Copyright 2012 Mornay Johnson Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture is taken from the New King James

s Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version. Emphasis within Scripture quotations is authors own. Please note that Destiny Images publishing style capitalizes certain pronouns in Scripture that refer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and may differ from some publishers styles. Take note that the name satan and related names are not capitalized. We choose not to acknowledge him, even to the point of violating grammatical rules. DESTINY IMAGE PUBLISHERS, INC. P.O. Box 310, Shippensburg, PA 17257-0310 Promoting Inspired Lives. This book and all other Destiny Image, Revival Press, MercyPlace, Fresh Bread, Destiny Image Fiction, and Treasure House books are available at Christian bookstores and distributors worldwide. For a U.S. bookstore nearest you, call 1-800-722-6774. For more information on foreign distributors, call 717-532-3040. Reach us on the Internet: www.destinyimage.com. ISBN 13 TP: 978-0-7684-4126-0 Ebook: 978-0-7684-8835-7 For Worldwide Distribution, Printed in the U.S.A. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 / 13 12

Dedication
To my wife Angela, whose immovable faith and perseverance have proven to be beacons of stability amidst lifes storms. Thank you for your unending love, encouragement, and support. And to all those who are looking to achieve the high calling of God for their life, take this book and set sail for your destination of Godly Success.

Acknowledgments
We are the product of those around us. The following people have aided in the production of this book or helped me become a better person or both. My mother, Veronicayour prayers have sustained me over the years. Eric and Doreen Smiththank you for showing me what Christs love looks like in practical form. Wouter and Yvonne Kempenyour sacrificial lives for the Kingdom will be echoed throughout eternity. Pastor Greg Brownthank you for your support of our ministry, your wise counsel, and your friendship. John Mark Poolyou were the catalyst in the production of this book.

Pastor Elisabeth Syryour prophetic word ignited the motivation for this book. Lisa Thompsonthank you for your speed and precision in the editing of this work. Dr. Greg Brown, Dr. Ch Ahn, Dr. Mark Chironna, James W. Goll, Elisabeth Syr, John Mark Poolthank you for providing valuable endorsements for this book. As respected leaders, your words of accreditation bring an authenticity to this work that would otherwise have been lacking. To all the staff at Destiny Image who were involved in the publication of this bookthank you for providing me a forum of communication that allows me to minister the timeless truths of Gods Word. Lisa Ottwhose prompt organizational skills pulled together multiple resources.

Endorsements
Every Christian wants to know the seven steps, the five keys, and the ten secrets to successfinancial success. In Mornay Johnsons newest book, Godly Success, he beautifully defines and illustrates Gods blueprint for success and prosperity according to the principles of His Word. Mornay provides practical, everyday life testimonies we can all relate to, at some level, which demonstrate how Gods success is an integral part of our everyday lives. Dr. Ch Ahn Senior Pastor, HROCK Church, Pasadena, CA President, Harvest International Ministry International Chancellor, Wagner Leadership Institute

I am thankful for Mornay Johnson writing Godly Success. This is a great book all Christians need to read to develop a biblical worldview for the season in which we are living. Each chapter is filled with wisdom on topics we deal with in our daily lives. The sound and practical approach to each topic is easy to read and understand. This book can also be used as a daily devotion or even at Bible study groups. You will want to share this with your friends once you read it! Dr. Greg Brown Senior Pastor, Skyway Church President, Ascend Apostolic Network

Godly Success by my dear ministry friend, Mornay Johnson, both prophetic messenger and successful businessman, gives us the purest form of Gods success plannot just to a select few but for everyone who will read and apply this basic biblical guide to obtaining genuine success! Believe me, you will never again look at living in godly success as a prosperous dream that is not for you, but for the few who seem to always grab Gods arm of favor! No, quite the contrary; Mornay Johnson sets the record straight in Godly Success, substantiating that real success is based and pursued as Gods obtainable destiny for youand yes, that can include immeasurable prosperity and a treasure trove of blessings that others will want as you grow before them into your true godly success! I highly recommend this book to help every person looking to seize Gods best for their lives and touch the world in doing so! Godly Success is now in my ready reference shelf to help in many of my teachings as I know the results seen in Mornay and Angelas lives will work for those the Lord sends us in our travels. You too must have this book for your libraryand be sure to get one for your friends! It is one investment that you can rest assured

brings yourself, and many others, the true necessary message on godly success! Get it and live it today! Always a Voice for God, John Mark and Sandy Pool Authors, Prophetic Messengers Founders of Word to the World Ministries www.w2wmin.org

This book is such an eye-opener for all who read it. Many years ago I got a word for Mornay in South Africa: You will be a business minister. Your home will be in America. The business world needs you more than a congregation would need you. At that stage Mornay was already a good public speaker. And sure enough, today Mornay is used mightily in business events and seminars. His home is in the U.S.A. and he encourages and strengthens people with a heart for business and a heart for God. Mornay experienced the pitfalls of structural patterns in communities that would neither enhance nor encourage the talents of individuals to become a success through their talents. Mornay is called to bring the reality of success as an endorsement of God to men and women in the marketplace. People need his input all over the world at the place where they are at. I heartily endorse this book to anyone who is looking for the keys God provides for true success. Mornay takes us away from the religious clich thinkingpattern of serving God in a box. I believe that our Creator is so much greater. He has given each one of us gifts to enhance life and to bring glory to Him in the corporate world and in our own individual ways.

Many years ago my spiritual mom, Corrie ten Boom, told me: Follow Gods instructions, never to be sidetracked about what people think about it. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Thank you for hearing His voice, for following His instructions for your life, Mornay. You are an inspiration and a gift for the now generation. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to endorse your book after so many years of friendship and prayer. You are a blessing. Elisabeth Syr www.elisabethsyreministries.net

With every move of God there comes progressive truths and new voices. It is my honor to commend to you a book with userfriendly revelatory content and a person of outstanding character. Mornay Johnson has done us a great favor by penning his thoughts as a marketplace prophet in this generation. He lives his message and his message is his life. Take and eat! A great meal is set right in front of you! James W. Goll Encounters Network Prayer Storm Compassion Acts National Best-Selling Author

Contents
Foreword by Dr. Mark Chironna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 CHAPTER 1 Essential Business A Matter of the Heart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 CHAPTER 2 Kings and Priests A Divine Partnership for the Good of the Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 CHAPTER 3 Destination Coordinates Hitting the Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 CHAPTER 4 Daily Alignment One Bite at a Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87

CHAPTER 5 Maintaining Focus What You Behold, You Become . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 CHAPTER 6 Christian Character A Container for the Anointing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137 CHAPTER 7 Money Matters It Really Does! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .165 CHAPTER 8 Godly Success Access to GOFIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .195 Endnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217

Foreword
We live in a day of unprecedented change, challenge, chaos, and uncertainty. Yet for those with a discerning eye for what wants to emerge, we live in a day of unparalleled opportunity. Ultimately, each of us has developed a definition of what we perceive success to be. Over the many years of being in the people-helping business, I have listened, counseled, coached, and prayed with thousands of individuals from every strata of society and practically every part of the globe. Invariably, whenever the topic of success has arisen, there are as many different definitions of success as there are people on the planet. All of us perceive success differently, and our perception is tied to the environment that helped shape us, the beliefs that helped form us, the individuals that helped mold us, and the choices that helped bring us to where we are in our current reality.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S Finding common ground in terms of individual perceptions of success is not as easy a task as you might think. Place 50 people in a room and ask them to give you a 12-word definition of success, and there will be 600 different words in combinations of sentences that may have certain similarities, yet will also have a broad range of differences. How come? We all perceive reality through the lens and filter of our own deeply held mental models of how the world really works. In addition, those deeply held mental models operate at a deeply unconscious level, and because of that, they govern us even in ways we fail to realize or become conscious of because we tend to live life on automatic pilot and experience many things by default. In essence, we will tend to consistently experience what we believe to be true (even if what we believe isnt true at all!). The only way to change your experiences, therefore, is to change your beliefs and your belief systems. For the mature son or daughter of God, there is a deep knowing that the only way to experience real metamorphosis is by way of the mind being renewed. When the mind is renewed, Gods sons and daughters have the ability to prove those things that are consummately good, acceptable, and complete (mature, perfect, having come to full intention). When you are about proving that in your life, you are operating at what God deems to be success. Although you can have your own definition and idea of success and I can have mine, we have a Manufacturers Warranty Statement (its called the Holy Scriptures), and it reveals both the reason you have been created and given an opportunity to live on this planet and the One who manufactured (created) you with His highest and best intentions in mind. Operate according to His intentions and you will discover that, rather than you searching for success, it will actually search for you. A brilliant playwright from a few generations back, who loved God and struggled for years with a nagging sense of failure
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Foreword
by Dr. Mark Chironna

because he never seemed to have any of the big New York producers on Broadway consider taking one of his plays and turning them into major productions, brought his petition regarding this to the Lord, only to hear the Lord say to him these words: Dont write so that you can get to Broadway; write so that Broadway can get to you! In essence, God was letting one of His children know that when we are driven by an unmet need to be recognized for what we do, success evades our grasp. It isnt that success is inherently wrong; it is that our reasons for success can often go unnoticed because of those deep mental models and belief systems that have not been renewed by the work of the Spirit through the Word of God. They can become the very cause of the blind spot that prevents us from seeing what genuine success really is, not from our point of view, or someone elses point of view, or anybodys point of view (because as we have already said, we all have our own definition of success). Rather, we will discover what success is from Gods point of view. Once the point from which you are viewing things is adjusted and you shift to Gods much more inspiring viewing point, success takes on a whole new meaning. Are you ready for godly success? Are you ready for the kind of transformation on the inside that leads to major shifts and changes on the outside, beyond your wildest dreams? If so, Mornay Johnson has provided you a blueprint from which to rechart your course and reshape your path. His newest release, Godly Success, is a boots-on-the-ground training manual that will help you win the battle for success as you fight the good fight of faith according to the truth as revealed in the Scripture. Take the time to work through every nugget he shares, and dont merely give mental assent to what he is sharing; apply the principles in your life and work them! If you will work with the principles he teaches you, the principles will work both with you and for you! There truly is a realm of success known only to those who walk with the God who wills a kind of success that exceeds
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GO D LY S U C C ES S limited human definitions. Get down to the essentials of what really matters, and set your sails to catch the winds of the high calling of God in, on, and for your life. Take this navigation manual that you hold in your hands, and head for that port of call known as godly success. Thanks, Mornay, for inviting us to launch out on Gods sea of adventure and possibility, and reach for the prize of that high calling! Dr. Mark J. Chironna The Masters Touch International Church Mark Chironna Ministries Orlando, Florida

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CHAPTER 1
Essential Business
A Matter of the Heart For a businessperson, the objective is simplewin! The word win holds different connotations for people, but essentially it encompasses the aspect of achieving. Whether its climbing to the top of the corporate ladder, listing your company on the NASDAQ, monopolizing a particular market segment, or simply exceeding your sales projections, your desire is to achieve what you initially set out to accomplish. Having this type of determination, drive, and vision to reach your goals is admirable. However, if you only ever strive for fleeting material possessions and short-lived earthly accomplishments, your life will be shallow and meaningless, to say the least. These temporal material goods and endeavors hold little value in the grand scheme of things. Make no mistake; you need belongings (houses, cars, clothing, and so forth) in order to survive. Nevertheless, if
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GO D LY S U C C ES S your possessions become your sole source of fulfillment, you are sorely lacking. What good is your Mercedes-Benz parked in the garagewhile your kids run wild? What is the benefit of your company exceeding financial projections for the second or third yearat the expense of your marriage? What value is there in winning the award for salesperson of the year for the umpteenth timewhile your health suffers? What have you really gained?

There is more to life than mere financial gain.

There is more to life than mere financial gain. According to Scripture, it is Gods intent for you to experience prosperity in every aspect of your life. I know that some of you reading this may find that hard to believe. Many folks opine that the Bible is a set of rules designed to keep people from enjoying life. They view it as a book intended to stifle all forms of pleasure and think that those who live by it will be deprived of any excitement in life. Furthermore, they insist that its adherents are in grave jeopardy of becoming boring and bland. On the contrary, the Bible is Gods blueprint for humanity and provides the only legitimate, comprehensive instruction set for life. Upon closer examination, the Bible offers dozens of benefits. Just a few include gaining insight into Gods intended plans and purposes for your life, obtaining necessary wisdom to charter the course of life, and finding out how to live in harmony with your neighbor.

To the degree that you prosper internally, you will prosper externally.
One of the many certain promises given in Scripture is Gods intent that you will prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2). Notice the correlation, though,
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Essential Business
A Matter of the Heart

between external prosperity (all things) and the prosperity or well-being of the soul (just as your soul prospers). In fact, what this Scripture really says is that external prosperity originates from within. In other words, the degree to which you prosper internally is the degree to which you will prosper externally. This may be a new concept for some since it radically opposes the current mind-set. A modern, secular viewpoint advocates that, in order to feel good on the inside, you have to concentrate your efforts on the external. The more accomplishments you can rack up, the more wealth you can amass, the more popular you become, the higher you climb up the corporate ladder, the more fulfilled you will feel on the inside. You can see a glimpse of this throughout media and society in general. Magazine racks are laden with gossip periodicals, which provide the reader with the latest celebrity scoop. Numerous television programs provide insight into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Whether in print or over the airwaves, the storyline is the same: Celeb so-and-so has broken up with rock star such-and-such, and is now dating sports personality whatshis-name. Mr. Super Rich has just erected splendor building number who-cares and paid a record price for possession number meaningless. From relationship to relationship and thing to thing, people make every attempt to fill the void inside. After all, hasnt society taught us that external behavior will determine internal happiness? Wrong! The Creators handbook, known as the Bible, dictates otherwise.

The Manufacturers Handbook

Before we start, lets take a brief moment to discuss the somewhat controversial topic of the Bible.

The Bible is Gods blueprint for humanity.

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GO D LY S U C C ES S I want to emphasize that the Bible is Gods blueprint for humanity, and it provides the only legitimate, comprehensive set of instructions for this life. I have always been amazed at how some people think they know all the answers and how to best manage life. They think that their clever logic, rationalization skills, higher education, and intellect are all they need. Yet, for all of their supposed knowledge, what do we usually see when we look at society? All of our humanistic efforts have not accomplished much. All we have to do is check the latest news on any given day or glance at the morning paper to tell us that. Yet, amidst all of this disharmony, chaos, and turmoil, many continue to reject the one Book whose guidelines concerning life will provide them with the answers they so desperately need. To illustrate my point, let me share this example. What would happen if you were to buy a brand-new stereo system and immediately place it in water, plug it into a voltage supply thats out of range with the manufactures specifications, or simply bash it with a hammer? Could you return it to the store and complain that the product was bad? Of course not, that would be absolutely absurd. When you purchased the stereo, it came with an instruction book. It is the owners responsibility to read and follow itthereby ensuring the items peak performance and longevity. In like manner, the human race was provided with a manufactures handbook called the Bible. By following its instructions and heeding its cautions, well live the optimum lives God intended for us. Instead, many of us flagrantly violate Gods laws and then have the audacity to complain to the manufacturer (God) when things are not going so well for us. Were simply suffering the consequences of our own actionsa warning thats mentioned in the handbook, by the way (see Deut. 28:15; Ps. 146:9b). All of lifes principles of success are derived from the pages of the Bible and woven throughout this time-tested Book. I offer no apologies for my support of Gods Word because Ive
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Essential Business
A Matter of the Heart

learned that any success outside the parameters of the Bible amounts to naught when weighed against eternity. God intends and desires for us to experience prosperity in every aspect of our lives. Furthermore, theres a distinct correlation between external prosperity and internal well-being. Over the next few pages we will see how we can achieve this in practical terms. After all, weve already stated that we want to win as businesspeople, including achieving our goals.

The Internal Person

First of all, we need to lay a foundation for what the Bible means when it talks about internal prosperity or wellness. To do this, we need a basic understanding of the human makeup. From Scripture we discover that each person is comprised of a spirit, a soul, and a body (see 1 Thess. 5:23). The spirit is that part which knows God. The soul, in turn, consists of the mind, the will, and the emotions. The mind, as we know, is the place where our thought processes originate. Our emotions allow us to feel and respond to these thoughts, our external environment, and other people. The will gives us the ability to choosebased on our thoughts and emotions. Our bodies or flesh are the physical part of us that envelops or surrounds our souls and spirits. In Genesis 3:19, we learn that when our physical bodies cease to function, they will die and return to the dust from whence they were formed. The apostle Peter likens our bodies to a tent, which houses our spiritual beings (see 2 Pet. 1:14). Although separate, we cannot treat the spirit, soul, and body as stand-alone entities, since what affects one influences the others. For example, when our bodies experience discomfort or disease, our emotions are affected. And the reverse is true as well. When we become angry or bitter and hold those poisonous emotions within, our bodies are affected and manifest these symptoms. When we lack spiritually, we attempt to satisfy our bodies and fill our souls with whatever
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GO D LY S U C C ES S illegitimate physical or emotional substance or addiction we can to satisfy that void. When our spiritual needs are met, everything else in life takes on true meaning. In other words, when the spirit of a person is satisfied, the soul and body will be fulfilled. This is what the Bible means when it states that we are to prosper internally.

People were born with God-shaped vacuums on the inside.

People were born with God-shaped vacuums on the inside, holes brought about by the sin and depravity of a fallen world (see Rom. 5:12). Much of life is spent trying to fill this void. However, this emptiness or cavity can only be filled by God Himself. No person, achievement, or possession can accomplish that task. You may think that all sounds well and good, but may wonder how to fill this alleged hole with God. Its a bit more complicated than placing the missing God-piece into the puzzle of your heart. You have to ensure that God is plugged into your life. The Bible calls this plugging in being born again or inviting Jesus into your heart. You may recall the well-known biblical account of a man named Nicodemus, who came to Jesus by night. The following clearly depicts the concept of the new-birth experience: There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him. Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
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Essential Business
A Matter of the Heart

Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mothers womb and be born? Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (John 3:1-6). In this passage, Jesus told Nicodemus he needed to be born again to enter the Kingdom of God or to have eternal life. Thinking with his natural understanding, Nicodemus immediately considered the impossibility of a grown man reentering his mothers womb. What Nicodemus failed to understand was that Jesus was not referring to his physical body, but rather his spirit being. In essence, Jesus told Nicodemus that his spirit was dead and, as such, needed to be resurrecteda term He coined born again. The Bible is clear that all of us have sinned (see Rom. 3:23) and that the consequences of that sin is spiritual death (see Rom. 6:23). This puts all of us in the same spiritual condition as Nicodemus. Although our bodies are alive, our spirits are most certainly deadthat is, until theyre made alive again through a personal relationship with Jesus.

Being born again is the prerequisite for internal prosperity.

Being born again is the prerequisite for internal prosperity and is a spiritual experience. But exactly how is it accomplished? Remember, our goal is to accomplish or achieve. God provides us with this answer in the same place where we discover the composition of people and their spiritual condition prior to rebirth namely, the Bible.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S The Bible teaches that God has always existed (see Rev. 22:13) and that He will continue to exist forever (see Rev. 1:8). This may seem difficult to fathom. Many have used the fact that not all Scripture can be grasped mentally as the basis for their arguments concerning the trustworthiness of the Bible. Ironically, it is this exact same argument that can be used as the basis for its validationthe God of the Bible surpasses the intellect of His creation. The fact that God is more complicated and complex than peoples finite reasoning only serves to show that Hes the only One capable of all intelligent design.

Two Trees
So again, this all-intelligent, omnipresent Being who has always existed fashioned people and placed them on Earth. (Notice, I said that God created people; we didnt evolve from apes or blobs.) The Bible tells us that amidst the lush environment of the Garden of Eden, teeming with beautiful vegetation and wildlife, were two distinct treesthe tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (see Gen. 2:9). The Lord gave Adam and Eve the following directive: Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die (Genesis 2:16b-17). This seems like it should have been a simple instruction to follow. After all, they were allowed to eat freely from every tree in the Garden except one. Its not as if they didnt have sufficient food from the fruit of all the other trees or as if God were some sort of cosmic kill-joy who tried to spoil their fun. He placed the forbidden tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, in the Garden for a reason; He needed a mechanism for humanitys will and choice to be exercised. Choice is that
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Essential Business
A Matter of the Heart

intangible part of us that separates us from the animal kingdom and makes humankind unique. God did not create a race of robots who would mechanically and routinely obey Him. No, He created people for voluntary fellowship with Him (see 1 Cor. 1:9). Imagine what it would be like if our central processor told us it was fellowship time and our hard-drive dictated how long we spent with Him. Adam and Eve, like the rest of us, were created for spontaneous, pleasurable, freewill-based communion with their Creator. Unfortunately, Adam and Eve chose to exercise their will (like all humanity) for evilpartaking of the forbidden tree (see Rom. 3:23). Sin entered the world (see Rom. 5:12), and forever after, the human race became stained with a natural propensity toward wrongdoing (see Isa. 53:6) and has suffered with the problem and consequences of sin until today (see Rom. 7:5). In his book, Maximized Manhood, Dr. Ed Cole makes a great comparison between humanity today and cannibals. He says, in effect, that to think that because we are technologically more advanced today than in the time of Adam and Eve, and are thereby better people, would be about as absurd as thinking that because you gave a cannibal a knife and fork, hed be a better person.1 Thankfully, this all-powerful, all-intelligent God foreknew that we would be powerless in our own ability to shun evil and made provision for the sin factor of humanity. He enabled us to return to the same pre-sin state of Adam and Eve prior to their fall. Provision came in the form of God Himself, who came to the Earth as one of His own creation. When He entered our time/space continuum as a human being, He experienced what we experience. He knew what it was like to be hot, cold, ridiculed, rejected, and, ultimately, to die. This fully God, fully man, whom we have come to know as Jesus, willingly laid His life down for us, allowing the people Hed created to nail Him to a tree. Thankfully, the grave could not keep its hold over Him and was forced to surrender its grip. He rose on the third day and
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GO D LY S U C C ES S returned to His throne in Heaven. When we wholly embrace this truth and ask this same Jesus to come and dwell in our hearts, we become born again at that moment. Jesus fills that God-shaped void within each of us. Only then will we experience internal wellness or prosperity. Interestingly, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life represent the same two trees or choices that confront us today. The former symbolizes religion, while the latter depicts relationship. Knowledge of good and evil (religion) is the human attempt to gain right standing with God by human methods. Its humanitys way of bypassing Gods provision (the death and subsequent resurrection of His Son) in a futile attempt to save themselves, work their way into Heaven, or hope that their good actions outweigh their bad so that God will accept them. Its no wonder that God forbade Adam and Eve to eat the fruit, warning that it would kill them (see Gen. 2:17). Religion sucks the life out of you in its feeble attempt to make you think you gain right standing with God. It not only drives you to meet an expected quota of daily good works, but also bashes you on the head when you dont. It imposes a set of rules and regulations on you that doesnt give you the power to overcome evil or to achieve good. Religion makes you look as though youve been sucking on lemons all day. On the other hand, relationship, like the tree its named for, gives life. And only after youve embraced Gods provision for your sins and tasted of the tree of life can you feel truly alive. The source of life inhabits you, gives you abundant life (see John 10:10b) and is likened to fountains of living water gushing from within (see John 7:38; Rev. 21:6b).

Internal prosperity, therefore, dictates external success.

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Essential Business
A Matter of the Heart

Internal prosperity, therefore, dictates external success. As this newfound internal life erupts, it begins to permeate your external environment. It is then that you can prosper in all things just as your soul prospers (3 John 2). This book was written with the heartfelt intention that its readers would become successful and prosperous. By now, you can hopefully see that theres more to prosperity than sheer monetary gain. Gods intent is for us to experience success in every facet of our livesspiritually, emotionally, physically, socially, and financially. In comparison to eternity, our earthly existence is but a meager drop in the ocean of time. From an early age, we have been taught the art of self-preservation. Part and parcel of this involves securing our futures, at least financially. Pension plans, 401(k)s, stocks, bonds, and savings accounts all ensure a future financial nest egg. Although there is nothing wrong with that, sadly, there are fewer folks whove actually taken the time to invest in their ultimate futurenamely, eternity. The Bible states: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:19-20 NIV). You can make an immediate deposit into a heavenly bank account, one that ensures the security of your soul. After all, what does it profit people if they gain the whole world and loose their souls? (See Mathew 16:26.) When you reach out and partake of the tree of life, you will become born again, enter into a relationship with your Creator, and experience true prosperity in every aspect of life. Gods
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GO D LY S U C C ES S provision for your salvation came through the completed work of Christ at the cross of Calvary. You will not only receive abundant life, but also will secure your futureeternity spent in a place called Heaven. Now thats essential business!

Personal Notes:

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Essential Business
A Matter of the Heart

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GO D LY S U C C ES S

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CHAPTER 2
Kings and Priests
A Divine Partnershipfor the Good of the Kingdom Charles Nieman

Broadly speaking, the practice of biblical commands, truths, and principles falls into three categories. These relate to current relevance and the context in which those principles were given. First of all, there are those that were nullified at the cross. Second, there are those that passed through or traversed the cross. And last, there are those that started anew at the cross. Those that were nullified at the cross include animal sacrifice, dietary restrictions, and the original Levitical Priesthood. After Jesus death and resurrection, these practices were abolished superseded by a new covenant. Those that passed through include the tithe, the marriage covenant (between a man and woman), and adherence to the Ten Commandments. The new covenant we now enjoy
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GO D LY S U C C ES S through the blood of Christ neither nullified them nor lessened their relevance. Those that started anew include fivefold ministry gifts (as mentioned in Ephesians 4:11), the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and evangelism, to name a few. Some of the principles and precepts that traverse the cross are still applicable, but have taken on new forms. Its very important to stress that, while the behavior of a particular truth may have changed, the underlying principle remains the same. Perhaps the following example will clarify. Obedience to the Ten Commandments, as mentioned, crossed over Calvarys threshold, which means that Christians today must still follow them. There is, however, a subtle difference between our obedience to them and that of the Israelites of old. Whereas the Israelites of old were called to obey the Ten Commandments, they had to do so using all of their own natural resources. Relying solely upon their own willpower, they had to ensure their conformity to each of the Ten Commandments on a daily basis. There was no divine enablement or empowering of the Holy Spirit, making it difficult to fully comply.

Unlike their Old Testament counterparts, Christians today are endowed with an inner enablement.
Unlike their Old Testament counterparts, Christians today are endowed with an inner enablement. Through the rebirth experience, the Spirit of God (called the Holy Spirit) unites with our human spirit, enabling us to become internally empowered to obey Gods commands. The former relies on an external command set, designed to alter external behavior without internal changes or intervention. The latter relies on internal intervention (Holy
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Spirit in collaboration with conscience) designed to alter external behavior. The apostle Paul explains it this way: For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them (Romans 2:14-15). For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people (Hebrews 8:10). During the Old Testament period, Gods commandments or laws were written on tablets of stone (external), while after the death of Jesus, God wrote His laws upon the hearts of His children (internal). It is the same desired result (obedience to the Ten Commandments), but a different execution, leading to a greater degree of success. The same is true for many other truths that made their way into the new covenant.

New Covenant Kings and Priests

One such principle or practice is the role of kings and priests. Many are of the opinion that the Old Testament order of kings and priests was abolished altogether. Not so. Although different in operation, their function is still intended for the Church today. And has made us kings and priests to His God and Father (Revelation 1:6). And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth (Revelation 5:10).
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GO D LY S U C C ES S Again, when a truth makes its way across the Calvary threshold, although the underlying principle remains the same, its manifestation or application may change.

The Old Testament, we are told, acts as a foreshadow or pattern of the New Testament.
The Old Testament, we are told, acts as a foreshadow or pattern of the New Testament (see 1 Cor. 15:46). The Old Testament is thus a physical portrayal or representation of its spiritual New Testament counterpart. Or by one definition, The Old Testament concealed is the New Testament revealed. Therefore, by studying the Old Testament, one gains better understanding and insight of the New. Before we proceed with the intended role of kings and priests in modern-day Christianity, Id like to pay due diligence to the gentleman whose concepts gave me the basis for the inspiration for this section, Charles Nieman. Based upon a revelation of the above Scriptures (Rev. 1:6; 5:10), he developed a series of teachings entitled Kings and Priests.1 I would highly recommend listening to the entire series for anyone serious about understanding Gods principles of role-assignment within the Body of Christ.

Corporate Calling vs. Individual Calling

Its vitally important to know the difference between your individual calling and your corporate calling. As an individual, youre called to operate in both roles as a king and a priest. As a king, you have to pay bills, run the affairs of your home, plan, manage, strategize, and organize. As a priest, however, you will be responsible for praying with family members, studying Gods Word, witnessing, and performing other
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biblical responsibilities. Again, in your individual calling, you will operate as both a king and a priest.

In your corporate calling, you will operate as either one or the othera king or a priest.
In your corporate calling, you will operate as either one or the othera king or a priest. I make this statement with the disclaimer that there are a few rare exceptions. A select few have what is referred to as a dual calling. These folks are called to operate in their corporate calling as both kings and priests. Again, it must be emphasized that this is not the norm, and such individuals are endowed with a special grace and dispensation for the task. For the sake of this book, we will not focus much on those with dual callings, but assume that in a corporate setting the reader is either a king or a priest.

PriestsThe Minority
Using the Old Testament as our study guide for the role of kings and priests, one thing soon becomes apparentthere was only one tribe of priests out of 12 tribes of the children of Israel. Priests were thus the minority in Israel. The same holds true today. Within the Church, priests should be the minority. When we refer to priests in the context of the New Testament Church, we mean those who operate in the fivefold ministry gifts spoken of in Ephesians 4:11namely, apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, and evangelist. Many today refer to these as being in full-time ministry. However, I dont particularly like using the term full-time ministry when referring to these individuals. Somehow it implies that those not functioning in this capacity either dont have a legitimate ministry or are not serving God full-time. Some might infer that kings have a lesser calling, even though they plunder the wealth of the wicked and master the marketplace.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S So priests, otherwise known as fivefold ministry gifts in the New Testament, are the minority.

The Church is lopsided in its role allotment priesthood-heavy and kinghood-lacking.

This is an extremely important concept to grasp because a lack of understanding in this area has led to a grave imbalance in the Church. The Church is lopsided in its role allotmentpriesthood-heavy and kinghood-lacking. Those who feel theres any sort of call on their lives are frequently directed (by well-meaning folks who are often wrong) to pursue the path of full-time ministry. As a result, our seminaries and pulpits are filled with people who are passionate about God, whose desire it is to serve Him wholeheartedly, but who are miserable in their callings in the Church body. Id like to share a story about an individual who suffered this same fate. Charles Nieman was a guest speaker at a local church, doing a day seminar based on his Kings and Priests series. He had just spoken about the concept of knowing your corporate calling as either a king or a priest. During the next break, a gentleman approached him, asking if he could share how the teaching had just impacted him. Pastor Nieman consented, and the man proceeded to tell his story. This gentlemanwell call him Bobhad grown up in a Christian home with godly parents. At a tender age, Bob was taught to diligently pray and read his Bible. At age eight, Bobs father encouraged him to start earnestly seeking God with regard to His intended direction and purpose for Bobs life. Furthermore, his father encouraged him to write down his new discovery when revealed. Bob went into his room daily and, in his simple, childlike manner, asked God to show him what direction he was meant to pursue in life. Four years later, at age 12, the answer finally came. Bob excitedly wrote it down and ran to his dad with the
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newfound news. Bob eagerly revealed to his father that God had told him he was to be an architect. This is where the story becomes sad. Bobs dad said, and Im paraphrasing, Son, you must have heard wrong. I want you to go back into your room and hear God right this time. What I meant was for you to find out what part you will play in ministry. Because if you are not in the ministry, your life will be wasted. Bob admitted to Charles that he went back into his room, and neither that day, nor ever again, did he hear anything further concerning his future. After graduating from high school, Bob attempted to please his father by enrolling in seminary school. He completed his studies and assumed a pastoral role in a local church. By this time, he had gotten married, and children were also in the mix. For many years, Bob faithfully performed his pastoral duties, until finally he could take it no more. Bob decided that he was going to pursue the desire that had been in his heart all these yearsto become an architect. He prayed, asking God to forgive him for abandoning his calling, and enrolled in an architectural degree program. After completing his prescribed years of study, Bob, still feeling guilty about his career choice, joined an architectural firm. He worked his way up the corporate ladder, gaining invaluable knowledge of the industry, and finally opened his own architectural firm. At the time when Bob spoke to Charles Nieman, his company had 150 employees on its payroll, and Bob had become an extremely successful businessman. In fact, his business was so successful that they would not even bother bidding on any jobs less than 50 million dollars. All the while, in spite of this success, Bob said he had been plagued with guilt and condemnation for pursuing a career that in his mind was contrary to the will of God. Bob disclosed to Charles that, for 30 years, he would ask God daily to forgive him for abandoning his call to ministry.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S If there is only one truth you gain from this entire book, then I implore you, let it be this: You do not have any lesser calling. There is no diminishment of your love toward God; you are no less in His perfect will because of pursuing a career in the marketplace. Bob, a big, burly man, with tears running down his cheeks, threw his arms around Charles that day and thanked him. He had finally been liberated from the mental bondage of guilt that had enslaved him his entire life. Bob was well advanced in years at the time of this encounter. Just think of the difference it would have made in his life had he heard this truth sooner. Hopefully, through this story, the saga of Bobs life can be prevented from replicating itself in others. John Wimber (19341997) exemplified another powerful story along these lines. During the early 1960s, Wimber worked as a famous producer in the music industry. Wimber, after his conversion to Christ, walked in a very powerful gift of evangelism. Many of the people he came in contact with were saved dramatically. He was approached by a British band, wanting to make a name for themselves in America, who asked him to become their U.S. promoter. Wimber sought what he believed was godly counsel from the leaders at the church he attended. The particular leaders felt that an association with the secular culture of that band would negatively influence him. (In fact, it was these same leaders who were influential in his decision to desert his music career in totality.) Due to their advice, John turned down the offer from the band. However, in hindsight, the members of that group, now known to us as the Beatles, may have been influenced for good through John! God may have had a divine strategy for the salvation of the group. Wimber did eventually become a prominent pastor who started a worldwide ministryknown as the Vineyard churches and music. God used him powerfully as a priest. But his original
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call may have been as a king to impact the world for Jesus through the salvation of John, Paul, George, and Ringo (not to mention countless others).

Priests are called by God.

Again, priests, otherwise known as fivefold ministry gifts in the New Testament, should be the minority. Those pursuing this path in life must be very certain that this is, in fact, their calling. The key word is calling. One is called into the ministry. You dont just go into ministry because things are not working out on the job. You dont become clergy because of ambition to make a name for yourself. Neither should your motive for ministry be because you feel you are a proficient orator, have a charismatic personality, or, as so many presume, because you perceive it to be a profitable business. Priests are called by God and are not in it for any reason other than God has called them. I know from firsthand experience that the popular perception of traditional ministry is one of grandeur and endless spiritual euphoria. Many Christians are of the view that ministry is the ultimate destination, a sacred paradise. In reality, what they are seeing is only one facet of the ministry. Perhaps its the heavenly sound of praise and worship on a Sunday morning or the pastor standing behind the pulpit delivering a well-rehearsed sermon. Perhaps its the fervent, vivacious, mid-week prayer meeting or the cozy, family-orientated home group. The list can go on and on of the perceptions we have toward conventional ministry. What we fail to see, though, is what many ministers refer to as the underbelly of the ministry. Ask your pastor about his many hours of preparation before delivering a polished sermon. Spend a day at your local church office and observe the many calls that are fielded. Sit in on a litigious marriage counseling session, or ask the traveling evangelists what hardships theyve had to endure. My intent is not to deter
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GO D LY S U C C ES S you from the office of priesthood, if that is your calling. I do want to make you aware that its not all glamor and spotlights and that theres another aspect to consider. For many, the call to ministry or priesthood may bring with it hardship, persecution, and yes, even martyrdom. So make absolutely certain that you are called and that its not a career choice based on personal preference. There are countless books, tapes, seminars, and conferences helpful for anyone aspiring to ministry as a vocation. In comparison, there are relatively few resources available for kings or those called to marketplace ministry. For the most part, kings have been left out of the mix. Hopefully this book and other teachings like it will aid in rectifying the deficiency.

KingsThe Majority If priests are the minority, then kings are by far the majority.
By and large, most believers are called to assume the role of a king. If priests are the minority, then kings are by far the majority. Most of you reading this book will embark upon a career in the workforce in your corporate calling. This may be a new outlook for some and may even require a shift in conventional thinking. The idea of entering the workforce has been one of perceived compromise for many. Personally, in the early days of my Christian walk, entering the workplace seemed like a sellout. I had recently accepted Christ into my life and wanted, more than anything, to escape the ungodly environment from which I had been rescued. I wanted to be pure and holy, and for me, going to work each day felt like corruption and pollution. The majority of my colleagues and co-workers were ungodly people whose speech was profane and included dirty jokes and stories. As a result, I oscillated between two extremesisolation and compromise. If I felt really spiritual, I would isolate myself
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from any and all possible sources of pollution. This meant that I would sit in my vehicle at lunchtime, not engage in conversations, and keep my speech to work content only. On the other hand, when my defenses were weak, I compromised my values. I politely laughed at the unclean jokes told around the lunch table and water fountain. Due to numerous incidents of compromise, I determined that the only way of escape would be to enter the ministry so I could leave our corrupt world system. Sadly, this sentiment is prevalent throughout much of the Church. And as a result, we have an anemic kinghood.

The solution is not an escape from the workplace, but rather a correct understanding of our part in it.
The solution is not an escape from the workplace, but rather a correct understanding of our part in it. To adopt the escapist mentality is detrimental on two fronts. First of all, we are robbing the Kingdom of potential provision. And secondly, we are eliminating possible contact with people who may otherwise never darken the doorpost of a church building.

Providers
Lets look at the first dilemmarobbing the Kingdom of potential provision. Again, using the Old Testament as the model of operation, we see that a divine partnership existed between kings and priests. Charles Nieman states in his Kings and Priests series, A divine partnership between kings and priests should exist for the good of the kingdom.2 In other words, both parties should work together to advance Gods Kingdom on Earth.

Priests are supposed to provide the vision, while kings provide the provision.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S Practically, priests are supposed to provide the vision while kings provide the provision. If everyone were to become a priest, how would the activities of the Kingdom be funded? Were surely all aware that the Gospel is free (see Eph. 2:8-9). To broadcast, or make it known, though, costs money. Today more than ever, churches and ministries are realizing the importance of having financial resources readily available in order to accomplish what God has called them to do. Gods preferred means of provision is through the kinghood. Businesspeople, operating in their call as kings, are supposed to be the ones who provide the needed financial resources. If we view working in the marketplace as a sellout or compromise, well be deprived of our God-ordained calling to be Kingdom providers. Thats when we hear statements like, Guess I have to go to work today, or Not another day at the office. Many kings have adopted the mentality that going to work is like sitting at the proverbial grindstone. Work then becomes a duty that one is confined to for the rest of ones employment span. This is no way to live. God wants His kings to rise up and realize the weightiness of their calling, to comprehend that without them His Kingdom will not be established on the Earth. Kings, you are called to be providers.

Reachers
The second quandary associated with the escapist mentality is, as mentioned, eliminating all possible contact with people whose presence may never grace a church building. As much as wed like to believe that America is a Christian nation, were not. In fact, were a post-Christian nation, which means that our staid, old, traditional methods of ministry are going to have to change.

Christians are realizing the need to take the Gospel to where people are atin their own environment.
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The Church in Western society needs a revolution and revival if she wishes to survive the 21st century. More and more, Christians are realizing the need to take the Gospel to where people are atin their own environment. God is going to use the kings to achieve this task. Anointed men and women, who have been endued with power, will take the precious message of the Gospel into the marketplace. This is no small task. As Christians, we have largely enjoyed the privilege of ministering the Gospel in a clinical Christian-centric environment. Most of our dialogue with unbelievers has been in church settings. The common view has been that, to get someone saved, we simply bring them to church. The onus of presenting the Gospel is then upon the preacher. To the astonishment of some, this is not the intended biblical pattern of evangelism. God has called many of us to assume the responsibility of ministry. And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12). The biblical model of ministry, according to Ephesians 4:12, is thus for the priests (apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, and evangelist) to equip the saints (kings) for the work of the ministry. Part and parcel of that ministry is to take the Gospel into the marketplacewhere people are. This coincides with the familiar verse found in Mark 16:15, also known as The Great Commission: And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15).

Priests are the coaches while kings are the players.

Kings, not priests, are commissioned for marketplace ministry. In other words, priests are the coaches while kings are the
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GO D LY S U C C ES S players. As coaches, the priests are intended to train the players or kings. Trust me; reaching the business community takes training. Gone are the days where you can bluntly ask someone two spiritual diagnostic questions or follow the formulaic presentation of the Roman road of salvation. Reaching the business community takes wisdom, anointing, relevance, discernment, and sensitivity. Instead, the new paradigm of marketplace ministry will be based upon relationship.

God is busy strategically placing His kings alongside those in need of salvation.
God is busy strategically placing His kings alongside those in need of salvation, orchestrating divine appointments. Rather than hitting people over the head with the Gospel, we are to first establish relationship.

The Gospel must first be lived before it is spoken.

What this implies is that the Gospel must first be lived before it is spoken. Living the Gospel means that our work ethic should surpass that of the worlds. We will be required to communicate with relevanceour Hallelujah and Praise the Lord vocabulary will have to change. Well actually have to speak to our co-workers in a language they can understand. Being relevant doesnt mean we have to compromise our values or morality. Kings can take a stand for righteousness, and people can respect their values.

Theres a fine balance between loving people and tolerating evil.

Theres a fine balance between loving people and tolerating evilwisdom will assist in obtaining the equilibrium. So just as
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priests are called to their ministry, kings are called to theirs. They are called to provide and reach. By implementing both facets of their ministry, kings can provide for the vision of the priests and reach the lost of the marketplace.

Upward Flow Kings are going to be at the forefront, or cutting edge, of the next move of God.
The spiritual landscape is changing, and kings are going to be at the forefront, or cutting edge, of the next move of God. I was privileged to hear a verbal exchange between Dr. Mark Chironna and Dr. Lance Wallnau related to this matter.3 During the course of their dialogue, which was marked by profound prophetic insight, Dr. Chironna expounded upon a Scripture in the Book of Micah. Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lords house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it (Micah 4:1). This Scripture speaks of the fact that during the end times the mountain of the Lord will be raised above all other mountains. Dr. Chironna suggested that when we read of end times or latter days, we tend to postpone the verses relevance to the future, thereby relinquishing our responsibility of its pursuit. Furthermore, Dr. Wallnau and Dr. Chironna proposed that the time of fulfillment is now and that, in this context, the mountain of the Lord refers to the Kingdom of God that will be exalted above all other kingdoms. Whats fascinating about this verse is that it speaks of peoples flowing up to the mountain or house of the Lord. These peoples are not climbing, but flowing, a word not usually associated with ascension. Here the Hebrew word for flow means to defy the law
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GO D LY S U C C ES S of gravity. These men suggested that a flow, or Spirit-initiated enablement, is coming that will contradict the forces of darkness that want to pull things down. Believers will have a supernatural ability to overcome the evil gravity, whose nature it is to hold back, stifle, and suppress. Instead, we will be raised out of dead things into a place of incredible intimacy, power, and perseverance. Well literally be elevated above the systems of the world, which are designed to drag us back, and ascend into extraordinary high places. This will be a supernatural phenomenon that will defy human logic; its signature trait will be marked with providential intervention. This flow or upward ascension, therefore, will not require self-effort or hard manual labor. But there the majestic Lord will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams, in which no galley with oars will sail, nor majestic ships pass by (Isa. 33:21). This verse speaks of broad rivers and streams, again depicting divine enablement. Interestingly, no oars (representative of selfeffort) will be allowed in these streams and rivers. In that day, the children of God will relax in the rest of faith, as it states: For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His (Heb. 4:10). They will discover that the flow of the Spirit within them will carry them to the top. God is going to put His people on top. Notice that the verse in Micah said, The mountain of the Lords house shall be established on the top of the mountains. The meaning of this is that the Kingdom of God will be exalted above worldly systems, particularly pertaining to biblical economy and business practice. I believe that Gods economic system will become the de facto standard of business operation and that believers will supernaturally succeed in the marketplace. They will soar to success and prosperity. And Gods economy, which radically opposes the worlds modus operandi, will become the preeminent financial force on the Earth.
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If Gods Kingdom is ever going to become this paramount force to be reckoned with, it will be because believers are taking their gifting into the marketplace.

Taking Your Gifting Into Babylon

When I speak of the marketplace or workforce, Im not only referring to the business sector. Im also including all systems that comprise the world system as a whole. This includes arenas such as education, arts, humanities, culture, entertainment, and sports. Marketplace or workplace ministry positively influences any of these sectors. One of the most proven methods of influence and penetration is to use the gifting God has given you. The common misconception in Christianity is for believers gifts to be exclusively reserved for church operation. Church should certainly be a place of gift manifestation and development, but so, too, in the world. I am not only referring to spiritual gifts (see 1 Cor. 12:8-10), but giftings in the broader sense of the word, including talents, education, ability, and so forth. Proverbs 18:16 tells us, A mans gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men. These are also meant for use in the marketplace, which is sometimes referred to as Babylon. Babylon, as you may recall, was the dominant kingdom of the day during the latter part of the Old Testament. It controlled all aspects of human civilization from culture to commerce. As the foremost kingdom of the day, in many respects Babylon represents our current world system. You may also recall the life of a certain individual named Daniel. He was a godly man, an Israelite, who was taken captive by the Babylonians at an early age. Whats fascinating about Daniels life is that God used him in the same environment that attempted to enslave him. Instead of succumbing to its wicked culture, Daniel was able to influence and penetrate the Babylonian system for good.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S This did not happen overnight. Prior to Daniels elevation, he endured years of preparation. He was first required to understand the wisdom and literature of the Chaldeans (see Dan. 1:4b). In other words, in order for Daniel to plunder Babylon, he had to first know the Babylonian mind-set, their worldview and language patterns. He had to first build a rapport with the king and learn how to access his court. We need to acquaint ourselves with this very important principle. For the most part, we have not taken time to learn what the world is all about. Im not saying we have to watch MTV, frequent nightclubs, and purchase abhorrent literature, but for heavens sake, lets understand how worldly people think. Lets gain an understanding of where theyre coming from; lets be relevant in our speech and learn how to meet them where they are. How can we expect people whove had no exposure to the things of God (except for occasional beatings on the head with a Bible) to understand Kingdom matters?

In order for Christ to relate to us, He had to leave His arena and enter ours. Mark Chironna
Weve been so immersed in Church culture that weve forgotten theres a world out there that doesnt have a clue about the Bible. We cannot expect them to relate to us if we are not first willing to relate to them. I like what Dr. Mark Chironna says, In order for Christ to relate to us, He had to leave His arena and enter ours.4 This meant He left His abode of glorya place without sin, heartache, or difficulty; a place where He was Kingand entered our world, a place of total contradiction. When Daniel educated himself with, in, and about Babylonian culture, his gifting came to the forefront. And his gifting, superimposed upon his relevance and learning, revolutionized the
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culture. Significance and education, therefore, form the basis for effectual gift operation, forming a gift launch pad. Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar (Daniel 5:12 KJV). This Scripture asserts that Daniel had an excellent spirit. This Hebrew word for excellent is the word rytty, which means a coastline that juts out or a mountain that goes above the horizon.5 Jutting out and going above speak of elevation and distinction. Daniel was able to excel due to his gifting. Remember what I said earlier about rising to the top and about supernaturally flowing or ascending? This is exactly what happened to Daniel. Our gifting, which is divinely imparted, will take us to the top. There will come a time, after adequate training, when our gifts will propel us into elevation and distinction, making room for us. Excellence is thus the actualization of all the potential God has poured into an individual6 or the exhibition of the gifting God has given you, to the point of 100 percent development.7 God will ensure that we have our writing on the wall moment (see Dan. 5:5). And like Daniel, we will not only be able to read and understand the language of the Chaldeans, but also interpret the writing on the wall when it appears. Understanding the writing on the wall speaks of allowing our supernatural gifting to operate, which will take us beyond where our minds can go. When the worlds resources have been capped and Gods gifting has come to the forefront through His people, the world will recognize our uniqueness and distinction.

God is pouring out a new enablement for access into Babylon.

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GO D LY S U C C ES S God is pouring out a new enablement for access into Babylon. Like Daniel of old, believers today are piercing the dominant systems. They are doing so by taking the creativity that Babylon has tried to hijack and utilizing the giftings that God has given them to reform the culture. Just as Daniel, who was strategically placed in Babylon, there are many people who know the marketplace is the right place for them. These people will not feel guilty because theyre not standing behind a pulpit or working as vocational ministers. No, they will know their place in the Kingdom.

Placement Correct placement is essential for effective functioning.

Hopefully, if you are a king, you are starting to realize the importance of your calling. And hopefully youre getting excited about the prospect of what God can do with you in the workplace. Its vitally important, therefore, to know whether you are called to kinghood or priesthood. Correct placement is essential for effective functioning. I heard an insightful interpretation of a familiar passage of Scripture that provides greater clarity regarding the relevance of placement. Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin (Matthew 6:26-28).

Placement determines provision.

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The commentary I heard of that Scripture is that placement determines provision. The key to the interpretation of this Scripture is found in the placement of the lilies and the birdsthe lilies are in the field, while the birds are in the air. It would be absurd to imagine birds being rooted in the soil or lilies flying through the air. No, each is situated or functioning where each is called to be. Gods provision comes when each is in its rightful place. When you are in your rightful place, when youre functioning where youre meant to be, then the Lords provision will be present. If youre called to be a king, then get into the kinghood and become the best king you can be. If youre called to be a priest, then get into the priesthood and become the best priest you can be. Are you a king or a priest?

Personal Notes:

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CHAPTER 3
Destination Coordinates
Hitting the Mark If a hammer is made for driving in nails and a screwdriver for turning screws, then why were you created? I agree this might not be your everyday question and possibly not even one you were anticipating. If this question caught you off guard and you could not give an immediate, definitive response, then this chapter is just for you. Maybe you havent ever thought of your life as having a particular reason or purpose. Perhaps you think, as so many do, that the sum of your days is to be spent simply doing what unfolds before you; that as prisoners of fate, youre merely to do your best with the cards youre dealt. As admirable as it may sound, such thinking is wrong, and pity upon those whove fallen prey to its deceptive spell.
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We can obtain the coordinates to our final destination.

We can know with certainty why we were made and what our purpose is in life. We can obtain the coordinates to our final destination. And most importantly, we can, and should, play an active role in chartering the course of our lives to arrive at our goals.

Nothing will motivate us more than purposeperiod!

When were able to confidently answer the question, Why was I made? well have answered one of lifes cardinal questions. And in so doing, we will have obtained one of the most essential keys to unlocking the door, not only to our destinies, but also to fulfillment in life. This answer will also provide us with the necessary impetus to drive our internal inspirational motors. Nothing will motivate us more than purposeperiod! Thats not to say there wont be any unknowns along our paths, that obstacles wont ever confront us, that well never encounter resistance, or that we wont have to pull our sleeves up and do some good old-fashioned work. At the very least, we can know our destination coordinates and play an active role in moving toward them. It has been said that if you dont know where youre heading, youll probably arrive there, and that if you aim at nothing, youll probably hit the mark. Finding your purpose or destiny in life will motivate you to get you out of bed in the morning, and it is that dynamic that allows you to endure hardships that would make the strongest of unfocused individuals crumble.
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I stated in the previous chapter that youre either a king or a priest in your corporate calling. The destiny were speaking of here is a subset of that calling. Within the priesthood or kinghood are finer details of consideration. Priests, as previously mentioned, can be apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, or evangelists. In addition to these five roles, the priests must also determine with whom they should be affiliated, what geographical location they are called to, and so forth. Kings, in turn, represent those called to the marketplacethe arts, entertainment, business, government, education, and so forthand its also their responsibility to discover where they fit. People must discover these finer details for themselves in order to find their destiny.

Determining your destiny or purpose is ofttimes a discovery process.

Determining your destiny or purpose, though, is ofttimes a discovery process, which means it must be actively sought after. Most precious minerals, such as gold, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, reside deep below the Earths surface, and mining them requires an extensive amount of labor-intensive work. In many respects, the practice of mining precious minerals or metals resembles the process of obtaining ones destiny. As were all aware, the mining process begins way before the first drill is ever started or the first hard hat is ever worn. Geologists are first summoned to survey a potential area of excavation. Then they perform a conclusive set of tests to determine if the area in question is feasible for digging. They may also regularly survey multiple sites prior to boring. Once a possible area has been identified, the real work begins. Essentially, mine shafts are burrowed deep into the ground and act as conduits between the precious resources and their surface destination. After the valuables have surfaced, they require a great deal of craftsmanship before they are ever seen as a finished product.
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We are to actively pursue the exploration of our valuable destinies.

Like the geologist who intently looks for soil or rock that yields precious resources, so, too, are we to actively pursue the exploration of our valuable destinies. And, like the geologist, who might survey multiple sites before boring, the possibility exists that before discovering what we are meant to do, we have to first discover what we are not meant to do. In other words, discovering ones destiny may involve a process of elimination. Geologists will tell you that finding the general locale of a potential site is just the beginning. Once identified, many other factors need to be considered, such as the underground depth of the resource, the type of rock or soil in which it is embedded, the surrounding support structure, and so forth. In like manner, having knowledge of the general location of your calling or purpose may just be the beginning; bringing it to the surface is where the real work usually begins. Destiny or purpose is not something you stumble upon casually or by coincidence. Just as diamonds and gold are typically not easily come by, so, too, will the discovery of your destiny have to be actively and energetically pursued. Throughout this book, I have used the words destiny and purpose interchangeably because finding ones purpose results in fulfilling ones destiny. Lets look at this discovery process in more detail and determine what practical steps we can take to realize its fulfillment.

JesusThe Ultimate Example

God provided humanity with a handbook for living, which we can use reassuringly as a blueprint after which we can pattern
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our lives. Within this life manual or supplementary design document are countless methods used to convey precious truth. These range from written proverbs and verbal parables to recorded historical events and biographies of notable individuals. Theres no one individuals life story, however, as full of impact as that of Jesus Christ, whose autobiography can be used as the ultimate benchmark for humanity. By observing Jesus deeds and words and having insight into His thought patterns at the time, we can develop the perfect prototype for human existence. When we study Jesus life on Earth, we notice that He didnt just wake up in the morning wondering what He and the disciples were going to do each day. He didnt follow every whim and fancy, either. Decisions such as fishing with the boys or amassing a large crowd and supernaturally feeding them were not random actions. No, Jesus had a clear-cut plan and purpose for each and every day and knew exactly what was going to occur. He also knew precisely what part He had to play to ensure that these events would transpire. Jesus was thus a man of exceptional focus. Not only did Jesus daily exhibit this type of focus and direction; it was the central theme of His life (see Heb. 12:2).

Jesus daily focus allowed Him to fulfill His destiny.

By consistently exhibiting daily focus, Jesus destiny became an accumulation of His daily activities. The reverse can also be said; Jesus daily focus allowed Him to fulfill His destiny. This is an extremely essential and effective conceptknowing your purpose and aligning your daily activities to achieve it. The two key ingredients for acquiring your purpose or destiny in life are foreknowledge of purpose and daily alignment. In this chapter, well discuss the foreknowledge of purpose.
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Foreknowledge of Purpose
So He [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing (Luke 4:16-21). At the time of Jesus birth, there were already over 456 prophecies about Him. These ranged in content from where He would be born (see Mic. 5:2), to what His name would be (see Isa. 7:14), to what the nature of His ministry would be (see Isa. 61:1-2), to the intricate details of His death and subsequent resurrection (see Isa. 53). Jesus had, if you will, a well-detailed script from which to take His cues. After all, was He not the One who wrote it? The foregoing Scripture documents one of Jesus many encounters with prior writings about Himself. He walked into the temple of His hometown and was handed the ancient writings of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book or scroll to the place where Isaiah foretold of the Messiah and then boldly and publicly declared, By the way, folks, what Ive just read pertains to Me.
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Through this text and numerous others, Jesus knew His marching orders. He knew the reason He was sent to Earth and what He had to accomplish here. Jesus had a vision for His life.

Jesus was thus a prototype of a new race that would inhabit the Earth.
The Bible declares that Jesus was the firstfruit or forerunner of the faith (see Heb. 6:20; 1 Cor. 15:20,23). Firstfruit or forerunner implies that there are more to follow. The Word also states that He was the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29). Jesus was thus a prototype of a new race that would inhabit the Earth. He modeled for us the type of life we should live. We ought, therefore, to be mini replicas of Him, little Christshence the name Christians.

God has a predetermined, unique blueprint for each of our lives.

With Christ as our example, through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to efficiently pattern our lives after Him. And if Jesus had a life script, a purpose or vision, then we should all have a predetermined blueprint to live by, too. God has a predetermined, unique blueprint for each of our lives, but its up to each individual to access it. Like a master architect who designs his structure with an intricate, sophisticated design, so, too, does the Master Architect of our lives make His plans. And as structures of far greater value than earthly edifices, we all have a unique design. The key to foreknowledge of purpose is accessing these designs.

Our primary focus in life should be purpose-centric.

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GO D LY S U C C ES S When something is created, it is generally fashioned for an intentional purposea vehicle for driving, chairs for sitting, homes for dwelling, and computers for crashingI mean, typing documents or accessing the Internet. Nothing that Im aware of has been humanly created without reason or function. If this holds true for the objects and commodities we humans create, how much more so for Gods creationsnamely, you and me. As the highest form of earthly life and the only creatures capable of enjoying fellowship with our Creator, our privilege is not void of responsibility. One of these many responsibilities is the onus of determining our purpose so that, just like Jesus, our firstfruit or forerunner, we, too, can know with certainty why we were made. Just like earthly creations, all made for an intended cause, we, too, can know what our use should be. Now thats not to say we cannot ever do anything other than what we were made for, but our primary focus in life should be purpose-centric. At first, this may seem like a rather daunting task, but there are numerous ways God has given us to find our purpose. I like to refer to these as discovery tools.

Discovery Tools
1. Bible When looking for life guidance and wisdom, consult the Bible, Gods preferred means of communication. His written words, on the age-old pages of the Bible, provide the supreme framework and definition for human guidance. Many argue that the Bible was written thousands of years ago, for an ancient people, and as such, holds little relevance to our modern, sophisticated society. One of the many wonders of the Bible is its relativity to distant generations, diverse cultures, and varied ethnicities. Truth is truth, no matter how its packaged. There is nothing outdated or irrelevant about the Bible. The same command, to love one another, is just as pertinent and applicable today as it was when first uttered.
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You shall not murder (Exod. 20:13) still means we ought not to kill. And a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife (Gen. 2:24) still implies that marriage is a God-ordained institution between a man and woman. Although the Bible cannot explicitly spell out the answer to each and every aspect and detail of life, we can make use of its principleswhich are always consistent with Gods character. For example, the Bible does not provide the precise details of ones spouse. It does not tell Joe who to marry, what age or height she should be, or what she should have studied in college. Each detail for every decision in life will not be provided. We will not be able to find a specific Scripture to advise us on what job to take, who to marry, what car to drive, or what house to buy. By reading Gods Word, however, we can make decisions based upon both the character of God and Kingdom principles. Character of God God will never act or expect you to act in a manner inconsistent with His character. Therefore, by understanding the character of God, you can ascertain guidance keys and boundaries of operation. If you were deliberating a decision with an outcome of strife, enmity, hatred, and disunity, then the odds are probably that it would be the wrong choice, providing its not to take a stand for justice. The Bible teaches that God is a God of love (see 1 John 4:8), that He is in favor of unity (see Ps. 133:1,3), and that the wisdom He offers promotes peace and unity (see James 3:17). Knowledge of the character of God, then, can be used as the foundation for all decisions you make. Kingdom Principles A second means of biblical guidance is applying principles of Kingdom operation. Just as there are laws in the natural realm, so, too, are there laws or principles that govern Kingdom operation. You might dispute the law of gravity, but if you stood on
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GO D LY S U C C ES S a tall building and jumped, theres an extremely high probability that shortly thereafter youd be depicted by a white outline on the pavement below. The principle of gravity is thus in operation, whether you believe in it or not. Similarly, there are laws or principles that govern Kingdom operation. The law of sowing and reaping (see Gal. 6:7), the law of tithing (see Mal. 3:10), and the principle of the power of speech (see Prov. 18:21) are just some examples of laws that all regulate and dictate Kingdom performance. You can use these laws and principles to make wise decisions. For instance, regarding the age-old question of choosing a spouse, we can safely apply the principle of association. The Bible instructs that we are not to be unequally yoked or to fellowship with unbelievers (see 2 Cor. 6:14). We can be certain that God opposes marriage between believers and unbelievers. Its that simple. Now if both were unsaved at the time of marriage and one accepted Christ at a later time, thats another situation altogether. In fact, there are laws of guidance for that situation, too (see 1 Cor. 7:12-15). For those in pursuit of marriage, though, the edict is very clear; if the other person isnt saved, then leave him or her alone. This is just one example of a principle or law that can be used in decision-making. God has ensured that the Bible provides us with sufficient principles pertaining to any particular area that will allow us to make wise, godly decisions. Apply the keys of the character of God and Kingdom principles to safely make decisions. Although not every detail of life can be addressed, the Bible explicitly addresses innumerable aspects of life. These plain truths are also designed to assist you in decision-making regarding your future. Prime examples of such truths include expected conduct (see Exod. 20:3-17), marriage relations (see 1 Cor. 7), and Church government (see 1 Tim. 3:1-13). Furthermore, God can use a specific Scripture, albeit not directly related to your circumstance, to speak to you. Even though the passage in question may refer to a totally different
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context or setting, this may still be Gods favored method of communication in that situation. Such a Scripture that comes alive is often called a rhema word. The Holy Spirit illuminates a passage, making it seem to come alive and leap off the page, as it were. It will provide the guidance, reassurance, comfort, or direction you require. Many years ago, I was at a crossroads in my life. I was faced with a career decision that would have life-altering consequences. While living and working in South Africa, I had just been offered an international contracting opportunity. Personnel with my skill sets had suddenly become highly in demand, and companies worldwide were offering excellent salaries to secure their services. Money was unquestionably an incentive, but there were other factors of considerationmuch travel, short-term contracts, unknown destinations, and no guaranteed church attendance. At the time, I was attending and involved in a great church, had just purchased a new home, and had a secure, well-paying job. I held the decision at the back of my mind and continued with my life, waiting for an answer. Allow me to include this gem of truth: feeling pressure to provide an immediate answer invariably leads to a wrong choice. Nonetheless, I continued to systematically read my Bible daily, beginning in Genesis and chronologically working my way through to Revelation. One morning, as I read Genesis chapter 12, the first verse suddenly leaped off the page at me. Get out of your country, from your family and from your fathers house, to a land that I will show you (Gen. 12:1). God brought my answer from a passage totally unrelated to my specific situation and completely out of context. The Lord managed to use a Scripture that I had read numerous times to provide an answer. And the moment I read it, there was no doubting what I had to do. Get out of your country meant go! As a result of that rhema word and subsequent decision, a series of cascading events followed. On one of my journeys, I
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GO D LY S U C C ES S met a colleague who was struggling with depression combined with suicidal tendencies. As a brilliantly intelligent man he found it hard to grasp spiritual truths, which he argued could not be reasoned. But God does say that He takes the foolish things to confound the wise (see 1 Cor. 1:27). And one evening, this gentleman found himself staring down the barrel of a handgun, ready to take his life. In that moment, many of the truths I had spoken to him prior began to surface in his heart. And he realized that if he were to take his life, that he would spend it in a godless eternity. Instinctively he called on the name of the Lord. God met him in his moment of desperation. The very next day he relayed the account of his suicidal attempt and how God had met him in the nick of time. I then had the privilege of leading him to Christ. Today this man is married to a godly woman, has two beautiful children, and is a faithful churchgoer and successful businessman. I shudder to think what would have happened to him had I not heeded a rhema word. A rhema word changed my life and the lives of those around meit can change yours, too. The second means of accessing Gods predetermined purpose for our lives is prayer. 2. Prayer Before we commence with our study of prayer, Id like to mention that an entire study can be devoted to each of these topics (the Bible, prayer, and so forth). For the purposes of this book, I will just briefly mention each subject to provide highlights and an overview. The reader can find an abundant amount of readily available resources for further perusalone of which is my first book entitled A Firm Foundation. I will, however, cite relevant material. Many folks believe that prayer is speaking to God, which is only partially true. Speaking to God is only half of the equation.
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Communication, as we know, is both speaking and listening. Since we have two ears and only one mouth; its a good indication were meant to listen twice as much as we speak. Listening is a lost art, particularly in prayer. We have our little prayer list that we diligently work through each day as we check them off, feeling really good about our prayer time. All the while, God earnestly desires to reciprocate the communication. Most people have no problem with communication with God. Listening, however, is both an art and a discipline that many Christians need to learn. Dr. Mark Virkler authored a book entitled Dialogue With God, which speaks about the concept of waiting on God.1 After reading his book, I made a conscious decision to embrace the art of waiting or listening. After my communiqu with God, pen and diary in hand, I would patiently wait for a response. Looking back upon those early journals has been highly educational. It has allowed me to see just how much my listening ability has developed over the years. It has also allowed me to learn for myself what it means to hear God. Granted, I have made many mistakes throughout the years, but the success rate is higher today than when I first began. It has also allowed me to hone my listening skills. Again, this is not a comprehensive study on the topic of prayer or hearing God, but I will throw in one or two little nuggets Ive learned along the way. First of all, do not feel compelled to hear God. This will place unnecessary strain and demands on you that might lead you to fabricate a response. Some Christians supposedly hear from God every minute. They have the word of the Lord for every situation and somehow seem to know what Hes saying on every occasion. This is one extreme. The other end of the spectrum includes those who dont believe that God communicates outside the realm of His written Word. The Bible states, My sheep hear My voice (John 10:27), and again, I willwatch to see what
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GO D LY S U C C ES S He will say to me (Hab. 2:1). God is a God of communication, who earnestly desires to converse with His creation. While He will never say anything that contradicts His written Word, He can and does speak to those who are willing to listen. Listen naturally and with spontaneity. Dont feel obligated to hear. Second, weigh everything you think you hear against Scripture. God will never communicate inconsistently with His written Word. If your perceived response is to leave your spouse, steal something, or do anything else contrary to Gods Word, dispel the notion immediately. Remember that when you embark on the practice of listening to God, the enemy will also be nearby to try and capitalize on the occasion. Dont fear; just use the Bible as your guideline. Remember, this is a learning process and you will make mistakes. I have found that a good practice is to keep a journal for each year and regularly revisit old journal entries. By doing so, you can see what has come to fruition and where you missed it. You will also notice how your listening skills have developed. Third, dont tell God how He must speak. Just wait patiently upon Him and allow Him to communicate as He sees fit. It may be a spontaneous thought, a Scripture verse that comes to memory, spiritual intuition, or a mental impression. God knows our individual makeup and, as such, knows how to speak to us most effectively. Having a preconceived idea of how we think He should speak can often prevent us from hearing when He speaks another way. Last, there should always be a peace in your spirit after hearing God. If what you think you have heard leaves you anxious, confused, condemned, or fearful, discard it instantly (see Col. 3:15). As you wait on God and hear what He says about your future, you will be amazed at the remarkable things He will reveal. 3. Preaching The concept of God communicating with us through people is often difficult to comprehend, particularly when were aware
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of their imperfections. Yet God has chosen the foolishness of preaching as His primary means of interpersonal communication (see 1 Cor. 1:21). Since the beginning of time, God has used fallible people like you and me to communicate His message to others. Moses, with his stammering, mistakes, and even flagrant sin, was Gods mouthpiece to the nation of Israel, as were the prophets of old. The disciples were charged with the message of the Gospel, as are we today. And God has ordained those who hold the office of the fivefold ministry (apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher, and evangelist) as ministers of His Word to the Church. Preachers have the apt ability to provide the word of the Lord. Much like a rhema word when were reading Scripture, God can use preachers to say exactly what were in need of hearing for a particular moment. This may be controversial, but I believe that in order for God to speak to you through preaching, you have to physically attend church. This means that Christian television or even the Internet should not be your primary source of receiving ministry from God. Why do I say that? Because the Bible clearly instructs that we are not to forsake the gathering together of the saints (see Heb. 10:25). The modern-day translation of this verse is, Get to church. Actually, it says we should do so more frequently as we see the Lords return approaching (see Heb. 10:25). Yet, it seems as if the reverse is true; more people are staying away from church in the latter days. Theres a certain dynamic of church life youll never find in front of a television screen. When one physically attends a local church with fellow believers, theres a corporate anointing present for supernatural providence and provision. That provision encompasses all of your needs (thats needs not greeds). And providing youre at the church where you belong, God will ensure that you receive accurate, timely communication from Him. Also, if the answer, guidance, or clarity does not come via preaching,
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GO D LY S U C C ES S you will have the liberty of seeking counsel from the oversight of the local assembly. There have been many instances when I needed guidance, and the Lord provided it through preaching. The pastor would veer totally off his message on what he thought was a rabbit trail. In essence, he spoke exactly what I needed for that situation! Maybe you can identify. The key is believing that God can and will use people to speak to us if we pay attention. 4. Prophecy If it werent for prophecy, you wouldnt be reading this book right now. Prophecy is that powerful. A dear friend, Elisabeth Syr, who was mentored by the late Corrie ten Boom, prophesied that I would minister to businessmen and women. Fortunately, I had been taught well about the fundamentals of prophecy and knew that a response was required. I thought, OK, its all well and good that I will be speaking to businesspeople, but what do I tell them? As I pondered this question further, I started to write down a skeletal outline of simple themes that I thought would benefit people in the business arena. This completed book ultimately developed as I expanded upon those initial thoughts. I am passionate about the prophetic realm and have to curb myself from writing excessively here. Much can and has been said on this topic, which numerous resources address. For anyone interested or aspiring to the prophetic, I would highly suggest Graham Cookes book entitled Developing Your Prophetic Gifting.2 If you want to read only one book that offers the most balanced, comprehensive, biblically accurate study of the prophetic, this is it. And if anyone is qualified to speak on the topic, its Graham Cooke, who brings a wealth of experience, revelation knowledge, and wisdom to the table. This book and others
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like it provide a comprehensive study on the topic, so Im only going to summarize the basics. Scripture differentiates between the gift of prophecy and the office of the prophet. The former is one of the nine gifts of the Spirit (as spoken of in First Corinthians 12) and can be exercised by all believers. The latter is an office or role within the Body of Christ. Those serving in the office of prophet may, in addition to operating in the gift of prophecy, also provide direction, guidance, and even reprimand if required. Lets first look at the gift of prophecy. The intent of prophecy, according to First Corinthians 14:3, is edification, exhortation, and comfort. If someone tries to give you a prophetic word, and it does not exhort, comfort, or edify, dispose of it immediately and refer him or her to First Corinthians 14:3. Prophecy, when not exercised by a prophet, ought to only be general in nature. What this means is that it should not offer any specific, life-altering foresight. For example, if someone tells you to leave your current job and pursue another (which he or she specifies), buy a particular automobile, or marry or date a specific person, under the guise of the gift of prophecyrun. This is not the intended purpose of the gift of prophecy. Granted, there is a prophetic level of accuracy for those non-prophets who regularly operate in the gift of prophecy, but again, they may not offer lifealtering advice. Such a right is reserved exclusively for pastoral oversight and the office of the prophet. This brings us to the latter, namely, the office of the prophet. The office of a prophet is one of the fivefold ministry gifts, along with the apostle, pastor, teacher, and evangelist. This means they are called by God for their particular service (see Eph. 4:11-12). Therefore, as those called by God, they are not trying to promote themselves. They should be dedicated to service and have the congregations best at heart, not their own ministries or personal advancements.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S This leads us to the number one criterion for determining prophets legitimacytheir character. In the seventh chapter of Matthew, Jesus warns His disciples about false prophets (see Matt. 7:15). According to Jesus, in the latter days there will be a resurgence of these fake forecasters who will apparently have the uncanny ability to deceive many. Why will so many be fooled? The answer is because these false prophets will be able to perform powerful, counterfeit signs and wonders. In other words, people will follow their gifting, which may appear impressive and convincing. Fortunately, Jesus provided the litmus test for determining the legitimacy of a prophet. He said, You will know them by their fruits (Matt. 7:16). Fruits are indicative of peoples actions. And actions, as we know, are the outworking of peoples hearts. So its the content or character of their hearts that will reveal their authenticity. You can fake gifting, but you cannot fake character. If peoples hearts have ulterior motives, its only a matter of time before those will be revealed. Therefore, people who claim to be prophets should be judged by their character. If their lifestyles dont align with a biblical pattern of conduct, be extremely leery of their purported prophetic insight. Prophets, like their fivefold ministry counterparts, should belong to a local assembly where they should be in submission and accountable to others. Be extremely cautious of self-proclaimed prophets who are lone rangers. Ask them who they relate to, what church they belong to, or who they submit to. If their response is the classic, I dont submit to a man, but I am only accountable to God, put on the same running shoes as before and flee. God-ordained prophets are permitted to provide specific direction and guidance to individual believers and congregations alike. They may, under divine directive, even bring correction and chastisement, which will always result in the bettering of the persons growth and intimacy with Christ. Even when bringing
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rebuke, prophets have to ensure that they do so in love, without using their position or authority to be condescending or judgmental. The saying, After wielding your sword, always ensure that it is sheathed in love, is no truer for the prophet, who is occasionally called upon to bring a tough word. Lastly, prophets are not a dime a dozen. Remember our teaching on kings and priests? We ascertained that priests were the minority. If priests are the minority and prophets are a subset of that minority, then prophets will not be found on every street corner. Thats not to say they dont exist or that God does not have a sufficient supply of them, but not every Joe Shmoe and his uncle are prophets. To sum up, remember that God uses human vessels as His mouthpieces. How many have been saved through the preaching of an angel, seraphim, or any other angelic being? None that Im aware of! God has charged humans with the responsibility of conveying His message and His truths of hope and redemption, including the prophetic. This results in divine utterance through imperfect vesselsGods part and the human element. The key to receiving insight from the prophetic is differentiating between the twothe vessel and the message. Prophecy holds the power to usher the mind of God into the physical realm. 5. Desire Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). Im sure most of us are familiar with this verse. Its one of those famous verses we quote when we need or want something from God. We sometimes act as if this verse gives us permission to approach God as if Hes obligated to give us what were asking for.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S The popular perception of this Scripture is that desires originate from us, and then God grants our desires. The drawback with such perception is that theres no safeguard to wrong desires. Many desires might prove unbeneficial or detrimental if they were granted. A gun in the hands of someone being attacked can be helpful. That same gun in the hands of a toddler can be fatal. God, in His infinite wisdom, knows that often granting us our immediate desires may be harmfulwere not yet ready. Ive heard of Christians whove come into riches and abandoned their faith. Does this mean that God is opposed to prosperity? No! In fact, His desire is to bless us. However, He wants to ensure that we have the capacity to handle prosperity properly.

Desire, therefore, requires biblical checks and balances.

Desire, therefore, requires biblical checks and balances. How do we ensure the correct desires? Well, if ones desires originate from God, they will always be correct. The onus of desire is then no longer upon believers, but rather the Creator, and, as such, will always be consistent with His perfect will for our lives. So as you delight yourself in the Lord, He will initiate your desires rather than exclusively grant them. Give you the desires of your heart can consequently be interpreted as initiate or place the right desires within youas opposed to solely fulfilling them, something He will do anyway, once they have been birthed.

Desires are used by God as a means of direction.

There is safety in knowing that God will give you the right desires to fill your heart. You can then convincingly use them as direction gauges for where He wants to take you.
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The prerequisite, then, is delighting yourself in the Lord. Delighting yourself in the Lord does not mean you have to dance around with a happy face, but that His Kingdom should be foremost in your life and that youre in relationship with Him. When youre in an intimate relationship with someone, you know the persons likes and dislikes; you get to know his or her dreams and aspirations. The same is true when you pursue intimacy with God; you get to know His heart toward you, His dreams and aspirations for your life. Delighting yourself in the Lord is nothing more than becoming intimate with Him through relationship. When you delight yourself in the Lord, Hell sanctify your desires and align them with His will.

Your sanctified desires are indicators of your purpose.

Your sanctified desires are indicators of your purpose. Or stated differently, one of the strongest indicators of your purpose in life is your hearts desires. Your passions provide you with invariably good gauges of the direction youre meant to head. The early Charismatics and Pentecostals taught that in order to obtain Gods perfect will for their lives, believers would have to crucify all desires. Furthermore, they were educated to pursue aspirations that were contrary to those inborn desires. This type of teaching fosters a sense of false humility and is foolishness. As a result, some folks with a God-given desire and talent to create music were forced to teach childrens ministry, while others who had a genuine love for kids and no musical talent were obligated to lead praise and worship. One can only imagine how that might have sounded! Businessmen were told to abandon their desire for business and pursue full-time ministry, and so on and so forth. This type of mentality is neither encouraged nor endorsed in Scripture. When the Bible speaks of crucifixion, it does so in the
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GO D LY S U C C ES S context of the flesh, also called the carnal nature (see Rom. 13:14; 2 Cor. 7:1). What constitutes flesh? Paul answers this in the Book of Galatians: Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like (Galatians 5:19-21). Those fleshly or carnal appetites, desires, and feelings, which are contrary to Gods Word, need to be aggressively subdued since they prevent the establishing of the Kingdom of God in our lives.

The world will not buy our message if they do not see our passion.
If we delight ourselves in the Lord, however, He grants or furnishes us with the proper desires that should inhabit our hearts desires that will draw us to our destinies in Him. It would then be foolish to try to crucify the same desires that are meant to propel us into our God-ordained futures. God did not design us to be robotic. For too long, weve been taught that in order to live sanctified lives, we have to be void of emotion, feeling, or desire. God wants a people who are passionate. The world will not buy our message if they do not see our passion. And passion is fostered in the seat of desire. A prime example of someone whose life has been the product of passion is Pastor Tommy Barnett. Pastor Barnett is known for his many achievements, which range from leading one of the largest churches3 in the state of Arizona to performing speaking engagements around the globe. One Sunday evening, while preaching, I heard Pastor Barnett reveal the secret of his success, and I quote: Become passionate about something instead of trying to be the best at it.
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He went on to give his testimony. He said that at the outset of his ministry, his intent was never to become a great preacher, pastor, or visionary. He was simply consumed with passion about what he was doing. When he saw a need, he was moved with compassion to meet it. If there were people in need of food, his passion led him to make a plan to ensure they were fed. When he first learned that there were disabled folks who found it difficult to attend church, he started a bus ministry to cater to their needs. The same was true when he started a biker ministry, bus routes for the underprivileged, centers for drug addicts, and so forthleading to 275 active outreach ministries. He never intended to become a known personality, but rather to birth an authentic passion, which fueled his activities. This outlook slightly changes the paradigm of success. When you are passionate about what you do, success will followas opposed to trying to be the best. Heres one final thought regarding specifically gauging desires. By gauging, I mean knowing whether theyre wrong or right and if they may or may not be pursued. Here are two keys of wisdom that will provide the answers. First, with regard to pursuit, I offer this advice: God can only steer a vehicle that is moving. What this means is that there has to be motion before steering or navigation can occur. Some people, because they fear failure, displeasing God, or many other reasons, have no momentum in life, which means they are directionless. If satan is going to lose you to salvation, hell try and paralyze you with one of his most effective tools, F.E.A.RFalse Evidence Appearing Real. Fear of making a wrong decision and fear of the opinion of others result in sitting and doing nothing, or no movement at all. But if you move in a direction, even if its wrong, God will steer you. Theres a time to wait and plan and pray and to consult with wise counsel, but then theres a time to move. Move on what you believe to be true, and God will direct your path accordingly (see Ps. 37:23).
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GO D LY S U C C ES S Second, with regard to motive, many abandon the pursuit of desire for fear of wrong motives. The late Dr. Ed Cole offers advice that God authors desires in your heart, then fulfills His will by enabling you to realize those desires.4 Again, the same principle applies. To abort the pursuit of desire for fear of wrong motive will result in zero productivity. Instead, we should present our desires to the Lord, asking Him to sanctify them if wrong. We should then, in faith, pursue them, trusting that He will alter them if wrong. I can attest to the validity of this principle. At the outset of my faith journey, as today, I had a strong desire to make money. My motive may not always have been pure and upright, but I handed the desire to Him anyway, trusting that He was competent enough to rectify my motive if wrong. I embarked upon numerous business ventures. Over the course of time, while pursuing these undertakings, my motives were revealed. I realized that there were, in fact, ulterior motives interwoven with legitimate desires. God had to purge and purify my heart to ensure that the desire for wealth became biblically aligned. He never once rebuked or chastised me for wanting to make money, but He did alter my motivation. Remember that Jesus never rebuked His disciples for wanting to be great, but He did teach them what greatness meant (see Matt. 20:26-27).

As a person works on the vision, so the vision works on the person.

It has been said that as a person works on the vision, so the vision works on the person. In pursuing your desires, God will ensure that your motives are purified. Let your heart be filled with desire as you dream about the possibilities of what God can do through you. 6. Cause The last means that God uses for us to access our predetermined design is cause. Cause stems from burden or conviction
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and is that quality that enables us to live for something bigger than ourselves. Cause can consume people, and those smitten by it are often willing to lay down their lives. A Moroccan proverb puts it this way: He who has nothing to die for has nothing to live for. History is replete with the names of men and women whose destinies were forged by the causes they believed in. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. fought tirelessly and fervently against the segregation laws of his day, leading a civil rights movement that captivated the attention of the entire world. Because of his cause, King was arrested upwards of 20 times and assaulted at least four times, suffered the bombing of his home, and he was subjected to severe personal abuse. He traveled over six million miles and spoke over 2,500 times, appearing wherever there was injustice, protest, and actionbecause of what he believed. In addition, cause also motivated his five books as well as numerous articles, for which he was awarded five honorary degrees and named Man of the Year by Time magazine in 1963. Undoubtedly, it was also cause that inspired him to direct the peaceful march on Washington, D.C., where 250,000 people heard him deliver his famous I Have a Dream address. Sadly, cause was also the reason that, on the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his motel room in Memphis, Tennessee, he was assassinated. The famous Saint Patrick provides another role model. He was born in Scotland or Roman Britain, but captured by Irish raiders and put into slavery at the age of 16. He spent six years in captivity, working as a shepherd for an Irish chieftain. Before his capture, Patrick was not particularly religious, but he turned to God for comfort during his enslavement and became a devout Christian. His life then took on new meaning. He escaped to Britain after being directed by God in a dream to find passage aboard a ship. After his return, his passion and zeal enabled him to become a priest to
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GO D LY S U C C ES S study in a French monastery. Finally, Patrick returned to the land of Ireland as a bishop. Instead of developing emotions of bitterness and resentment toward his former captors, Patrick allowed his cause to dominate his efforts. This cause allowed him to fulfill a 30-year project of converting the Irish people to Christianity. Who can forget the beloved Mother Teresa? On the 10th of September, 1946, while riding a train to the mountain town of Darjeeling to recover from suspected tuberculosis, she said she received a calling from God to serve Him among the poorest of the poor. The call heard that day became the theme of her life, her reason for living, her cause. Less than a year later, she received permission to leave her order and move to Calcuttas slums to set up her first school. Others soon followed, along with the papal approval to create a religious order of nuns called the Missionaries of Charity. The foundation was celebrated on October 7, 1950, the feast of the Holy Rosary. To identify herself with the poor, Mother Teresa chose a plain white sari with a blue border and a simple cross, pinned to her left shoulder. Their mission was, as she would later say when she accepted the Nobel Peace Prize, to care for the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone.5 In the annals of history, these names will forever be synonymous with the causes they stood for. Think back upon times in your own life when you were cause-driven. Maybe it was something as seemingly insignificant as a disagreement with a ruling at your kids school or perhaps a homeowners association bylaw. Whatever the inspiration, think of how you suddenly became a man or woman on a mission, prepared to stand up for what you believed, no matter the cost. Now multiply that a thousand times and think of your entire life being lived that way. Imagine being
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consumed with a cause and refusing to settle until you see it righted or accomplished. Many reading this book are called to such a life. Begin asking God if you are one of those. Perhaps your name is meant to be numbered with those mentioned above, as someone who changed the course of history for something he or she believed in.

Summary
Lets recap what weve stated thus far. Weve learned that the life of Christ provided us with the perfect pattern for living and should be our primary example. We saw that Jesus had a life script, a predetermined blueprint by which He lived. The Father showed Him the end result, and He daily aligned His life to mesh with that outcome. Furthermore, we learned that Jesus was the forerunner of a new race that would inhabit the Earth and that it was Gods intent that many should follow in His footsteps. As those who follow our Lords path, we should practice this same principle of predetermined purpose. As we access our predetermined purpose, we acquire Gods design for our lives. Each of us is responsible to access it for ourselves, although it is often a discovery process. Thankfully, God has furnished us with certain discovery tools, namely, the Bible, prayer, preaching, prophecy, desire, and cause. As we utilize these God-given tools, the eager discoverers will be able to apprehend their God-ordained destinies. In conclusion, lets wrap up with some additional clarification and parting thoughts. For many, destiny may seem like a mystical concept. It might conjure up images of a mysterious, futuristic destination. Allow me to demystify, if you will, this little word that has been highly overcomplicated.

Destiny is about feeling His pleasure.

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GO D LY S U C C ES S Destiny is simply doing what youre meant to do. Its not necessarily about becoming a millionaire, a notable politician, or famed author, although for many that may be the case. Its about doing what God has called you to do. Not what your father wants you to do or what others think is best for you. No, its what you believe in your heart God has called you to be. If its a postal carrier, then be the best postal carrier you can be. If its becoming an athlete, then develop into the best sportsperson you can possibly be. Its about doing what you were designed for. Eric Liddell, of Chariots of Fire fame, said: I believe that God made me for a purpose. But He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure.6 Like Eric, you, too, can feel His pleasure when you find your destiny. Well only truly experience His pleasure when were doing what we were intended for. Every man, woman, boy, and girl should be able to fill in the blank and say, When I __________________ , I feel His pleasure. Often, though, it may entail doing what is contrary to others opinions. I had just entered high school and, at the request of my mother, went for an aptitude test. The test was offered by a nearby university as a service to the community and aided students in determining prospective career paths. My day was spent undergoing an extensive series of tests designed to exercise every part of the brain. Tests included art, mathematics, and mechanics. Finally, after many grueling hours, the psychologist returned with the results. To this day I still dont recall their recommended career choice, but I do recall what they told me not to pursue. The test clearly evaluated that whatever I decided to do in life, I should rule out engineering, especially electrical engineering. A few years later, just as I was to graduate from high school, my mother prayed and asked God what He had in store for my life. When the perceived response came, my mother said she just
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about fell off her chair. She said that she heard very distinctly that I was to become an electrical engineer. Now, just to provide some background, my high school math and science marks were dismal, to say the least. In addition to that, to say I was not the studious type would be a grave understatement! Together with the results from the prior aptitude test, you can understand my mothers response. Im happy to report that I did end up becoming an electrical engineer, who later branched into software engineering. I have experienced Gods enablement and provision in this area unlike any other in my life. He defied the conventional wisdom of people by activating and enhancing the potential that was placed in me at birth. God knew best how He had wired me and provided my mother with insight. The point is that others opinions dont count and that only God knows what is best for your life. When we fulfill our destinies, our lives will make a difference. No matter how insignificant our assignment may seem to others, God will ensure that if embraced wholly, our lives will have further impact. Earlier I stated that if God has called you to be a postal carrier, you should be the best postal carrier you can be. In his book The Fred Factor,7 author Mark Sanborn tells the story of a postal carrier named Fred. Fred was someone who was passionate about what he did, and it showed. He went above and beyond his call of duty to ensure that those on his postal route were seen to. Actually, on one occasion, Fred found a UPS package that had been delivered to an incorrect address. Because he had diligently learned the names of every person on his route, he immediately noticed the blunder. Fred went out of his way to deliver the package to the correct addresseesomething that was not part of his normal duties. After all, he worked for the USPS, not UPS. Was Fred obligated to perform a good deed? Certainly not! This was just one of Freds many kind gestures during his daily profession. In the eyes of many, Freds job was not grandiose, but because he did it with diligence, his name is
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GO D LY S U C C ES S being mentioned here today. I believe there will be many more stories like Freds if people would simply do what God has called them to in life. God is eagerly seeking men and women who desire to discover their destinies. As we embark upon the discovery process, He will provide the life design or blueprint to get us there. After all, everyone should obtain his or her destination coordinates.

Personal Notes:

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CHAPTER 4
Daily Alignment
One Bite at a Time So far weve learned the significance of differentiating between kinghood and priesthood callings and discovered that, within that distinction, we should find our specific purpose or destiny. Discovering our destiny then becomes the long-term mark toward which we navigateour destination coordinates, so to speak.

Just because youve discovered your destiny, doesnt guarantee youll arrive there.
As with any journey, you dont magically or instantaneously arrive at your desired location. Just because youve discovered your destiny doesnt guarantee youll arrive there. I would venture to say that there are many folks whove indeed discovered their destiny, but, sadly, will not arrive there. Why? Because finding
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GO D LY S U C C ES S your purpose in life is only one part of the equationplanning and embarking on the journey is the other. Its the equivalent of planning a family road trip. Once all of the family members have agreed upon a desired destination, its time to pull out the map and chart the course. Dad will invariably plot the route, taking gas stops, rest breaks, and overnight stays into consideration. During the planning, one of the kids might interject with, Oh, look, Dad, were really close to Disney World; cant we stop there along the way? Im sure Dad will try his best to factor in everyones suggestions and preferences to align with the desired end point. Once the course has been plotted, estimated departure and arrival dates need to be set. Arrangements need to be made for the pets to be looked after. The car will also possibly need to be serviced prior to departure. Each of the family members will need to pack appropriate clothing for the types of weather conditions the family will encounter during their travels. And all of this before the vehicle engine has even started. If there is this much planning involved in a trivial road trip, how much more should we plan for the journey of life? Instead, we would like God to miraculously whisk us to our desired destinies with little or no effort required on our part. We dont consider that discovering our destinies may take some effort and that planning and implementing our course will take toil. I hate to be the one to burst some Christian misconception bubbles here, but surrendering our lives to Christ does not make us immune from work. God is not going to do it all for us. Just because we prayed yesterday doesnt mean we walk into it tomorrow. Heres a news flash: God is a hard worker. Hes not some doddering old spiritual being sitting on a rocking chair atop a cloud, rocking the eons away. No, God is actively working right now on our behalf (see, for example, Heb. 7:25). Dont think for one moment that we serve a passive God. And like our Father,
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we, too, have a part to play in the realization and fulfillment of our destinies. Christians fall into one of two predominant schools of thought when it comes to the part we play in achieving our destinies (and all other aspects of our faith). First, there are those who believe that God will do it all for us. After all, He got us saved, so Hell bring all necessary and future endeavors of our lives to pass. Such thinking promotes the idea that theres no further labor required on our part, which, for many, is a convenient cop out from doing any work. Then, there are those who try to do it all themselves. Their thoughts might go as follows: God got me saved, but from here on out, Ill take overthank you very much! The problem with this approach is that theres a limit to what we can accomplish through our own efforts alone. Theres a fascinating little word that the apostle Paul uses in his letter to the Corinthians that aptly depicts the balanced tension that should exist between our efforts and Gods. For we are Gods fellow workers; you are Gods field, Gods building (1 Cor. 3:9 NIV). Paul describes our partnership with God as co-laborers, which accurately sums up our working relationship with God. It implies that theres a part we must play and also a role that God plays. The key is knowing the difference between the two; wise is the man or woman who has learned to do so. We will move a long way toward alignment when we learn to let God take care of His responsibilities as we take care of ours. Solomon confirms this principle of collaborative relationship: The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord (Prov. 20:27 KJV). God is, in every sense, a self-supporting deity, but He has chosen, for the most part, to restrict Himself by working through humans in the material realm. This is true for all aspects of our faith walk, and none more prevalent than the outworking of our destinies. Once we embark upon a destiny-centric life, a beautiful,
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GO D LY S U C C ES S harmonious, working relationship starts to evidence itself between our Creator and us. We begin to diligently seek God for His intended purpose for our lives; in due time, He reveals it. We then start to plan and strategize; He responds with further direction. As we start to work out or implement the plan, He continues to guide us and superimpose His efforts upon oursthus enabling us to accomplish more than we ever could have by our efforts alone. What a wonderful partnership! I cant imagine why anyone would not want to incorporate God into his or her life. Weve said that in order to achieve our destiny, we need a collaborative effort with God and theres an element of planning involved. Planning, as with the implementation, requires hard work. For now, though, lets look at this planning phase in greater detail. In my opinion, effective planning should be patterned after the Master Plannernamely, God. When we pattern our lives after God, we guarantee success. So how does God plan? Interestingly enough, God plans from the finished product backward. He applies what I call the principle of reverse engineering.

Reverse Engineering
God is renowned for implementing His plans with the end in mind. When He wants to do something, He has already seen the finished product and then works toward the desired outcome. He does so because of His ingenious planning. When He plans, He looks at the finished product and then considers all of the factors needed to achieve it. The Bible says that God is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End (Rev. 1:8a). This Scripture clarifies that God exists outside the realm of time. Since He is not constrained by time, Hes able to see the outcome of all things before they even occur. Since He can see the end in advance, this allows Him to plan for it beforehand. A prime example of this is evidenced by
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Christs work on the cross, which God knew and planned before creationthe Lamb [of God] slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. 13:8b). So in the mind of God, Jesus had already died on the cross way before the Earth was ever created. Because God saw in advance what was going to occur, He could plan for it accordingly. With His predetermined plan of redemption in mind, He allowed history to unfold in unison with it. Thats why He was not caught off guard by Adam and Eves sin in the Garden. After the Fall, He was not suddenly forced to go back to the drawing board and come up with Plan B. No, God knew that Adam and Eve were going to blow it way before He ever formed them or placed them in the Garden. He also knew that His Son would be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of humanitythe Lamb of God that would be slain. Gods meticulous planning, based upon His foreknowledge of the death and subsequent resurrection of His Son, is evidenced in the unfolding of historical events. Throughout His dealings with the nation of Israel, God was busy setting the stage for the appearance of His Son into humanity. He knew exactly which rulers would be alive at the time and that the Roman empire would be dominating the civilized world, right down to which stars would guide the wise men to their desired destination. Make no mistake, God knew every facet and detail of His Sons entranceand had planned for it in advance. As creatures made in Gods image (see Gen. 1:27), we have the ability to operate in a similar manner. Granted, the dimension and accuracy of our patterned efforts will be on a far lesser scale, but the principle is just as powerful and productive nonetheless. We may not be able to forecast all events as they unfold, but we should be able to readily apply the principle of reverse engineering when planning our destinies.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S How do you apply this principle practically to your life? For example, lets say that your life quest or vision is to become an international businessperson. As a businessperson, youd like to start an export company with a focus on clothing that mainly trades with Germany. Your purpose for doing so is to prosper financially so you can sustain a certain, personal living standard and also fund various Kingdom initiatives. This vision is what is called the full picture; its the destination coordinates I spoke of earlier. Like the family whos decided on their holiday destination, you now have to start planning your trip accordingly. As part of your planning, you can readily apply the principle of reverse engineering. This will assist you in determining what you need to get there. Reverse engineering is simply looking at the end result and then breaking down the whole into smaller, more manageable tasks. Each task can then be handled individually, while considering necessary time frames, efforts, and resources. For example, the big picture for your international business venture breaks down to include such tasks as training and/or studies, raising venture capital, developing a business plan, and so forth. These tasks form the major categories and comprise the first stage of breakdown or decomposition. They provide a large-scale overview of the major divisions needed to complete the whole picture. After you have completed the initial breakdown, you can continue to break down the tasks by using the same principle of looking at the end result and determining what is needed to get there. Lets look at the task or category of education, for example. Some sort of formal business training would be essential, and most experts would recommend a major in international business. Once you identify a program of study, you will next need to determine where youd like to enroll, depending on the specialization of the program at that particular institution. Ask yourself questions such
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as, Do I enroll in correspondence courses, take online classes, or attend in person? Do I attend full-time or part-time? What about summer school? Should I work while I attend school? Keep looking at the whole picture (in this case, the category of training and education), and then assess if youve completed all of the planning to achieve it. You may need the counsel of others, such as experts in the field, school advisers, and even your personal mentor. As you plan your education, you will quickly realize that you need finances, since education does not come cheap. Start another category entitled funding and plan for your financial needs. Continue to look at the overall vision periodically as you plan each category. This will help you ensure that you have covered all of your bases for each section. An example of this would be to remember that your intent was to trade primarily with Germany. You can factor this into the planning of your training category or task in the education category. It would probably not be a bad idea to learn the German language, especially if you will be dealing in that country regularly. This reminds me of a funny story about an exchange that took place between a German coast guard operator and an American vessel captain. The German operator heard the mayday request from the American vessel sinking offshore. The distress signal came in loud and clear, coast guard, we are sinking! Mayday, we are sinking! After a pause, the operator responded, What are you thinking? The German coast guard operator thought the vessel captain was thinking and wondered what he was thinking about. Thinking, sinkinga rather subtle nuance, but one that had devastating consequences, nonetheless. By remembering that the big picture includes a company focus on clothing, you might consider learning the basics of the clothing trade. While learning all of the complexities of the industry may be a bit of overkill, some knowledge would prove to be highly beneficial in the long run.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S This is how the planning phase works. Look at the overall big picture, and then break down those various categories into manageable tasks. Strategize how each can be achieved. This may mean that each major category or task is broken down even further into smaller chunksand then planned for individually. With each facet of the breakdown, keep looking at the big picture to ensure that everything has been considered until, finally, you have accounted for all of the planning for the whole vision. Again, using the illustration of business training, after your planning phase has been completed, you should know what institution youll be enrolling in, the duration of your studies, associated fees, and so forth. By utilizing the method of work breakdown, the task at hand (in this case, the vision) becomes more manageable. Organizing individual pieces becomes a lot easier than trying to single-handedly wield the entire vision. In Africa theres a famous saying: How do you eat an elephant? The answer is, One bite at a time. This method allows you to eat your proverbial elephant (if you will), little by little or one bite at a time. In addition to making the vision more controllable, you can also identify all of the associated tasks. Equally as important as the previous benefits is the fact that this method allows you to seamlessly enter the next phase in the evolution of vision accomplishmentnamely, goal setting.

Goal Setting
By this time, the prospective visionary has identified all of the tasks necessary to realize the vision. As an aside, it would be highly advantageous at this point to share your vision with someone you trust. This person can help you brainstorm to ensure that all of the necessary activities have been identified. I want to quickly emphasize two related points. Notice I used the wording someone you trust. You may recall the story of a man named Joseph in the Bible, who shared his
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dream with his brothers (see Gen. 37). These young men did not have Josephs best at heart. Granted, God still worked all things out for Josephs good in the end, but it would be interesting to know the outcome of his life had he not blurted his dreams out to his brothers. Sharing your dream with a trusted individual adds many benefits, fresh insight, alternate angles of thought, expanded ideas that can enlarge the vision, warnings, and, most importantly, wise counsel. Solomon, who was probably one of the most productive, influential, and wealthy men to have ever lived, said it this way: in the multitude of counselors there is safety (Prov. 11:14). Wise counsel, if heeded, can save precious resources and valuable time. Back to the topic at hand: goal setting. Goal setting should not be a mystical phenomenon. Neither should it be so complicated that only a select few can achieve it. Much has been said on this topic over the years. There are, however, some basic guidelines all of the experts agree upon. By this stage of your planning process, all of the individual tasks have been identified (those that were initially missed were caught by a trusted party). The first step of effective goal setting is task prioritization. The key to efficient prioritizing of your tasks is to determine the proper sequence of events. By determining the order of each individual task, you can establish what priority should be assigned to that specific task. When you perform the tasks in the proper order of their priority, you control the desired sequence of events. And when you achieve the desired sequence of events by aligning them with the main visionpresto, you are on your way to your desired destination. Now bear in mind that theres no hard-and-fast rule when prioritizing tasks. What may work for one may not necessarily work for another and vice versa. Im providing principles, not formulas. Biblical principles, unlike formulas, can be used generically, by any individual in any environment, and will always produce results.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S So again, priority setting is not a one-size-fits-all. In fact, its more a case of different strokes for different folks. The Bible instructs you to work out your own salvation (Phil. 2:12), which means every person has to find his or her own rhythm in Christ. As you engage in a daily relationship with Him, Hell assist you in determining what methods are most productive for you. That said, whatever methods you utilize, the underlying principle remains the sameprioritize each task based upon desired sequence flow. If you want task A to occur before task B, task A should have a higher priority. When prioritizing tasks, you also need to consider several other aspects: series vs. parallel activity, duplication of efforts, transferable methods, and outsourcing. Lets look at the first one, series vs. parallel activity. When determining priority, which ultimately governs sequence, ask the following question: Is the completion of one task a prerequisite for the start of another? Or can multiple tasks possibly be run concurrently? By allowing as many tasks as possible to run in tandem, you can save precious time in the long run. Oftentimes, the method of spawning multiple, simultaneous tasks coexists with the method of outsourcing. As a human, theres only so much you can possibly do at any given point in time. If, however, you can get someone else to work on your behalf, then you can effectively double the workload. Setting a third person to work will allow three tasks to run simultaneously, and so forth. It was presumably D.L. Moody who stated: I would rather set ten men to work than do the work of ten men. Remember, though, when planning your tasks, if a task is to be outsourced, factor in the time involved for the outsourcing which can be a task in and of itself. The key to effective outsourcing is to ensure that the party or parties you are outsourcing to understand very clearly what is expected of them. If they have misunderstood you and their interpretation culminates in a task being incorrectly performed or delivered late, you might end up dealing with devastating repercussions. Thats why, as part of the
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outsourcing exercise, its highly recommendable to hold regular status meetings. Duplication of effort and transferable methods are two other tools at your disposal when setting priorities. To explain the former, Ill use an example from my own life. When I decided to write this book, I already had a lot going on in my life. So the prospect of yet another activity overwhelmed me. I started thinking how I could optimize my efforts to better utilize my time. Essentially, I was looking for a way to work smarter and not harder. I was, in a sense, implementing the principle of duplication of efforts. At the time I was conducting a home Bible study group. It dawned on me that I could use my book material for my teachings. Since the teaching times were limited to an hour, each book chapter could potentially cover three to four teaching sessions. I announced to the group that I would be starting a teaching series. Each week, I taught on the newly developed book material. As the teachings progressed, I realized there were added advantages to this method. First of all, knowing that I had to teach each week kept me accountable to maintain a certain quota of writing. Having these weekly milestones resulted in an accelerated writing pace, which ultimately led to the book being completed sooner than expected. Furthermore, presenting the newly developed material to a live audience allowed me to make tweaks based on perceived crowd response and audience feedback. By working smarter, I was thus able to add another activity to my life. And instead of being burdensome, the newly acquired activity assisted me with an existing oneduplicating my efforts. Transferable methods are similar in that they also involve the notion of duplication. Whenever youre planning, think about how you can implement a task in such a way that it can stand you in good stead further down the line. Software programmers
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GO D LY S U C C ES S are very familiar with this concept. Most programmers write their code in pieces, called sub-routines. Sub-routines perform specific tasks, but are portable in nature. Lets say I want to calculate the sum of two numbers. One option would be to write a subroutine that will take as its input two numbers. The sub-routine will then calculate that sum and print the output on screen. I could then give my sub-routine a name, for example SumOf. By creating a sub-routine, I can use it whenever the need arises. Also, the SumOf routine is not limited to only two numbers; it can calculate the sum of any two values. The code for the sub-routine remains the same for each calculation, but the output varies based on the two input numberssame code, different results. The beauty of using a sub-routine is that the code is only written once, but can be utilized as many times as needed. If sub-routines are written cleverly enough, they can cater for complex input combinations to produce varying output. Many programmers develop libraries of these sub-routines. When these programmers are called upon to develop an application, they simply piece them all together to produce the desired results.

Develop life sub-routines whereby the work is done once, but can be reused as needed.
The notion of duplication is not only true for programmers, but also can used by any person in any trade. Think of ways to do things so that your methods can be duplicated across tasks. Develop life sub-routines whereby the work is done once, but can be reused as needed. I, along with a core team from church, am currently in the throes of establishing a Christian-based substance abuse center. The initiative, although still in its embryo phase, is being approached with the philosophy that the same model can be duplicated in cities around the world. Granted, there will be cultural differences between cities, and probably many other variables
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that would make each center unique, but many of the methods we use for one center can then be replicated for another. So the first ingredient of goal setting is to establish correct priority. When each task has been assigned its appropriate priority, the priority values should map to a sequence chart. A sequence chart basically just means that you should know the order or sequence in which the tasks should occur, whether in parallel or series. Its this same principle the Lord applied in His planning process when He created the Earth. In reading the account of creation as it unfolds (see Gen. 1), one quickly realizes the depth of planning involved. You can see the logical and brilliant ordering of creationsun created to provide oxygen for plants, plants created to provide food for animals, and so forth. This methodical ordering of events took into consideration the dependency needs of the creation progression.

Time frame estimates allow the prioritized tasks, sequentially mapped, to become measurable.
This leads us to the next component of goal settingassigning realistic time frame estimates. Time frame estimates allow the prioritized tasks, sequentially mapped, to become measurable. Its an easy way of determining when a task should start and when it should end. By knowing the start and end times, you can also calculate the task duration. You can provide exact dates for many tasks. By using our business education example from earlier, once you decide on a course, preferred educational institution, and full- or part-time study, you will automatically be able to determine precise start and end times. Using these dates as milestones will, in turn, provide task duration. The same is true for many other tasks. But for other tasks,
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GO D LY S U C C ES S exact dates may not be known in advance. Too many variables may come into play, but calculated guesswork and common sense should prevail. Every one of us knows our own ability: the pace at which we work, our commitments, the amount of rest we require, and our ability to handle pressure. All these factors allow us to more accurately estimate time frames for our tasks. Kent Hughes offers this advice: Make sure your commitments make you sweat, but also make sure that taken together they are manageable. It is better to increase your commitments as you succeed than to bite off more than you can do. Success begets success.1 Again, using this book project as an example, I assigned a time frame estimate to the task. To do so, I had to project the amount of writing I estimated I could accomplish each weektaking many factors into consideration. Making a task measurable, from a time frame perspective, allows one to monitor the task as it progresses. If the task is lagging, the workload can either be upped to compensate for the slip, extra bodies thrown at the task, or the completion dates can be extended.

En route to our desired destination, goals are the short-term mileposts.

The projected start and end dates become the milestones toward which we strive. On route to our destination, goals are the short-term mileposts. The motivation to reach each milepost will provide the necessary momentum to help us achieve it. Its the exact same principle we applied earlier when we broke down the vision into smaller pieces. This time, instead of breaking the main task (vision) into smaller pieces, were dividing the overall time line into smaller slicesbecoming mileposts toward which we strive.
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There is always a tension between where we are at, at any given point in time, and where wed like to be. Sadly, many folks grow despondent when they see the gaping chasm between the two. Rather than seeing this gap as our enemy, we should use this tension to propel us to our desired destinations. Consider the analogy of a bungee cord, which when pulled apart provides tensionthe further the sides are pulled apart, the greater the tension. But its the same tension that can bring the two sides together again. Look at the distance between each milepost as the tension between the two sides of an elastic bandand allow yourself to be pulled from one to the next. Instead of doing this, we often make the mistake of looking at where we are right now, which may appear insignificant. We then compare it to where we want to be, and give in to the temptation of becoming despondent when we see the difference between the two.

Life is lived at on levels and arrived at in stages. A.R. Bernard

Goals are thus nothing more than tasks with their associated time lines. When you have categorized all of the goals, you, as a visionary, will soon notice that goals fall into three major categoriesshort-term, medium-term, and long-term. The beauty of using the method of fragmentation (breaking down your tasks and time lines into smaller segments) is that you can use the same principles to accomplish your short-term and long-term goals. Instead of the magnitude of the task at hand daunting or overwhelming you, you can now accomplish your goals with ease. All you have to do to realize your vision is to get from one milepost to the next. Scripture backs this principle with the following verse: The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (Ps. 37:23). Notice that its our steps that are ordered. Not leaps or bounds,
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GO D LY S U C C ES S but systematic, incremental guidance. Life is lived at on levels and arrived at in stages.2 The journey of life is taken one step at a time, which means its a process.

Consistently applying biblical principles will, in due season, produce desired results. Process
If theres any one word you want to be mindful of when discussing destiny (and most other facets of life), its the word process. Process has been one of the hardest lessons Ive personally had to learn. Since undergoing this lesson, though, its become something about which I am most fervent. The reason for my enthusiasm is twofoldfirst, because it has eliminated needless impatience, and second, because its become an efficient tool of productivity. Concerning the elimination of impatience, the principle of process has taught me that consistently applying biblical principles will, in due season, produce desired results. It has thus eradicated the instant mind-set (and all that goes along with it) that constantly looks for immediate results. Im sure Im not the only one acquainted with this infectious disease known as instant results syndrome, a disease that has swept the nation at an alarming rate. Instant Results Syndrome (IRSnot to be confused with the Internal Revenue Service) keeps our credit card companies burgeoning. IRS has caused many otherwise levelheaded individuals to engage in fraudulent activity with the prospect of making a quick buck or two. Its also what keeps our state lotteries thriving. Furthermore, IRS has ensured that the gambling trade is alive and well with overflowing coffers. Places like Las Vegas post higher earnings than some small countries. What does the Scripture say in this regard? Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it (Prov. 13:11 ESV).
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How many of us have come to realize that in life we dont always get what we want immediately? In other words, there is invariably a waiting period between the time of promise, prayer, or plan and the fulfillment thereof. More often than not, we find ourselves having to wait for that which weve either asked for in prayer, been promised, or are working toward in hope. This time factor implies that some sort of process is involved. In fact, the word process is probably the one word that most accurately sums up the Christian life as a whole. The sad reality is that its also probably the least used word in the Christian vocabulary today. Lets be honest; none of us likes to hear that not everything is instantaneous. Yet it seems as if much of life today is geared toward a quick fix, an instant success formula, a magical wand if you will, which if waved can produce exactly what we want, when we want it. In our Western culture, weve come to live in what is known as an instant society. But its erroneous to think that we can apply our instant society thinking to the principles of Gods Kingdom, particularly as it pertains to success and destiny. Just because we can get an instant coffee or a microwave meal doesnt mean we can muscle God into giving us everything we want according to our time schedule. God uses principles, which if applied methodically and consistently over time, will produce the desired results. Early on in my faith journey, I felt as if there were what seemed like a million things I wanted to do for the Lord. Because of my tremendous zeal and enthusiasm to see them all accomplished, I hastily went about trying to do each and every one. My mentality at the time dictated that results were supposed to be immediate. Consequently, after only a short distance into each endeavor, I threw in the towel when there was seemingly no outcome. I did not realize what we had stated earlier that the steps of a good man, or principle of process, would get the job done. One step
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GO D LY S U C C ES S at a time, goalpost to goalpost, would eventually lead me to my desired location. I heard a pastor use the analogy of seed development to explain the principle of process. This particular pastor shares the story of how one of his daughters once had an urge to plant a flower garden. After sufficient persuasion, they went down to the local store to purchase all of the necessary items. A bag laden with potting soil, fertilizers, plant growth enhancers, and of course garden gloves marked their exit out of the store. After a tiring day spent preparing the soil, mixing in all of the necessary chemicals and fertilizers, planting the seeds and watering sufficiently, the flower garden was finally finished. Proud of their recent accomplishment, the two cleaned up and went inside. According to our pastor friend, only an hour later, his first woes began. His daughter came into the room where he was sitting and enthusiastically queried, Daddy, when are we going to see our flowers? Like a loving father, he explained to his little girl that flowers do not grow instantaneously. Furthermore, it would be some time before they would realize the fruit of their labors. This explanation seemed to appease her for the moment. About an hour later though, he again heard the sound of little footsteps. And again the question, Daddy, when can we see our flowers? This question continued to persist throughout the remainder of the day and painfully carried over to the next. Finally after much aggravation at trying to explain to a child that waiting was required, he climbed into his vehicle, went down to the store, and bought some fully grown plants. He planted these in the garden that he and his daughter had created the day before.

The seeds we sow today will determine the fruit we reap tomorrow.
Unfortunately, we dont have the luxury of going down to the store and purchasing the finished product of that for which
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were trusting. God will permit us to wait the prescribed period of time before we can see our seeds grow into fully developed plants. So the seeds we sow today will determine the fruit we reap tomorrow. You may recall that earlier in the chapter, I stated that my appreciation for the principle of process is twofold. Weve looked at the first reason of ridding our lives of impatience. We can eliminate impatience when we realize up front that time is involved in the process.

Success is doing ordinary things, extraordinarily well. Jim Rohn

The second reason for my acquired appreciation of process is that, if heeded, it can produce staggering results. Granted, they may not necessarily come as quickly as wed like, but one thing is certain about processresults are guaranteed. Im sure were all familiar with the famous childrens story of the rabbit and the turtle. In many regards, I consider myself a turtle in life. There are people out there who are a lot smarter than I am, have far more talent than I do, and are capable of achieving far more in life. Yet Ive learned to let the principle of process work on my behalf to compensate for my shortcomings. If I can achieve my prescribed quota of work each day that I need to get me to the next milepost, then little by little, I can edge my way closer to my desired goal. Like Jim Rohn, Ive learned that success is doing ordinary things, extraordinarily well.3 So that like the turtle that kept a constant pace and crossed the finish line before the rabbit, you will cross the finish line to your vision and goal by working methodically and consistently on a daily basis. Mr. Rohn further noted, Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.4 The beauty of the principle of process is that results are assured. Its also a principle that works for everyone.
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Small Beginnings
Weve spent much time discussing the principle of process. Before concluding, Id like to encourage you in the race. When we submit to the two individual components of process, the waiting period and the discipline of repetitive actions, at some point God will cause accelerated productivity. This may sound like a contradiction of terms, but let me clarify further. There comes a moment when our repetitive labors, if executed one more time, can yield uncommon results. Malcolm Gladwell refers to this phenomenon as the tipping point and explains, We need to prepare ourselves for the possibility that sometimes big changes follow from small events, and that sometimes these changes can happen very quickly.5 Rice Broocks, in his book entitled Every Nation in Our Generation, expounds upon this phenomenon by stating, Whether its a fashion craze, a crime wave or a viral epidemic, the tipping point is the moment of critical mass, the threshold or boiling point, where a minor trend suddenly surges to become a significant movement.6

Uncommon growth has to be preceded by the process period.

The Chinese bamboo tree has no visible growth for five full years after the planting of the seed. Can you imagine planting a seed and then seeing no growth for five years? Im sure most of us would give up all hope of productivity after far less time. Fascinatingly, however, after the five-year waiting period, something very interesting happens. Within six weeks, the Chinese bamboo tree can grow to heights of up to 90 feet, sometimes with as much growth as three feet per day. Wow, for five years nothing. Then suddenly, exponential growth occurs. The uncommon growth had to be preceded by the process period. God is the only One who knows when each persons tipping point will arrive. The tipping point applies to every area of our
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lives, not only in vision accomplishment. The day will come when you pray one more prayer for your unsaved loved ones, youre faithful in your giving one more time, another day is spent on working on potential business deals, and so forth, and then it happensthe tipping point arrives. And the sum or accumulation of your efforts propels you over the edge. Suddenly, you begin to see exponential results that will blow your mind. Dont let where you are today discourage you from progressing toward where you believe God wants you to be. Scriptures remind us, Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly (Job 8:7), and For who has despised the day of small things?... (Zech. 4:10). Work with what you have instead of focusing too much on how far you need to go. The right perspective can change the whole dynamic to your life. The Book of Second Kings relates the story of a widow who only had a small amount of oil left with which to provide for her family. Her circumstances looked quite grim, and creditors wanted to take her two children as slaves to pay for her debts. You might be able to identify with the feeling. Along came the prophet Elisha. He did not allow her to hold a pity party, but asked what she had in her hand. Many times our answer lies in our own hands. And Elisha said to her, What shall I do for you? Tell me, what have you in the house? (2 Kings 4:2a ESV). The womans great need did not discourage Elisha. And she said, Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil (2 Kings 4:2b ESV). She admitted that she only had a small jar of oil. Then he said, Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside. So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. When the vessels were full, she said to her son,
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GO D LY S U C C ES S Bring me another vessel. And he said to her, There is not another. Then the oil stopped flowing. She came and told the man of God, and he said, Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest (2 Kings 4:3-7 ESV). The prophet took what she had, even though it was small, and used it as the basis for a miracle of multiplication. Jesus multiplied fish and loaves to feed 5,000 people from a young boy who had five loaves and two fish (see Matt. 14:13-21; Mark 6:31-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:5-15). The thoughts of people would insist that it was foolish to think this small amount could feed a multitude, yet the boy offered what he had to Jesus anyhow. When we take what we have at the time, however insignificant, and begin to use it, the supernatural power of God can come upon it and multiply it to provide abundance! Pastor Tommy Barnett tells the story of a lady in his church who came to him, complaining that she had no noticeable ministry. She felt as though she added no real value to society. After much discussion, Pastor Barnett finally asked her, What can you do? Oh not much, the lady replied, but I can bake cookies. Focusing on what she could do as opposed to what she couldnt, Pastor Barnett said to her, All right then, start to bake cookies and give them to people. The lady obeyed his advice and did just that. Every Sunday, she would bring cookies to church in little plastic bags and give them away. Pretty soon, word began to spread that Mrs. Cookie Maker (well call her that) baked delicious cookies. The long and short of the story is that Mrs. Cookie Maker, in addition to giving away cookies, began to sell them, too. Today, she has a thriving
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cookie business, which is lucrative and blesses the Kingdom of God. She used what she had in her hand.

Summary
Lets recap what weve covered thus far. First, we discovered that to arrive at your destination requires planning, like a family taking a road trip. You can utilize the principle of reverse engineering for effective planning by looking at the end result and seeing what you need to get you there. The see what is needed to get you there part of the exercise is to define all of the necessary tasks. The next step is to prioritize each task in the order it needs to be accomplished. Remember, tasks can occur in parallel or series. Finally, assign a realistic time frame to each task, along with appropriate start and end times. We work toward task end times. As we strive to meet these milestones on a daily basis, we accomplish the daily alignment factor. Our daily activities complement, or are aligned with, our goals. Because our goals are aligned with our vision, when they are accomplished, the end result will be the culmination of our destinies. By applying this method, you ensure that your goals are always aligned with your vision, a necessity for remaining focused. We will continue with the topic of focus in the next chapter, but for now, just know its imperative that your goals and vision complement or align with each other. Itd be rather ludicrous if your life quest was to become a doctor, and your goals included river rafting down the Colorado River, a visit to the Taj Mahal, learning to play the flute, becoming a renowned gardener, and learning to sky dive. Now thats not to say that any of those items could not be included as forms of recreation, but if these are the only goals on your list as an aspiring doctor, you may as well forget about ever obtaining a degree in the medical field, let alone tending to a patients needs.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S Actually, you should include a few recreational goals to provide a healthy balance in life. Youve heard the saying, All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Dont become so rigid in your goal accomplishment that you forget to enjoy the journey. Hopefully, this chapter helped you realize how to practically achieve your destiny. Remember that the blueprint or vision I spoke of in the previous chapter only provides the coordinates to your final destination. Knowing where youre heading, though, doesnt necessarily guarantee youll arrive there. Its like having a giant jigsaw puzzle. The box provides a picture of how the puzzle should look upon completion, but the pieces still have to be put togetherone at a time. Fitting the puzzle together piece by piece is called daily alignment.

Personal Notes:

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CHAPTER 5
Maintaining Focus
What You Behold, You Become If we lived in a clinical environment or a vacuum void of adversity, heartache, or difficulty, this chapter wouldnt be necessary. Yet we know that just the opposite is true! We do live in a fallen world, filled with all kinds of misfortunes. Although I am not going to address the topic of why do bad things happen to good people, we do know that life is not always easy and that sometimes it doesnt work out as planned. Those of us whove been saved for any length of time know that Christianity doesnt make us immune from hardships. Many believers make the mistake of presenting the Gospel by frequently painting a picture of a problem-free life to their prospective Gospel-acceptance candidates. Then when trials do comeScripture clearly tells us they will (see Ps. 34:19)these new converts, caught off guard, either forsake their faith or are
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GO D LY S U C C ES S incapable of handling the situation. In the parable of the sower and the seed (see Matt. 13:3-9; Mark 4:3-9; Luke 8:5-8), Jesus tells the story of a man who sowed his seed on four types of ground. The surface or soil, which He likened to stony places (Matt. 13:5), is comparable to the person who, when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles (Matt. 13:21). Had this person been versed in the reality of the difficulties in life and, more importantly, been taught how to deal with them, the seed would have grown into full bloom.

Your destiny can be measured with the yardstick of resistance.

We cannot avoid difficulties or hardships in life. We see the powerful evidence of this in the area of vision or destiny. One relevant saying is that your destiny can be measured with the yardstick of resistance. The degree to which youve accessed your design or purpose is possibly the degree to which it will be challenged. Wise is the man or woman who comes to grips with this fact up front and who prepares for it in advance. Taking this a step further, you would be wise to adopt a bring it on, Im ready! attitude. These kinds of people are up for the challenge when things get toughmen and woman who refuse to be defeated by what life throws at them. Many celebrities and sports stars today exhibit great perseverance as well, overcoming tremendous obstacles to achieve their goals. Michael Jordan was told in high school that he couldnt play basketball. Thankfully, he ignored those words of discouragement to become arguably the greatest basketball player in the history of the game. During their teen years, famous Hollywood actors Jim Carrey and Hillary Swank were both homeless, yet went on to become world-renowned actors with powerful careers, with Swank eventually winning an Oscar. Oprah Winfrey, now the most powerful woman in television, grew up in poverty in Mississippi,
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turned to alcohol and drugs, and gave birth to a baby at the age of 14. The baby died soon after, but she refused to be deterred by her tragic beginnings. Winfrey moved to Chicago to begin her journalism career. After 25 years with her own nationally syndicated television show, she bought a television station, the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), in 2010 and continues to model a generous example of philanthropy to many. Please be aware that Im not writing this book to advocate that if you follow a formula of five steps and repeat a little prayer, then you will have smooth sailing for the rest of your life. Im not saying that you will realize your vision, become successful, and, along the way, implement world peace. No, I realize that we live in a real world with real problems. If I had to stop here, youd no doubt agree that there would be little hope for the future. Thankfully, the Bible provides us with the necessary principles, promises, and provision to live successful, victorious lives amidst a depraved, fallen world. Scripture also provides a plethora of principles to aid you in achieving destiny despite all types of difficulties. Lets have a look at some of these principles in greater depth. The prophet Habakkuk, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, conveys the following: Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry (Habakkuk 2:2-3). By breaking down the individual components of this verse, you can gain tremendous insight into the mind of God regarding vision or purpose. Notice that the first instruction given is to write the vision down, which is the first principle of maintaining focus.

What you behold, you become.

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GO D LY S U C C ES S This may seem like a rather trivial instruction that doesnt even really make sense. You might wonder why you have to write the vision down. The answer is because what you behold, you become. What you focus on is what you navigate toward. Writing the vision down will aid you in staying focused on the task at hand. It will enable you to keep the main thing the main thing. One of my favorite preachers, Bob Gass, is quoted as saying, How do you keep someone from fulfilling their vision? The answer, give them another one.1 Satan is no slouch when it comes to understanding human behavior. He has spent thousands of years refining his fine art of deceiving humans. He includes numerous methods of getting believers to abandon their destinies in his evil arsenal, but none is more subtle and illusive than the strategy of diversion. He might try every trick in the book to get you to abandon your dream. If he is still unsuccessful, he knows that by presenting a counterfeit dream, which in many cases might appear more appealing, he will often divert you from your God-ordained course. If, however, your vision is written down, then when anything else contrary is presented to you, you can disregard it immediately. Again, it helps you keep the main thing the main thing. In practical terms, you need to keep your written vision in plain sight on a daily basis. Look at it at every available opportunity, meditate on it, and keep it before you mentally. Remember, what you focus on is what you navigate toward. Its like the analogy of the jigsaw puzzle I spoke of earlier; the box provides the picture of how the completed puzzle should look. In many regards, having a written vision is like having the completed picture on the puzzle box before you. While you put together the pieces daily, youre constantly looking back and forth between the completed image and the progress made to date. Writing the vision down has the added advantage of articulating it in a clear, definable format. Notice what the prophet says about how to write the vision: make it plain. This means that, after its written, it should be clearly understood. The following
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two quotes further elaborate on clarity. Charles Spurgeon said, When a man does not make me understand what he means, it is because he does not himself know what he means.2 Similarly, Halford Luccock presumably said, It is not enough to ensure that people understand you, but to ensure that they cannot misunderstand you. Scripting your thoughts provides an interesting dynamic. Doing so disciplines you to arrange your views systematically so that you can avoid the above folly. A good exercise would be to have other people read over the vision to see if it makes sense to them. Its not rocket science; you basically want those who look at the scripted vision to ensure that he may run who reads it. The last benefit, although seemingly simple, ensures that you dont forget the details. Theres an old Chinese proverb that states, Memory is as long as a piece of paper. Our memories, however impressive, can only contain so much information. The daily pressures and duties of life can sometimes contribute to the cluttering of our minds. Having the vision written down will aid us in refreshing our memories, specifically regarding the details. We said earlier that the vision had to be broken down into tasks and that the tasks had to be prioritized. The prioritized tasks needed to have associated time frames with appropriate start and end dates assigned. This exercise has to be documented as well, and all of the same listed benefits apply.

The first key to maintaining focus is scripting the vision.

The second part of vision study again involves patience. The prophet states, Though it tarries, wait for it. Although we do not like to wait, we will need to do so as part of the principle of process. Its that simple! We touched on this in the previous chapter. I dont want to belabor the point further, but I do want to explain the necessity of waiting. Understanding why we have to wait
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GO D LY S U C C ES S will assist us in maintaining focus. Lets approach it from another angle. If I dont understand why I have to wait for my visions accomplishment (or any other promise to be accomplished), then theres the distinct possibility that Ill grow weary while waiting and eventually throw in the towelthereby aborting my destiny. So why does God make us wait? Is He some sort of mean ogre who takes pleasure in giving His children promises and then spitefully making them wait extended periods before fulfillment? The answer, of course, is an emphatic no. We know God is a good God who desires to give His children good things. The Bible confirms this: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11 NIV). Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17).

Waiting time is not wasted time. Bob Gass

The Bible is laden from cover to cover with the promises of Godin fact, well have a hard time reading it without encountering them on every page. So, then, why does God have us wait? The answer may seem somewhat surprisingits because waiting is for our own good! Waiting time is not wasted time.3 The time factor associated with any promise or vision is put into place so that God can build capacity into us. Capacity means many things to different people, but essentially its the ability to handle that which were trusting for. So its not like God wants to deliberately withhold things from us; He wants to ensure that were first ready to receive them. Weve seen it countless times before when people who are not ready receive things before theyre capable of properly managing them. This can apply to finances, a job, or even a spouse! The disastrous results speak for themselves. For example, it
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is estimated that a large percentage of lottery winners file for bankruptcy within five years! The same applies to many of the celebrities we read about in the media. Clearly, they have not undergone the necessary character or capacity building process and it shows. Their use of drugs, alcohol, and illicit relationships evidences just a few ways theyre unable to manage the fame and fortune lavished upon them. Like a loving Father, God does not want this to happen to His children. Thats why He embeds the time factor into every promise. But often, we try to short-circuit the waiting process by attempting to expedite manifestation. And when we do, were in danger of contracting the infectious IRS (Instant Results Syndrome) disease we spoke of earlier. Yet if were willing to patiently bide our time and methodically do whats necessary, well be capable of handling our visions expertly when they materialize. Waiting for our promises, therefore, builds the necessary character and capacity into us to handle them competently. So capacity is necessary for us to receive our stuff. Solomon probably had more stuff than any other individual recorded in Scripture. And even he had to have the necessary capacity to administer it wisely. And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore (1 Kings 4:29). Its interesting that Solomon first received largeness of heart (the hearts ability or capacity to contain) before ever receiving any riches or material goods. Understanding the reason for waiting will allow us to maintain focus, which means we wont grow despondent when we dont see our dreams realized immediately. So far, weve looked at two methods of maintaining focusnamely, writing the vision down and understanding the waiting process. Lets study a third mechanism we can employ to maintain focusenduring obstacles.
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Enduring Obstacles
I started out the chapter by stating that were not immune from hardships. I dont want to keep harping on this point, but, as with understanding the necessity of waiting, realizing the inevitability of obstacles will undoubtedly enable us to maintain focus. Along these lines, nature provides us with an example of attempting to derail obstacles through human intervention. One day, a man found a butterflys cocoon and took it home. The next day, he noticed that a small opening appeared. For several hours, he sat and watched the butterfly struggle to force its body through the little hole. Then, it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as though it could get no further. So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and gently snipped off the remaining portion of cocoon. The butterfly emerged easily. Its body, though, was short and swollen with tiny shriveled wings attached. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected the wings to expand at any moment. Surely, these new enlarged wings will support its body (which will contract in time), he thought. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wingsit never took flight. What the man in his kindness and haste didnt understand was that the butterfly required the restricted cocoon and subsequent struggle to get through the tiny opening to ensure proper development. This was part of Gods design to force fluid from the butterflys body into its wings so that it could exit the cocoon and spread its wings to fly. Sometimes struggles are exactly what are required for our proper developmentto enlarge our wings so that we can reach the heights of our dreams. So like the practice of waiting, obstacles can also build the necessary character and capacity into usto enable us to handle
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our dreams or promises. Dont hear what Im not saying; suffering is not a prerequisite to vision accomplishment. It can, however, put a little steel in our bones.

When we have to pay a price for something, we value it more.

Theres something about the human nature that if things comes easily to us, we treat them lightly. And the reverse is also true when we have to pay a price for something, we value it more. This may explain part of the success of people like Jim Carrey, Oprah Winfrey, and the others whove overcome such great obstacles and gone on to be such huge successes. Walt Disney provides one such powerful example of using obstacles to create success. In his early days as an artist, he lived in a run-down, mice-infested studio. Instead of killing the mice, he decided instead to keep three of them as pets. He bought them cages and put them on his desk. His favorite mouse became the eventual inspiration for the cartoon character Mickey Mouse. How many of us would have complained, called the landlord frantically, and demanded that the exterminator come to our home yesterday? If Walt Disney had done that, the world would have not known one of the most-beloved cartoon characters of all time. According to Forbes magazine, in 2004 alone, Mickey Mouse earned $5.8 billion in retail sales, making him the top character earner for the year.4 Who could have imagined what ridiculous wealth and fame would come out of that small, dilapidated workshop? If our visions were just handed to us on golden platters and there was very little effort required, I doubt wed appreciate them as much. Looking at most of the significant names in the Bible, we see this to be the caseMoses, Gideon, Esther, Nehemiah, Job, and Paul, to name just a few. The one who stands out in my mind, though, is Joseph.
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Josephs Dream
Joseph, in the Book of Genesis, provides us with an example of persevering through the most difficult of situations (see Gen. 3750). His brothers threw him in a pit, he was sold into slavery, he was falsely accused by Potiphars wife when he was just working his hardest, and he was unjustly sent to prison and forgotten there, again, despite his loyalty and faithful service. He could have become bitter, lost his focus, and given up. But he pressed through into his destiny! This patriarch is a prime example of someone who maintained his focus and obtained the prize. One of 12 brothers, Joseph was given a dream at an early age, a dream that would eventually change the course of his life (see Gen. 37:5-10). God divinely showed Joseph what his future held. This prophetic snippet of his life reel indicated an existence of stature and prominence, one in which his own brothers and father would bow down to him. What Joseph did not know, however, was the time it would take to arrive there, the obstacles hed have to overcome, and the changes that would have to take place in his heart.

The hope of something greater should enable us to reign in our present circumstances.
Josephs story recounts numerous difficulties he endured the betrayal of his brothers, a brief stint in a pit, life as a slave in a foreign nation, false accusations, imprisonment, and abandonment, to name a fewbefore he finally realized his dream. Instead of growing weary and abandoning the dream, Joseph became more resilient with each obstacle and was ultimately equipped to receive his destiny. He viewed his present situation as a training ground for his eventual destiny. It was thus the hope of something greater that enabled him to reign in his present circumstances.
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Josephs Change Heart Attitude and Capacity

Because the fulfillment of Josephs dream was bigger than himself, Joseph required additional qualifications in order to receive the fulfillment. I already hinted at this, but Joseph had to undergo an extensive heart change before he could ever see his dream become a reality. This heart change was part of the capacity building process and was brought about by the extensive obstacles he overcame. Gods intent was for Joseph to become a forerunner or deliverer for the rest of his family, which meant that he had to realize that the dream hed been given was not about him, but about those he would eventually assist. When Joseph was first given the dream, this was clearly not the case. Actually, it was quite the opposite; he was a teenager filled with pride and arrogance. When he received his dream, he handled himself by bragging and boasting to his brothers that they would one day be subservient to him (see Gen. 37:5-10). He had absolutely no clue what Gods intent was for his life. Rather, he was infatuated by the fact that he would become his familys superior. Over time and through many adverse circumstances, Josephs heart was finally changed. He was now in a position to receive the promise hed been given at a young age. He also understood for the first time the real purpose of the dream. It was not about him; it was about the redemption of his family. Look at how Joseph responds to his brothers after the death of Jacob and they feared Joseph would exact retribution on them: But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive (Gen. 50:20).

Obstacles can become catalysts for change.

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GO D LY S U C C ES S Here we see an entirely different Joseph. This was a man who initially, for all the wrong reasons, pursued a dream. God, however, strategically placed many obstacles along Josephs path. With each encounter, Joseph faced the choice to become bitter or better. Because he chose the latter and did not allow the obstacles to deter him, they brought about the necessary changes for him to inherit his dream. Obstacles thus became a catalyst for change. As in the story of the butterfly, the resistance of the cocoon was designed to strengthen its wings, thereby enabling it to fly. Sometimes God will allow a little resistance in our lives to strengthen our wings, so to speak. That resistance enables us to fly to the heights we were designed to reach. Unfortunately, many times we try to choose the path of least resistance, and, like the butterfly, we spend the rest of our days walking around with shriveled wings. Focused people will willingly embrace the obstacles in front of them on the journey to achieving their dreams. Peter J. Daniels is a Christian businessman whose life portrays a true rags to riches story. Mr. Daniels came from a disadvantaged background and his early years were plagued by illiteracy and ignorance. Today, however, he is probably one of the most successful businessmen on the planet, holding numerous managerial positions, serving on international boards covering the four corners of the earth, and is one of the worlds most highly paid strategic planners and public speakers.5

Success is the ability to endure pain. Peter J. Daniels

When asked for his definition of success on a national television program, Mr. Daniels responded that it was the willingness to endure pain.6 Or as Jim Rohn observed, We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.7 These definitions, while not found in any Ivy League
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textbook or heard at the latest motivational seminar, came from men who knew what it took to become successful. No wealthy parents paved the way for Mr. Daniels. No lucky break provided overnight success. No, he had to go through some stuff in life to get to where he is today, and as part of that process, he learned to endure pain. Like the old adage uttered many years ago by Dale Carnegie, When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, Mr. Daniels mastered the art of taking adversity and turning it into opportunity. Oftentimes our glory is born out of our story. Ive also heard it said that the first four letters of the word testimony spell test.

Oftentimes our glory is born out of our story.

History is replete with the names of even more individuals whove achieved significant accomplishments in the face of repeated opposition and early failures. For example, look at the track record of Abraham Lincoln before he became one of Americas finest presidents: 1832 Lost job, defeated for state legislature 1833 Failed in business 1835 Sweetheart died 1836 Had nervous breakdown 1838 Defeated for Speaker 1843 Defeated for nomination for Congress 1848 Lost renomination 1849 Rejected for Land Officer 1854 Defeated for U.S. Senate 1856 Defeated for nomination for Vice President 1858 Again defeated for U.S. Senate 1860 Elected President8 Winston Churchill, the prime minister of England who was credited with winning World War II, suffered a long list of failures prior to his success in life. He struggled in school, failed the
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GO D LY S U C C ES S sixth grade, and lost every single political election he ran in until, finally, he was elected as prime minister at the age of 62.9 Thomas Edison is my personal favorite. In school, he was told he was too stupid to learn anything. He was fired from his first two jobs because he was not productive enough. As an inventor, he tried 1,000 times to invent the light bulb. His perspective, though, was not one of failure, but of optimism as he believed that he was just that much closer to success. His determination finally resulted in a working design for the light bulb. Like Joseph, Mr. Daniels, Abraham Lincoln, Sir Winston Churchill, and Thomas Edison, you, too, can be noted in the annals of history as one who overcame obstacles to realize your dreams. Many believers, however, become disheartened at the first sign of adversity and throw in the towel before they ever see their dreams become a reality. Weve discovered that managing obstacles correctly provides us with the necessary capacity to effectively handle our dreams. For Joseph, it was the various trials that brought about the heart change needed to govern a pagan nation and become a deliverer for his people. The fulfillment of our dreams usually encompasses the needs of others. Like Joseph, whose dream involved his family members, God may use the realization of your dream as His conduit of deliverance for others. Finally, when you have to pay a great price for your dreams, you will usually value them more. Three techniques that can aid you in sustaining focus are to script the vision, understand the waiting process, and embrace obstacles. Lets look at a fourth method of seeing or visualizing your dreams.

Seeing (Visualizing) Your Dreams

In the Book of Ephesians, Paul takes a rather unusual letterwriting approach; he scripts a prayer for his fellow believers. In his prayer, he asks God to do several things on their behalf.
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Among these is, The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling (Eph. 1:18). Another translation puts it this way: Your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is He is calling you to do (MSG). Although used primarily in the context of spiritual calling, the same holds true for purpose and destiny. Paul understood that if we can see something in our minds eye beforehand, well be more likely to see it accomplished materially. A newspaper editor once fired Walt Disney because he lacked creativity. Disney failed at many business ventures and died four years prior to the opening of Disney World. At the opening ceremony, a family member was asked what Disney would say if he could see his finished product. The person responded, He did, thats why were here today. In 2010, it was reported that the value of the company was at $1.33 billion or 67 cents a share.10 Scripting the vision is the first step, writing the vision in a clear format is another step, and seeing its completion is another. Helen Keller, when asked about her plight of blindness, responded, The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.11 The Bible states: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). As children of faith, the Church should be the greatest visionaries on the planet. Like our Father who sees things before theyre formed, we need to put on our faith glasses so that our imaginations overflow with the prospect of future endeavors, our hearts are filled with the dreams of tomorrows accomplishments, and our minds become enchanted with the vision of brighter futures. The Church has lost the art of imagination, and as a result, the world has capitalized on the void. Providing its own solutions, media now offers a variety of ways to fill the intrinsic need for
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GO D LY S U C C ES S imagination stimulation. From theme parks to movies, magazines to toys, the entertainment industry has found plenty of ways to inspire your creative juices. All the while, the Church appears bland and boring. Im of the opinion that the children of God should be at the forefront, the cutting edge, of every arena of life. The world should copy our music, clone our ideas for movies, and model their business procedures after ours. We should lead the way in our industries because we are connected to the One from whom all creative ideas flow. If we allow Him to energize and stimulate our imaginations, the skys the limit as to what we can accomplish. Our minds will become incubators of the thoughts of God. Some in the Church have falsely taught that when we become Christians, we now operate in faith and no longer use our brains. The result leads to, at best, discouraging the use of our minds, imaginations, and creativity, and, at worst, shutting them down entirely or calling them evil. However, God has created us as spirit, soul, and body. God is in the process of sanctifying, or saving, our souls, including our minds, wills, and emotions. He has created us to learn to make choices that will honor Him, think thoughts that glorify Him, and feel His heart. He has not, as some insist, created us to be devoid of thoughts or emotions. On the contrary, God wants us to develop our imaginations and creativity. We can do this through the power of meditation, not in a perverted mystical manner, but in the biblical sense of the word. We can meditate or chew on (the biblical definition of the word) what God can do in us, through us, and for us. We can meditate on our dreams and the potential of our visions. The enemy and society has robbed us of the lost art of meditation in several ways. First of all, we are too busy to cultivate the practice of meditation. Our lifestyle keeps us running in what seems like a dozen directions at once. As if the demands of home werent enough, the pressures of work, church, and even
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entertainment can sometimes overwhelm even the most tireless individual. Second, the world in general has stolen the concept of meditation and twisted it to mean something the Bible does not teach. Third, the education system focuses on teaching children to memorize facts and does not often involve creative thought processes. Little is done to stimulate imagination or provoke thinking out of the box. Vision is a picture of what could be.12 If youre ever going to accomplish your dreams, its because youve seen them first. And I mean, like Disney, really seen them. By looking through the eyes of faith or visualizing your dreams, you can see what lies ahead, maintain focus, and plan for the future. This will assist you in facing adversity and overcoming obstacles. Maintaining focus makes all the difference in the world between achieving your dream and falling short of it. Heres an example: Suppose you were to take off from an airport at the equator, intending to circumnavigate the globe, but your course was off by just one degree. By the time you returned to the same longitude, how far off course would you be? A few miles? A hundred miles? The answer might surprise you. An error of only one degree would put you almost 500 miles (800 km) off course, or one hour of flight for a jet.13

AdamAn Example of Someone Who Lost Purpose

Adam offers us the perfect example of someone who lost focus. God gave Adam a mandate, a very clear directive to tend and keep the Garden Hed just created (see Gen. 2:15). Moreover, God gave Adam a set of definable boundaries by which to operate, both the permissible (see Gen. 2:16) and the impermissible (see Gen. 2:17). Adam received his lifes mission or purpose from these directives. But not long after, we read that Adam and his wife, Eve, sold themselves out for a lesser existence (see Gen. 3:16-19).
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GO D LY S U C C ES S Adam had evidently lost focus on the mandate or mission. After receiving his marching orders, he should have, as the head of the household, made certain his wife, Eve, understood exactly what was expected of them. He and Eve should have been in what I call the planning phase. They should have been discussing how they were going to implement this directive to tend and keep the Garden. Had they even inquired of the Lord on one of His daily visits to the Garden, Im sure He would have given them marvelous, creative ideas for the task at hand. During the planning phase, Adam should have known exactly who would be responsible for what and when each task would be performed. He should have had contingency plans and ideas for beautifying and expanding the Garden.

People with destiny will sacrifice immediate pleasures for long-term gains or futuristic feats.
Had he taken the vision to heart, had he made it become part of him, hed likely not have sold out so easily. By using the divisive strategy we spoke of earlier, satan presented another (counterfeit) offering. This prospect of the counterfeit appeared far greater than the original plan God had given Adam. People with destiny will sacrifice immediate pleasure for long-term gains or futuristic feats. They will not allow themselves to sell short for anything less than that for which they are striving. Had Adams desire to see the fulfillment of his destiny been greater than the temporal gratification that faced him, history may have been written entirely differently. It would be interesting to know if it was Gods intent for the original mandate to be the sole purpose of Adams life. Were there to be any additional plans? By this I mean that, if Adam had been successful in his first task or mission, would God have entrusted him with further assignmentspossibly expanding his destiny or
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purpose? We will never know the answer to that for certain, but we must not rule out the possibility that, if we fulfill that with which weve initially been entrusted, God can enlarge our own life vision. The Bible records that Adam lived to the ripe age of 930 years (see Gen. 5:5). One can only imagine that from the time Adam was expelled from the Garden until his death, he must have endured a most miserable existence. He knew that he had forfeited his original purpose in life and was now living a less than existence. One thing we never want to experience in life is to be driven from our garden, to fall short of that for which we were created. In our own lives, we certainly do not want to make Adams mistaketo settle for less than all God has for us.

Mistakes and the Past

Now would be an appropriate time to talk about dealing with mistakes and the past, since we know that Adam is not an isolated case in this regard. There is no way of telling whether Adam and Eve repented for their actions or if they ever asked God for another opportunity to prove themselves. We do know, however, that God does forgive and is willing to give second (and third and fourth and more!) chances. The topics of failure, sin, and mistakes fall way outside the realm of this book and rightly demand separate attention.

Our assessment of the past determines our perception of the future.

In the context of maintaining focus though, mistakes of the past come into play because our assessment of the past determines our perception of the future. If we have a tainted view of the past, theres no way well ever be able to keep clear focus on the future. Our faith glasses will forever be cloudy and opaque, providing little clarity toward a bright outlook.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S As one who has probably made more mistakes than many, allow me to offer some encouragement. In spite of anything youve ever done in the past, if your heart is one of genuine repentance, God can and will still see fit to use you. Do not allow the enemy to derail your future by telling you that you have disqualified yourself because of your past, by telling you that God could never use you or would cause you to forfeit your dream for your life. In the process of traditional photo development, after the snaps have been taken, essentially the negatives are placed into a chemical solution called a developer for a preset time. The photo is eventually developed from these negatives into what ultimately becomes the finished picture. Had it not been for the negative, we would not see the positive (photo). God specializes in taking the negative experiences of our lives and, if we allow Him, soaking them in the solution of His Word and prayer in order to turn them into positives for His glory. Im not saying that we should deliberately make mistakes so that He can mend them for us, but if and when we do, we should hand them over to Him. In His divine providence, God can take even the most seemingly horrific situations and turn them into the most beautiful results. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). Along those lines, it is never too late to change the direction of your life. When asked what they regret most in life, one of the top three things elderly folks invariably mention is that they wished they would have taken more risks. At the end of your life journey, beware you dont become one of these tragic statistics. Although we must be practical and use wisdom and should not just leave our jobs without a backup plan or stop paying our bills, we need to have a strategy to pursue that which we really love in our spare time.
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Another example, John Wesley, spent 53 years in tireless ministry. He hand wrote over 200 books, edited a magazine, and wrote dictionaries in four languages. He logged 250,000 miles crisscrossing England on horseback, averaging 20 miles per day. He preached between two and eight sermons a day for years, totaling over 40,000 sermons. He continued preaching and writing as late as age 83; at 86, he still preached twice daily.14 Corrie ten Boom, a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps and a Dutch evangelist, did not begin to travel around the world to preach until she was in her 60s. She continued her globetrotting, all the while preaching Gods powerful message of love and forgiveness, well into her 80s, in at least 20 countries.15 Paul put it this way when he wrote to the church at Philippi: Brethren, 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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14 KJV). Joshua and Caleb lived full lives and served as examples for all who were younger. As you may remember, they were the only two original Israelites who left the slavery of Egypt and entered the Promised Land. Both were about the same age, advanced in years at the time. On that landmark day, Caleb spoke these memorable words: Today I am eighty-five years old. I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then (Joshua 14:10-11 NLT). Not only did they lead the people, but they also could still travel and fight; that is, they had the ability to battle and wreak vengeance against the enemy.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S A classic poem by B.M. Franklin, entitled The Weaver, illustrates how God uses every event in our lives for His purposes and glory. In one stanza, the poem says, The dark threads are as needful, In The Weavers skillful hands As the threads of gold and silver In the pattern He has planned.16 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you (Joel 2:25 KJV). Notice that although God sent all these different types of insects, which destroyed the years of the people, He is the One who promises restoration of the years! Just continue to declare the words of Joshua and Caleb over yourself, that you, too, will be able to take your mountain despite (or because of!) your age. Hopefully, this chapter has provided some effective keys to maintaining focus. We live in a world with many challenges and distractions, which would easily throw us off course. Even something as innocent as watching too much television each day can take precious time away from our need to keep our focus on our destiny and purpose. Studies show that the average American watches over four hours of television daily, while millionaires might only watch that amount during a week.17 Imagine how productive we could be if we turned off the television for even an hour and spent that time working toward our dreams! The apostle Paul likens the Christian life to that of an Olympic athlete in training who has to beat his or her body in order to win the victory. Like the athlete, we must sacrifice and discipline ourselves if we expect to accomplish our goals. He provides us with another example of someone who managed to keep his focus and obtained the prize when it was all said and done. This enabled him to say, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Tim. 4:7).
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And what about you? Will you, along with Paul, be able to fight the good fight of faith? Will you be able to finish the course God has laid out for you? Will you run the race to the end? As you spend some time thinking about the challenges which lie before you, remember that you will be able to answer each of these questions with a resounding Yes! when you maintain focus.

Personal Notes:

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CHAPTER 6
Christian Character
A Container for the Anointing If messages were likened to food types, this would be called the vegetable chapterhard to eat, but really good for you. Charismatic and Pentecostal Christians typically dont speak much about the topic of character development. Wed far rather hear about the anointing, spiritual gifts, financial prosperityall subjects that benefit us. But when we hear topics like character development, which jeopardize our comfort zone and challenge the status quo, then suddenly, our enthusiasm dwindles. Society has taught that we all have our rights and that nobody can tell us what to do. So if we find ourselves in a church environment where the Word of God is spoken in a convicting manner, then well take our toys and go to another church, thank you! After all, who does that pastor think he is to tell me what to do?
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GO D LY S U C C ES S Im sorry, but if youre merely looking for another book that provides ten steps to instant prosperity or three suggested prayers to success, then this book is not for youyou will have no problem finding another on the bookstore shelf. This book is far more than offering principles for monetary or worldly successits about lives being changed.

God is more concerned about our character than He is about our comfort!
Our inherent tendency to gratify the flesh is one that is constantly looking to see what it can get for itself; its also one that is naturally opposed to change or correction. Its always looking to find the most comfortable route, the path of least resistance. However, God is more concerned about our character than He is about our comfort! And as Christians, we have to become active, aggressive, and ardent about subjecting and disciplining our fleshly desires in order for godly character to develop within us. This will take a unique breed of people, those who are more concerned about their character development than the material blessings they can get from God. This will require people who are prepared to endure discipline and who willingly place themselves in environments where they are constantly being challenged to better themselves. Make no mistakethis is not for the thin-skinned. And its for those that Ive written this book, those brave few who will do whatever it takes for Christ to become fully formed in themthe desired end result of our faith. Paul interceded this desire for the Galatians, My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you (Gal. 4:19 KJV). Jesus would not have been a likely speaking candidate at most of our modern church growth seminars. His approach was somewhat foreign to what we would consider good church growth
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strategies. Instead of trying to see how many people He could appease by saying just what He knew they wanted to hear or by making sure that He held safe and comfortable conversations with those who hung out with Him, He frequently confronted the condition of their hearts. He was notorious for saying things that chased people away. He made outrageous statements like, He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him (John 6:56). He lambasted the Pharisees and incited them to anger on several occasions with powerful accusations like the following: Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? (Matt. 23:33). Those who had the resolve to stick it out, however, became the men and women responsible for winning the world for Christ or turning the world upside down (see Acts 17:6). Jesus thus built upon character. Before we continue, let me provide some additional considerations and disclaimer statements. We should live by the full counsel of Gods Word, which means there should be an even distribution of encouragement, counsel, instruction, correction, chastisement, and rebuke in our spiritual diet. When all of these work harmoniously, this aids in character development. Constant rebuke leads to brokenness; constant correction leads to disheartening; constant encouragement leads to pride. I said in a previous chapter that when one is finished wielding ones sword, it should always be sheathed in love. This means that even if you bring a hard word, you do so in love. This advice holds true in the communication of this chapter. Although the content may appear to be somewhat harsh or direct, my intention is for your betterment and advancement. If you become easily offended or simply cannot tolerate a challenging word, then this chapter is definitely not for you, and you can skip to the next! Lastly, this chapter applies directly to me as well. In fact, Im standing first in line to receive this admonition.
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Keeping Your Word As Christians, our word should be our bond.

Someone I know who performed a contracting job for a church expansion project, started the job on agreed-upon terms, sealed by a handshake with the senior pastor. He was offering very favorable terms to accommodate the nonprofit organization. As the project commenced, however, the pastor in question began to change the terms, citing that what was initially agreed upon was not fair. He then denied the original terms and started to undermine this mans word in front of his workers. He even summoned his board to reprimand the contractor. The whole situation got ugly and when my friend wanted to just walk away from it all, he was slapped with a threatening lawyers letter. In the end he decided to suck up the loss and pay for all the materials and labor costs out of his own pocket. As a result of the losses incurred, this man lost his home to foreclosure and is still recovering from massive credit card debt. He said to me that he would never do business with a church organization again. Most people I know today will not do business with Christians. And I dont blame them. Just because we put a little fish emblem next to our company logo doesnt mean we are Christian companies. There is a lot more to it than that. And one of our greatest areas of lack is in keeping our word. As Christians, our word should be our bondone of the firstfruits of Christian character. Secular business practice dictates that all transactions be contractually based. As good as contracts are, the truth is that, for the right price and with the right lawyer, you can always find loopholes in them. The reality is that, if you change your mind after making an initial commitment, you can essentially be absolved of
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your responsibility. This is not only true in business, but in marriage as well. Gone are the days when I do meant for life and a business transaction was sealed with a handshake. We have to resort to pitiful measures in order to get people to take responsibility for their words. One Sunday morning service many years ago, Dr. Andre Pelser described how he petitioned God for the following: Lord, please give me more faith in Your Word. Immediately, a perceived response came to his spirit: Believe in your words more, and youll automatically believe in Mine more. Dr. Pelser went on to explain that were frequently careless with our words and often do not value them as we ought. Pelser gave the example of someone from church calling you up to invite you to dinner. To top it all off, its someone you dont really like. (Dont get all religious on me now, pretending you love everybody in your church and want to spend time with each one.) Your response is probably, Gee, thanks for the invite, but I think we have something on that night, let me ask the wife or something similar. You cup the phone and share the news with her, with an anguished expression on your face, Honey, so-and-so is inviting us for dinner. I told him I would ask you, but I really dont want to go. And your wife agrees! You get back on the phone and make a lame excuse, thank the person for thinking of you, and promise that youll get together soon. What youve just done is say one thing, but really mean another. This is but one example from daily life. The reality is that we often make these types of decisions and engage in these types of conversations. The end result is that we devalue our words by consistently saying one thing, but meaning another. Then when we go to read Scripture, because we dont believe our own words, we expect to suddenly have faith in Gods Word. What God was saying to Dr. Pelser was, in essence, that if we honor our own words and promises, we will believe He will
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GO D LY S U C C ES S follow through on His. One way Dr. Pelser suggested we remedy this disease is by following through with everything we say and being honest about what we feel. He says this will straighten us out very quickly. Take the same scenario again, where the dinner invite call comes. If you really dont like the family inviting you, you can do one of two things. Either you can develop a backbone and say, I dont really feel like it, or you can go. If you opt for the former, its highly likely that youll start changing your view of people, since theres only so much embarrassment you can endure. If you opt for the latter and follow through by going, you wont be so quick in the future to commit if you really do not want to go.1 One of the reasons Jesus words were so powerfulable to calm the seas (see Mark 4:35-40), kill trees at the root (see Mark 11:20-21), cause the lame to walk (see Matt. 11:5), and cleanse the lepers (see Mark 1:40)was because His whole being was in alignment. What this meant was that His words, emotions, thoughts, and actions were all in synchronous harmony with each other. Another way to put it is that He had a congruent confession. When He spoke, He meant what He said with all His heart, and He had already been living it. Charles Capps once said, I dont practice what I preach. You can imagine what his hearers thought of those words. He then followed up that statement by with, I preach what I practice.2 Charles Capps followed the example of Jesus. Jesus acted first and then spoke, or spoke and immediately followed up with an action. On one occasion, He fed a multitude of people (see Matt. 14:13-21) and followed it up with the statement, I am the bread of life (John 6:35). On another occasion, He declared, I am the resurrection and the life... (John 11:25), and followed up this bold statement by raising His deceased friend Lazarus from the dead. He met a woman at a well where she came daily for water and boldly proclaimed, Whoever drinks of the water that
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I shall give him will never thirst, then proceed to tell her everything about herself (John 4:14-17). We should do the same: act first, then talk; or back our speech up with evidenced actions. A friend of mine who now pastors a church in England was praying one morning. He jokingly and rather sheepishly tells how he asked God for deeper revelation, wisdom concerning complex matters, and similar requests, when the Lord told him, Johnny, I want you to take the fish symbol off your car until you can learn to drive like a Christian. Ouch! This lines up with what weve been sayinglive right and then speak.

The signature trait of the Christian life should be speak what you live.
The world is tired of hearing talk. As the expression goes, talk is cheap. Personally, Im not one for Christian bumper stickers, WWJD bracelets, fish logos, and the like. Id rather live an exemplary Christian life and, when asked what sets me apart, then open my mouth and proclaim the Gospel. Saint Francis of Assisi, who founded the Franciscan monks, put it this way: Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary, use words.3 This way, my words carry far more weight. The signature trait of the Christian life should be, Speak what you live.

Workplace Behavior Christians should be the standard by which all productivity is measured.
Since this book is written with the marketplace in mind, lets look at the expected conduct of a Christian in the workplace. Christians should be the standard by which all productivity is measured. We should be the ones who arrive at work first in the morning, leave last, and work hard in between. We should be known as the most industrious people in the workforce, willing
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GO D LY S U C C ES S to always go above and beyond the call of our normal duty. Our work should always be done with excellence, our conduct unrivaled, and our attitude impeccable. And all this, not to be seen by people, but because we recognize that everything were doing is as unto the Lord. This is the same admonition that Paul gives to all those who work for a master or employer: Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ (Eph. 6:5 NIV).

Our jobs are the medium God uses to get finances into our pockets.
We have to realize that our jobs are given to us by the Lord and that its our responsibility to steward them properly. We cannot expect God to bless us financially if were continually moaning and complaining about our jobsthey are the medium He uses to get finances into our pockets. Im going to make what is probably one of my most direct statements thus far: If you dont like your jobquit! Most peoples response to such a bold statement is, I cant. I need the money. In that case, stop being a hypocrite. If you rely on the paycheck, then stop criticizing your job, which pays the bills. God doesnt condone this type of behavior, but speaks quite strongly against it: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men (Col. 3:23 KJV). Instead of complaining about your occupation, do something proactive about it. Take some extracurricular studies or embark on an after-hours trade program. The possibilities for bettering yourself are endless, but you need to start doing something about your circumstances. Show God that you will take the necessary steps to improve yourself, and stop making excuses. The power to change your situation lies within your own hands. When you take the first step, God will meet you where youre at and provide the necessary resources.
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Ill be honest with you; personally, my paying job was not where I wanted to be long-term. The challenge for me, along with all who share the sentiment, was to keep a right attitude. I had to learn to go to work every day as unto the Lord and give a 110 percent. In the meantime, however, I also did something about pursuing the dreams that were in my heartthose things I really wanted to do. My hours after work were spent writing, ministering, and pursuing business ventures, among other things. But I wanted it to be said of me when I left my employment that I was one of the best workers and that thered be a loss when I left. If you adjust your attitude at work, I guarantee youll start to see changes. We neednt limit change and fulfillment to solely a new career; God can bring change in our existing situation. Im reminded of a man who cleaned restrooms for a living. Every day, he faithfully went to work and embraced the task of cleaning toilets. As part of this process, he had to get down on his hands and knees to ensure that each of the bowls was thoroughly sanitized. That was when he had a light bulb moment. What if, instead of being located on the floor, the toilet bowls could be vertically mounted on the wall? This way, there would be considerably less cleaning required due to the minimization of spillage. And the rest, as they say, is history. After patenting his new idea, the wall-mounted toilet was born. Needless to say, that gentleman became a very wealthy man. This story draws its success from the principle of having an excellent spirit amidst ones present circumstancesno matter how difficult or menial. We should, as part of our Christian character, constantly be looking for ways to better or improve our work environment. We should be making suggestions, coming up with ideas, and implementing new processes. Instead, most people join co-workers around the water cooler to complain about present conditions and gossip about others.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S Many Christians today are also guilty of stealing from their employers. This may sound like a harsh accusation, but youd be surprised at how many are to blame. How, you may ask? When we come to work late, leave early, take extended lunch breaks, or are simply idle, were guilty of stealing. We are paid for a certain amount of time and should be productive during those hours. Remember, You dont get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour.4 Another way some Christians steal from their employers is by witnessing at work. This one is deceptive because guilty parties believe theyre busy with the Lords work. But when youre at work, youre getting paid to do a job, not witness. Ive worked alongside Christians who have spent hours speaking to people about spiritual matters during work time. This gives the rest of Christians a bad rap. If you want to talk to co-workers about Christ, do so during your lunch break. Better still, set up a dinner or coffee appointment after hours. That way, your co-workers can see that you genuinely care enough about them to spend time with them outside of work.

There is no area so small in your life that it should go unchecked.

Taking any type of office supply from your employer is also theft. If you take any item home, such as a pen, pencil, notepad, or file, and use it for your personal needs, youre stealing. Some might call this being overly dramatic or being legalistic and nit-picky, but the truth is that God takes this stuff seriously. According to the wise counsel of Solomon, its the little foxes that spoil the vines (Song of Sol. 2:15). This means that frequently the little things in your life, if left uncorrected, eventually result in devastating consequences. Just ask anyone whos gone through a divorce. Divorced people will be the first to tell you that they did not reach that decision overnight. Their choice was an accumulation of actions (or the
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lack thereof) over time. Im not bashing anyone whos experienced this painful fate. I am simply making a point that there is no area so small in your life that it should go unchecked. Id like to encourage you with the following thought. If you steward your job effectively, God will ensure that increase will come in due season. This may come in the form of a bonus, a raise, a promotion, or a new position. Or it may come in the form of a lucrative idea. Christians should set a new standard in the marketplace. Whether you fix shoes or manage Fortune 500 companies, your modus operandi should be with integrity and character you should be known as a person of excellence. Your co-workers and bosses should know that if they want the job done right the first time, you should be the first one they look to. For those of you fortunate enough to own your own company, the word in your city should be that people want to do business with you. People should willingly drive across town, bypassing other businesses that offer the same service or product, just to get to your store doors. You should exceed peoples expectations by over-delivering on your initial word. Im telling you, friend, youll see a quiet revolution take place in the workforce if every believer adopts this type of work ethic.

Faithfulness
Another aspect of Christian character is faithfulness. The word faithful and its derivatives appear 130 times in Scripture.5 There is no mistaking that God views the quality of faithfulness very highly. Many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? (Prov. 20:6 NIV). Yet sadly today, faithfulness is sorely lacking as a character trait. We live in a world where everyone wants to get their stuff as quickly as possibleits the instant results syndrome (IRS) we spoke of earlier. When we decide that weve been at a particular location long enough and that we are overdue for promotion, then well
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GO D LY S U C C ES S manipulate necessary change. That location could be anything from a job to a ministry. Ive seen countless people throughout the years launch into ministry prematurely. In their own eyes, they believed they had been sufficiently faithful, and it was due time for promotion. Instead, they should have continued in faithfulness and waited on the Lord for His timing, as Scripture exhorts: And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Gal. 6:9 KJV). My friend, you can be certain of one thingGod will not forget you. Although the wait may be long, in His perfect time, when He knows youre ready, reward will come. After all, promotion always stems from God. As it is written, For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south (Ps. 75:6 KJV). You may recall the account of Davids recognition in First Samuel 16. The Lord instructed the prophet Samuel to anoint one of Jesses sons to be the next king of Israel. When the prophet arrived at Jesses abode, the sons were all lined up before him, except for one, David. One by one, as the prophet stood before each one, the instruction of the Lord was clear: This is not the one. As Samuel moved from candidate to candidate, he judged by external appearance and assumed that certainly this would be the chosen one. Finally, after he had passed by them all, and a king was still lacking, the prophet asked if there were any more sons in Jesses household (see 1 Sam. 16:11). As an afterthought, Jesse informed the prophet that there was one other son who was in the field tending sheep. David was summoned before Samuel the prophet and anointed as king, and eventually he became one of the most notable and loved kings in Israels history.

Unless you can learn to be faithful with another persons dream, you wont be faithful with your own.
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Im sure that often, prior to that significant day, David must have felt forgotten about or overlooked. Yet God remembered his faithfulness and took unusual measures to meet him where he was. God knows where youre at. And if youll continue in faithfulness, Hell take the same measures to reach you in your domain. Now if youre being suppressed, thats another story, but Im sure you can discern the heart of your leaders. If they have your best interests at heart and have not yet elevated you, then you must trust God that in His time, promotion will come. (If you are being suppressed or manipulated, Id recommend you get out of that abusive, suppressive environment as quickly as possibletheres a difference between a lid and a covering.) Remember, unless you can learn to be faithful with another persons dream, you wont be faithful with your own. And if you have not been faithful in what is another mans, who will give you what is your own? (Luke 16:12).

The advent of riches will not instantaneously change your character.

Scripture provides a fascinating insight into the mind of Christ regarding the quality of faithfulness. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much (Luke 16:10). In many regards, this is opposite to our innate thought process. Ive heard innumerable people insist that when they get more, theyll be more faithful. There are a plethora of examples, but the one that comes to mind is the classic example of tithing. How many times have you heard it said, When I get more, or If I win the lottery, Ill start tithing? No, you wont! If you arent faithful in tithing right now, you wont be when you get more. Jesus refers to this principle when He says that he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much (Luke 16:10). The advent of riches will not instantaneously change your character. If you are not being
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GO D LY S U C C ES S faithful in an area today, theres no external force that will change you tomorrow. Many years ago, while living with my folks, I had lofty aspirations of success and grandeur in Christ. Ill never forget the day I had just finished praying about God using me to impact nations and reach continents. My mother walked into my room and immediately ordered, Tidy your closet. Those firmly-spoken words thundered in my ears for eternity and taught me a valuable lesson that day. God would not use me to do any of the above unless I was first faithful with the little things with which He had already entrusted me. You may be asking God for promotions and more material goods, but what are you doing with what you have today? What is the state of your closets? How does your yard look? Is it a good witness for Christ on your block? How are you managing your current job, the one you dont really like? Learn to be faithful with what you have today, and God will provide the increase tomorrow. God is looking for trustworthy and reliable men and women. Im reminded of the story of a gentleman who had prayed for many years to be used by God in some capacity. Year in and year out, he would faithfully wake up each morning, sit on his sofa, and pray the same prayer, Lord, please use me. After years of this same prayer, he finally got a bit frustrated about not being used to the degree he wished. As the story goes, the gentleman heard the following, Maybe you havent been used the way youd like, but if I ever need you, Ill know where to find you. This paints a beautiful picture of the benefit of faithfulness. Wouldnt it be comforting to know that, through our faithfulness in the various areas of our lives, God would know where to find us? If youve made it this far, youre doing well. This is typically not the type of teaching heard from the majority of pulpits today. Yet its the breakfast of champions, the type of instruction that
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great men and woman willingly navigate toward. So lets take a look at another facet of Christian character, discipline.

Discipline
The word discipline derives its origin from the same Greek word as the word disciple. As disciples of Christ, we should be disciplined; its part and parcel of the Christian faith. Many are opposed to the concept, citing that grace supersedes this responsibility. On the contrary, even the great apostle Paul exhibited this character trait: But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified (1 Cor. 9:27). Paul understood the value of discipline. Most successful people Ive dealt with maintained disciplined lifestyles. Just ask any professional athlete what the cost was to get to the top of the game. The crowds in the rafters see the culmination of years of discipline behind the scenes. The storys been told that a fan once asked Jack Nicklaus what it took to make him one of the best golfers in history. Supposedly Jacks response was, Its really easy; all you have to do is practice eight hours a day for ten years. If that is true, talk about discipline! Discipline, as we know, is far broader in scope than just athletics or sports and encompasses all areas of life. It includes, but is not limited to, our thinking, our prayer lives, our Bible reading and study, our health, and our finances or spending habits. Although each of these is self-explanatory, I would like to touch briefly on the discipline of our thought lives. Because all discipline originates in the mind, if youre undisciplined in your thinking, your world will show it. You must first realize that disciplining your mind or thoughts is not optional, but a command. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV).
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GO D LY S U C C ES S And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2 KJV).

Whatever we give thought to, well eventually act upon.

We must stop using futile excuses for our foolish behavior and cease blaming the devil or others for our wrong actions. Most behavioral problems originate from a lack of mental discipline. Remember this: whatever we give thought to, well eventually act upon. People who get into trouble doing irrational deeds thought about their actions long in advance. A bank robber doesnt just suddenly find himself in a bank with a ski mask on and a gun in his hand, yelling, Give me your money or else! No, the deed first originated as a seed from an initial thought. The thought, unchecked, grew into an action. Remember the story of a man named Cain? (See Genesis 4:1-12.) Cain was jealous of his brother Abel. The Lord cautioned him that sin is crouching at your door [of your heart] (Gen. 4:7 NIV), which meant that like believers today, Cain had to fend off the evil thoughts that wanted to permeate his soul. In other words, Cain had to practice the discipline to ensure that not only the wrong thoughts were dispelled, but also that right thoughts prevailed. Ive heard it said that you cant stop the birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from making a nest in your hair, which simply means that thoughts might pass over us, but that does not mean they need to land in our minds. How can we achieve this? The answer is to heed Pauls advice in taking every thought captive (see 2 Cor. 10:5). Sadly, Cain ignored the Lords counsel and eventually killed his brother (see Gen. 4:8). Cains jealousy went unchecked and evolved into a murderous action. We can safeguard against wrong
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thinking by being cognizant of the fact that our thought lives will inevitably evolve into action. We should constantly be asking ourselves if weor more importantly, Godwould be pleased with the manifestation of our thoughts. We must remember that what we think today, well live tomorrow. This is why the Bible encourages us to focus our thoughts on the following subject matters: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8 KJV). The discipline of ones mind is not for the sole purpose of warding off detrimental thoughts; it can yield rewarding consequences as well. The greatest minds of history all share the commonality of discipline. One anonymous quote explains, Its not the work thats hard, its the discipline. Vincent Lombardi once said, Ive never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didnt appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something good in men that really yearns for discipline.6 Galileo Galilei (February 15, 1564January 8, 1642), the famous Italian astronomer, philosopher, and physicist, perhaps began the Scientific Revolution. In part, we can credit his success to his disciplined thought life. History refers to him as the father of modern astronomy, the father of modern physics, and the father of science. Well-known for his great and deep thinking ability, he established the scientific method still used today. His work was the first great expansion on the scientific capabilities of Aristotle, who was Galileos predecessor by over 1,600 years. He was surrounded with controversy, rooted in part on his disagreement with the Catholic church and his strong adherence to the Word of God. However, in 1992, Pope John Paul II vindicated him when he issued an apology and lifted the sanction of Inquisition against Galileo.7
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All success is preceded by a period of discipline.

Let us remember that discipline, like all other aspects of character, is a learned practice that requires effort. Two definitions of the word emphasize its realization by consistent exertion and effort: Training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character; and control gained by enforcing obedience or order.8 Be encouraged that, although elusive, the rewards will followall success is preceded by a period of discipline. Before I conclude this chapter, lets clarify what it means to have character (as opposed to being a character!) and tie this into the theme of Godly Success.

Character Defined What It Is and What It Is Not

In order to understand what character is, we need to distinguish between the following attributes of people. As humans, we possess personalities, character, gifting, and talents. Differentiating between them will also avoid a wrong perception of each.

Personality
Lets look at personality first. According to Merriam-Websters Dictionary, two definitions of the word are: the complex of characteristics that distinguishes an individual and the totality of an individuals behavioral and emotional characteristics. What both of these definitions have in common is that personality is unique to each individual. There are no two individuals on the face of the Earth who have the same personalities. As unique as our fingerprints are, so too are our personalities. Thats a good thing. God revels in diversity. Life would be boring if we all
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acted the same, thought the same, spoke the same, and laughed the same. Personality is really the way we express ourselves. God is infinitely concerned about our personalities. He wants us to be expressive and to interact well with others, to be funny, charismatic, and so forthall of the things we associate with personality. Nothing is wrong with this at all, but (and heres the catch) personality should not be on our list when assessing people. What do I mean when I say assess? First of all, the assessment or judgment Im speaking of is not the negative kind against which Scripture warns, Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged (Matt. 7:1-2). This type of destructive judgment is where we put ourselves in a position whereby we presume to know the motives of someone elses heart. The kind of judgment Im referring to is that spoken of in the Gospel of John: Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment (John 7:24). Judging in this manner allows us to accurately discern where people are at. What do I mean by this? Well, lets assume theres a lovely Christian lady seeking a godly Christian husband. Most of you will agree that it is her responsibility to discern where the men are at who approach her. If she makes her assessment based on the wrong criteria, in this case, personality alone, Im sure youll agree that our lady friend could be in big trouble. There are so many Mr. Smooth-talkers out there who know just enough Christianese to impress. They may have what many would consider great personalities, but are sorely lacking in character. When you choose a church, if you assess the pastor based solely on gifting, or yes, even based on anointing, potential danger lies ahead. The same is true of any other persona-based assessment in lifeif its exclusively personality-based, you could be in trouble.
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Gifting and Talent

For the purpose of this book, Ive grouped the qualities of gifting and talent together. Gifting is exactly thata gift. And the same is true for talent; its a gift that you are born with. Its an affinity youve had since childhood, a natural tendency to do something well. Gifts can be both natural, as in artistic ability, musical gifting, athleticism, and so forth, or they can be spiritual. The spiritual gifts Im referring to can be found in the Book of First Corinthians and include wisdom, knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, different types of tongues, and interpretation of tongues (see 1 Cor. 12:8-10). The topic of gifts can span countless pages. This much I will stateyou can develop your gifts. You have a responsibility to grow your natural and spiritual gifts and talentseven though theyre gifts. Do not neglect the gift that is in you (1 Tim. 4:14). There is a vast difference between the people who have taken the time and effort to develop their giftings and the people whove done nothing about theirs. The Bible tells us that our gifts will make way or room for us (see Prov. 18:16). This means that as we collaborate with God in our gift development and expansion, people will recognize our gifting and accommodate us accordingly. Finally, with regard to assessing people based on this criterionits not a factor! At least it shouldnt be! This is especially important because this is where many people miss it. Wed all agree that numerous rock stars, actors and actresses, athletes, and other notables who have attained stardom possess excessive talent. Whats more, most of them have taken extensive amounts of time and effort to develop their talents, sadly more than most Christians. Consequently, droves of people idolize these celebrities. Why? Because of talent! America is notorious for this hero worship and equating the talent of these celebrities with their character.
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We find this phenomenon in the Church also. Ive seen it time and againthose with an extremely strong gifting in all types of areas, such as preaching, praise and worship, or the working of miracles, are placed on pedestals and often worshiped. If theres one thing we need to be very aware of, its to not base our assessment of people on their gifting. The reason Im belaboring the point so is because Jesus explicitly gave the same warning. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect (Matthew 24:11,24 KJV). We spoke about this in a previous chapter, but I think it bears repeating here. In the above Scriptures, Jesus warns of false prophets who will arise in the end times. These are men and women who will perform mighty counterfeit signs and wonders. If we measure their character using gifting as our yardstick, were in grave danger of deception. Notice, though, what Jesus says in the following verse: You will know them by their fruits (Matt. 7:16). According to Jesus, we must assess people, not by their gifting, not by their talent, not by their personality, but by their fruit. Fruit and character are synonymous, which brings us to character.

Character
One definition of the word might be the aggregate of distinctive behavior qualities/traits of an individual.9 Personally, I like this definition because of the word aggregate. The math buffs among us will inform us that to obtain an aggregate, youd first need the sum or total. This implies that in order to get the sum or total, you would observe someone over a period of time. In effect, the behavior over time is the most important consideration when assessing someones character. Its all well and good to have
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GO D LY S U C C ES S a one-time encounter with people and have them be polite and courteous. But youll not be able to determine an accurate indication of who they really are if you base your estimation of their character upon a one-time meeting. You really want to observe people over a period of time to see how they handle tough times in their lives and to see how they behave when their spouses are out of town. You want to see what type of people they become when they encounter money, since: A mans treatment of money is the most decisive test of his characterhow he makes it and how he spends it.10 This is a big one: how many of you know some people who have unexpectedly come into money? Suddenly the church, Christians, and spiritual matters take a lower spot on the priority list. Maybe you are one of those readers today. You picked this book up thinking it would be another book about getting richer or becoming more successful. Yet, somehow, youve not been able to put it down. I implore you today to return to the Lord! God wants you to be wealthy, but not at the expense of your soul. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? (Mark 8:36). Basically, we want to observe people as they experience the full spectrum of life. The truth is that we can put up a faade in front of others, but it can only last for so long before our true colors come to the surface. Thats when the real person will be exposed. As the saying goes, You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.11 Character is, in essence, who we really are. Again, according to Bible parlance, its the fruit we produce. The Bible is also clear about what type of fruit we should be producing. Just as there are nine spiritual gifts (see 1 Cor. 12:8-10), so too are there nine fruits, otherwise described as the character manifestations God expects from us. They are love, joy, peace, longsuffering (or
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patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance (or self-control) (see Gal. 5:22-23). These should form the foundational traits of Christian character. And according to Scripture, these behavioral qualities all find their root or origin in the Holy Spirit. When discussing character, there is one thing we must all be aware ofcharacter is developed. This means that we cant pray for it today and receive it tomorrow. This should serve to encourage us because who we are today will hopefully not be who we are tomorrow. I say hopefully because that is Gods intent. But unfortunately, not everyone is willing to embrace the necessary change to bring about godly character. Oh yes, I must mention that character is usually developed through any or all of the following: hardship, correction, discipline, and submission. Thats why I said earlier that God is more concerned about our character than our comfort because, invariably, to acquire godly character will involve a disturbance in our comfort level. Back that up scripturally, some might say. Look again at the list of character qualities or fruit were supposed to display. We regrettably dont have enough time to discuss each in detail, but lets quickly highlight three of them. Take longsuffering, otherwise known as patience. There are probably many definitions of the word, but a simple one could be godly contentment in our current situation. This involves two very interesting dynamics to the word. First, longsuffering or patience is not at work if the situation is generally pleasant. In other words, we cant say, Im practicing patience, while sitting on a deck chair in Hawaii. Second, in addition to an unpleasant situation, we might be forced to endure the situation for a considerable length of timeor else it would not be patience. God will put us in situations that may be uncomfortable to allow our character to be formed. As I said before, when facing an adverse situation, we can choose to either get better or bitter. The sooner we yield to
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GO D LY S U C C ES S God and choose to weather the storm with the right attitude, the sooner our redemption will come. Then theres peace. Contrary to popular reasoning, peace is not the absence of conflict; it is a state of mind amidst difficulty. The most accurate representation of the word Ive seen is a picture of a beautiful little flower alongside a mighty waterfall. Its easy to say, I have peace, when all is well, but what is our mental state when the odds are stacked against us? Peace is supernatural, which means that it is a quality of God that we choose to tap into. Again, its something we learn and can grow in. There are things I face today that years ago would have made me a basket case. I have learned and continue to learn that when I keep my mind stayed or fixed on Him during hardships or trials, He provides peace (see Isa. 26:3-4). Although this isnt a study about the fruit of the Spirit, I wanted to make you aware of the fact that character development takes time and effort and may involve some discomfort. Theres one definition of character that I really like: character is the ability to endure pressure. Those in the know will inform us that testing water pipes involves exerting pressure. Placing the water pipes under extreme pressure exposes the weak or vulnerable areas immediately. God will allow His children to endure some pressure in life so that their weak areas can be exposed. Not for His knowledgeHe already knows. Its for our good, so we can take them to Him in prayer in order for the Lords strength to be made perfect in our weaknesses. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9 KJV). Probably the main reason we should desire a godly character is that character is the container of the anointing. God will pour or place His anointing upon men and women of character. When the Kingdom of God starts to manifest itself through us in the form of upright behavior or character and God decides to honor
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Christian Character
A Container for the Anointing

that life by pouring His anointing upon it, watch out, world! When character and anointing combine, there will be an explosion of the God-kind. To demystify the concept of anointing, Im not talking about jumping up and down in an aisle or shaking vigorously. The anointing Im referring to is simply divine enablement. The efforts of God, superimposed upon ours, will enable us to do more than is humanly possible. Throughout this chapter, Ive highlighted just a few aspects of Christian characterkeeping ones word, correct conduct in the workplace, faithfulness, discipline, and, obviously, the fruit or actions of a Spirit-led life. Of course, there are many other facets that we havent yet spoken of, such as forgiveness, courteousness, purity, and so forth. For now, however, these should suffice.

If we practice good character in private, well avoid embarrassment in public.

In summary then, character is about who we are and how we behave in privatewhen no one else is around to see. There should be no difference between our personal and public lives. If we practice good character in private, well avoid embarrassment in public. Its a shame that society doesnt reward character more. Instead, people are obsessed with others gifting and talents. Wouldnt it be great if we could hear remarks such as, Hes my hero because he keeps his word, or Shes a celebrity because of her meekness. Most of the people the public reveres today are laden with talent, but lacking in character. We place people on pedestals that practice the vilest acts, live the most immoral lifestyles, yet sing, dance, act, ordare it be even saidpreach. That, I believe, is about to change. God is rising up a new breed of people who will inhabit the marketplace and permeate society. These are men and women whove willingly placed themselves on the character development operation table behind the scenes and
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GO D LY S U C C ES S over the years. These are people who have character woven into the core of their beings and integrity flowing through their veins; these same will not sell themselves out for temporal gain at the expense of their reputation. They wont try to make a quick buck by compromising their integrity. Its these folks who are about to be revealed to the world. God is about to take ordinary people who have been overlooked by others, passed over by peersmen and women who are seemingly insignificant in the eyes of others, yet whose lives exemplify Christian characterand He is going to do extraordinary things with them. God can make someone instantly successful, but He cant make someone instantly full of character or integrity. Are you willing to develop Christian character?

Personal Notes:

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Christian Character
A Container for the Anointing

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GO D LY S U C C ES S

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CHAPTER 7
Money Matters
It Really Does! Is it a sin to be rich? Are we allowed to buy nice things? If we are wealthy, is there a potential danger of becoming materialistic? Am I allowed to pray that God blesses me financially? Christians have a multitude of questions about money and especially the role money plays for them. These are real questions for a real world! Throughout this chapter, well discover what the Bible has to say about money. And believe me, what it has to say will astound many! Jesus spoke more about money than He did any other topic, second only to the Kingdom of God. Yet most people are only familiar with what they hear from the pulpit when its offering time or what they see on television when preachers try to raise funds for their program. These examples portray only one side of a multifaceted and extremely broad topic. This is a shame. When
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GO D LY S U C C ES S most people think of money in a Christian context, they believe that God wants their money, when really, as stated before, theres far more to it than that. Before we get into the various facets of money itself, Im going to start out by taking a somewhat unusual approach to the topic of moneygetting to the heart of the matter. In the first chapter of the book, I stressed that prosperity is far more than mere financial gain. I went on to explain that all prosperity originates in the heart, citing that its Gods intent that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2). According to this verse, there is a direct correlation between internal prosperity (soul) and external prosperity (all things). Some might ask if the heart and money are related. And I would say, absolutely! Thats why I said earlier that we are getting to the heart of the matter. Many folks are of the opinion that money itself can make one happy. That is not a true statement. As well learn later, money is only a tool, but it is powerless to provide happiness. It can definitely make your life more comfortable, but comfort does not bring happiness either. If youre a miserable person today without excess cash, do not think for one moment that having a few extra zeros at the end of your bank account will make you a happier person. To paraphrase Third John 2, external prosperity originates from within. Earlier, I highlighted how that occursby a relationship with God through the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. Its not only worldly folks who have this misconception, but many Christians fall into the same trap of thinking that money or things will bring happiness.

Money or mammon is only one piece of the prosperity puzzle.

Prosperity is far more than mere financial gain, and it encompasses the full spectrum of lifeour souls, spiritual lives, social interaction, health, and, of course, finances. What good is it if
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It Really Does!

youre financially prosperous, yet your health is deteriorating or you have no social life? Money or mammon is only one piece of the prosperity puzzle, and Im on a personal crusade to make the Church aware of this. For too long, weve endured prosperity teachings that are solely fiscally related. To some degree, that would still be acceptable were it not always in the context of giving. Anytime the church members are ever exposed to the teachings of money, leadership is invariably soliciting for funds. Then they haul out all the famous giving Scriptures. The believer is led to believe that their 1,000-fold increase, or seven-times multiplication, or who knows what other number of blessings is on its wayif they will only be obedient and give. No wonder many hold the popular perception that all preachers want is our money. To provide balance to what Ive just said, we must recognize has God called His ministers to live by faith or to be dependent upon the giving of believers to supply their financial needs. For the Scripture says, Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain, and The worker deserves his wages (1 Tim. 5:18 NIV). In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it (1 Cor. 9:14 NLT). Also, it is absolutely true that if we give, we shall receive. This is an indisputable fact. Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom (Luke 6:38 KJV). Heres where I do believe the Church is in error, though. Many Christians falsely believe that money brings happiness. When churches or ministries prey on this desire, error is prevalent. In addition, many of the messages on giving today allude to the potential of quick gains. The thought or at least the implication is, Just give right now, and in the next so many days your miracle will manifest.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S A biblical teaching will first of all instruct that prosperity encompasses more than monetary gain. Second, riches do not bring happiness. Third, the topic of money is far broader in scope than giving and receiving alone; it encompasses stewardship, using money as a tool, the purpose of wealth, and many other aspects of finances. Fourth, and probably most important, God is not in the get-rich-quick business. An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed (Prov. 20:21 KJV). Well discuss this more in detail at a later stage, but for now we can know that we should avoid any message, program, or opportunity that offers the promise of getting rich quickly, as it is not biblical.

Money, in and of itself, is neutral.

One of the most essential truths to note is that money, in and of itself, is neutral. It is a commodity like any other and can be used for good or evil. What I mean by this is that money will take on the form of the one handling it. In other words, the heart of the person handling money will determine the use to which it is put. For example, if someone had a nasty drug addiction and came into some cash, guess where the money would go? Conversely, if someone with a correct biblical understanding about wealth were to handle cash, that person would undoubtedly put the money to better use, ranging from such initiatives as taking care of personal needs to advancing Kingdom matters. Again, money itself is neutral and can be used for good or evil, depending on the heart condition of the one handling it. We need to grasp the importance of this concept because it will dispel the false notion that money is evil and that Christians should be poor. Through this false dogma, satan has successfully robbed the people of God from becoming the financial force in the Earth that God initially intended. Were now at the mercy of the world to lend us money. Many Christians cant even pay their
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It Really Does!

bills each month, let alone fund Kingdom initiatives. Instead, the Church should be the lenders and not the borrowers. The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of His bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom (Deuteronomy 28:12-13 NIV). We should be the ones the world turns to for financial aid and advice. This erroneous doctrine finds its root, pun intended, in the following familiar verse: The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10 KJV). Upon closer examination of the verse, the reader will quickly note that it is the love of money, otherwise known as greed, that is the root of all evil and not the money itself. Again, greed and lust are heart issues. Thats why I started this chapter out by addressing the heart. Whats interesting about greed is that it can exist with or without the presence of money; it is no respecter of persons, whether they be rich or poor. Its very common for someone who doesnt have two pennies to rub together to be consumed with greed. On the other end of the spectrum, someone who has a surplus of cash can have an insatiable desire for more. So whether you have money or not, you can still have a heart of voracity, again demonstrating that its not the money itself which determines evil, but rather the heart of the one handling it.

The heart will always dictate the lifestyle embarked upon when cash is freely available.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S One of the most accurate litmus tests you can perform to test the motives of other peoples hearts is to give them money; that is when their true colors will come to the fore. If they abandon restraint and pursue materialistic priorities, their hearts were wicked all along. The heart will always dictate the lifestyle embarked upon when cash is freely available. Material wealth is either a window through which we see God or a mirror in which we see ourselves.1

On the road to financial prosperity, we have to first undergo a heart change.

Because of this close relationship between the heart and money, God places a strong emphasis on ensuring that the hearts of His children are changed prior to blessing them. Like a loving Father, God would rather see that we live sparsely until our hearts are changed instead of freely bestowing wealth upon us at the expense of our souls. We have often seen people whose hearts are not right acquire a fortune and abandon their faith. If God is ever going to bless us financially, Hes going to first get ahold of our hearts. In other words, on the road to financial prosperity, we have to first undergo a heart change. Its the capacity principle we spoke of earlier. God wants to ensure we have the necessary capacity within us to handle that with which He wants to entrust us. This heart change encompasses the manifold aspects of wealth and riches and in complete form will ensure alignment with biblical concepts. When we begin to grasp and implement the full array of Gods financial principles, wealth will be knocking at the door. Jesus said it this way: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you (Matt. 6:33). As we discussed earlier in the book, pursuing Gods Kingdom is not a mystical, almost unachievable notion; its understanding the principles of Kingdom operation. Just as there
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It Really Does!

are laws that govern our physical universe, so, too, are there laws governing the operation of Gods Kingdom. When we pursue the knowledge of these laws and apply them, were seeking Gods Kingdom. And the promise is given that, for the individuals who do so, materialistic rewards (all these things) will follow. Another pertinent Scripture that corroborates the relationship between the internal, in this case the mind, and the external is, For as [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he (Prov. 23:7 KJV). Talk about powerful! The state of our minds can dictate the type of lifestyle we lead. I make it my mission in life to think upon what God says about me. And He has some pretty good things to say! I refuse to think less of myself than who I am in Christ. Way before I ever amassed my first million, started my first business, wrote a book, or preached a sermon, I was already walking around as if I had achieved these goals. I declare every day that Im tomorrows empire-builder, that Im a Kingdom-financier, and that greatness is within me, waiting to be unleashed. Im walking around with dreams and vision that would make the most wealthy and affluent shudder, dreams that are going to revolutionize the way we conduct business and ministry in the 21st century. Thats why I like to hang around with people of faith, people whose minds have been enlarged, potential thinkers tuned into perpetual possibilities, men and women who will not limit me, but assist in the enlargement of my vision. The promise that the wealth of the wicked will be transferred into the Kingdom of God (see Prov. 13:22) is not for the faint-hearted. Its going to take men and women who know their position in Christ to get the job done. Anyone with a poverty mentality or suffering from the Im a worm syndrome will not be included in the lineup of potential candidates. Does God get any glory from seeing His people downtrodden and impoverished? Imagine how it looks to people in the world when they see a beat-up old vehicle, held together with duct tape, with a bumper sticker stating, My God shall supply all my needs according to
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GO D LY S U C C ES S His riches in glory by Christ Jesus? (See Philippians 4:19.) Now Im not criticizing those who have such vehicles; all Im saying is that it doesnt say much about the God we serve. Why would the world want to serve an insolvent God, one whose children are always lacking? This is no testimony of His greatness or His goodness. If a person is going to sell me something, it had better be something that adds value or enhances my life; thats marketing 101. Why do we think that the nations would respond positively when we portray a poor God to the world?

Wealth, a Testimony of Gods Provision

This brings us to one of the primary reasons for wealth, namely to testify of Gods provision. Really, this rationale also answers the question, Does God want His children to be wealthy? And the answer, of course, is yes, He does. God gets the glory when His children prosper. Of course I say that with the side note that they also administer their finances wisely and acknowledge their source. But well talk about that in more detail later. For now, though, lets look at some examples from Scripture of how God was glorified through the prosperity of His children. When studying the lives of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph), one thing soon becomes plainly obviousthey were all extremely wealthy. And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold (Gen. 13:2). The Book of Genesis is very clear that Abraham lived a very wealthy lifestyle, which included camels, donkeys, silver, gold, servants, and more! The modern-day equivalent would be a fleet of the finest automobiles, servants, riches, and a mansion. Abraham plundered the riches of heathen nations when he battled a group of kings (see Gen. 14). Other Scriptures substantiate that Abraham was recognized as an extremely wealthy man (see Gen. 20:14).
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Money Matters
It Really Does!

Isaac continued in the blessing of the Lord with Gods hand on his life and was also a wealthy man in his own right. Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him (Gen. 26:12). Jacob provides another powerful example of Gods prosperity. While he worked for his Uncle Laban, the man changed Jacobs wages several times. Despite Labans dishonesty, Gods favor was on Jacob, and he amassed a great amount of wealth during that time. So the weak animals went to Laban and the strong ones to Jacob. In this way the man grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys (Genesis 30:42b-43 NIV). Jacob grew exceedingly prosperous. God continued the promise of blessing over Jacobs life (see Gen. 35:11-12). After Josephs difficulties, God exalted him so that he was the second-in-command of what was, at the time, the wealthiest kingdom on Earth. He was afforded the riches and honor that accompanied that title (see Gen. 41:43). Joseph eventually used these riches and his position to save the rest of his family from what would have been certain starvation. Many consider Solomon the granddaddy of wealth. Solomon really had an encounter with God. God asked Solomon a thought-provoking question: If you only had one petition, what would it be? Solomon responded by asking for wisdom; a response that clearly pleased God. So God replied, Because you have asked for wisdom in governing My people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemiesI will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and
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GO D LY S U C C ES S understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! And I will also give you what you did not ask forriches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life (1 Kings 3:11-13 NLT). Again, we can see the correlation between Solomons heart and the material blessings he received. When we ask for internal change, it can bring about external prosperity, just as we read in Third John.

When God gets ahold of your heart, it will affect your bank accounts.
If Solomon were alive today, hed make the fortune of Bill Gates look like pocket change. Make no mistake; when God gets ahold of your heart, it will affect your bank accounts. The following verses tell of Solomons yearly income. The weight of gold that came to Solomon yearly was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold, besides that from the traveling merchants, from the income of traders, from all the kings of Arabia, and from the governors of the country (1 Kings 10:14-15). Some scholars estimate the value of these talents of gold at almost $300 million.2 Again, that was his yearly income. This wealth was not only prevalent in the lives of the patriarchs, but we also see it throughout the Old Testament community of Gods people, namely the Israelites. God used His people as a monument and testimony of His goodness and prosperity. The Israelites were symbols of Gods abundance, blessing, and provision to the entire world! When the heathen nations of the Earth looked upon them, there was no mistaking that a supernatural, all-powerful God was looking out for them. The land that was promised to them offers a wonderful example. Known in Scripture as the Promised Land, the Bible states that it was a
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place flowing with milk and honey (Num. 13:27). Simply put, it was a land of excess abundance. One account mentions the fruit that grew in the land. Moses sent 12 spies from the Israelite camp to spy out the land they were about to possess. While on their expedition, Scripture states, Then they came to the Valley of Eschol, and there cut down a branch with one cluster of grapes; they carried it between the two of them on a pole (Num. 13:23). No matter how you dissect or interpret this verse, the end result is the samethe fruit of the land was big! It took two full-grown men to carry one cluster or bunch of grapes. Your local supermarket produce department would have a field day with fruit that size. If God was stingy or wanted His people living in abject poverty, why would He have given them a land that overflowed with abundance? This was not an isolated case; the Israelite people had always enjoyed His provision. Throughout their journeys, there was supernatural supply of food and water. I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God. And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp: and in the morning the dew lay round about the host.I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel (Exodus 16:12-13; 17:6 KJV). Their clothes never wore out. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years (Deut. 8:4 NIV). Even when the children of Israel left Egypt, they plundered their enemies wealth.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S The Israelites did as Moses instructed and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold and for clothing. The Lord had made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people, and they gave them what they asked for; so they plundered the Egyptians (Exodus 12:35-36 NIV). In addition, they walked in divine health: If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give hear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you (Exodus 15:26). God bestowed a multitude of other blessings upon them as well. Some might say, Maybe all those blessings are only meant for Old Testament times; does the same apply today? The answer is a resounding yes! The Bible says that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). Simply put, He doesnt change. If He meant to bless His people then, He means to bless them today. And if Gods children enjoyed prosperity under the old dispensation or covenant, theyre certainly entitled to it under the new. In fact, this may come as a surprise to some, but Gods intent is for a greater degree of prosperity under the New Covenant. Numerous portions of Scripture very clearly spell out that what we in the New Covenant, as believers, enjoy today far supersedes that of the old (see 2 Cor. 3:6-8; Gal. 3:14). The Old Testament covenant served only as a shadow or pattern of the new (see Heb. 10). As were all aware, a shadow serves only to provide an outline of the substance that it depicts. What we read in the Old Testament, therefore, serves only as a shadow or outline of the substance it portrayedthat which was to come. It was basically only a pattern or plan of a futuristic model.
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It Really Does!

Gods intent was thus for a new dispensation to dawn, one in which the substance would be revealed. And it did! The day Jesus died on the cross, He set a new order of operation in motion. This was the model Hed always had in mind, even before the advent of time. During this new era, His people would have access to all of Heaven. This epoch in history would see a new breed of humans inhabit the Earth, being energized by the very Spirit of God within them and the unlimited supply of Heavens treasure reserve at their disposal.

Gods provision is thus designed to win souls.

This is to be a breed of people who, like their predecessors, would stand out in society, acting as monuments of His abundance, blessing, favor, and prosperity. God intended for us to model His goodness to a dying, depraved world. And when were operating according to design, the world should be envious of usa strategy to draw them to Christ. Gods provision is thus designed to win souls. God gave me a prophetic word many years ago that lines up with this very subject. Bear in mind that this word was given in what would be considered the good old days, long before most people even knew what the word tsunami meant, when earthquakes were uncommon, when gas prices were affordable, before offshore outsourcing, when jobs were secure, and when a murder or rape would make national headlines. He said to me, Im going to shake everything that can be shaken. All of the crutches that men lean on for their security will be removed. Only those things established by Me will remain. Only those who place their hope in Me will be secure. And I think its safe to say this word is rapidly coming to pass. There is nothing of human design or structure that we can totally rely on anymore. If we think we can find safety or security in our jobs, our stocks, our pension plans, or even our properties, were sorely
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GO D LY S U C C ES S mistaken. Weve all seen how fortunes can be wiped out in a day and how homes can be destroyed in the blink of an eye. The only reason I make mention of this is because our security should not be in money or material goods. As the worlds material security diminishes, Christians are placing an unshakeable confidence in their God. And as with the Israelites, God has intended for His provision, preservation, and protection to be a testimony to the world of His goodness to those who serve Him. Now that we have studied how the proper administration of wealth should direct people to Christ, lets discuss how it should be handled.

Money Has a Purpose

Its important to grasp that money is given for a purpose. Another way of stating this is that we should be purposeful or intentional with our money. First and foremost, the money we make should be to take care of the needs of our immediate family members and ourselves. The Bible says that anyone [who] does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family is worse than an unbeliever (1 Tim. 5:8 NIV). Gods provision system is that we work, we realize remuneration for our labors, and we then pay our bills. I know the thought of work might not appeal to everybody. Although I hate to be the one to provide a reality check, we must get used to it! If were constantly looking for handouts or continually praying for financial miracles, were not living biblically; its that cut and dried. The first purpose of money is to take care of our personal needs. Notice that I said needs not greeds, which means that were to live within the means of our incomes. The second reason for having money is to finance the Kingdom. Remember that I stated earlier that priests should supply the vision while kings should provide the provision. God intends His kings to supply the necessary resources to fund Kingdom initiatives.
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It Really Does!

I like to use the analogy of a pipe. As a substance flows through the pipe, invariably there will be a certain portion that remains or sticks to the sides of the pipe. God wants His kings to be likes pipes through which finances can flow. And just as there is a percentage of fluid that sticks to the sides of the pipe, there will be a certain quota of finances that will stick to us as the flow occurs. Theres a saying, If God can get it through you; Hell get it to you. This simply means that if finances are flowing through us, some will stick to us! If Gods intent is for us to channel finances into the Kingdom, the next question is, How much do we give? and How much do we keep?

Tithe
God has designed a system whereby each believer can contribute the same ratio toward Kingdom initiatives. This ratio or percentage is known in Scripture as the tithe. Before you let the word tithe upset you, give me a chance. This isnt another I want your ten percent message. Quite honestly, God doesnt need your money! Im going to show you how the tithe is first and foremost for your own good. In the Old Testament, Gods chosen people, known as the Israelites, were instructed to tithe: You are under a cursethe whole nation of youbecause you are robbing Me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this, says the Lord Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit, says the Lord Almighty. Then all the nations will call you blessed, for
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GO D LY S U C C ES S yours will be a delightful land, says the Lord Almighty (Malachi 3:9-12 NIV). It was not a request or appeal, but a command, along with all of the other laws and statutes. The word tithe literally means a tenth. A tenth of all their earnings were to be presented to the priests. Was this a law designed by God to take some of their welldeserved earnings? Absolutely not! The tithe was a mechanism put into place to signify Gods divine partnership with His people. What this means is that, as humans, there is only so much we can achieve through our own efforts alone. No matter how smart we are or how hard we work, theres a limit to what we can achieve alone. But when we incorporate God into our affairs, the divine mixes with the mortal and something radical happens. Human effort finds itself superimposed with a supernatural enablement, allowing us to achieve uncommon results. Thats when we can do more in a year than our ungodly counterparts can in ten, when uncommon opportunities present themselves to us without us striving for them, and when divine appointments connect us with people who can change the course of our lives. These types of examples and many more occur when we become financial partners with God.

The tithe, therefore, is a financial faith stimulant.

How does this financial partnership work? Enter the tithe. Whenever you pay your tithe, you are doing far more than putting your well-earned money into an offering bag and waving it good-bye. In essence, you are enacting a divine partnership and are now incorporating God into your financial affairs. By doing so, you have just given God legal access to work on your behalf fiscally. What do I mean by legal access to work on your behalf? Is He unable to do so otherwise? God has designed the principle of faith to be the medium of transfer between the spiritual realm and the material realm. What this means is that if you want to get anything from God, you will have to do so by faith. Without faith,
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its not only impossible to please God (see Heb. 11:6), but also impossible to get anything from His Kingdom. The tithe, therefore, is a financial faith stimulant. It takes faith to tithe. When people pay their tithe, theyre essentially saying, Lord, I place my faith in You to meet my financial needs. Isnt God a genius? He uses the tithe to activate our faith. Once activated, He can now start to pour out the riches of Heaven upon us. All this time, so many have thought it was God wanting to take something from them, when in fact its the very mechanism Hes designed to give them something. Its not a limitation or subtraction thing, but rather an addition thing. My testimony attests to this and will hopefully encourage you to become a tither. Thirty-five years ago, my mother found herself single as a result of her faith in Christ. I was six years old at the time and recall that we had to move into a dingy two-bedroom apartment with a deaf lady in a very seedy part of town. Prior to marriage, my mother had been a hairdresser, but after her divorce, she decided to change career paths and become a receptionist. Without one penny of alimony or child support, she enrolled in night classes to further her studies while holding down two jobs during the day to make ends meet. One Sunday evening, a visiting speaker came to our church and spoke on the topic of tithing. He communicated some of the same things that I have stated above and explained how the principle of tithing was established by God to bless us. Right then and there, my mother made a conscious decision that she would become a diligent tither for the rest of her life. You can imagine what courage this decision must have taken, given her dire need for every available dollar, but she did it. That same month, she paid her first tithe. And then the next, and the nextevery month for over 30 years now, she has been a faithful tither. And Im happy to report that we never went hungry or didnt have enough to pay our bills.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S On the contrary, God has proved Himself as being the God of more than enough, the all-sufficient One or El-Shaddai (see Gen. 17:1). He has exceeded my mothers wildest expectations, blessing her beyond what she ever imagined or thought was possible (see Eph. 3:20). He has seen her through times as a single mother when there was no humanly possible way for her to make it through! Id have to add quite a few more pages to this book if I were to recount each event. However, there is one event that comes to mind that I think is worth sharing. Shortly after she made the decision to become a tither, I was diagnosed with a very rare bone disease that consequently affected my ankles. Let me pause for a moment to make you aware of an almost certain ploy of the enemy. Invariably, whenever you decide to become a tither, satan will try to get you to back out of the commitmenthe hates tithers because he knows the provision it can bring. Hell try to get your circumstances to worsen to the degree that you feel the need to make use of your tithe money to fill the holes. If circumstantial opposition doesnt work, hell whisper lies about God not protecting or providing. Remember that hes a liar and just push throughas did my mom. There were numerous doctors appointments and hospital visits that all resulted in substantial medical bills. One hospital visit resulted in a six-month straight stay. You can imagine how much that cost! They also summoned the nations top bone specialist, whose services were not cheap. To add insult to injury, the drips that had been in my legs leaked and infection set in, causing the doctors to contemplate possible amputation. Talk about a trial of faithholding down two jobs, rising medical bills, and now this, a scary diagnosis of catastrophic proportions regarding her sons health! My mother chose, however, not to believe the negative report, but to stand on the promises of Gods Word. See, the same preacher who had taught us that day about tithing had also stated that when we
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tithe, God will take care of all our needsmonetary as well as our health. Because my mother was now a tither, she could lay hold of this promise. She now had a divine partnership with the Almighty Creator of the universe, a partnership that dictated that she was not bound to the confines of the material realm. God now had legal access to work on her behalf. And He did! As my mother was a woman of character, she approached the hospital and doctors involved and asked if they could work out a payment plan for her, since she was on a limited income. They all said they would respond with the details of a payment arrangement. Shortly after, the hospital superintendent called up my mother to inform her that he had consulted with his superiors, and they had decided to wipe her slate completely clean! She would not have to pay a penny! After the call from the hospital superintendent, the bone specialist and other doctors called, all with the same newsNo need to pay your bills; were pardoning you. Wow, talk about God coming through! My feet are also perfectly whole todayall because of a woman who tithed.

You cannot afford not to tithe!

We limit God by not tithing; Hes restricted from working on our behalf. Remember, He engages when theres faith. And trust me, it takes faith to tithe. Dont you think my mother was tempted to take her tithe money and use it to try and fill the gaping financial holes? But you know what? If shed resorted to her efforts alone, shed still be paying off those bills today. At the heart of every person who doesnt tithe is a lack of faith! Essentially what youre saying is, God, I dont trust You to supply my needs, and Im going to rely on my labors alone. You cannot afford not to tithe. I said there were two purposes for tithing. Weve looked at the first, which is for God to bless us, or, in other words, to activate His prosperity.
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Closed Loop
Lets look at the second aspect of tithing, which is what I call accessing the integral closed-loop design. I call it this because all the components are connected (integral) and because the result of one affects the otherpositively (closed loop). Heres how it works. As kings, we enter the marketplace and conduct business. We then realize remuneration for our labors. Part of that remuneration (tithe) is then presented to the priests, who use it to take care of their personal needs and fund Kingdom initiatives. Because the needs of the priests are met, they can focus on what God has called them to do, namely to minister to the kings (see Eph. 4:12). When they do so, they enable the kings to become more effective in the marketplace, enabling them to obtain greater rewards and remuneration. This means a greater tithe, which means more Kingdom enterprises can be funded, and so on and so forth. What a marvelously designed system! As with any closed-loop system, it only works when each part fulfills its role. If the kings dont tithe, the priests are forced to take other measures to get their needs met or fund Kingdom endeavors, and thats usually not pretty. Priests were not designed to be businessmen. If, however, the kings fulfill their duty by paying tithes, but the priests are not fulfilling their duty to either minister to the kings or provide the vision, malfunction occurs. The results will be either an anemic or purposeless kinghoodthe former, a result of lack of ministry, and the latter, a result of lack of vision. To the pastors reading this book, I implore you, we must let ministry to the kings become foremost on our agendas. We must not tax them with duties and programs or look at them as our personal cash registers. Kings should continually be ministered to and treated with dignity. Its a hard world out there, and the marketplace takes its toll on even the hardiest of souls. I dream of a church that prophesies over the businesspeopledeclaring that uncommon deals will come their way, that divine favor will rest upon thema church that lays hands on the entrepreneurs and activates
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the gifting that God has placed within them. We have yet to see what God will do with His kings when we operate in this manner. Before we conclude our discussion of the tithe, Id like to reiterate that the word tithe literally means a tenth. Ive heard people say, I do tithe, but only five percent, or I tithe what I feel led to when I can. However, this is a contradiction of terms. If a tithe is ten percent and theyre only giving five percent, then theyre not tithing. And regarding the age-old question, Do I tithe on my gross or net salary? My answer is, Do you want God to bless you on your gross or net salary? See, when we understand that the tithe is for our own benefit, we quit trying to look for loopholes to get out of paying it. Its a heart matter. As we spoke of earlier, theres a distinct relationship between our heart and our money. God can have our money and not have our hearts, but He cannot have our hearts without having our money.3 If youre going to be resentful and grumpy about paying your tithe, then dont! But dont expect God to bless you, either. You cannot have the best of both worlds. I, along with countless others, will, however, attest to Gods faithfulness to those who tithe. I have found it to be true that I can do more with the remaining 90 percent of my salary than I can with the full 100 percentand believe me, Ive tried.

Offerings
Within the context of giving, the Bible speaks about tithes and offerings (see Mal. 3:10). Although the tithe is mandatory, offerings are free will. They are gifts in kind or monetaryover and above your tithe. Offerings are for the bold in faith, those fearless few who dare to make a difference on the Earth. These same recognize that without their sacrificial giving the job wont get done. God honors cheerful givers (see 2 Cor. 9:7). Im convinced that there are special rewards laid up for them in Heaven. And thats
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GO D LY S U C C ES S not to mention the payment they receive while on Earth. An old saying proclaims the truth, God is no mans debtor. You will experience Gods prosperity upon your life unlike anything else when you become a person who gives beyond the expected ten percent. Ive seen it to be true in my own life on countless occasions. And when looking for the blessings, dont have a limited perspective, thinking they can only come in one form or another. Ive experienced His prosperity and blessings in many forms over the years. By His grace, I walk in health. That alone is a priceless commodityjust ask anyone whos sick or ill. Ive experienced His protection; there were many times I could have otherwise been harmed. Ive experienced His preservation. The corporation I worked for laid off a very large percentage of its workforce over the years, and I literally saw people taken out all around me. These people were far more qualified than me by worldly standards, yet God preserved me. And of course, there have been numerous financial blessings along the way, too. There are too many to recount, ranging from unexpected checks in the mail to incredible business opportunities. Trust me, if I were keeping tabs, God would be way in the lead. I once heard a story that the late founder of the now famous earth-moving equipment manufacturer, CAT (Caterpillar), gave a whopping 95 percent of his salary monthly to the Church. If that were true, one would wonder if the success of his company was related to this practice. In summary, the purpose for earning money is first and foremost to take care of personal needs. When we work, we receive fiscal remuneration for our labors that enables us to pay our bills. The second reason for making money is to finance Kingdom exploits. We do so by paying our tithe and giving offerings. We said the tithe is primarily designed to bless us. When we tithe, we enter into a divine partnership with God that enables Him to act supernaturally on our behalf. The tithe also ensures the correct operation of Gods economical closed-loop designpriests and kings partnering for the good of the Kingdom.
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Allow me to share just a few more final thoughts regarding the tithe. Tithing will unequivocally activate Gods provision, protection, and preservation, but not override poor stewardship. What this means is that paying your tithe does not mean you become exempt from making a budget or practicing self-control. If you spend more in a month than what you earn, youre in trouble, tithe or no tithe. Also, dont look at the tithe as a means of rapid financial recovery. Im amazed at the number of people who find themselves in a dire financial crisis and then think that by placing their first tithe check in the offering basket, all of their woes will become a thing of the past. The tithe is not a financial Band-Aid or a get-rich-quick scheme. Its a principle you implement consistently over the course of your faith walk. The benefits of these principles accumulate over time.

Wealth Transfer
We cannot discuss the topic of money without a dialogue about wealth transfer. One of the most frequently quoted promises in the Church is the prophetic guarantee that the wealth of the wicked will be given to the righteous (see Prov. 13:22), and rightfully so. As with countless other promises, though, we need to first of all understand the part were to play in its fulfillment; and second, we must understand how this will come to fruition practically. Much of what Im going to speak about here is just a recap of what Ive stated throughout the book. This brief section will, however, attempt to tie up all of the individual truths that will make this promise become a reality.

God is going to implement the wealth transfer through His people.

As Christians, we often have the tendency to throw everything we dont fully grasp into the millennium pile. By pushing truth out into the future, we then become exempt from the responsibility of interpreting it today. Nowhere is this truer than
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GO D LY S U C C ES S the interpretation of the promise just mentioned. God could use a myriad of diverse ways to achieve this, ranging from sending angels to secure the possessions of the ungodly to assigning seraphim to distribute them to the righteous. However, we know that this is not Gods customary modus operandi and that, for the most part, He has chosen to operate in the material realm through human beings. For those who doubt this, Ill ask again, How many of you had the Gospel preached to you by an angel? or How many of you have experienced Gods provision directly falling from Heaven? No, He used people to communicate the Gospel, administer healing, and provide resources. This is important to note because it provides one of the keys to unlocking the mystery of how this will happen. God is going to implement the wealth transfer through His people. Another piece of the wealth transfer puzzle is knowing specifically which people will be used. As I said in Chapter 2, its going to be the kings who get the job done. Thats why its so important to know what your calling is and if youre a king or a priest. Now that we know how it will occur (through people) and who Hell use (the kings), lets see how it will be implemented. God is going to give His kings divine enablement to accomplish this task. Earlier in the book, we spoke about an upward flow, which is none other than a Spirit-initiated enablement that will counteract the forces of darkness and provide a supernatural ability to rise above circumstances. Kings will literally be elevated above the systems of the world, which are designed to suppress, and ascend into extraordinary high places. It will be a supernatural phenomenon that will defy human logic, whose signature trait will be marked with providential intervention. This flow or upward ascension, therefore, will not require self-effort or hard, manual labor.

Spiritual gifts are designed to operate in the marketplace.

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So God is going to provide an upward flow, a divine enablement, but exactly how will it work? Enter godly potential, talents, and gifting. When kings wholly dedicate their lives to God and place all of their talents and abilities at His feet, God will take them to a whole new level. Well see kings begin to accomplish the impossible. Spiritual gifts are designed to operate in the marketplace. My next book project, tentatively entitled Supernaturally Natural, discusses in detail how we, as believers, are called to straddle two dimensions, the material and the spiritual, and how God has given His children spiritual gifts to use in society. What this entails, though, is a practical but highly intensified walking out of our gifting on a daily basis. When we operate in our gifts, we dont suddenly become spiritual freaks and pull out all of our hallelujah, praise the Lord lingo. We dont put on a religious sounding voice and increase the octave level a few notches or draw out every word. We can operate in our supernatural gifting in a natural manner. While at work, Ive operated in the gift of wisdom or prophecy without my colleagues even being aware that they had just experienced a supernatural confrontation. The lives of Daniel and Joseph become the benchmark against which all other gift operation is measured as the two prime examples of men with gifts who shaped a nation and even changed the very course of its destiny! God used the ability of both Joseph and Daniel in the supernatural gift of interpretation of dreams to revolutionize a heathen cultureEgypt for Joseph and Babylon for Daniel. Lastly, and certainly not least in the wealth transfer process, is that believers should learn the language of the Babylonians. This entails us becoming well-versed in the worlds methods and techniques. We have, for the most part, criticized the world for their business practices, but lets face it, the world has mastered the art of making moneyits something they do well. Although it is true that the motivation behind their actions is greed-based, there is much to be said of their success. The world can teach the Church a lot about the arenas of business, entertainment, arts, media, and banking.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S We can take what we learn from them, sanctify it (or filter it biblically), and utilize it for the good of the Kingdom. We can implement it with projects like the substance abuse center I mentioned earlier in the book. When completed, the facility will house approximately 50 full-time residents and will offer a three-year program that incorporates spiritual developmentin the form of deliverance, a Bible training program, soul wellness (counseling), physical wholeness (medical and dental assistance), and a trade program. The whole operation, roughly a $20 million project, is no small undertaking. Although there are many spiritual aspects to the formation of this ministry, such as prayer and more, we also need to apply basic project management principles. I have taken what Ive learned in the marketplace and used it for the good of the Kingdom. Worldly techniques are thus being sanctified and used to plunder darkness. Do not have an escapist mentality. Rather, take what youre learning in your workplace and ask God how you can leverage it for His sake and the advancement of the Kingdom. Learn everything there is to know in your specific job field and watch what God can do! Ive covered a vast amount of information in this chapter that you hopefully found beneficial. Money, as you can see, goes far beyond the offering plate and touches every aspect of your life. A lot more can be said regarding this exciting topic, but I will wrap up with a few final thoughts.

Conclusion
Im tired of seeing movie stars, rock musicians, corrupt businesspeople, and those who live degraded, immoral lives enjoy all of the Earths wealth and riches. Why should someone who sleeps with multiple women, treating them as objects of desire to satisfy his own lustful needs, one who pushes harmful chemicals into his bloodstream and sings the most vile, vulgar lyrics, climb into a Learjet at the end of the day in order to fly to yet another
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five-star hotel? Why should a person like this have garages filled with Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and other fine automobiles? Why should the world be enjoying the wealth that God has stored up for His people? Why is it that the ungodly are predominantly the business owners while little Mr. Christian is the worker bee that performs all the manual labor, all so that Mr. Unsaved can get rich and fat? I firmly believe the landscape is changing and that the financial tide is turning in favor of Gods children. Were going to see more and more Christians rising to the top in the marketplace and accessing the wealth of the Babylonian system, utilizing it for the good of the Kingdom. In order to do so, however, we have to be fully convinced that God wants to bless us and that its not a sin to be rich. We have to understand that there is purpose in wealth. Yes, there will be an overflow that we can use for our own needs, but it is to be primarily used for Kingdom initiatives. God desires to raise up businessmen and women for the express purpose of financing Kingdom initiatives in these days. Weve all heard the adage that the Gospel is free. Maybe so, but it takes money to finance it. In other words, the message of the Gospel costs nothing, but to make the message known costs money. If the Gospel is likened to a meal, we can either present it on a trash can lid or on a fine porcelain platter. Same Gospel, but I guarantee you, one will be received while the other may not. For too long, we, as Christians, have tried to present the precious message of the Gospel on a trash can lid and then wondered why the response has been unfavorable. It is my conviction that Christians should be at the cutting edge of technology. We should be the ones leading the marketing campaigns of society. The world has harnessed the power of media and used it for their own selfish gain, to sell everything from nicotine to sex. We, the children of light, have a far greater product to sell, namely the precious message of the Gospela proclamation of the salvation of the human race. Again, this will take funding to achieve.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S I am of the opinion that the next move of God the world is going to experience will be in the marketplace. Right where were aton the job, on the sports field, in the locker room, or on the theater stageis where God is going to start manifesting His supernatural power through His people. The demographic is changing; lets get ready to see God do awesome things through us. And its not going to be some creepy, mystical, hyperspiritual event, but just the life of Christ expressed naturally through His peoplethe divine mixing with the mortal, bringing about uncommon results. I also believe that a delay on the Churchs part is going to cause an acceleration of Gods restoration of the ministry of kings. Because the work is great, great funds are needed to accomplish it. Dont for one moment think that money is not a factor because money matters!

Personal Notes:

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CHAPTER 8
Godly Success
Access to GOFIE What would you do today if you knew you could not fail? What would you set out to accomplish in your lifetime if you knew it wouldnt bomb? Do you know that the Word says you cannot fail? Philippians 4:13 states, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. You dont need to be a theologian or study the Greek and Hebrew languages to interpret this verse. Its pretty straightforwardwe can do all things. And when it says all, it means all! The last time I checked, there are no exceptions or exclusions to the word all, which means we can do absolutely anything we set our minds to! Its as if God has given us a blank check and we can do whatever we want in life with a guarantee of success! I believe that, as Christians, we should be able to do anything from programming a computer, to changing a diaper, to managing
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GO D LY S U C C ES S a company. But as with most promises in the Bible, there is a prerequisite. We can only do all of these things in Christs strength (through Christ who strengthens me).

What on Earth are you doing for Heavens sake?

Thats why, at the outset of the book, I spoke about the necessity of Christ coming into our hearts. In doing so, He didnt only guarantee our salvation and provide us with a ticket to Heaven (future), but He also guaranteed us maximum success on Earth (present). There are many Christians who are so heavenly conscious theyre no earthly good. To them I would ask, What on Earth are you doing for Heavens sake? We need a paradigm shift regarding all that the Gospel incorporates. A large contingent of the redemptive work of Calvary encompasses Christs empowerment within us while on Earth to ensure our success. Paul wrote the following to the believers at Colossi: To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27 NIV). Christ in us is our hope of glory! If that doesnt sound like success, I dont know what does! Christ wants to release His glory in and through us so that it can flow into our communities, our neighborhoods, our schools, the grocery store, the post office, and wherever else we go. To the degree we yield to His life within us, proportionately His glory will shine through us. This will be true in all we do, from writing a book, to creating a YouTube video, to teaching at school, to running a business, to simply going on a date with our spouses. Christ doesnt limit us in what we do in order for the the hope of glory to be released. Did you notice, though, the reason Christ wants to release His glory through our lives? The purpose of this hope of glory is to make Him known among the Gentiles. In other words, when
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the world sees the godly success Hes given us, theyll be attracted and drawn to Jesus! One of the best-loved verses of the Bible may well be Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (KJV). Youngs Literal Translation of the Bible calls this expected end a destiny of prosperity. I find it a bit ironic that Jeremiah, who was also called the weeping prophet, brought forth such powerful words of encouragement that have ushered untold numbers into their destinies! This verse reminds me of a beautiful place of hope and the success God has for each one of us, success that actually lies within us. This reminds me of a story about a businessman who walked by a poor man sitting on the roadside. The beggar sat on top of a beautiful box, which looked something like a treasure chest, with intricate scrolls and patterns embossed upon it and a few, tiny, glittering jewels embedded in its surface. The poor man stretched out his hand and asked for alms. The passerby announced that he had no money for the poor man. But what is in that box that youre sitting on? he asked the poor man. Nothing that I know of. Ive been sitting on it for years, but Ive never bothered to look inside, replied the poor man. Why not? queried the passerby. (The businessman could scarcely believe the poor mans reaction!) He began to make all types of excuses for never opening the box. I was just too poor. The lock does not have a key. I didnt feel worthy to open it, so I didnt bother. I was too busy begging for money. I knew if I tried, I would just fail anyway. The businessman insisted in an almost commanding voice, Get up, open that box, and see whats in it.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S Finally, the poor man complied, and he and the passerby began to open the box. After some time, they were finally able to pry open the hefty, rusty padlock and leverage the box open. Oh, my goodness! the poor man gasped in astonishment! Inside the box was a treasure trove of gold coinsa treasure the poor man never knew he had! The poor man was flabbergasted with the riches he never realized were right underneath him for all those years. Are you like that poor man? In some ways you just might be. Second Corinthians 4:7 says, But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. The Amplified Bible clarifies that we have treasure in [frail, human] vessels. In other words, we knock-kneed, pigeon-toed folks have an invaluable treasure residing within usnamely, Christ. Sadly though, many believers, like the poor beggar who never unlocked the treasure chest, rarely unlock or access the potential of Christ in them. Instead they see God as some distant deity, sitting on a rocking chair atop a cloud, rocking the eons away, when in fact it is Him through whom we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).

Nothing fails quite so totally as success without God. Dr. Vic Pentz
And just like the poor man who resorted to begging, they try to live a life of self-motivation, self-discipline, and selfaccomplishment. Interestingly, the middle letter of the word sin is I. An I-centered life will lead to pride (when accomplishments prevail), condemnation (when failure prevails), or burnout (when remedying failures and striving for accomplishments). I echo the words of Dr. Vic Pentz, Nothing fails quite so totally as success without God.1
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In fact, I am sensing, even as I am writing these words, that some of you are identifying with this right now. Youve been feeling the pressure to perform and strive, whether its for your business, your family, or even for Godand youre just plain tired and burned out. Have you seen the picture of the cat hanging onto a rope with a frightened expression on its face, as if its about to fall at any moment? The caption reads, Hang in there! Maybe you feel like that frightened cat, afraid to let go, afraid youll fall? God wants to bring you into a new place of freedomfreedom from the burden of thinking you have to make everything happen in your own strength. If youre ready to break free of that, pray the following prayer out loud with me: Heavenly Father, I renounce my striving, my performance, and my efforts to walk in my own strength apart from You. Your grace gives me the ability to be all I was created to be so that I can do all I was called to do. I receive Your grace and strength to accomplish all that You desire for me to accomplish. Show me how to receive my orders from You so I can quit striving and effectively unlock the calling You have for me! In the mighty Name of Jesus, amen. From this day forward, youre not going to try and make everything happen yourself, but youre going to learn to cooperate with the Christ that resides in you. I am not talking about some type of mumbo jumbo where we can evolve into gods. Im talking about Christ living His life and demonstrating His power through us in every situation. He has granted us full access to Himself and all the resources we need in order to do so. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3 KJV). The reality of this paradigm shift will literally move us into a new place in our Christian walk. When we realize that Jesus lives within us (and all that implies), we will more fully grasp what that means for us as far as godly success.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S For the poor man, the treasure chest had to be physically opened to enjoy the rewards. For the Christian, we need to access or tap into the Christ within us. How do we achieve this practically? Ive come up with a little acronym that will help us remember how to access the Christ in us. I call this the GOFIE strategy.

Guidance
The first letter, G, provides us with the potential of unlocking Christs guidance within us. Romans 8:14 reminds us, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. One of the many benefits of an indwelling Christ is that were connected to divine directionour own heavenly GPS, as it were! As a young student in Cape Town, I was walking across a city square in the heart of the city hub on my way home from class when I distinctly had an inner compulsion to go to a very specific place on the city square. The impression I got was that a man I needed to speak with would be at the base of one of the large statues on the plaza. Instinctively, my mind rationalized that the plaza was filled with people and that it would be impossible to single out any one individual. Yet the nudging sense persisted. With my mind arguing all the way, I decided to at least walk in that direction to see who was there. Much to my surprise, when I arrived at the larger-than-life statue of a past president, lo and behold, there was one lone gentleman sitting at the base of this monumental edifice. I approached him with fear and in trepidation and proceeded to give him every disclaimer in the book about how I was not weird, didnt want to harm him or any such thing, but had felt led to speak with him. I asked for his permission to sit down and chat with him, to which he nonchalantly consented. I then told him about a God in Heaven who loved him and sent His only Son to die for him. I continued that he was so loved that this same God sent me out of my way to share this good news with him. The whole time I spoke, the man looked at me with no
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expression on his face. I then asked him if hed be willing to pray a short prayer with me and invite Jesus into his heart. He reluctantly agreed, and we prayed together. I closed my eyes and led him in a simple, yet powerful prayer. When I opened my eyes, instead of an emotionless stare, I saw tears rolling down his cheeks. He told me that he was a staunch Muslim who was highly successful in business. Hed just come from the courthouse across the road to finalize his divorce. Hed come to sit on the plaza to drink an entire bottle of hard-spirited liquor, pointing to a cleverly concealed bottle in a brown bag. When he had finished, he planned to blow his brains out (his exact words) because life was not worth living anymore. When I came along and told him there was a God who loved him, it had given him renewed hope for living. Now I wish I could say that when I initially felt this divine guidance, there were angelic hosts singing or a bright light around my head or some other majestic manifestation. The reality, though, is that it was a very subtle impression in my heart, one that could easily have been overlooked or ignored. Yet the Christ in me gave me divine guidance to change the outcome of anothers life. How often do we miss or ignore those little promptings? We either havent learned to be more sensitive to them, or were too busy, or we dont think theyre important enough. I want to encourage you today to heed these heart impressions because they very well could be the divine directives youre so desperately seeking. They may also have profound consequences in others lives around you. When dealing with your spouse or your children, when seeking a career direction, when faced with a housing situation, and so forth, incorporate God into your affairs by asking Him for providential guidance. Speaking of career decisions, an aptitude test told me what career not to pursue. Thankfully, I listened to the Lord through my mother instead of the psychologists. Im pleased to announce that I did end up becoming an engineer and, more specifically, a
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GO D LY S U C C ES S software engineer. I have felt Gods enablement upon this area of my life unlike any other. His divine empowerment has allowed me to work at a senior position at one of the largest technology corporations on the planet, program in a myriad of coding languages, and receive multiple accolades. Because it was His will, He defied the logic and acumen of so-called clever people, proving those psychologists and career specialists wrong. As its states, Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1 Cor. 1:20). Again, it was divine guidance on the inside that changed the outcome of a life. Countless examples throughout Scripture point to divine guidance and directive. One that stands out is the account of Abraham (see Gen. 24), who sent his trusted servant to find a wife for his beloved son, Isaac. We read how God faithfully led the man to Rebekah. I can only imagine Isaacs feelings as he wondered what kind of woman his fathers servant would bring back. What would she look like? What kind of personality would she have? Would she like him? But because of Gods guidance, he loved her deeply, and she was a special comfort to him (Gen. 24:67b NLT). Im always amazed at how few single Christians ask God to guide them to their future mate. God will guide you as faithfully and specifically as He did Abrahams servant to find a bride for Isaac. Hell guide you to make wise career choices. Hell guide you to the people around you who need a touch from Him most. We need to unlock or access this guidance, though, by asking for it daily. Dont be too proud to ask, as Elayne Boosler humorously states, My ancestors wandered lost in the wilderness for forty years because even in biblical times, men would not stop to ask for directions.2

Opportunity
The next part of the GOFIE acronymthe letter Ostands for opportunity. The saying goes that Success always comes when
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preparation meets opportunity.3 The following story certainly exemplifies this quote like few Ive heard before! A friend of a friend of mine in South Africa owned a window cleaning company. He flew frequently throughout the country, as he needed to travel to meet with current and prospective clients. During one flight, he overheard a conversation between two of the passengers. The first passenger questioned if the second passenger had any idea where he could purchase large quantities of chickens. The second passenger didnt pay much attention, since he wasnt particularly interested in chickens, other than for eating. So he just muttered, No, and went on reading his magazine. However, our window cleaning businessman friends ears perked up, and he leaned across the aisle to further inquire about the details of such an odd question. The passenger who had initially posed the query obliged him by elaborating further. The Zion Christian Church (ZCC) is the largest African-initiated church in South Africa, he explained. Estimates place membership at between two and six million followers in more than 4,000 parishes.4 The churchs headquarters are at Zion City, Moria, in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Almost everyone in South Africa knows that one of the main highlights on their calendar is the ZCCs annual Easter gathering and celebration. If at all possible, members who can are encouraged to make the pilgrimage to Moria. As a result, millions of people descend upon this barren region of about 40 kilometers (25 miles) in area. Some worshipers come from as far away as the neighboring countries of Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique. Worship lasts for several days. The passenger explained further that members follow a strict religious diet, a regimen that could not be readily supported for the duration of the festivities, given its barren surroundings. This particular passenger thus needed chickens to feed the millions of people who attended the conference each year. The window cleaner took his new acquaintances name and number, with a promise to call him later with pertinent
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GO D LY S U C C ES S information. Upon landing, he began to randomly contact chicken farmers with the hope of brokering a deal. After numerous calls, meetings, and negotiations, he was finally able to fulfill the ZCCs need for chickens. After consequently meeting with the leader of the ZCC, today our window cleaner friend has an exclusive contract to sell prepackaged food at the ZCC conferences. During those few days annually, he makes more money than he ever did in his entire window cleaning career! In fact, hes a very wealthy man who gives generously to nonprofit organizations and other philanthropic causes.

One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes. Benajmin Disraeli
Heres the key, thoughhe could easily have said, Im in the window cleaning business, why bother getting involved in a conversation about chickens? But Im sure he thanks God each and every day for allowing him to seize an opportunity that changed his destiny, not to mention his finances, forever! Our friend realized that One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.5 Sadly, the other passengers fate can be summed up with the following quote, Great opportunities come to all, but many do not know they have met them.6 This story provides several lessons. First of all, step out of your comfort zone. As the famous saying goes, If you do what youve always done, youll get what youve always gotten.7 Secondly, be willing to take calculated risks. Theres a time to review and plan and assess, but theres a time to act. Dont be guilty of paralysis through analysis. An opportunity may be right under your nose in disguised form. The Chinese characters that make up the word crisis actually spell opportunity!8 The Chinese understand that in every crisis there is potential for prospectand its showing in their economy.
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Lastly, dont allow yourself to be defined by your current occupation, geographical location, educational level, or economic status. I call this pigeon-holed thinking. Citing Jesus, No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse.. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved (Matthew 9:16-17). In essence, what He is saying is that in order to experience new things, our mind-sets need to embrace them firstbefore they are realized. I speak to so many people who have old mindsets or who live in the past. And theyre wondering why the things theyre hoping for in life are not becoming a reality. Particularly in America, where hundreds of thousands of jobs have been lost to offshoring and the faltering economy, its easy to stay stuck in the past. Those were the good old days when an employer would hire you for life, when a homes value would appreciate, when the standard of living was affordable, when there was actually money left over in a month to take the family for dinner. The reality, though, is that the economic landscape has changed, and if you dont adapt to this new environment, reinvent yourself, and look for new opportunities, you will not make it! Thats why this sage advice from Albert E. Dunning rings so true today: The only preparation to take advantage of them [opportunities] is simple fidelity to what each day brings.9 God wants to give you uncommon opportunities; some of you may have even dismissed these same opportunities in the past. They may not be in line with your current field. But God wants to bless and expand you into new areas. If you stay in your current mind-set, you might miss an amazing opportunity!
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Favor
The next letter, F, stands for favor. Favor opens the doors of opportunity! Favor is what makes us stand out in the crowd of applicants so that were chosen for the interview or promotion, even though someone is smarter or more qualified than us. David states in Psalm 5:12, For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield. Favor is our portion as children of the most High God! A few psalms later, David says, Lord, by Your favor You have made my mountain stand strong (Ps. 30:7). Back in the early 90s, I found myself without a job. I created a rsum (CV) and hand carried it to various technical companies that I knew matched my skill set. The exercise spanned a few days. On the last day, I went to the corporate offices of a very large cellular operator in downtown Cape Town. Since I had no prior appointment and was literally cold calling, I asked the security guard in the lobby area if he could point me to the human resources department. He informed me it was on the seventh floor. When I exited the elevator and entered the vast reception area, I noticed it was unmanned. Given that it was lunchtime, I decided to patiently wait. I had hardly sat down when a man appeared from an office with a telephone in his hand and asked, Can I help you? I explained to him that I was looking for a job and delivering my rsum. He beckoned to me to come into his office, grabbed the rsum out of my hand, and proceeded to look it over in haste.

One moment of favor is equivalent to a lifetime of labor.

He returned to his conversation, which hed apparently put on hold, by stating, Johan, I think I have just the man for the job. What I didnt know was that the man (Johan) to whom hed been talking had just called to place a job posting. I also didnt
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know that the man I was dealing with was the head of human resources. I did end up getting that job. Moreover, through that job, I was a catalyst in leading a dear friend to the Lord and facilitating a church plant, and ultimately I was able to relocate to America. Talk about favor! None of that would have happened, though, had I not explicitly asked God for favor before embarking on my rsum-carrying journey. One moment of favor is equivalent to a lifetime of labor. If you need a job, ask God for favor. A well-written rsum with all the fancy fonts and colors is one thing, but His favor upon it is entirely another. He can cause the right eyes to see it. One of my top five prayer requests has always been for God to give me favor with the right people, a prayer that has opened innumerable doors of opportunity for me. The fact that this book is in your hands right now is an act of divine favor. Earlier, I mentioned that Ive had the good fortune of working for two of the largest technical companies on the planet. One of them, at the height of its success, employed 140,000 people worldwide, 22,000 of which were in our state. When the economic collapse ensued, my company began to send jobs offshore faster than you could say India or China. I saw folks literally laid off all around me. Some of these individuals with more degrees than a thermometer were let go. Entire bay areas were left vacant. In fact, it was so bad that two of the facilities I worked in were sold out from underneath me. Entire plants were shut down. When the carnage was over, of the original 22,000 statewide employees, only 400 were left. Why was I one of them? Favor! Nothing more and nothing less! Like David, I can say, A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you (Ps. 91:7). Inside your treasure chest is unlimited favor! Seek it daily!
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Ideas
The letter I signifies ideas. God wants to download all kinds of creative ideas into usideas that will create wealth in order for finances to be released into the Kingdom, for effective soulwinning initiatives. The Cambridge Edition of the King James Bible translates Proverbs 8:12 this way: I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. Witty inventionsI like that! Do you have a book, a creative idea, a project, an invention? Any type of creative plan that will generate wealth qualifies as a witty invention. What does that look like for you? I believe that each one of us has a witty invention lying dormant within usthat one idea that could possibly usher in tremendous wealth and success and potentially alter the world as we know it. Let me give you just a few examples of witty inventions that have literally changed the course of history! The typewriter, forerunner to the modern word processor, and predecessor to the contemporary computer, was actually invented by a Christian. And the reason for this strategic invention? To write sermons! Christopher Sholes was concerned about his pastor, who had recently been visiting victims of an epidemic, comforting the bereaved, and conducting funeral services. He was so busy that hed no time to write his Sunday sermons. One day, Sholes discussed this dilemma with a friend. It seems a pity there aint some quick method of writing for busy folks like Parsons, Sholes remarked. His friend casually suggested, Why not invent a machine that will do the job? The rest, as they say, is history. Upon completion, a small group assembled to watch him tap out on paper, in capital letters, C. LATHAM SHOLES, NOV 1867. Six years later, the Remingtons recognized the potential the typewriter had to revolutionize business and bought Sholes invention.10
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Another witty invention also changed the face of medicine as we know it. Until the mid-1800s, doctors performed any operations without the benefit of anesthesia. However, a young Scottish doctor, James Young Simpson, was attracted to surgery because he wanted to improve the problem of pain and decrease the mortality rate experienced during surgery. So he introduced something he called artificial sleep as a result of reading Genesis 2:21, And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam. At first, Simpson encountered opposition. Some thought it was a sin to interfere with nature. Hand me the Bible, said Dr. Simpson. This is how God operated on Adam. Finally, in 1847, the first three operations with chloroform took place. The use of anesthesia gained widespread popularity when Queen Victoria gave birth to her eighth child under chloroform and declared that she was greatly pleased with its effect.11 Today, ask God to give you an idea that blesses others. Then act on it! One God-given idea can change a great deal. Braille sure did! In 1824, Louis Braille, a Christian, invented a system of raised dots on paper so that blind people could read. He invented 63 symbols representing every language; hence, Gods Word was placed into the hands of the visually impaired for the first time.12 The field of communications offers us another powerful example. In part, you owe your cell phone and computer to a Christian named Samuel Morse. How different the world was before him! First class news took two weeks to reach the U.S.A. Reports of a major victory could take six weeks to reach Britain. One day a friend said, Morse, when you were experimenting, did you ever come to an absolute deadlock, not knowing what to do? Morse replied, More than once. His friend asked, What did you do then? Morse shared his secret: I got down on my knees and prayed for light, and light came, and when my inventions were acknowledged by flattering honors from America and Europe, I said, Not unto me, O Lord, not unto me, but unto Thy name
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GO D LY S U C C ES S give the glory. Thats why the first message sent by transatlantic cable read, What God has wrought.13 The list of witty inventions goes on and on. Louis Pasteur, the French scientist, showed us that infection is the result of things we cant see, namely germs and viruses. He introduced sterilization methods that eventually saved the lives of multitudes. And the list of landmark inventions is not limited to eons ago. We all know how many life-altering inventions have come about in recent history: cell phones, digital music, Facebook, Twitter, iPod, HDTV, to name just a few. Do you think God has run out of good ideas? Not a chance! Ask Him for an idea that can revolutionize your life, your ministry, or your business! Again, the principle of ideas (witty inventions) is that God will use them as a medium of supply and provision. We need to get out of the mind-set (old wineskin mentality) that resources can only come via our jobs or other traditional sources. Im always amazed by some believers mystical outlook regarding the source of money. Heaven knows they pray enough for it! But then where do they think its supposed to come from? Ive never seen money fall from the sky, and I certainly havent seen any cash trees around. God gets provision to us practically through people, ideas, and opportunitiesvia guidance and enablement. This leads me to the letter E.

Enablement
The last letter, the E, stands for enablement. In our success, were to play a part and have responsibility; and God will play a part and have responsibility. We cannot do Gods part, and He will not do our part. But He will give us the grace and strength we
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need to do what were supposed to do. We are co-laborers with Christ, working together with Him to accomplish His goals on Earth. For the job hunter I mentioned earlier, his responsibility was to create a professional looking rsum. But Gods part in the matter was to give him the wisdom to create said rsum, open doors, and provide favor. A man prayed for several years on an almost daily basis, God, please let me win the lottery. Finally, he grew tired and asked God why He had not yet answered his patient, continued petition. God finally responded, You need to go buy a ticket! Im not an advocate of lotteries, and Heaven knows that this story is doctrinally incorrect, but it does paint a humorous picture of the folly of asking God to do something that we need to do ourselves.

God will not accomplish through a miracle what we can accomplish through obedience.
We often think that God will do our part for us. He wont! In our lives, He will not accomplish through a miracle what we can accomplish through obedience. He will, however, put His super on our natural, His extra on our ordinary. Early on in my programming career, a boss asked me to write a specific computer application. Immediately, on the heels of the request, he specified what language it was to be written in. I had never heard of such a language, let alone programmed in it. The first thing I did was ask God for His enablement, which allowed Him to do His part. I then had to do something from my end, which required effort. I bought a book that taught the language and immersed myself in it. Through countless hours of reading, practicing, making mistakes, and asking others, the program was finally completed. Thinking that I would rest on my laurels, my boss soon challenged me again with the edict, Mornay, I want you to write a
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GO D LY S U C C ES S program, and I want it in such-and-such a language. Again, I sought Gods divine enablement. And again, I had to assume responsibility and play my part. Five programming languages and five programs later, I figured we had run out of possible languages. That same boss continued to stretch me by constantly challenging me. And with each new challenge, I knew the source of my enablement. When youre confronted with a task at work, when youre facing a challenge at home, ask God for His divine enablement. Its a treasure in your chest that youd be foolish to waste.

Conclusion
On August 25, 1968, a young, godly, single mother gave birth to a baby boy. The mother did the best she could to raise her son in a godly environment. She worked two jobs and attended school in order to provide the best life possible for her child. However, despite her best intentions and efforts, the young man eventually rebelled and turned to the wrong friends. He commenced on a long path and a downward spiral of alcohol and drug addiction. Through his mothers continued prayers and by the grace of God, in August 1989, he finally cried out to Jesus for mercy. Christ came to dwell within his heart, placing that precious treasure inside him. For the next 20-plus years, God gave this man divine guidance, opportunities, favor, ideas, and enablement as he started to lay access to the Christ in him. Today that man is now a public speaker, a software engineer, a published author, and the president of multiple nonprofit organizations. To top it all off, hes married to a very beautiful Christian woman who walks beside him in all of his endeavors. As that young man, I want you to know that if God can do it for me, He can and will most certainly do it for you! I started with the story of a poor man on a treasure chest. His plight and folly in life was that he sat on his treasure. Interestingly, the first three letters of the word satan spell sat! Just like the
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beggar, so too the passenger who was first asked about chickens just sat in his seat, didnt make an effort, and didnt get out of his comfort zone. Conversely, the first two letters of the word God spell go! It was the businessman with his get-it-done mentality, the window cleaner with his make-a-plan attitude, who were both able to go and make a difference. Remember that you, too, have a treasure inside of you (see 2 Cor. 4:7). And just like the passerby businessman, Ive given you keys today that can unlock your treasure chest. By accessing the Guidance, Opportunity, Favor, Ideas, and Enablement of the Christ in you, you can go and make a difference. So go now and obtain Godly Success!

Personal Notes:

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About Mornay Johnson

Mornay Johnson is a published author, itinerant speaker, and business owner who has offered coaching and consultation to millionaires and corporations alike. Mornay is happily married to his beautiful wife, Angela. He is known for his evangelistic heart and keen prophetic giftinga unique combination that has transformed many lives.

anOther title By MOrnay JOhnsOn A Firm Foundation

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Endnotes

Chapter 1
1. Ed Cole, Maximized Manhood (Pittsburgh, PA: Whitaker House, 1982), 33.

Chapter 2
1. Charles Nieman, Kings and Priests, audio CD (El Paso, TX: Abundant Living Faith Center). 2. Ibid. 3. Conversation between Mark Chironna and Lance Wallnau (City of Grace Church, Scottsdale, Arizona, 2002). Dr. Mark Chironna is the Overseer of The Masters Touch International Church (Orlando, Florida), presiding Bishop of the Legacy
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GO D LY S U C C ES S Alliance, and founder of Mark Chironna Ministries. Dr. Lance Wallnau is the founder of Lance Wallnau Ministries (Rhode Island) and the Lance Learning Group. 4. Ibid. 5. Ibid. 6. Ibid. 7. Ibid.

Chapter 3
1. Mark Virkler, Dialogue With God (South Plainfield, NJ: Bridge Publishing, 1986). Dr. Mark Virkler is the founder and president of the Christian Leadership University and the Head of Communion With God Ministries. 2. Graham Cooke, Developing Your Prophetic Gifting (Ada, MI: Chosen Books, 2003). Graham Cooke is the founder and director of the internationally acclaimed School of Prophecy, is on the leadership team of The Mission in Vacaville, and is the founder of Brilliant Book House and My Emerging Light. 3. Phoenix First Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona. 4. Ed Cole, Maximized Manhood (Pittsburgh, PA: Whitaker House, 1982). 5. Mother Teresa, http://www.values.com/inspirational-sayings-billboards/8-Compassion; accessed January 5, 2012. 6. Eric Liddell, quoted in Colin Welland, Chariots of Fire, Hugh Hudson, director (UK: Allied Stars, Ltd., Enigma Productions, 1981). 7. Mark Sanborn, The Fred Factor (New York: Crown Business, 2004).
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Endnotes

Chapter 4
1. Kent Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Man (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2001), 226. 2. A.R. Bernard, Faith in Practice, audio presentation, http:// www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1461855907461; accessed January 5, 2012. 3. Jim Rohn, quoted on ThinkExist.com, http://thinkexist.com/ quotation/success_is_doing_ordinary_things_extraordinarily/212114.html; accessed October 1, 2011. 4. Jim Rohn, quoted on ThinkExist.com, http://thinkexist.com/ quotation/motivation_is_what_gets_you_started-habit_is_ what/13807.html; accessed October 1, 2011. 5. Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point (New York: Back Bay Books, 2002), 11. 6. Rice Broocks, Every Nation in Our Generation (Lake Mary, FL: Creation House, 2002), 6.

Chapter 5
1. Bob Gass, How to Live the Anointed Life tape series; Bob Gass Ministries, PO Box 2140, Stone Mountain Georgia, 30086. 2. Charles Spurgeon, An All-Round Ministry Address to Ministers and Students, Chapter 2, The Spurgeon Archive, http://www. spurgeon.org/misc/aarm02.htm; accessed January 10, 2012. 3. Gass, How to Live the Anointed Life tape series. 4. Disney Merchandising, Disney by the Numbers, http:// www.disneybythenumbers.com/wdco/page12.html; accessed October 1, 2011.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S 5. Information taken from Peter J. Daniels bio at http://barryboucher.typepad.com/ministers_matter/2008/09/peter-jdaniels.html; accessed January 11, 2012. 6. Douglas Cartwright, Why Adversity Can Lead to Profit, Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life site, http://www. stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog/adversity-can-lead-to-profit/; accessed January 11, 2012. 7. Jim Rohn, quoted on ThinkExist.com, http://thinkexist.com/ quotation/we-must-all-suffer-from-one-of-two-pains-thepain/347821.html; accessed October 1, 2011. 8. http://www.trinitytheology.org/forum/showthread. php?tid=871; accessed January 11, 2012. 9. http://des.emory.edu/mfp/efficacynotgiveup.html; http://michelleviolyharper.tumblr.com/post/12038314696/ failure-x-difficulty-winston-churchill-failed-6th; http://www.mindperk.com/resources/articles/93/1/218/DoSomething-Spectacular.html; accessed January 5, 2012. 10. Ronald Grover, Disney Profit Tops Estimates as ESPN Fees Counter Slack, Bloomberg Businessweek, August 9, 2011, http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-08-09/disneyprofit-tops-estimates-as-espn-fees-counter-slack-ads.html; accessed January 5, 2012. 11. Hellen Keller, quoted on ThinkExist.com, http://thinkexist. com/quotation/the_only_thing_worse_than_being_blind_ is_having/252210.htm; accessed October 1, 2011. 12. Every Nation Leadership Institute, Course: Leadership II (Year 2, Semester 1).
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13. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, A Matter of a Few Degrees, April 2008 Addresses, http://lds.org/general-conference/2008/04/a-matter-of-a-few-degrees?lang=eng; accessed January 5, 2012. 14. Blooming in the Golden Years: People Who Have Still Flourished in Old Age, Hubpages; http://hubpages.com/hub/ Blooming-InTheGoldenYears; accessed October 1, 2011. 15. Ibid. 16. B.M. Franklin, The Weaver, quoted on Moments With the Book, http://www.mwtb.org/site/moments-for-you/ back-issues/second-quarter-2007/the-weaver.html; accessed October 1, 2011. 17. Norman Herr, Television & Health, California State University, Northridge, http://www.csun.edu/science/health/ docs/tv&health.html; accessed October 1, 2011.

Chapter 6
1. Andre Pelser, Senior pastor of Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town, South Africa (http://www.harvesterchurch.org.za/). 2. http://www.savedhealed.com/nuggets.htm; accessed January 5, 2012. 3. Saint Francis of Assisi, quoted on ThinkExist.com, http:// thinkexist.com/quotation/preach_the_gospel_at_all_times_ and_when_necessary/219332.html; accessed October 1, 2011. 4. Jim Rohn, quoted on ThinkExist.com, http://thinkexist. com/quotation/you_don-t_get_paid_for_the_hour-you_get_ paid_for/327304.html; accessed January 5, 2012. 5. In the New King James Version.
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GO D LY S U C C ES S 6. Vincent Lombardi, http://www.vincelombardi.com/numberone.html (second to the last paragraph); accessed January 5, 2012. 7. Galileo, The Encyclopedia of Science, http://www.daviddarling. info/encyclopedia/G/GalileoG.html; accessed October 1, 2011. 8. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, (Springfield, MA: MerriamWebster Inc.), s.v. learned. 9. Merriam-Webster Dictionary, s.v. character. 10. James Moffatt, http://www.motivatingquotes.com/character. htm; accessed January 5, 2012. 11. Abraham Lincoln, http://www.quotedb.com/quotes/4183; accessed January 5, 2012.

Chapter 7
1. Warren Wiersbe, Live Like a King, http://thegracetabernacle. org/quotes/Money-Spirituality.htm; accessed January 5, 2012. 2. 1 Kings 10: The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon, Enduring Word Commentaries, http://www.enduringword.com/commentaries/1110.htm; accessed October 3, 2011. 3. Kent Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Man (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1991), 186.

Chapter 8
1. Vic Pentz, Leadership, v. 10, n. 4. quoted on http://thegracetabernacle.org/quotes/Prosperity.htm; accessed January 5, 2012. 2. Elayne Boosler, quoted on ThinkExist.com, http://thinkexist. com/quotation/my_ancestors_wandered_lost_in_the_wilderness_for/186641.html; accessed October 3, 2011.
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Endnotes

3. Henry Hartman, quoted on ThinkExist.com, http://thinkexist.com/quotation/success_always_comes_when_preparation_meets/173912.html; accessed October 3, 2011. 4. http://www.mongabay.com/history/south_africa/south_africa-zion_christian_church_other_religious_organizations. html; accessed January 5, 2012. 5. Benjamin Disraeli, quoted on BrainyQuote.com, http://www. brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/benjamindi130016.html; accessed October 3, 2011. 6. Albert E. Dunning, quoted on Forbes.com, http://thoughts. forbes.com/thoughts/opportunities-albert-e-dunning-greatopportunities-come; accessed October 3, 2011. 7. Anthony Robbins, quoted on ThinkExist.com, http:// thinkexist.com/quotation/if_you_do_what_you-ve_always_ done-you-ll_get_what/222354.html; accessed October 3, 2011. 8. Chinese Symbol Crisis, Living Chinese Symbols, http:// www.living-chinese-symbols.com/chinese-symbol-crisis. html; accessed October 3, 2011. 9. Albert E. Dunning, quoted on Forbes.com, http://thoughts. forbes.com/thoughts/opportunities-albert-e-dunning-greatopportunities-come; accessed October 3, 2011. 10. http://www.ucb.co.uk/index.cfm?itemid=88&testdate= 04%20Mar%202010; accessed January 5, 2012. 11. http://www.scottish-places.info/people/famousfirst60.html; accessed January 5, 2012. 12. http://www.brailler.com/braillehx.htm; accessed January 5, 2012. 13. http://inventors.about.com/od/mstartinventors/ig/SamuelMorse---Patent/First-Telegraph-Message.htm, accessed January 5, 2012.
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