
“But many have not a living faith. This is why they do
not see more of the power of God. Their weakness is the
result of their unbelief. They have more faith in their own
working than in the working of God for them. They take
themselves into their own keeping. They plan and devise,
but pray little, and have little real trust in God. They
think they have faith, but it is only the impulse of the
moment. Failing to realize their own need, or God's
willingness to give, they do not persevere in keeping their
requests before the Lord.”

The Third Step to Spiritual Success is to have:

III. Compassion Like Christ’s
“...when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not”
Luke 7:13
A. Jesus had great compassion, Because He was touched by the infirmities of others. He healed the lame, the crippled, and the blind. Jesus the Son of God had time for those who are suffering and the less fortunate. He cared.
Illustration: Mr. Park Your has known the agony of seeing his wife suffer with Alzheimer’s Disease. If first begain with an occaisional incoherent or irrelevlent question, but digressed to round th clock care. As she declined from 125 pounds to 86 pounds, he continuously ministered to her needs, His daily routine consisted of feeding, bathing, diapering, changing beds, cleaning house, fixing meals, dressing and unsdressing her and whatever else became necessary to care the his wife. Sometimes she would mumble a word or two but never a sentence. Then one Firday morning she seemed to step out side her illness and asked the question with perfect enunciation. “Do you want me?” These softly spoken words greatly impacted Mr. York. He creid out, “Of course I want you, Flossie,” as he hugged and kissed her. Mrs. York returned to her state of oblivion just as quickly as she had escaped from it, but her four brief words would never be forgotten. People everywhere are asking the same question this woman posed. “Do you want me? May we all respond with the same compassion Mr. York provided for his wife.
We obtain spiritual success when we are compassionate. Pray for the sick, help the needy, and comfort the bereaved.
The 4th Step to finding Spiritual Success is to Cooperate with Christ.
IV. Cooperation with Christ.
“We then are workers together with him...2 Cor. 6:1
a. Many Christians fail to work for Christ as they should, they neglect, they make excuses, and fail to cooperate with Christ in carrying out His commission. If you were to ask, who are the greatest workser with Jesus today, what you say?
Illustration: If you were pressed to list the seven greatest problems a misisonary faces you might list loneliness, financial pressure, marriage difficulties, raising children, managing general stress, or cultural adjustments. A survey was taken of missionaries oversees with the above list. This list is in the reank order with loneliness in seventh place. You might be surprised to find out that the number one problem missionaries face is “relationship with other missionaries.”
Satan nows the necessity and value of relationships, so he consequently focuses his greatest attention on destroying them. His success comes from distancing people from God and from one another. When we have a relationship with Christ we begin co-operating with Him in His work.
b. When we work for Christ, we are working with him.
MYP 147-148 “The Lord will co-operate with all who earnestly
strive to be faithful in His service, as He co-operated
with Daniel and his three companions. Fine
mental qualities and a high tone of moral character
are not the result of accident. God gives opportunities;
success depends upon the use made of them.
The openings of Providence must be quickly
discerned and eagerly entered. There are many who
might become mighty men, if, like Daniel, they
would depend upon God for grace to be overcomers,
and for strength and efficiency to do their work.
He goes with us and speaks throug us as we all, invite and witness.
V. Contentment Through Christ
“...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, there with to be content.” Phil. 4:11
a. Discontentment is prevailent in today’s world. Many are trying to find contentment through possessions, pleasures, popularity.
1. Someone once said. “If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, you can be sure the water bill is higher.”
Some people are contented with to little. But Contentment in Christ. Means to trust Him! It is to have a peaceful state of mind no matter what the outward circumstances are! Once we have committed our ways to God, Put our confidence in God, Cooperated with him through love. We trust the outcome to God.
Real and lasting contentment is found only in Jesus Christ. He satisfies the longing of the soul and brings spiritual success. 1 Tim. 6:6-7 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

I. Committment to Christ
II. Confidence in Christ: Put your trust in the Lord every day.
III. Compassion like Christ’s: Without compassion we become self centered.
IV. Cooperation with Christ: “a measuere oa man’s suceesss is not what he acheives, but what he overcomes. Booker T. Washington.
V. Contentment Through Christ
If you are discontented with who you are, what you have /don’t have, situation your in, look to Jesus, find peace with Jesus and he will help you!!!
VI. Communion with Christ.
Success depends on a living connection with him. Each souls success depends on a living relationship with God. Ed. 260-261
“An intensity such as never before was seen is taking
possession of the world. In amusement, in moneymaking,
in the contest for power, in the very struggle for
existence, there is a terrible force that engrosses body and
mind and soul. In the midst of this maddening rush, God
is speaking. He bids us come apart and commune with
Him. "Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10. ..... These workers can never attain the highest success until they learn the secret of strength. They must give
themselves time to think, to pray, to wait upon God for
a renewal of physical, mental, and spiritual power. They
need the uplifting influence of His Spirit. Receiving this,
they will be quickened by fresh life. The wearied frame
and tired brain will be refreshed, the burdened heart will
be lightened.”

Conclusion Everything in the present or future depends on your spiritual success or lack of it!!!
“The secret of success is the union of divine power with
human effort. Those who achieve the greatest results are those
who rely most implicitly upon the Almighty Arm.”
Patriarchs and Prophets 509