Defining Success

Defining Success

How do you define success?

Here are some various answers to that question: *

Someone once asked Paul Harvey, the journalist and radio commentator, to
reveal the secret of his success. "I get up when I fall down," said Harvey.
-- Bits & Pieces, March 3, 1994, p. 16

In his book Be Free, Warren W. Wiersbe mentioned the fact that young
ministers often visited the great British preacher G. Campbell Morgan to ask
him the secret of his success. When someone inquired of him what he told
these aspiring preachers, Morgan replied, "I always say to them the same
thing -- work; hard work; and again, work!" - Our Daily Bread

"To succeed in life you need not only initiative, but also finishiative." --
Zaida Jones Blaine in Chicago Tribune

"The secret of success is to do the common things uncommonly well." -- John
D. Rockefeller, Jr.

Dan Crawford (1870-1926) spent most of his adult life serving as a
missionary in Africa. When it was time to return home to Britain, Crawford
described to an old Bantu the kind of world he was about to return to. He
told him about ships that ran under the water, on the water, and even those
that flew above the water. He described English houses with all of their
conveniences, such as running water and electric lights. Then Crawford
waited for the old African to register his amazement. "Is that all, Mr.
Crawford?" the aged man asked. "Yes, I think it is," Crawford replied. Very
slowly and very gravely, the old Bantu said, "Well, Mr. Crawford, you know,
that to be better off is not to be better." - W. Wiersbe, The Wycliffe
Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, p. 188.

What is success? In my book, one ingredient of success is meaningful time
with my children. As a friend of mine observed, "I have yet to hear of
anyone who, on his deathbed, wished he'd spent more time at the office." --
Joseph Stowell, Moody Monthly

A popular singer who recently went from rags to riches was quoted as saying,
"I still don't understand it. If you don't have any time for yourself, any
time to hunt or fish, that's success." -- Bits & Pieces, November, 1989, p.
18

Here is the key and the definition of true success: "Do not let this Book of
the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you
may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous
and successful" (Joshua 1:8 NIV).

True success is to know the will of God and to do it.

It is the will of God that you be saved. He "desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). Sin condemns,
but God gave His Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16).

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will
continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His
Word (1 John 1:7-9).

It is the will of God that you serve Him. "For we are God's workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for
us to do" (Ephesians 2:10 NIV).

True success is to know the will of God and to do it. Won't YOU?

-- David A. Sargent

* These various answers come from
http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/s/success.htm

Mike Hadl of Lawrence, Kansas

208 Pints

Two hundred eight pints. That is 26 gallons. That is how much blood Mike
Hadl of Lawrence, Kansas, has donated since 1982. Last Saturday was the
date of his most recent donation, and he doesn't want it to be his last.
"When I get done and head home, I say to God, just let me do one more pint,"
he told WIBW in Topeka.

Why has he donated so much blood? The need for blood transfusions is
ever-present, especially during this coronavirus pandemic. But for Hadl,
there is an even greater motivation.

Hadl's mother was diagnosed with cervical cancer. At one point in her
treatments, she needed a blood transfusion. "She had to have two pints of
whole blood and she lived four [more] months," he told the local TV station,
"but the two pints of blood, whoever gave them, gave her one more
Thanksgiving, one more Christmas, one more New Years, with her children, her
grandkids, her family and friends."

Since then, Hadl has donated as much blood as he can, as often as he can, so
that perhaps his blood can help save a life - or at least extend it. He
encourages others to give as well. *

Our sinful condition is fatal: "for the wages of sin is death" (Romans
6:23). But God loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on
the cross for our sins (John 3:16). The blood that Jesus shed in His death
is the remedy - the only remedy - for our condition. When His blood is
applied to our lives, we receive eternal life. "For the wages of sin is
death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans
6:23).

Jesus willingly "shed His blood" (gave His life) so that we can have eternal
life. It is the very reason that He, the eternal Word, "became flesh and
dwelt among us" (John 1:14). "In all things He had to be made like His
brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things
pertaining to God, to make propitiation [an atoning sacrifice] for the sins
of the people" (Hebrews 2:17).

"Let me help save one more," seems to be the mantra of Mike Hadl. Jesus'
desire is always to save one more. He said, "The Son of man has come to
seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10).

You can take it personally: Jesus wants to save YOU.

The Good News is that the blood of Jesus is sufficient to save YOU and as
many as will accept His offer on His terms. "He Himself is the propitiation
[the atoning sacrifice] for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the
whole world" (1 John 2:2).

God will save by the blood of Jesus and give eternal life to those who place
their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in
repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and
are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
In baptism, the penitent believer has his/her sins washed away by the blood
of Jesus (Acts 22:16). That same blood continues to cleanse the Christian
from sins as he/she continues to walk in the light of His Word (1 John
1:7-9).

Jesus always wants to save one more. He wants to save YOU.

Won't YOU accept His offer of salvation and eternal life through your
trusting obedience?

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from "Kansas man gives 208 pints of blood: 'Let me do
one more'" by Caleb Parke, www.foxnews.com.

What does it mean to be A Living Sacrifice

Presenting Our Bodies A Living Sacrifice

 

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world.............--Romans 12:1-2

 

The eternal salvation of those who are willing to obey the Lord is one of those exceedingly precious promises from God (Hebrew 5:8-9). We should be impressed with the love of God for  that makes it possible for us to be called children of God (1 John 3:1-2;  Romans 5:8-9; Colossians 1:9-14). As children of God we have placed ourselves under an obligation to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and to serve him diligently (Mark 12:30; Romans 12:11).

 

Without a doubt, I for one, believe that this obligation will not be kept, yea cannot be kept if we are unwilling to present our bodies a living sacrifice to God (Matt. 6:33; Gal. 2:20) If we are going to be acceptable to God, we must be willing to make a rock solid commitment to Him (2 Tim. 2:15; James 1:21-22; 1 Cor. 16:13-14; Matt. 6:19-21; Col. 3:1-2; Heb. 12:1-3). He must have full possession of our life (1 Cor. 6:19-20). His word must fill our hearts, mold our thoughts and guide our lives every step of the way through this life.

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In presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice we refuse to conform our lives according to the ways of this world (1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4).  The devil is ever present throwing temptations at us to say, think or do that which is sinful (1 Peter 5:8-9).  We must constantly fight the good fight of faith as we seek to lay hold on eternal life (1 Tim. 6:12-16). We need to be constantly examining every aspect of our lives to make sure that we are holding fast to that which is good and right in the sight of God (2 Cor. 13:5)

 

Physically our outward man, that which can be seen, heard and felt. becomes tired, weary, exhausted and decays but as a child of God we do not give up because the inner man which cannot be seen is renewed with strength, courage, patience, peace and hope (2 Cor. 4:16-18; Philippians 4:4-9; Romans 15:13; Titus 2:11-15).) that lifts us up, puts a smile on our face and a little bounce in our step. And that, my friends, I am convinced is what happens when we humbly offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to our God.

 

Charles Hicks

Georgia state Senator Bruce Thompson

A Second Chance

Georgia state Senator Bruce Thompson almost died from the coronavirus in
mid-March. Medical professionals at Northside Cherokee Hospital in Canton,
Georgia told him at one point that they were not sure he was going to
survive. "I was in tough shape," Thompson recalls, also stating that he did
not want to leave his wife of 20 years and their two children.

But, thankfully, he did survive. Now, a month later, he is able to run a
mile a day as he was doing before he contracted the virus. He also wants to
help others who are currently battling the virus. He is providing some
help by donating his plasma.

"Life is the most precious gift," he said, "and to be able to save someone's
life... I can't think of a better way than donating plasma... I'm told that
potentially my plasma could save four lives."

"I got a second chance at life and I want to do whatever I can to provide
other people with a second chance as well," Thompson told Fox News. *

In the midst of some Old Covenant teaching about animal sacrifices in the
book of Leviticus, we find this reference: "the life of every creature is
its blood" (Leviticus 17:11, 14).

According to www.oneblood.org, "Blood is essential to life. Blood
circulates through our bodies and delivers essential substances like oxygen
and nutrients to the body's cells. It also transports metabolic waste
products away from those same cells. There is no substitute for blood. It
cannot be made or manufactured. Generous blood donors are the only source
of blood for patients in need of a blood transfusion."

Blood is essential to life. As we see in the case of Thompson's donation of
blood plasma, it is also essential for others to have a second chance at
life.

As essential as blood is to our physical lives, the blood of Jesus is the
key to eternal life.

Sin, the common malady of us all - "for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) - carries a death sentence. "For the wages
of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

But God loves us so much that He gave His Son to die on the cross for our
sins (John 3:16). Jesus shed His blood in His death to pay the price for
our redemption from sin. Only the sinless Son of God could die in our
place; He was the perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12-14). "In Him we have
redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the
riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7). When the blood of Jesus is applied to
our lives, it washes away our sins (Revelation 1:5) and gives us eternal
life (Romans 6:23).

The blood of Jesus washes away the sin of those who place their faith and
trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). Then, as
one continues to walk in the light of His Word, the blood of Jesus continues
to cleanse the Christian from all sin (1 John 1:7-9).

Blood is essential to life. The blood of Jesus is essential to eternal
life.

Won't YOU be "washed in the blood" through your trusting obedience?

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from "Georgia state senator's 'second chance at life'
after surviving coronavirus, giving plasma" by Caleb Parke, www.foxnews.com
and www.oneblood.org.

God and Covid 19

Do We Believe that Jesus is Lord?  Let’s Act Like It!!

In his recent “Preaching in Times of Distress,” long-time brotherhood preacher Philip Slate wrote these important words:

Soon after the NIV (New International Version) arrived, I decided one evening to read the entire book of Ezekiel. I was especially impressed by the numerous appearances of the words “Sovereign LORD.” (Later I found no less than 210 cases.). The RSV and ESV render the words “Lord GOD,” but it occurred to me that Ezekiel was, among many other things, reminding exiled Israel that God is in control. He is over all. It appears to me that it is important to preach that truth in any time of national, or even local, crisis.

In similar vein, Jesus was resurrected to become Lord over all:

This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand, 35  until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Acts 2:32-36

For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Romans 14:8-9

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him. 1 Peter 3:21-22

Jesus …

1. God’s obedient servant …
2. … dies in humiliation on a Roman cross.
3. … is resurrected in glory.
4. … made Lord of all.

Anyone who can overcome death has to be taken very seriously!!

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the

form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by

taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

In the present covid-19 trial, let us spend our time looking “to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4), knowing that since Christ is Lord of all, and thus in control of this world, we should not be worrying over things that only He can solve.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:15-20

If our Lord could do this …

The Lord is at your right hand;

    he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.

6 He will execute judgment among the nations,

    filling them with corpses;

he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. Psalm 110:5-6

 

… then covid-19 will present no difficulty at all for Him!!

 

Therefore, let us, as servants of our Lord Jesus, get on with loving God and loving neighbour – filling our days with the good works God created us for, and leaving the virus to Jesus:

 

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10

 

Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:9-14

 

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

 

• Steadfast
• Immovable
• Always abounding in the work of the Lord.

 

A L W A Y S ! !      “Knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain.”

 

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32

God gives us all things to do his will, including the power to do it. He works in us what pleases Him. Philippians 2:12-13; 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; Hebrews 13:20-21. If we work with Him.

 

David Carr

 

 

Why Be Baptized?

Many religious people today deny that obedience to the command of the Lord to be baptized “for the remission of sins” is necessary to those who have heard, believed the truth, and repented of their sins. The amazing part of this is how such a conclusion could be drawn in the face of all that is taught in the New Testament on the subject. Why does one have to be baptized for the “remission of sins”?

Man cannot decide this question; it must be done by the word of God. Following are some of the reasons given in the New Testament regarding the reason for baptism:

1. It is commanded by Christ (Mark 16:15. 16; Matt. 28:19; Acts 10:48). 

2. It is in answer of a good conscience (I Pet. 3:20,21). 

3. It is in order that one may rejoice in the forgiveness of sins (Acts 8:39; 16:33.34). 

4. It is to get into Christ (Gal. 3:27). 

5. It is to get into the death of Christ where remission is found (Rom. 6:3: Col. 2:12). 

6. It is to be raised with Christ to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4). 

7. It is to wash away sins (Acts 22:16). 

8. It is to be saved (Mark 16:15,16; I Pet. 3:21). 

9. It is for or unto the remission of sins (Acts 2:38).

 - by H. E. Phillips

 

The FIST of God and the open hands of God communion talk