Preparing for Success!

This was the advertisement shown during service last week, as Pastor Aries was preaching. Personally, it struck a chord with me. The phrase written below states "I don't expect success, I prepare for it!'

As I reflect on the message, it got me motivated. I used to think that all we need to do is confess the word.    I thought that just by saying God will provide is enough because after all He is Jehovah Jireh , our provider, isn't He not?

However, the Bible also says that we are co-creators with Christ, and the biggest aim in life is to be more and more Christ-like. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1

" Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ "

Colossians 1:6 says,
"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"

Lastly in 2 Corinthians 3:18 it says
" And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Have you wondered why God would want to give us His anointing, or why He would want us have the same authority and power as Jesus did?

From one perspective, let's say we buy a pet, most of us buy pets because it's cute and we provide for it without it giving back as it serves a purpose to make us happy with it's adorable characteristics.

We buy pets because it's cute!

But that's it. We certainly don't want the pet to become super smart and start having the ability to talk and become co-owners of the house we live in right? The same goes for computers, they were created for a purpose, and not to overwrite us and take over the world like in the matrix! 

However, when you look from the basis of family, which the Bible often does, it is often noted that parents always want the best for their children. Parents are proud when their children are groomed , disciplined and become successful in life. Parents are willing to sacrifice all for their children. I think the reason God ordained and created the notion of a family is to give us a picture of what Christ's love for us is.

The family! Built by sacrificial love for one another, just as Christ loved the Church!

My point is this. God didn't create us to be pets or computers. We are not some invention of God that He created. No, He created us as unique individuals, with a spirit, a soul and a body. In that sense we are more than just living beings for a singular purpose. We are who we are! We have thoughts, feelings, emotions and we have the ability to make decisions. In a sense we are 'little Christs' and we were meant to 'rule and reign with Christ!'

Romans 8:17 says
"Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

Life is not a game like Sim City or the SIMS. I'm sure many of us played these games before and often we would just build or give whatever we wanted to these intellectual computer avatars without much thought of who they are as individuals. After all, they're not real!

Yes , God will take care of us, but in the long run, unlike PETS, who just laze around and get free food, God values us as SONS and DAUGHTERS,  He wants us to grow and be mature Christians. Christians who are not afraid to prepare for their future, to work towards their dreams. He wants us to live our lives with the full potential as unique individuals who have the freedom of choice and decisions! Christians who have made a choice to follow Jesus, because as we follow His will, we will discover our unique individuality and our identity in Christ! Even if it may be difficult, we know that He will be there to guide us and will never 'leave nor forsake us' on this journey. But, we first need to take the step and prepare!

And to help us through this life, through the difficulties and trials,  He gave us, wait for it................

THE BIBLE and a community called THE CHURCH

The Bible opens the window for us to live a life that maxes the potential that God sets out for us! It also opens us up to spiritual truths and faith building confessions that we can boldly proclaim. And when we do, we can have 'assurance of faith' that our preparations and hard work will come to fruition, not 'assurance of faith' that God will magically grow money from trees.

Heb 10:22 says
"Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water."

And when we trust Him and lean on Him for direction, God promises that our hard work will produce a hope and a future!

Jeremiah 29:11 
¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Notice that God didn't say I have a hope and a future for you,  No no no, He said ' I have plans to give you hope and a future'

A plan, according to the dictionary is "a scheme or method of acting, doing, proceeding, making, etc., developed in advance" 

Notice the continuous tenses here, 'acting, doing, proceeding, making' God will lead us to the plan, but we need continuous ACTION and PREPARATION on our part for the EXECUTION of that plan to FRUITION. The amazing thing is this, if we follow Christ, He has the perfect plan for us and we can be assured, because He promised, that the hard work and preparation that we put into His plan will result in ' Prosperity, a Hope and a Future!' The verse uses the absolute verb WILL.

In 2013, let's work hard, let's strive on and not give up. At the same time, let's seek the Lord more for his guidance and let's prepare ourselves for the MIRACLE of 'Prosperity, a Hope and a Future!' in accordance with HIS PERFECT WILL!

2 Tim 2:12 
" If we endure, we will also reign with Him.....".

Romans 12:2
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will"

Hope you've been blessed!

Regards,
Daniel Foo