Notes:
Continuation of the sermon on the seven laws of success.
4.) Drive and ambition
When you have to make tough decisions, ask yourself what is the hardest thing to do in this situation. It is usually the right thing to do.
God the Father gave us the goal of righteousness. It goes with our calling, He did not call us to dwell in our sinfulness. Following God and turn our life over to Him is the hard choice. Choosing the right goal and path is always the difficult decision.
We all reach a point in striving to reach our goals of becoming lazy. God has not called us to sit on our hands, he wants us to be active in every aspect of our life. Whatever we find to do, do it with all of our might. Being called to righteousness is not an easy task. This way of life is not for the faint of heart.
God wants us to be filled with zeal, drive, and ambition to accomplish our goals.
Matt. 5:6 → Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Luke 13:24 → Strive to enter through the narrow door. God has no place for a spiritually lethargic person.
Rev. 3:14 → Those are lethargic (laodicea) will be vomited out.
Phil. 3:13 → Paul didn’t think he had it together, but he didn’t look to the past - rather he looked ahead. Forget those things that are behind.
Paul kept his eyes on his calling.
5.) Resourcefulness
We need to pour and mind out to God. Let Him help us to find different solutions.
John 6:5 → Feeding of loaves and fishes.
When we face road blocks, be sure to use our greatest resource - Jesus Christ and God the Father.
6.) Perseverance.
Don’t quit or give up. Call on perseverance when our life is at its lowest.
1 Kings 19:1 → Elijah had it rough and wanted to quit.
King Ahab and Jezebel were threatening Elijah’s life. Elijah wanted to take his life. Satan leads us places to discourage us from our calling.
I Kings 19:10-16
Elijah was caught up in himself and his own problems. He wanted God to end. God will not tolerate a weak-willed person. When we quit, we take our sight of the incredible power of God.
Zeph. 1:4 → The day of the Lord is at hand. God only has so much patience with disobedience.
Rev. 3:7
7.) Build Your Relationship with God.
This is the first goal in your life. This has to be our own decision, it cannot come from our spouse or parents.
Psalms 14:2 → God is looking down on us to see if we will seek him.
John 6:44 → No man can come to God unless God call him first.
Prov. 8:17 → Those who seek me diligently will find me.
Jer. 29:11-14 → God has planned a tremendous future for us.
Bart Bornhorst is the pastor of the United Church of God congregations in Lehigh Valley, Lewistown and York, Pennsylvania. He and his wife Joan have three sons and one daughter.
