LIVING WATERS from Lightbearers

Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor 10:31 NKJV

Is it wrong to pray for success, to seek to work towards your goals and achieve them? How you think about that question and its answer is the crux of this whole discussion. What if you came into possession of a million dollars? What would you do with it? Don’t doubt yourself – I know you! You would save some for retirement and rainy days, spend some on those dreams God has put in your heart, and use the rest for the kingdom of God! I know you; you have the love of God in you. You are not greedy or selfish. You can be trusted! You have proven yourself faithful in little things so God can progressively give you more.

But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Matt 13:5 NKJV

Different people have different capacities which is one reason why we never compare ourselves. You may have different capacities in different areas of your life. When great love enters that area where you have great capacity you are eventually going to see great results. I love to teach; I love the teaching ministry which is why it has been so natural for me to begin to plant schools of ministry all over the world. The schools have become the fruit of the ‘love times capacity’ equation. You have that love and capacity, then God multiplies your capacity by bringing you into relationship with likeminded others of similar capacity, and then something really awesome starts happening. Do you see it?

The Lord makes clear and powerful statements about your individual success all throughout His word. The one that really struck me this week is in Joshua. This was a time of great crisis – the great Moses was dead (they tell me the statement ‘Moses My servant is dead’ is one of the most emphatic in the Hebrew OT) and Joshua, Moses faithful minister and chosen by God successor for the next generation had to pick up the mantle of leadership. One thing you will see in human endeavors is that everything hinges on leadership – the difference between mediocrity and ‘winning the prize’ is leadership! The military, sports teams, great businesses, they all understand this truth, so why doesn’t the church! Let’s read the whole thing, then we will see how individual statements mesh with NT realities for the sons of God.

This was Joshua’s ordination prophecy…I almost feel like I should read it every morning. This is a personal prophecy to Joshua, and as such is directed to him alone, but we will see parallel truth in the NT that makes this prophecy relevant to us.

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying:  “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them — the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territoryNo 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. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Josh 1:1-9 NKJV

Let’s do some comparisons with NT truth…

Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them — the children of Israel.

“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” Eph 5:14 NKJV

Oooh, that’ll preach! Are you sleeping or even dead? Rise up! Let’s get moving! Get going!

Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.  Luke 10:3 NKJV

‘The land’ which He has given to us is ‘all the nations.’

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matt 28:19 NKJV

More comparisons…about our authority!

Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19 NKJV

Comparisons about our relationship with the Lord!

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.

And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Mark 16:20 NKJV

Courage is the ability and the willingness to do what you perceive as right in spite of the circumstances, and regardless of the consequences. The man or woman who shrinks from doing what is right as they perceive it is rightly condemned as a selfish coward. They will see no God-given success!

Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 1 Cor 16:13 NKJV

Here we compare our relationship with the written Word…

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly… Col 3:16 NKJV

Finally, you will see that the Lord walks with us just as He did with Joshua. He will give you wisdom and revelation in business, in your hobbies, in your family and all personal relationships, so that you can be successful. You don’t have to try to do this alone!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Josh 1:1-9 NKJV

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col 1:27 NKJV

Here in the first psalm, David gives wonderful, simple instruction on being a success.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Ps 1:1-3 NKJV

Really clear instruction, and what I want you to see here is that it says ‘whatever’ he does – not just ministry or Kingdom work – but all of your works in all aspects of your life will prosper. The ‘love times capacity’ equation will bear great fruit in everything you do, so expect it. Expect success to occur and look for it all the time. Beware of those who would frighten you of success because they are actually expecting your failure. That’s why David warns us to not even sit with those people. Trust that the Lord is working in your heart, and that He will cover for you, as He has for me MANY TIMES, and correct you if you make a mistake. Strive for success, reach your goals, bless the Kingdom and lead others. Amen? Love you!

Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…