The Secret of Good Success: God With Me

 A quick scan of the scriptures shows a clear factor/trait that was common to all the men of faith who succeeded in fulfilling God’s assignment for their lives: the presence of God was with them.

1. Abraham:

o   And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do.” (Gen. 21:22)

2. Isaac:

o   And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” (Genesis 26:24)

3. Joseph:

o   And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. (Gen. 39:3) 

o   The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper. (Gen. 39:23)

o   And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him. (Acts 7:9)

4. Moses:

o   The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Ex. 33:14)

5. Joshua:

o   No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. (Josh. 1:5)

o   Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you just as I was with Moses. (Josh. 3:7)

6. Phinehas:

o   And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him. (1Chr. 9:20)

7. Samuel:

o   And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. (1 Sam. 3:19)

8. David:

o   And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul. (1 Sam. 18:12 )

o   And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. (1 Sam. 18:14)

o   And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. (2 Sam. 5:10)

o   So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him. (1 Chr. 11:9)

9. Solomon (Before He Strayed):

o   And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. (2 Chr. 1:1) 

10. King Asa (Before He Strayed):

o   And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. (2 Chr. 15:9)

11. King Hezekiah (At the beginning):

o   And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. (2 Kings 18:7)

12. Ezra:

o   This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him (Ezra 7:6)

o   For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. (Ezra 7:9)

o   And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. (Ezra 7:28)

13. Nehemiah:

o   And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me (Neh 2:8)

o   Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. (Neh 2:18)

14. John the Baptist:

o   And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. (Luke 1:66)

15. Jesus: 

o   How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38)

16. The Early Church in Antioch:

o   And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. (Acts 11:21)

Friends, the abiding presence of God is the secret to achieving good success (emphasis on good) in our life’s journey. Let us seek, cultivate His presence with all our heart and flee from sin and anything that will rob us of His glorious presence.

The World vs The Word of God

The world says "be yourself", the Word says "be like Christ"

The world says "flaunt it if you have it", the Word says "be decent and modest"

The world says "follow your heart", the Word says "follow Jesus"

The world says “you need to level up to your mates”, the Word says “don’t compare yourself to others”

The world says "hate your enemies", the Word says "love your enemies"

The world says, “na who love me I go love”, the Word says “love your neighbor as yourself"

The world emphasizes "self love", the Word emphasizes "deny self"

The world says "love is love", the Word says "flee from sexual immorality”

The world says "do what makes you happy", the Word says "do what makes God happy"

The world says "pursue your own dreams", the Word says "pursue your God-given dreams/assignment"

The world says "please yourself", the Word says "please God"

The world says "do wetin you love (YOLO)", the Word says "do what God loves"

The world says "your body, your choice", the Word says "your body is God's temple"

The world says “there is no God”, the Word says “God created all things”

The world says “there are different ways to God”, the Word says “Jesus is the Way”

The world promotes “self-centeredness”, the Word promotes “selflessness”

The world says "get rich or die trying", the Word says "store up treasures in heaven"

The world says “it's all about you”, the Word says “it’s all about Jesus”

The world says “the end justifies the means”, the Word says “abstain from all appearance of evil”

The world says “your happiness now is what matters most”, the Word says “God’s will is what matters most”

The world says “it’s not a big deal, everyone is doing it”, the Word says “pursue holiness without which no one will see the Lord”

The world celebrates “earthly achievement/success”, The Word says “set your mind on things above”

The world defines greatness by “fame, power, wealth and prestige”, the Word defines greatness by “service to God and humanity”

The world says "live your own truth", the Word says "Jesus is the truth"

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:17)

The 7 "I Am" Statements of Jesus

1. THE BREAD OF LIFE

• And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35,48)
• I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” (John 6:51)

Jesus satisfies and gives everlasting, unending life!

2. THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

• Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
• As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:5)

Jesus is the only source of true spiritual illumination, providing guidance, truth, spiritual sight and life to a world lost in spiritual darkness/blindness (sin, error, ignorance, confusion and separation from God)!

3. THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP

• Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.” (John 10:7)
• I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:9)

Jesus is the only way to the kingdom of God, spiritual nourishment and abundant life (spiritual richness, peace, and fulfillment)!

4. THE GOOD SHEPHERD

• I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. (John 10:11)
• I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. (John 10:14)

Jesus protects and cares for all who belong to Him!

5. THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE

• Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.” (John 11:25)

Those in Christ have victory over death and the grave and have eternal life!

6. THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE

• Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Jesus is the exclusive path to God, to salvation; Jesus is the full revelation of God, He is the source of all truth and knowledge about God, His Word is the unquestionable Truth; Jesus alone is the source of life, He is the Creator and Sustainer of all life and the Giver of eternal life!

7. THE TRUE VINE

• I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser (John 15:1)
• I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing (John 15:5)

Only those who are joined in vital union with Christ can be divinely fruitful!

My friends, don’t procrastinate any longer, come to Jesus Christ today!

10 Rewards for Overcomers

Most people who profess Christianity today are focused on earthly realities, while the word of God clearly admonishes us to fix our gaze on heavenly things (2 Cor. 4:18, Col. 3:2).

Below is a quick list of ten heavenly things (to remind ourselves to always set our minds on) which our Lord Jesus Christ (in the letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor) promises to all those who remain steadfast in following Him until the end, through trials and temptations.

1. Eat from the Tree of Life: “To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” (Rev. 2:7)

2. Crown of Life: “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Rev. 2:10)

3. Saved from Second Death: “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” (Rev. 2:11)

4. Eat Hidden Manna and Receive a white stone with a new name written on it: “To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. (Rev. 2:17)

5. To Rule with Christ in His kingdom: “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father” (Rev 2:26)

6. Receive the Morning Star: “And I will give him the morning star.” (Rev 2:28)

7. Clothed in White Garments, Name Will not Be Erased from the Book of Life, and Jesus will confess his/her Name before God and His angels: “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” (Rev 3:5)

8. Kept from the World’s Hour of Trial: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” (Rev. 3:10)

9. A pillar in God’s Temple, with God’s Name, Christ’s New Name and the Name of God’s City written on him/her: He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” (Rev. 3:12)

10. Sit with Christ on His throne: “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Rev. 3:21)