Idols: Success
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Introduction
Introduction
Attention Step:
Success..... how would you define it?
Many of you when you thought of a definition probably had MONEY come to mind
Or maybe a promotion
Being the boss of your company
Being in charge
Retiring early..... WAY early
Interest Step:
I came across an article this week titled: Successful People on “Success”
Read the quotes from the paper
Lead into Subject Step:
All of them said one thing in common and that was:
Success doesn’t depend on how much money you have (Says the BILLIONAIRES!)
But that Success depends on being HAPPY
Isn’t that great that they came to this realization?
As long you are happy, you are successful
Hate to burst their bubble, but being “happy” isn’t being “Successful!
Transition:
Let’s turn our Bibles to
Today, I want us to examine the true definition of what it means to be successful
Success vs. Blessed
There’s not many times where the word “success” appears in the Bible
Success gives off the idea that it’s something that YOU have done!
That’s why we often get caught up in being on a journey to success to the point it becomes our IDOL!
Success is a WORLDLY word (Say that 5x’s fast)
There is a word in the Bible that appears quit often that will lead you to success in this life and the life afterwards
That word is Blessed
And we are see it in the two passages we will examine today
What is success according to the Bible?
1. Success depends on Attitude ()
1. Success depends on Attitude ()
Explanation
One of the first recorded sermons of Christ in the Gospels
Purpose: Talking about the needed forgiveness and lifestyle required of “Kingdom Living”
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Here is one of the most popular places in Scripture where we see this Biblical word “Blessed”
Blessed here gives the idea of “Happiness;Fortunate”
See, the world tells you in order to become “Successful” you must:
FIGHT to the top!
You get hit, you hit them back!
Don’t let anyone take advantage of you!
“If you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin!”
Gain followers/ Please your fans!
Take care of YOU
But ironically, do we see that anywhere in a sermon Christ gives on the way we are to live our lives?
NO!
God’s Standard to being successful:
Be poor! (Recognize your inability to accomplish ANYTHING on your own!)
Mourn! (Identify your weaknesses!)
Be Meek! (Gentle and humble)
Be Peacemakers!
Don’t shy away from persecution! (Faith-Based persecution; NOT self-afflicted persecution)
be merciful (with NO limits!)
See being successful depends on your ATTITUDE!
Even books outside of the Bible will tell you that!
Argumentation
The reason you stress and continue to feel the failure of not being successful is because the way the world defines success is IMPOSSIBLE for you
You will never get there!
You can’t do anything on your own abilities
Illustration
Does anyone remember the game King of the Hill?
Probably illegal nowaways
We used to play it all the time, including the high school football games!
You know what the problem is playing King of the Hill in the 5th/6th grade?
Girls grow faster than boys
You know how as boys, we are taught to never hit a girl
That rule changes when a girl steps up to the bottom of the hill!
CJ and Me playing air-hockey
I would fling that puck as hard as I can at his forearm
Everyone would call me terrible.... I DIDN’T CARE!
Application
See, on the journey to success we tend to go into “survivor” mode and it’s because of the way the world defines success
This is when Success becomes an idol in our lives
The idol of success invites you to save yourself instead of allowing God to save you
In that moment of survivor mode, you take your eyes off a God and put them on you!
Success= what YOU do
Blessed= what you have been given!
2. Success Depends on Appetite ()
2. Success Depends on Appetite ()
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
I’m sure many of us have heard of the term “HANGRY”
It kinda looks like there are some HANGRY people in the room this morning!
HANGRY= Hungry and ANGRY
We’re talking being hungry for a sandwich this morning , but we are talking about that hunger inside of you the motivates you to be successfull
Teams that win championships, are HUNGRY
CEO’s who want to grow their business, are HUNGRY
Those who want to make more money, are HUNGRY
You can always tell they’re hungry, because you see their focus and their TUNNEL vision in accomplishing their goals
But here’s the deal, there are only two things you are hungry in doing:
Bringing Glory and Attention to YOU
OR bringing glory and attention to GOD!
BLESS is the man who does NOT:
Walk in the council of the wicked
Stand in the way of sinners
All of this describes that hunger to elevate YOURSELF
You have all the books on your shelf, you have all the motivational quotes, you have all the people around you motivating you, you are fulfilling everyone’s requests
Me, Me, Me, Me, ME!
These things aren’t bad, but TRUE success begins with what?
BLESSED is the man who DOES:
Delight in the Word of God
Meditates on the WORD of God each day!
Argumentation
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
Again! Another place in Scripture that talks about being SUCCESSFUL, and it’s entered around a love and meditation on God’s Word!
Illustration
If you want to be successful, your hungry and drive should be to know the Word of God more! Why?
God’s Word sets you FREE ()
and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
The Word of God will GUIDE you ()
Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
The Word of God will make you PROSPER ()
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
Application
We sometimes take the Word of God and treat as a book of suggestions and sayings to make us feel good when we aren’t doing so well
We sometimes casually claim the Bible as a “Guide Book for Life”
We must understand that the Word of God is EVERYTHING you need to know in order to live a life pleasing to God
Success begins with a HUNGER to know the Word of God
Words spoken from the very ONE who made all things, who fashioned all the days of your life, and that ALL things are subject to!
Other books on leadership, drive, success, etc. are GREAT but you have to understand they mean nothing if you’re hunger is not in the Word of God
You are lucky to have gotten to where you are today without a hunger for the Word of God
Hunger= Urgency
3. Success Depends on Your Audience ()
3. Success Depends on Your Audience ()
Question: What is an audience?
Group of people who gather to watch, listen, and be captivated by someone, something, or a group
YOUR audience is ANYONE you are expecting to watch, listen and by captivated by what YOU do!
To the World, the more successful you are the bigger your audience is
If you have no people watching you, the world wants to tell you that you’re not being successful
Once again, God’s Word says the opposite of what the World says,
Turn with me to
This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.
Paul begins a discussion on what it means to be a leader within the ministry of God
Paul’s description of a leader:
SERVANTS of Christ!
This word servant is not the common used throughout the scripture
This one particularly describes the slaves at the bottom of a boat
Those who were liked the LEAST
Thought of the LEAST
We are SERVANTS of Christ.... we belong to CHRIST!
Because we BELONG to Christ, we are responsible to HIM and HIM alone!
Which means we have an audience of ONE!
Even Paul says that he doesn’t care about the approval of those around Him, He cares about the one whom he belongs to says about Him!
Argumentation
What’s the big deal about identifying who your audience is?
See, your audience dictates who you are faithful to the most in life
You will do anything to please your audience and keep them!
Your life begins to be shaped around your audience!
Illustration
Story of the man who invented Microsoft Exchange
Wife did not like the idea of him becoming rich
“Why?!”
Her response “We never see you anymore”
He begins going to church and kept hearing the words, “you can’t serve riches and God”
His turn-around and new definition of success
Application
Who is your audience this morning?
Who are you trying to impress with your life and work?
Bosses, Parents, Teachers, Spouse, Preacher, Church members, etc?
Here’s your definition of what success is:
Success = Faithfulness
Faithful to what?
The WORD OF GOD (the mysteries of God)
Why the Word of God?
It’s your creators Word
The Word of God = LIFE
True Life = JOY!