The Sermon Kore Elements of Success by David McGee
May 22, 2011
Kore Elements of Success (42:47)
Referenced Scriptures: Joshua 1:1-9; Proverbs 9:10; Matthew 25:14-18; 2 Peter 1:5
Audio
Click To View Notes & Scriptures
K - Knowledge
O - Opportunity
R - Risk
E - Excellence
The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
Joshua 1:1-9
1) Now it happened after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses‘ minister, saying,
2) Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you, and all this people, to the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3) Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread on, to you have I given it, as I spoke to Moses.
4) From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.
5) There shall not any man be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you, nor forsake you.
6) Be strong and of good courage; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7) Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you: don‘t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
8) This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate thereon day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
9) Haven‘t I commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; don‘t be afraid, neither be dismayed: for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.
Proverbs 9:10
10) The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Matthew 25:14-18
14) "For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and delivered his goods to them.
15) To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability, and he went on his journey.
16) Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.
17) In like manner he also who got the two gained another two.
18) But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord‘s money.
2 Peter 1:5
5) Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;
The WEB Bible is provided by Public Domain.
Click To View The Sermon's Machine Transcription
This is a machine transcript of the sermon. It won't be completely accurate of what's said in the sermon.
Well this morning I have this I know every every week. Yes, I do hear it on maybe and I don't value. Think about how I worry how I prepare my messages, and I tried not to try. I very seldom ever repeat the message so I been here thirty one years and I have piles of sermons that are this high just stacks of them there. This I choose that there about this high of service and things that I've written over the thirty one years and I have very solid, though I ever dig through the pile to find one. I try to always write something new right, a different perspective and today I found this father 's outline and it is an outline on success, and whenever I read it, and I thought about it. I said, you know, when we think of success. We will often have misconceptions of what being successful is. And we we think of when I think when you say what I say success you think that our wealth, but achieving to take on me. I cannot think of success at a consulting dump creature successful. I think of Billy Graham. No firm for me. I would look at success that I would think of ill things like that. I'll well, we think of achievements what else what else part happiness. Any ideas now being manager being CEO being corporate person being were you, I know whenever let's access is available or desired outcome. A favorable or desired outcome. That's why success is based upon what you think of as exact, so sometimes I think you know I should write a book and I often start. I have lots of places that I started I have this one thing I carry around with me, and I and I started only about fifteen years ago, writing it, and there are some really good things in there. And of course. Years go by that I don't write anything in there and then I get this desire to write again and insight and awareness us come from where does this idea a noise in fear of failure that keeps you from doing the things that you would want to do anyhow, today I have the core element scale are equal elements of success, and I could use our Sunday school lesson for this outline, but I I didn't study the lessons we've been studying the book of Esther, and it is a really good book that you can't even look at and see the providence of God, we can see the hand of God, and this is known as to his life and in the life of Israel and all the things that happen there. That is a great book to study infant to look at. We have one more week, and that coming up. But success is a favorable desire, favorable or desired outcome. The attainment of a goal. The progress or desired result of an attempt so you want to check so in Joshua chapter one. I want to read from verses one to nine of Joshua chapter one, after the death of Moses assembled Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of nun, Moses is a Moses, my sermon is that now that you and all these people get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land that I'm about to give them to the Israel I will give you every place where you set for your, what where you set your foot as I promised the Moses your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon and from the great river Euphrates, all the Hittite country to the great Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous because you will need these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law, my servant Moses gave you. Do not turn from it to the writer to the left, that you may be successful, rather wherever you go you see this idea of success. What is it what is it that he is saying here is what is the desired goal. The desired goal is to occupy the land that somebody else is occupied that they are developmental land is the promise them and somebody else is already there but they have a problem. Their iniquity is full that they have really ruined their land and ruin their life and the life is far from God, and I gave this land to Abraham. Before you know before they even had his layout, Moses gave you, get up, turn from your right to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Conversely, this is important. Do not let this book of the law depart from you from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night so you may be careful to do everything that is written in, then you will be prosperous and successful, and I not commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Now look at when we think of success what, what are the things that come into my terror, fright problems. You always think I'm achieving a goal, going towards a goal. You may remember that the children of Israel or send spies in the promised land when Moses Gill led them out of Israel sent them in the promised land. They came back and they said there's giant in the land, and we are grasshoppers. We are grasshoppers in their site memory old movie, kung fu old wrap up our legal grasshopper that they also made people think of themselves. And in you seen yourself and in the Ukraine. The vagueness of the problem, and the smallness of you. You cannot be any lower than grasshopper, and so they get to see God based on their difficulties, and when they saw their difficulties as they magnify their difficulties, and they shrunk themselves some mercy and don't for a minute. Let this book of the Revelation be out of my message Bibles translation of mercy, Joe, not for a minute. Let this book of Revelation don't write God 's law out of your mind think on the things that are lovely. The rip your arm a good report there be any virtue, being praise, think on these things time to meditate on the book of the law on the Scriptures. Then I making sure you practice everything that is written in, then you will get where you are going like that will race if you meditate on the Scriptures and praying about them. You will find yourself getting where you are Raleigh, you know where you're going, why do you want to know what you want to achieve. So today we're looking at core core elements of success than they are and how the outline KO are reinforced knowledge always opportunity are his wrist and he has asked me normally. Now we know that true knowledge. So the first thing if we're going to be successful. There is knowledge, and what are we going to be knowledge out. First of all is our knowledge of God do not allow the things of this word and the word of the law is needed to exit the way that you think if you're going to think correctly, we have to understand what the Scriptures are telling us in the Scriptures are telling us that were not to be afraid that your not alone and that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. So there is a revelation that comes to our hearts and minds through and knowledge of God, wisdom, according to Solomon in Proverbs nine ten the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the holy one is understanding the fear of the Lord is a reverential understanding that God is with me. There is a reverential knowledge non-Americans NASA and the sharks are confident that the spirit of God is alongside of us to be our comforter to be our guide to be our very present help in time of trouble that we have someone who is with us twenty four seven. Never, so far as the ways and ways to be just, there's so we know the truth. Know the truth of God 's word. You're not alone. Nothing can remove you from the presence of God. Nothing could separate you from the love of God- more than oh, the power things present things to come everything anything. No matter what nothing can separate you from God. So, and that knowledge. Knowledge you've got an island in the knowledge we have what we haven't an understanding that God is with me. I am with him. Nothing can separate if so, what knowledge is necessary for the area of your work can't even be successful. What work are you and what you want to achieve what you want to go with your life must have jobs. Most of us have specific training executives and some that we should often we should go to the automobile University. Many are many hours a day, time of day you spend in your in your car. So go to the automobile University goal in rent books from the library by books in the library and listen to them in your car listen to them Raven because if you don't put something in your head. The fellow was something now I'm like a nasty with your head is full but so many people go back to school we go back to school, what is to learn about our specific field. So there has to be in order for there to be successful you must be knowledge. I thought the statement was extremely important to your knowledge will cost you more in the long run, not to train yourself in your field of work. Then went to begin now and educate yourself if you don't get what it's going to cost you more in the long run than it would to go back now and start knowledge, so it's time to educate ourselves. One man said, the harder I work the luckier I get. So we want to work hard. We want to have knowledge knowledge of God, and that's why it's important to be in church him to read your Scriptures and to read the Bible because we've got to know the truth and what happens when we know the truth and for a wedding set free from bond set free from. I said yes, but what I also be set free from the years anxieties that I'm in this alone. I know all the things that sell knowing the truth of God 's word knowledge, knowing God in our minds and hearts, knowing, knowing you will missing the course knowing you are so knowledge is farsighted as opportunity. Jeremiah twenty nine eleven call room and ask her where she sat. She visits her verse, so I know that I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected in excess is an expected arriving at an expected in God has been expected in for us opportunity about that advertisement that is what evening advertiser for Honda 's eye. Mister opportunity and I'm knocking there is a valid argument of a vision like this appear here, but dangerous, even rapture. Okay, I thought so you're still there. I will not get so opportunity. What is God what is God 's expected in the back to Joshua one eight four, then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. God wants us to have our way to be prosperous and have good success. Now I'm not talking about the wrong of the filthy rich and running and running. I mean that that you like and happen but that's not what were looking at humor. Looking at how to find success, which is all I know now, what we are expecting to become if you believe that your brother six eight. You're right. If you believe the sale right. Think about it in your urine school aluminum school, but if you believe you failed the test. The study was that no studying began my love life, reminding my son David. He was in payment, you are not too different is Damon Rachel. Rachel was the student Rachel had to study. I mean, she was a BC student she had this thought is she studied every day. She studied every night she started Consulate PCs to when she went to college. She had one teacher is dead. It wasn't, I would go talk to them. They told her you are not college material, you should not go to call the toll. My daughter, but he was here. I would pray for him intently because we write about in school she wanted to always work with special needs children since she was in second or third grade. She wanted to work with special needs children. She knew that from second grade. She wanted to be a special needs work with special needs children uneasy bond since I know, music needs Ebonics and hardware in the same class and knees. He was an hardware best friend in the season special needs child and all through grade school and high school. Rachel and needs. You were good friends whenever Rachel was a cheerleader niece. He was there with her mom being the cheerleading and the whole thing and easy, even whenever Rachel got married. She went meeting with her mother the right to marry Rachel getting that you can install only see that Doctor Paul had miracles getting married female and Alan Risa was all she lies. He graduated with a three. Six three. Nine eight average grade point average, somebody is not college material. She found her niche. Her notes were special needs children and she rightly and she's been asked to head the entire Mechanicsburg school district on handling special-needs children and one teacher said in our culture, you see, it isn't what people tell you with what you believe me, I think I can stand here and visit. We talk about responsibility. We talk about success is what you believe. And you know when I look out of what are the beliefs that God imparts in your heart. It isn't that I'm going to be rich. I'm understand on people throughout the number that leave this at forget that. That's not a godly thought is not godly principles. Godly principles are meditating on the word of God know what the word of God says to love and to serve and to have a purpose and that we are here. We are bringing the body of Christ the light of Christ in the love of God, and bringing it into people 's lives. We are the hand of God extended to our communities extended to people around us, and we see how we can extend God 's grace and God 's mercy through what we can. God is going to drive the dream and Oscar, we can achieve it. David am saying about him in school. David was midnight, said that it was very, very bright and cozy too. My son is wrong. The sun that's nice, very bright and a God that genetic thinking like that but the days are writing here we go to classes in college and study of first semester. First, that's again a that he would show up for class. Every once in a while and at the end you figure out what he needed to do to get as a and he was letting me get an air whatever on that class. The final dancer Jamal is a subclass of that love. I now is America ROK. It took him six years to complete the four-year program. He didn't do a six-year program in four years. Before your program is six years last night that they bought when he settled down when he got his next when he decided he was going to graduate with debacle studies in art. What a terrible major double major Easton. He had it coming. He did perfect in his graduate work. I held with Eastern University. He hates everything they said you've got a cooperative doctorate, but what the ideas that whenever we look at things. If we don't have a dream burst inside of us and we don't put it together that we start allowing other people 's influences and things to you upon us is not part of who we are excellence is the own with the next life. One excellence is something we must see within our hearts and minds and is not something that you know is excellent. It's something we must desire to happen. I like the were not there yet, word opportunity and opportunity is knocking many great many people say the reason that I'm not successful as I never had the opportunity never had the opportunity. Perhaps it's true, but what is opportunity look like that is where we have our biggest problem, because we will look at problems and not see the opportunity way will look at difficulties with a look at closed doors. We look at the way things don't work when owes its as when he discovered life phone and I had eighteen hundred. We had a few hundred ways that he knew that a lightbulb when work in eighteen hundred way hitting like: in nineteen hundred failures in eighteen hundred Lane in a satellite problem work in Iran somewhere around two thousand figure out in a also a week. We have this way of this perspective and being able to see opportunities is an attitude. It's an attitude. It's a perspective hit it off and I have blown many opportunities because of my inability to see beyond the obstacles not be able to see obstacles as opportunities not be able to see the other side of it not being able to see through it. Not being able to look at it in a way that can transform it from the difficulty to an opportunity, and this is where we find the spirits of God. God doesn't have difficulties using another have a difficulty with us. He has grace and mercy and love. It has a look of your failures. He looked at his forgiveness to have a look at how we how badly done. He what Reagan us for now, we can still get there and that we may have to look at our lives and say that God is in my live upon his changed me for a reason. And the reason is greater than me. That was not about that is unusable by anonymous, it's about God working through us to take care of the people around us in his kingdom, and Esther was taking care of our entire nation so being able to see opportunities is an attitude were not looking for one opportunity we are looking at every obstacle as opportunities using the circumstances that we see circumstances as opportunities is not a lot problems. What is the word of God fellows all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. God is a way of turning things around. Are we willing to allow him to work through us to see the other side using. If you believe there is nothing good about their defined you find nothing good if you believe that people are to blame for where you're at in your life. You are right, they probably are, but there is never a failure problem. There is only an idea. Problem and the Scripture not meditating on the word of God was, it gives us hope gives us a divine perspective that is beyond our site wisdom now there are some ideas that you should just let in the shower okay down there are some ideas that get all these are really stupid and should just let them down. I mean, that is why I now knows, and I really stupid idea. I don't know some of them are stupid. I mean just that I didn't look at them. People yelled, but some people are afraid to act on stupidity in all day. Alan, but you know, but wisdom is knowing what is why one is in our work in small things like that. My son ideas are your future. Some ideas are things that God wants to birth in your heart, and they just won't go away. I've had some great ideas might enact on your one of my load and if your mentor back to Martha Stewart, everything fell apart for Martha Stewart, they are all part hurt her stock with through the floor fell out. I was just thinking about that heard on the news and I got this thought should go invest in the company about having money know enough to borrow to invest like a regional investment company. My first thought was, well, you know, if I do that I could lose my money, but it wouldn't go away. I didn't do it. Her stock went from the bottom ceiling and I think God give me another one out. Also at this time. Give me another idea& I'm I said, I learned my lessons like nothing else doesn't, and that he is not there, you say there are times that God visualized and we don't like that what happened. Something that is done, I thought we don't pay attention to what is God. Some of the things that God tells us isn't always you will realize the person. Sometimes they are very spiritual thing. Sometimes they are very influential things. Sometimes there just bringing peace to a person 's life. Taking the time who you are. We have to take an inventory to see you have a lot of things to get if I ask you write on a sheet of paper write down all the good things about your life and I run another sign the other side of my down all the bad things which side you think you would fill up. I know what side you fill out the bad part because we're so used to looking at the negative liberalism a bad things about the values of all the sudden stop, but it doesn't happen to you is without sin, let him cast the first stone. Failure M Dell might be on his way out there get forgiven on a deal with enemy healing way and look at the good things in your life. The hot here, you will build your life on your strengths. You will build your life on your strengths, not a weakness. You can spend your entire life trying to take your weaknesses up for five notches and you're still the average if you take your strengths build newbies. Is no one has the fingerprint. No one has your thoughts. No one has your abilities and no one has the exact strengths. Waiting you do success twenty five. I will try and finish the morning when Matthew twenty five versus fourteen eighty, as this is the story of the talents, the one the guy is like a man going off on an extended trip to call the service together and delegated responsibilities to the one he gave five thousand dollars to another two thousand two the third one thousand depending on their ability. Everybody is not the same. Everyone doesn't have the same abilities. Everyone doesn't have the gifting an ideology on the genius were not uncommon on Einstein, no there there. I feel us are Einstein, okay, very few women only been one is only one jolting is only one Billy Graham, the one and so God has a special talent place for each of us in the body of Christ. That's why called the body of Christ, as if we take one part of our body away. If you get the rest of the body suffers, so everyone has a function within the body of Christ, but it's not all the same, were all different. And so what we do is we love one another as Christ has loved us, we forgive one another as we have been forgiven. There is a meditation on the word of God, an understanding of the word of God, and knowledge of God 's word that keeps us on this field of understanding and I'm a hard relationship with God, with people, and on that relationship. Then we see how God is blessing us, don't worry about the person who's got five thousand or the person got two thousand word about the person who has what you are good things. Take your review and God will bless you, so we know the story. The files and Gaiman five thousand one we at the moment, but I'm a diehard, two thousand eleven on the one on guy one thousand. The narrator. I know that you are master innovative, fully person what you think about marrying what you've got. Why would you ever vary what you have why would you ever bury your challenge cut somebody that I might lose what you already did lose a Newberry, they say to you while you take what you are and you use it in your view, no doubt of the automobile University rank vote learn router knowledge brought an understanding title you are what opportunities do you have right now. What opportunities live within your site difficulties and opportunities because sometimes opportunities are disguised as difficult. Unless you were costumed down on my illustrations. I don't wear costume okay and behind the cost is a hard thing for them. I hope after that is you all dressed up in another positive thing about the story on a times, opportunities dressed up in costume and sometimes the enemy of our soul disguises try to disguise God 's blessing in your life. One thing is don't pray for patient visits will take longer than it needs to. That's a joke, we need to pray for so what do you mean what you have. Take care strings meet their needs and better life and others. So there is knowledge, there is opportunity and arithmetic. Okay, I got you wanted in ten minutes like I wanted to buy what is the risk rest, leaving the Scripture is there Matthew fourteen twenty three to thirty three entertainer has a large international bank may come to you on the water get out of the boat, there's a risk involved in getting out of the boat. There are a number of people will stand behind and sent down Peter will want more than Jesus and you're not Jesus is not safe out there. Peter is the only disciple to walk on water. All the others were stated in the boat. But remember what the key to rescue Lord, if it is you bid me come in, pray about your decision as God guide Jesus. If it's really you and these are your desires which are placing in my heart and my mind, let me know bid me come if this was just some dumb idea. I need to let go down the shower, letting go, but if this is your idea, Lord bid me come see everything has risk everything, but you know I like disdain the old ballad of the church. He got in no way hold know when to fold them always run away is just too serious and Tamil fact that there is an example whatever we take a rest. It's not again, because when God leads us we may run into a den in life that had been and will find the open door to the left or to the right you see Las Vegas is built on people 's loss everyplace there is a casino. It's built on people 's losses, our walk with God is built upon our security and our relationship with Jesus Christ that will last an eternity. This is an example. This is faith and understanding usually say is realistic. Faye understands the worst case scenario phase will calculate the risk and faith will calculate and print powerful labor. What is hacked. What is ahead count the cost, not what's going to happen if you do it and know what's going to happen if you don't, that's a faith is a blindness faith is the substance of hope for things hoped for. Faith is based upon a reality that there is a plan and a purpose for my life. There is that there is there is something God wants to do in my life and faith is based on that, and upon the solid rock Jesus Christ. I stand by thinking same and fear is not part of faith. Faith I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength and in that strength. I am understanding I have calculation. I know what I'm thinking. I know what I'm doing. I know where I'm going, don't normally get there, but faith this, I can't fear is false evidence appearing real fear will cause you to stumble and fall, and stayed out when you fall in front of the last one is knowledge opportunity risk, but is it excellence striving for excellence is what sets us apart. You imagine God saying, and so what if we leave out a hand. So what if we put our only route this part of our creation. So a lot of this doesn't have God is in all straw. It is an excellent God is among the most excellent adventure, God has excellent and strives for excellence. Second Peter one five by his divine power. The Lord has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through the knowledge of the one who called us by his own honor and glory, second Peter one five 's versus three leading up to the first five. This is why most. This is why you must make every effort to add moral excellence to your faith and your moral excellence, knowledge and knowledge, self-control self-control, endurance and to endorse godliness, the godliness affection for on the backs of brothers-in-law, if all these are yours, and they are growing in you know keep you from becoming inactive and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ cultivate an attitude of excellence define define what excellence looks like you and what is excellent look like the sometimes we miss we must understand excellence is perfection. Perfection and ended in the idea perfection in the Scripture is not without it's not that something was without flaw with the imperfections that which is without flaw. Leave the idea of of of of excellence in Scripture perfection in the Scripture is that whatever God has using is perfectly suited for the task. That's why you are perfect in the side of God. Why, because you are forgiven you are endowed with talents and you are perfectly suited for the investment of your talents to bring about a return therefore we should do it with excellence. We should go out with a whole over the half full hearted commitment that we want to do what we do it. We do it in an excellent manner manner and in the last of this is when we has as God 's children, you walk around with an anointing of God before you bump into somebody your this fear goes before you before you come in contact with someone. The spirit of God is there headed you have an anointing upon your life that makes you different that any and all nonbelievers. Every Christian. Every believer has a presence of God about them that makes them different, and it is the presence of God around us. That calls for us to have the spirit of success and success is not be a good success is a favorable desire outcome. God wants to work everything in your life out to a divine light, so that the marriage of God, the love of God Harkness of God that the plan of God will be fulfilled in your life and the lives of those around you. So it is not just about me. It is about how than I in the kingdom of God and walking around with the presence of God, and how that some people are going to be extremely irritated some people are going to be drawn because of your spirit because it's not really my spirit to spirit, Christ that gives me knowledge, opportunity, risk the next as God is about changing the world with my talents, your tongue and stay her father. How can we say that is for the things that you have done for us things so undeserved yet you gave to prove your love world voices on the million angels could not express our gratitude for all that I have all that I ever hope to be available to you, to God be the glory for the things he has done, and then publishWell this morning I have this I know every every week. Yes, I do hear it on maybe and I don't value. Think about how I worry how I prepare my messages, and I tried not to try. I very seldom ever repeat the message so I been here thirty one years and I have piles of sermons that are this high just stacks of them there. This I choose that there about this high of service and things that I've written over the thirty one years and I have very solid, though I ever dig through the pile to find one. I try to always write something new right, a different perspective and today I found this father 's outline and it is an outline on success, and whenever I read it, and I thought about it. I said, you know, when we think of success. We will often have misconceptions of what being successful is. And we we think of when I think when you say what I say success you think that our wealth, but achieving to take on me. I cannot think of success at a consulting dump creature successful. I think of Billy Graham. No firm for me. I would look at success that I would think of ill things like that. I'll well, we think of achievements what else what else part happiness. Any ideas now being manager being CEO being corporate person being were you, I know whenever let's access is available or desired outcome. A favorable or desired outcome. That's why success is based upon what you think of as exact, so sometimes I think you know I should write a book and I often start. I have lots of places that I started I have this one thing I carry around with me, and I and I started only about fifteen years ago, writing it, and there are some really good things in there. And of course. Years go by that I don't write anything in there and then I get this desire to write again and insight and awareness us come from where does this idea a noise in fear of failure that keeps you from doing the things that you would want to do anyhow, today I have the core element scale are equal elements of success, and I could use our Sunday school lesson for this outline, but I I didn't study the lessons we've been studying the book of Esther, and it is a really good book that you can't even look at and see the providence of God, we can see the hand of God, and this is known as to his life and in the life of Israel and all the things that happen there. That is a great book to study infant to look at. We have one more week, and that coming up. But success is a favorable desire, favorable or desired outcome. The attainment of a goal. The progress or desired result of an attempt so you want to check so in Joshua chapter one. I want to read from verses one to nine of Joshua chapter one, after the death of Moses assembled Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of nun, Moses is a Moses, my sermon is that now that you and all these people get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land that I'm about to give them to the Israel I will give you every place where you set for your, what where you set your foot as I promised the Moses your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon and from the great river Euphrates, all the Hittite country to the great Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous because you will need these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law, my servant Moses gave you. Do not turn from it to the writer to the left, that you may be successful, rather wherever you go you see this idea of success. What is it what is it that he is saying here is what is the desired goal. The desired goal is to occupy the land that somebody else is occupied that they are developmental land is the promise them and somebody else is already there but they have a problem. Their iniquity is full that they have really ruined their land and ruin their life and the life is far from God, and I gave this land to Abraham. Before you know before they even had his layout, Moses gave you, get up, turn from your right to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Conversely, this is important. Do not let this book of the law depart from you from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night so you may be careful to do everything that is written in, then you will be prosperous and successful, and I not commanded you. Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Now look at when we think of success what, what are the things that come into my terror, fright problems. You always think I'm achieving a goal, going towards a goal. You may remember that the children of Israel or send spies in the promised land when Moses Gill led them out of Israel sent them in the promised land. They came back and they said there's giant in the land, and we are grasshoppers. We are grasshoppers in their site memory old movie, kung fu old wrap up our legal grasshopper that they also made people think of themselves. And in you seen yourself and in the Ukraine. The vagueness of the problem, and the smallness of you. You cannot be any lower than grasshopper, and so they get to see God based on their difficulties, and when they saw their difficulties as they magnify their difficulties, and they shrunk themselves some mercy and don't for a minute. Let this book of the Revelation be out of my message Bibles translation of mercy, Joe, not for a minute. Let this book of Revelation don't write God 's law out of your mind think on the things that are lovely. The rip your arm a good report there be any virtue, being praise, think on these things time to meditate on the book of the law on the Scriptures. Then I making sure you practice everything that is written in, then you will get where you are going like that will race if you meditate on the Scriptures and praying about them. You will find yourself getting where you are Raleigh, you know where you're going, why do you want to know what you want to achieve. So today we're looking at core core elements of success than they are and how the outline KO are reinforced knowledge always opportunity are his wrist and he has asked me normally. Now we know that true knowledge. So the first thing if we're going to be successful. There is knowledge, and what are we going to be knowledge out. First of all is our knowledge of God do not allow the things of this word and the word of the law is needed to exit the way that you think if you're going to think correctly, we have to understand what the Scriptures are telling us in the Scriptures are telling us that were not to be afraid that your not alone and that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. So there is a revelation that comes to our hearts and minds through and knowledge of God, wisdom, according to Solomon in Proverbs nine ten the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge of the holy one is understanding the fear of the Lord is a reverential understanding that God is with me. There is a reverential knowledge non-Americans NASA and the sharks are confident that the spirit of God is alongside of us to be our comforter to be our guide to be our very present help in time of trouble that we have someone who is with us twenty four seven. Never, so far as the ways and ways to be just, there's so we know the truth. Know the truth of God 's word. You're not alone. Nothing can remove you from the presence of God. Nothing could separate you from the love of God- more than oh, the power things present things to come everything anything. No matter what nothing can separate you from God. So, and that knowledge. Knowledge you've got an island in the knowledge we have what we haven't an understanding that God is with me. I am with him. Nothing can separate if so, what knowledge is necessary for the area of your work can't even be successful. What work are you and what you want to achieve what you want to go with your life must have jobs. Most of us have specific training executives and some that we should often we should go to the automobile University. Many are many hours a day, time of day you spend in your in your car. So go to the automobile University goal in rent books from the library by books in the library and listen to them in your car listen to them Raven because if you don't put something in your head. The fellow was something now I'm like a nasty with your head is full but so many people go back to school we go back to school, what is to learn about our specific field. So there has to be in order for there to be successful you must be knowledge. I thought the statement was extremely important to your knowledge will cost you more in the long run, not to train yourself in your field of work. Then went to begin now and educate yourself if you don't get what it's going to cost you more in the long run than it would to go back now and start knowledge, so it's time to educate ourselves. One man said, the harder I work the luckier I get. So we want to work hard. We want to have knowledge knowledge of God, and that's why it's important to be in church him to read your Scriptures and to read the Bible because we've got to know the truth and what happens when we know the truth and for a wedding set free from bond set free from. I said yes, but what I also be set free from the years anxieties that I'm in this alone. I know all the things that sell knowing the truth of God 's word knowledge, knowing God in our minds and hearts, knowing, knowing you will missing the course knowing you are so knowledge is farsighted as opportunity. Jeremiah twenty nine eleven call room and ask her where she sat. She visits her verse, so I know that I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected in excess is an expected arriving at an expected in God has been expected in for us opportunity about that advertisement that is what evening advertiser for Honda 's eye. Mister opportunity and I'm knocking there is a valid argument of a vision like this appear here, but dangerous, even rapture. Okay, I thought so you're still there. I will not get so opportunity. What is God what is God 's expected in the back to Joshua one eight four, then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. God wants us to have our way to be prosperous and have good success. Now I'm not talking about the wrong of the filthy rich and running and running. I mean that that you like and happen but that's not what were looking at humor. Looking at how to find success, which is all I know now, what we are expecting to become if you believe that your brother six eight. You're right. If you believe the sale right. Think about it in your urine school aluminum school, but if you believe you failed the test. The study was that no studying began my love life, reminding my son David. He was in payment, you are not too different is Damon Rachel. Rachel was the student Rachel had to study. I mean, she was a BC student she had this thought is she studied every day. She studied every night she started Consulate PCs to when she went to college. She had one teacher is dead. It wasn't, I would go talk to them. They told her you are not college material, you should not go to call the toll. My daughter, but he was here. I would pray for him intently because we write about in school she wanted to always work with special needs children since she was in second or third grade. She wanted to work with special needs children. She knew that from second grade. She wanted to be a special needs work with special needs children uneasy bond since I know, music needs Ebonics and hardware in the same class and knees. He was an hardware best friend in the season special needs child and all through grade school and high school. Rachel and needs. You were good friends whenever Rachel was a cheerleader niece. He was there with her mom being the cheerleading and the whole thing and easy, even whenever Rachel got married. She went meeting with her mother the right to marry Rachel getting that you can install only see that Doctor Paul had miracles getting married female and Alan Risa was all she lies. He graduated with a three. Six three. Nine eight average grade point average, somebody is not college material. She found her niche. Her notes were special needs children and she rightly and she's been asked to head the entire Mechanicsburg school district on handling special-needs children and one teacher said in our culture, you see, it isn't what people tell you with what you believe me, I think I can stand here and visit. We talk about responsibility. We talk about success is what you believe. And you know when I look out of what are the beliefs that God imparts in your heart. It isn't that I'm going to be rich. I'm understand on people throughout the number that leave this at forget that. That's not a godly thought is not godly principles. Godly principles are meditating on the word of God know what the word of God says to love and to serve and to have a purpose and that we are here. We are bringing the body of Christ the light of Christ in the love of God, and bringing it into people 's lives. We are the hand of God extended to our communities extended to people around us, and we see how we can extend God 's grace and God 's mercy through what we can. God is going to drive the dream and Oscar, we can achieve it. David am saying about him in school. David was midnight, said that it was very, very bright and cozy too. My son is wrong. The sun that's nice, very bright and a God that genetic thinking like that but the days are writing here we go to classes in college and study of first semester. First, that's again a that he would show up for class. Every once in a while and at the end you figure out what he needed to do to get as a and he was letting me get an air whatever on that class. The final dancer Jamal is a subclass of that love. I now is America ROK. It took him six years to complete the four-year program. He didn't do a six-year program in four years. Before your program is six years last night that they bought when he settled down when he got his next when he decided he was going to graduate with debacle studies in art. What a terrible major double major Easton. He had it coming. He did perfect in his graduate work. I held with Eastern University. He hates everything they said you've got a cooperative doctorate, but what the ideas that whenever we look at things. If we don't have a dream burst inside of us and we don't put it together that we start allowing other people 's influences and things to you upon us is not part of who we are excellence is the own with the next life. One excellence is something we must see within our hearts and minds and is not something that you know is excellent. It's something we must desire to happen. I like the were not there yet, word opportunity and opportunity is knocking many great many people say the reason that I'm not successful as I never had the opportunity never had the opportunity. Perhaps it's true, but what is opportunity look like that is where we have our biggest problem, because we will look at problems and not see the opportunity way will look at difficulties with a look at closed doors. We look at the way things don't work when owes its as when he discovered life phone and I had eighteen hundred. We had a few hundred ways that he knew that a lightbulb when work in eighteen hundred way hitting like: in nineteen hundred failures in eighteen hundred Lane in a satellite problem work in Iran somewhere around two thousand figure out in a also a week. We have this way of this perspective and being able to see opportunities is an attitude. It's an attitude. It's a perspective hit it off and I have blown many opportunities because of my inability to see beyond the obstacles not be able to see obstacles as opportunities not be able to see the other side of it not being able to see through it. Not being able to look at it in a way that can transform it from the difficulty to an opportunity, and this is where we find the spirits of God. God doesn't have difficulties using another have a difficulty with us. He has grace and mercy and love. It has a look of your failures. He looked at his forgiveness to have a look at how we how badly done. He what Reagan us for now, we can still get there and that we may have to look at our lives and say that God is in my live upon his changed me for a reason. And the reason is greater than me. That was not about that is unusable by anonymous, it's about God working through us to take care of the people around us in his kingdom, and Esther was taking care of our entire nation so being able to see opportunities is an attitude were not looking for one opportunity we are looking at every obstacle as opportunities using the circumstances that we see circumstances as opportunities is not a lot problems. What is the word of God fellows all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. God is a way of turning things around. Are we willing to allow him to work through us to see the other side using. If you believe there is nothing good about their defined you find nothing good if you believe that people are to blame for where you're at in your life. You are right, they probably are, but there is never a failure problem. There is only an idea. Problem and the Scripture not meditating on the word of God was, it gives us hope gives us a divine perspective that is beyond our site wisdom now there are some ideas that you should just let in the shower okay down there are some ideas that get all these are really stupid and should just let them down. I mean, that is why I now knows, and I really stupid idea. I don't know some of them are stupid. I mean just that I didn't look at them. People yelled, but some people are afraid to act on stupidity in all day. Alan, but you know, but wisdom is knowing what is why one is in our work in small things like that. My son ideas are your future. Some ideas are things that God wants to birth in your heart, and they just won't go away. I've had some great ideas might enact on your one of my load and if your mentor back to Martha Stewart, everything fell apart for Martha Stewart, they are all part hurt her stock with through the floor fell out. I was just thinking about that heard on the news and I got this thought should go invest in the company about having money know enough to borrow to invest like a regional investment company. My first thought was, well, you know, if I do that I could lose my money, but it wouldn't go away. I didn't do it. Her stock went from the bottom ceiling and I think God give me another one out. Also at this time. Give me another idea& I'm I said, I learned my lessons like nothing else doesn't, and that he is not there, you say there are times that God visualized and we don't like that what happened. Something that is done, I thought we don't pay attention to what is God. Some of the things that God tells us isn't always you will realize the person. Sometimes they are very spiritual thing. Sometimes they are very influential things. Sometimes there just bringing peace to a person 's life. Taking the time who you are. We have to take an inventory to see you have a lot of things to get if I ask you write on a sheet of paper write down all the good things about your life and I run another sign the other side of my down all the bad things which side you think you would fill up. I know what side you fill out the bad part because we're so used to looking at the negative liberalism a bad things about the values of all the sudden stop, but it doesn't happen to you is without sin, let him cast the first stone. Failure M Dell might be on his way out there get forgiven on a deal with enemy healing way and look at the good things in your life. The hot here, you will build your life on your strengths. You will build your life on your strengths, not a weakness. You can spend your entire life trying to take your weaknesses up for five notches and you're still the average if you take your strengths build newbies. Is no one has the fingerprint. No one has your thoughts. No one has your abilities and no one has the exact strengths. Waiting you do success twenty five. I will try and finish the morning when Matthew twenty five versus fourteen eighty, as this is the story of the talents, the one the guy is like a man going off on an extended trip to call the service together and delegated responsibilities to the one he gave five thousand dollars to another two thousand two the third one thousand depending on their ability. Everybody is not the same. Everyone doesn't have the same abilities. Everyone doesn't have the gifting an ideology on the genius were not uncommon on Einstein, no there there. I feel us are Einstein, okay, very few women only been one is only one jolting is only one Billy Graham, the one and so God has a special talent place for each of us in the body of Christ. That's why called the body of Christ, as if we take one part of our body away. If you get the rest of the body suffers, so everyone has a function within the body of Christ, but it's not all the same, were all different. And so what we do is we love one another as Christ has loved us, we forgive one another as we have been forgiven. There is a meditation on the word of God, an understanding of the word of God, and knowledge of God 's word that keeps us on this field of understanding and I'm a hard relationship with God, with people, and on that relationship. Then we see how God is blessing us, don't worry about the person who's got five thousand or the person got two thousand word about the person who has what you are good things. Take your review and God will bless you, so we know the story. The files and Gaiman five thousand one we at the moment, but I'm a diehard, two thousand eleven on the one on guy one thousand. The narrator. I know that you are master innovative, fully person what you think about marrying what you've got. Why would you ever vary what you have why would you ever bury your challenge cut somebody that I might lose what you already did lose a Newberry, they say to you while you take what you are and you use it in your view, no doubt of the automobile University rank vote learn router knowledge brought an understanding title you are what opportunities do you have right now. What opportunities live within your site difficulties and opportunities because sometimes opportunities are disguised as difficult. Unless you were costumed down on my illustrations. I don't wear costume okay and behind the cost is a hard thing for them. I hope after that is you all dressed up in another positive thing about the story on a times, opportunities dressed up in costume and sometimes the enemy of our soul disguises try to disguise God 's blessing in your life. One thing is don't pray for patient visits will take longer than it needs to. That's a joke, we need to pray for so what do you mean what you have. Take care strings meet their needs and better life and others. So there is knowledge, there is opportunity and arithmetic. Okay, I got you wanted in ten minutes like I wanted to buy what is the risk rest, leaving the Scripture is there Matthew fourteen twenty three to thirty three entertainer has a large international bank may come to you on the water get out of the boat, there's a risk involved in getting out of the boat. There are a number of people will stand behind and sent down Peter will want more than Jesus and you're not Jesus is not safe out there. Peter is the only disciple to walk on water. All the others were stated in the boat. But remember what the key to rescue Lord, if it is you bid me come in, pray about your decision as God guide Jesus. If it's really you and these are your desires which are placing in my heart and my mind, let me know bid me come if this was just some dumb idea. I need to let go down the shower, letting go, but if this is your idea, Lord bid me come see everything has risk everything, but you know I like disdain the old ballad of the church. He got in no way hold know when to fold them always run away is just too serious and Tamil fact that there is an example whatever we take a rest. It's not again, because when God leads us we may run into a den in life that had been and will find the open door to the left or to the right you see Las Vegas is built on people 's loss everyplace there is a casino. It's built on people 's losses, our walk with God is built upon our security and our relationship with Jesus Christ that will last an eternity. This is an example. This is faith and understanding usually say is realistic. Faye understands the worst case scenario phase will calculate the risk and faith will calculate and print powerful labor. What is hacked. What is ahead count the cost, not what's going to happen if you do it and know what's going to happen if you don't, that's a faith is a blindness faith is the substance of hope for things hoped for. Faith is based upon a reality that there is a plan and a purpose for my life. There is that there is there is something God wants to do in my life and faith is based on that, and upon the solid rock Jesus Christ. I stand by thinking same and fear is not part of faith. Faith I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength and in that strength. I am understanding I have calculation. I know what I'm thinking. I know what I'm doing. I know where I'm going, don't normally get there, but faith this, I can't fear is false evidence appearing real fear will cause you to stumble and fall, and stayed out when you fall in front of the last one is knowledge opportunity risk, but is it excellence striving for excellence is what sets us apart. You imagine God saying, and so what if we leave out a hand. So what if we put our only route this part of our creation. So a lot of this doesn't have God is in all straw. It is an excellent God is among the most excellent adventure, God has excellent and strives for excellence. Second Peter one five by his divine power. The Lord has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through the knowledge of the one who called us by his own honor and glory, second Peter one five 's versus three leading up to the first five. This is why most. This is why you must make every effort to add moral excellence to your faith and your moral excellence, knowledge and knowledge, self-control self-control, endurance and to endorse godliness, the godliness affection for on the backs of brothers-in-law, if all these are yours, and they are growing in you know keep you from becoming inactive and unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ cultivate an attitude of excellence define define what excellence looks like you and what is excellent look like the sometimes we miss we must understand excellence is perfection. Perfection and ended in the idea perfection in the Scripture is not without it's not that something was without flaw with the imperfections that which is without flaw. Leave the idea of of of of excellence in Scripture perfection in the Scripture is that whatever God has using is perfectly suited for the task. That's why you are perfect in the side of God. Why, because you are forgiven you are endowed with talents and you are perfectly suited for the investment of your talents to bring about a return therefore we should do it with excellence. We should go out with a whole over the half full hearted commitment that we want to do what we do it. We do it in an excellent manner manner and in the last of this is when we has as God 's children, you walk around with an anointing of God before you bump into somebody your this fear goes before you before you come in contact with someone. The spirit of God is there headed you have an anointing upon your life that makes you different that any and all nonbelievers. Every Christian. Every believer has a presence of God about them that makes them different, and it is the presence of God around us. That calls for us to have the spirit of success and success is not be a good success is a favorable desire outcome. God wants to work everything in your life out to a divine light, so that the marriage of God, the love of God Harkness of God that the plan of God will be fulfilled in your life and the lives of those around you. So it is not just about me. It is about how than I in the kingdom of God and walking around with the presence of God, and how that some people are going to be extremely irritated some people are going to be drawn because of your spirit because it's not really my spirit to spirit, Christ that gives me knowledge, opportunity, risk the next as God is about changing the world with my talents, your tongue and stay her father. How can we say that is for the things that you have done for us things so undeserved yet you gave to prove your love world voices on the million angels could not express our gratitude for all that I have all that I ever hope to be available to you, to God be the glory for the things he has done, and then publish