Another week, another helpful insight from God's Word!
Every Christian wants to please God. (At least I hope we do!) We want to know how we're doing according to God's desire for our lives. We want to be successful in the things that last for eternity, not just in the temporal things of earth.
In this message I draw from Acts 13 to give insight into the Marks of a Successful Life from God's perspective. You know, the world ascribes success by a very different criteria than God uses. So I hope that you will be blessed by this message.
As you listen, allow the Holy Spirit to touch your heart. Then respond to Him and His Word in the way He prompts. That, alone, is success!
Let me know what you think. And I pray that God will bless you as only He can as you give your heart to His ways. Peace, Kirk McCormick
Five Marks of Success in the
Christian Life
Mark
1 - Obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:4 - “The two of
them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed
from there to Cyprus.”
Point: If think about, Obedience is the
logical response of a person who
Loves God… more than other people OR other
things.
Jesus: If you Love me, obey my commandments.
Mark
2 - Taking advantage of the moment.
Acts 13: 7b - “The
proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to
hear the word of God.”
The Challenge:
Be Ready!
…as Paul says to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:2) - Be ready in season and out of season; preach the Word,
correct, rebuke, encourage…with great patience and careful instruction.
Mark
3 - Courage in the face of opposition.
Acts 13:8 - “But Elymas the
sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the
proconsul from the faith.”
** God says 3 TIMES to Joshua/Israel, “Be strong and
courageous”
6
“Be strong and courageous,
because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their
forefathers to give them.
7
Be strong and very courageous.
Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it
to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.
Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do
not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Mark
4 - Boldness in teaching the truths of God.
Acts 13:10 - “You are a
child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of
all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways
of the Lord?
Mark
5 - Training the next generation.
** A subtle part of this passage is easily missed…
Acts 13:5b - “John was with
them as their helper.”
Point: The church needs trainers as much
as we need more evangelists…
…so can you encourage kids?
…can you teach them the basics about our
faith?
…can you show them the Love of Jesus?
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