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Submitted by Ed
Santiago
Door of Faith Christian Fellowship Church <[email protected]>
The day and age in which we live is odd and perplexing to say the least. Everyone is striving to succeed, to get ahead or at least keep up. In the eyes of the world success is mainly measured by money and material possessions. It is sad to say that in the church the same could be said. When a brother or sister is financially well off or has desirable possessions, many think that God is with them. Yet when one is lacking in either of these, many, including the one who lacks, wonder if the blessings of God are for them, personally. Often they are criticized for having little faith and exhorted to believe God for supply.
And then there is sickness, family problems and many other factors of life we can add in. It concerns me how prevalent the view points of the world are in the church. It is astounding how we look at local congregations of believers and base whether or not they are in the will of God by the size of the congregation. No matter how big the church buildings, in spite of exceptional praise and worship ministries, excellent programs and large attendance, do any of these things really show that we are successful?
What is Success?
The only true measure for success is the will of God. Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but ONLY he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord,' did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, "I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!" (Matt. 7:21-23).
They might of had the flash and they might of had the cash and very likely a large following, but they were not successful. Success is who I am and what I am doing as compared to who Jesus says I am and what Jesus has asked of me. Are we doing the will of the Father who is in heaven? Or have we taken the broad path of presumptuousness? The sin of presumptuousness says that bigger is better and more will make it greater yet. Thus placing one in bondage of want and striving in competition with comparison; falling head long to the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.
David spoke of this trap in Psalms 19:13, "Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sin; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression."
How can I know the will of God?
Romans 12:1&2 tells us: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."
The eyes of the world are not so much upon us as they are within us. Too much we peer at God's word and His promises through worldly eyes. We have held on to the pattern of this world. To often we have let our desires have pre-eminence over God's will. When Jesus spoke the parable of the seed and the sower in Matt. 13:3-23, the only soil that brought forth fruit was good soil.
Matt. 13:8, "Still other fell into good ground and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixty and some thirtyfold."
When Jesus explained the parable to His disciples; about that which brought forth fruit he said: But he that received seed into good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matt. 13:23).
Jesus never said that they who only brought forth thirtyfold didn't try hard enough. Jesus never said that they who brought forth sixtyfold didn't believe enough and that only the hundredfold exercised true obedient faith in the will of God. Jesus said these who brought forth fruit were good ground, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Jesus says that's just the way it is in the Kingdom. Is the will of God good enough, for you?
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Unless otherwise stated, all scriptures quoted in these studies are from the New International Version of the Bible, New York International Bible Society, used by permission. Other versions referred to are: KJV (King James Version), NKJB (New King James Bible), TLB (The Living Bible), Amp (The Amplified Bible) and The Message. All versions used by permission.
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