You are more than Your success

post 12: 3 Big Questions

Revival is happening at Asbury University: Wilmore, KY started on February 8 and continues to take place.

The officer who was shot at the library a few weeks ago died.

Mass shooting early this morning : 1 dead, 10 wounded. In the whitehaven area

What are some benefits of success?

What are some dangers?

Are there any fears associated with Success?

It’s hard not to let success got to our heads. It doesn’t take much for us to boast in our ability leading to success.

1 cor 10:31 “31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

1 corinthians 11:1 “1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”

Weeks ago we talked about how we are more than our failure and the significance of recovering from failure. How failure builds character- Anne Laughlin mentioned how failure teaches us how not to blame others. We typically want to point the finger at people who we can blame.

I looked at this passage initially after our conversation last week about the grammys and the satanic dimension of our society. In this there have been talks about celebrities and their selling their soul to satan for success.

Beyonce was one of those artist, at least in African American culture, everyone like to attack and Jackie Hill Perry was one who made a statement about it. Jackie is a christian speaker who is most know for her Book: Gay Girl, Good God, in it she speaks of her deliverance out of the LGBT community. She used this chapter in corinthians to make a case for why believers should be careful about what they watch or listen to.

This entire chapter has a lot to do with Failing In Success.

Noted are the 5 blessings Paul describe from the past and the present

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (9:26–27)

Five advantages were enjoyed by Israel. First, all the liberated Israelites enjoyed the supernatural guidance (Ex. 13:21) and protection (Ex. 14:19–20) of the pillar of cloud in their Exodus from Egypt. The Corinthians had similarly experienced God’s guidance (cf. Luke 1:79) and protection (cf. 1 Peter 1:5). Second, all Israelites passed through the sea and experienced a miraculous deliverance from those who sought to take their lives (Ex. 14:21–28). So too had the Corinthians experienced a miraculous deliverance—salvation (cf. Heb. 2:14–15; Gal. 1:4).10:2. Third, the Israelites were all baptized into Moses, that is, united with their spiritual head, God’s servant, who became the object of their trust (Ex. 14:31; cf. John 5:45). The Corinthians had been baptized into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13) of which He is the Head (Eph. 1:22) and in whom they trusted (Matt. 12:21; Eph. 1:12).10:3. As a fourth privilege, the Israelites all enjoyed spiritual food, the supernatural bread from heaven (Ex. 16:4, 15). The Corinthians too had eaten bread from heaven (cf. John 6:31–34).10:4. As a fifth advantage, Paul listed the spiritual drink enjoyed by Israel in the desert (Ex. 17:6). According to Paul, Christ was the source of this supernatural water. Since the incident of the rock which produced water marked the beginning of Israel’s wilderness wanderings (Ex. 17:1–7) and happened again near the ending of their wanderings (Num. 20:1–13), Paul concluded that Christ accompanied them. Christ too was the source of supernatural water for the Corinthians (cf. John 4:10–14).

This success God gave them, did not produce spiritual results God desired because of a lack of self discipline, increased self indulgence and the worship of idols.

the only two from that previous generation who recieved blessing and not discipline was joshua and caleb.

Even with success, we think about it from the standpoint of failure then success.

Walt Disney- fired from Kansas city star because the editor said he “lacked imagination

Oprah- fired because she got too emotionally attached to the stories she reported

RH Macy- failed at retail before having a long running successful retail chain

Vera Wang- could never get the position of editor and chief and is now of the wealthiest fashion icons

How we handle success is critical, no matter how much success we have. . . following God and modeling him to the world is the most important.