012 - success strategy 4

UNIVERSITY of EXCELLENCE

012 - strategies for success & vision - part 4

EIGHT TWIN STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS & CONTINUED VISION (PART D - FINAL)

In previous teachings in this series we discussed the FIRST FIVE TWINS for success and continued vision:

      Enthusiastic Desire PLUS Faith;

      Decisive Nature PLUS Virtue;

      Specialized Knowledge PLUS Spiritual Knowledge;

      Quest for Excellence PLUS Temperance; and,

      Organic Spiritual Endeavor PLUS Patience.

In this final teaching of the series we will cover the LAST THREE TWINS:

      Principles of Value PLUS Godliness;

      Like-minded Associates PLUS Brotherly Kindness; and

      Vehicle for Attainment PLUS Love.

When you combine your good desires with faith . . . ENTHUSIASTIC DESIRE PLUS FAITH . . . you have an unbeatable combination. You can begin to PLAN your future prayerfully based upon the God given desires of your heart. That's one reason it is important to read and meditate upon the Word of God daily so you will KNOW and develop the will of God for your life.

Remember . . . you can CREATE with your faith. Hebrews 11:1 tell us, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith is the underpinning or support . . . a title deed (as in property) . . . that lets you KNOW you have the objects or affairs you do not yet see.

It is a wonderful thing to have FAITH, but if you have a PLAN incorporating your desires to go along with your faith, it is even better! Here's a SECRET that will allow you to SEE many MIRACLES:

      If your PLAN fits into God's plan

      . . . . . . . you will have God's FAITH

      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and God's faith ALWAYS WORKS!

You need to be able to make decisions based upon knowledge and quality input. Once again, this is where it is important to read and meditate upon the Word of God daily. You need DIRECTION in the many matters of life that face you now . . . and also about future planning. God has given you everything you need for LIFE and GODLINESS through His PROMISES and the KNOWLEDGE of Christ.

In ministry and in business you need to draw upon quality research, marketing, and experience (sometimes the input of others). And you need to KNOW when to act. Timing is KEY to success in many courses of action. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, says that when he knows that something is right, and that the timing is right, he goes into it with MASSIVE ACTION. However, without VIRTUE a decision can have disastrous effects eternally and with no substance temporally here on earth.

The Greek word for VIRTUE in the New testament is arete: it means excellence and valor. We need to be people of EXCELLENCE. Our nature should be to make excellent DECISIONS based upon VIRTUE. If we are following Jesus and listening to the Holy Spirit, we will be able to accomplish this continuously.

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men. Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." [Colossians 3:23-24]

Make your decisions based upon the fact that God is watching you!

We are living in a day like the prophet Daniel described where "knowledge shall be increased" and we should take advantage of that knowledge to advance the kingdom of God. Daniel, in a passage of scripture dealing with the end times, tells us " . . . but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." [Daniel 11:32] Exploit, in the sense used here, means literally "to do successively unfolding bold, courageous works!"

There are many ways to influence society and to reach the world for Messiah. And there are many NEW ways to help yourself gain SUCCESS! Pray and ask God to reveal these to you. Then, obey Him and be diligent to study in order to prepare yourself to be used by the Master: to be a good steward.

No amount of SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE, however, will be of significant time value without SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE. No matter how successful we become in life, it will not be of any time value unless we know God personally. If we know God through His Son, Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, then we have eternal life. [Brit Chadashah: John 3:16]

When you study the Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you, and to teach you so you can teach others. The scripture instructs us, "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." [2 Timothy 2:15]

Combining SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE with SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE will provide you a powerful impetus for ongoing success and continued vision. To be really successful we need to share our success with others: our family, our brothers and sisters in Messiah, our community, and the world.

THE MORE YOU KNOW . . . THE MORE THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN USE! This applies not only to mental knowledge but also to knowledge gained through the acquisition of physical skills or craftsmanship.

Practice excellence in your CHARACTER. Be transparent and keep your word. Psalm 15 is a good start for practical living and developing excellence in character. Also, loving our neighbor as we do our self, and doing unto our neighbor as we would have him do to us, is the guideline our Gadol Cohen (Great Rabbi) set before us.

Practice excellence in your WORK. Be a good steward for your earthly employer and your Heavenly employer. Colossians 3:22 instructs us NOT to do sight-labor: that is, work that needs watching.

In your quest for excellence, develop your skills to the BEST of your ability. Be a good manager of what God has given you and over which God has placed you. Keep improving and growing in your knowledge base, your acumen, and your skills. Study Part 'A' of this teaching to help develop excellence in acumen; particularly study the section on "Decisive Nature and Virtue."

Along with the quest for excellence you need to partner with temperance, or self control. Many people, on their quest for excellence, do NOT allow for rest or leisure. This is vital to SUCCESS and CONTINUED VISION.

Rest, and also quietness, is necessary for wholeness. A key scripture and principle that I have tried to practice in my life for many years is found in Isaiah 30:15:

"For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest shall you be saved; and in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength."

Leisure is more than just non-work. It is when we PERMIT ourselves time for rest, growth, and development. Leisure is BOTH the embryo and the catalyst for creativity, and for NEW experiences, people, play, and places.

We have to permit ourselves the time to rest . . . to re-create . . . and to create! Isaiah 58:13-14 tells us about an ADDED BONUS when we honor the Sabbath of the Lord.

     "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words:

     Then shall you delight yourself in the LORD; and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it."

To be really successful we need to share our success with others: our family, our brothers and sisters in Messiah, our community, the world . . . and Heaven.

We need to have TOTAL success in life: in this life on earth and in the eternal beyond; and God has provided just such means to attain that goal. God has given us EVERYTHING WE NEED for: LIFE, and GODLINESS.

     "According as His divine power has given unto us ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue." [2 Peter 1:3]

He has given us PROMISES so that we can share or partner with Him in His divine expansion - or growth of descendants - after we have escaped, by His saving grace, the ruin that is in the world through lust. In other words, after we are born again and start serving Messiah, we can partner and be a companion with God in successfully bearing fruit: that is, growing other seed-descendants. These include our own children who are born again while also reaching out to the rest of the world.

"Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." [2 Peter 1:4]

How can we involve ourselves in powerful, prolonged, and productive effort that will be self multiplying and profitable, not only temporally here on Planet Earth but also eternally in Heaven?

The answer: be actively engaged in organic ministry growth! Be involved in a work that is propagating living, continuous development of the Kingdom of God.

The definition of the word propagate is "to breed by natural (or supernatural) processes from a parent origin; to promote an idea or knowledge widely; to transmit in a particular direction."

There are around 60,000 people groups on Planet Earth, with Messianic believers and Christians in most regions of the earth. With the expansion of global trade, internet access, social networking, and communications, many - if not most - of these groups understand and view themselves as one worldwide synagogue or church in an interconnected world. To be involved in Kingdom Work is to be involved with the heart and purpose of God. It is to be involved LOCALLY and GLOBALLY . . . and both TEMPORALLY and ETERNALLY.

The earth is getting smaller with regard to travel, communications, and interfacing of cultures. At the same time the Body of Messiah's people is becoming more inter-tribal. We see the horizon of the fulfillment of Yeshua's prophecy that the Good News will be preached, proclaimed, or published before the time of His return to Planet Earth.

     "And the gospel must first be published [preached] among all nations." [Mark 13:10]

The word for nations here used is "ethnos" - as in ethnic group - meaning "a race of the same habit, or culture, or tribe."

Read and study the Biblical pattern of synagogue and church growth in the Book of Acts. Certain things are evidentiary and these same patterns are manifest in any POWER GROWTH synagogue or church today.

     1. When people believed in Yeshua (Jesus), and after they took part in mikvah (were baptized in water), a group was formed for: worship; teaching; prayer; helps; and, evangelism.

     2. Prophets and teachers were raised up by the Holy Spirit.

     3. The Christians prayed and fasted.

     4. The Holy Spirit called out apostles.

     5. These apostles were sent out (NOT "released") by the believers after hands were laid on them.

     6. As the apostles went to different areas they preached the Good News.

     7. Other churches were raised up as a result of the preaching and the work of the apostles.

     8. The churches grew and ministered to the believers, the community, and the world.

Notice, in Acts 13:1-4, it was the Holy Spirit who CALLED the apostles (verse 2) and it was the Holy Spirit who SENT them (verse 4). In between the calling and the sending was the ratification by the elders with the laying on of hands (verse 3). The apostles were NOT "released by men" . . . it was the Holy Spirit who called and sent them.

Notice, this is the NORMAL PATTERN of church growth. This is to be expected today! It should be a regular practice of a local church to SEND OUT workers: both for long term commitment and for short term service.

We should always be willing to make changes for the Lord; that is part of discipleship. However; there are times we have to wait . . . because God is developing things or situations where we are going to be sent . . . or because He is developing things in our lives . . . or both!

But if you wait for an EXTENDED period of time, then examine yourself to make sure you are willing to leave your comfort zone. God may be speaking to you and redirecting you, but you may not be listening because it is NOT what you want to hear.

Patience is really cheerful, or hopeful, endurance. True biblical patience, as expressed by the Greek word "hupomone" is constancy. It is the kind of enduring patience, or patient continuance in well doing. It is knowing the will of God for this season of your life, and looking forward to being used by God in SPECIAL SERVICE in the future, also! Be involved in ministry that is sending out the workers, birthing or planting new synagogues and churches, preaching and teaching to facilitate the MIRACLE working power of God. Yeshua (Jesus) sent out his followers . . . and He is sending YOU out to:

     Preach and teach;

     Heal the sick;

     Cast out demons.

This threefold ministry, or triangulation of mission, will empower you and your ministry; it will keep you FRESH under the anointing of the Spirit. You will be continuously creative, causing you to be more successful and to have continued vision!

Now, if you add to your patience PRINCIPLES OF VALUE and GODLINESS, you will have the spiritual and physical mechanics to add other people, like-minded associates, to your asset bank for success and continued vision.

PRINCIPLES OF VALUE plus GODLINESS

One of the great aspects of reading and studying - as well as meditating upon - the Holy Bible daily is so we can learn precepts and principles. We can learn HOW God thinks about certain things and WHY He wants us to behave in a particular manner. Situations vary in life; we may not always come up against situations that have been codified. However, if we know HOW God thinks about certain things and WHY God expects certain responses from us, then we can transfer those principles into every arena of life.

We need to know both the Jewish Old Testament (Tanakh) and the Jewish New Testament (Brit Chadashah) so we can navigate successfully through the issues of life and have continued vision. There is an association between the Law of God and vision from the Lord.

     "The law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the Lord." [Lamentations 2:9]

     "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he." [Proverbs 29:18]

It is the same way in our personal lives and ministries. If we adhere to the teachings of God; that is, live by the principles we learn about HOW God thinks and WHY He expects certain behavior, then we will not only have SUCCESS but also continued VISION.

Actually the combined traits of PRINCIPLES OF VALUE and GODLINESS will be concomitant factors. Here again is the key: knowing and obeying the Word of God, which is His Will!

LIKE-MINDED ASSOCIATES plus BROTHERLY KINDNESS

You need to have strong relationships with God and with those people to whom God will lead you to work. Appreciate the people with which God has chosen you to work. However, don't try to "force" relationships: don't make commitments to every person you meet. God will show you those people to whom you should be committed when you are FIRST committed to Him!

Give positive support, or "reinforcement" to those people you're committed to ...

     Whether they are OVER YOU in a position of authority;

     You are OVER THEM; or,

     You are on the same level (working or ministry associates). Remind each other that "God will fight for us!".

Give your associates REWARDS from time-to-time for:

     The good work they do;

     Their consistency and faithfulness; or,

     Their availability.

These rewards do not (always) have to be monetary. Sometimes a "pat on the back", or a "word of encouragement", is really meaningful: letting them know the good they are doing is not going unnoticed. Let people KNOW you are THANKFUL and APPRECIATIVE of their association with you.

Maybe an invitation to dinner, or just spending time alone with them or their family, whether it's a few minutes or a day or two. It is also important for a man to give positive support to his wife. There are so many ways a wife serves a husband in his ministry that may go unnoticed by him.

Simple brotherly kindness to and among your group will go a long way to impacting the world with Messiah's love and power! This is the reason I started The Apostles Group seven years ago, and the reason I write this newsletter and provide our world services free.

We need to appreciate those nearest to us, and never to take them for granted. This is where "family altar" is so important: don't neglect ministering to your own family! They may be your GREATEST DISCIPLES!! Read and discuss the Holy Bible together, and then pray together.

It is good to spend time refreshing your mind thinking about all the successes God has given you in the past. God has NOT brought you this far to make you fail. God is FOR you! One time the disciples of Jesus were in a ship in the middle of the sea where the waves were rough and the wind was strong. They became fearful until Jesus came to them on the water and told them not to be afraid. They FORGOT that the Lord had commanded them to GO to the other side.

He did NOT intend them to sink or to fail. Jesus intends for you to SUCCEED! He wants you to make it to the “other side.” Take time to study in the Holy Bible how others have succeeded: Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, Esther, Mordecai ... and the Apostles.

Associate with like-minded people who SHARE YOUR VISION (or who know what you're about) . . . people who are POSITIVE. You want to be able to brainstorm with these people, and not to have ideas - no matter how ridiculous - be shot down as soon as they are verbalized.

IMPORTANT: This group of like-minded people with whom you will share your vision, goals, and new ideas, is NOT an accountability group. This is NOT a group of people to whom you decide to be accountable for your personal life, your ministry, or your finances. This is a group of people with whom you need to have OPENNESS for CREATIVITY:

     To dream;

     To plan;

     To get feedback; and,

     To implement.

We have seen that when we add to our patience the twin gifts of GODLINESS and PRINCIPLES OF VALUE, we will have the spiritual and physical mechanics to add other people, LIKE-MINDED ASSOCIATES, to our asset bank for success and continued vision. Next . . . you can select your VEHICLE FOR ATTAINMENT.

VEHICLE FOR ATTAINMENT plus LOVE

What is the means by which you will arrive at your goal? What is the vehicle which will transport you to the attainment of your dream?

When an athlete in a championship game scores the winning goal, he is merely manifesting a composite of the years of training, wins and losses, experience, exercise, and mental conditioning that have preceded this moment. Likewise, the composite of major decisions in our lives are usually the summation of the smaller minor decisions and habit-patterns we have formed along the way.

To some people, the vehicle for attainment of their goals is a multilevel marketing plan. To others, it is a business and investment plan. To many, it is a retirement plan. To the ULTIMATE WINNER, it is the vision and the miraculous arrived at through seeking God in prayer and fasting: combining ENTHUSIASTIC DESIRE and FAITH with DIRECTION from God.

God will reveal YOUR vehicle for attainment as you spend time alone with Him. Shut off your television and your video / DVD player . . . spend time with the Creator of the Universe. Talk to Him . . . listen to Him. God is NOT stupid. The Heavenly Father knows the person who wants to be used by Him . . . the person who wants to spend time with Him. And, He doesn't need anyone: no matter how great our talents, skills, and possessions!

The Creator will reveal by His Spirit the vehicle for you to use in the attainment of your goal(s) . . . and when to CHANGE that vehicle. God, the creator of the goal-desires in your heart, knows the methodology by which to bring them to pass. He knows the vehicle by which, when coupled with FAITH, will bring the goal-desires into fruition.

There is an amazing spiritual truth we find in Genesis 11:1-9. Before the nations of the earth were scattered on the face of the earth, the earth was of one language and one speech. The people had decided to make a city and a tower, whose top would reach unto heaven; they wanted to make a name for themselves so they would not be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth.

     "And the Lord said, 'Behold, the people is one, and they all have one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do." [verse 6] "Let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." [verse 7]

Archaeological records show us that these were wicked and idolatrous people. Yet we see in verse 6 that God said, "nothing will be restrained from them". Notice they had ONE goal and ONE speech. They were unified in purpose and language.

If this principle of "oneness" works in unbelievers ... for ungodly, wicked people ... how much more will it work for believers ... for God's people ... who have ONE goal and ONE speech: a common vision and a common language! Especially spirit-filled Christians who have a common objective and who can pray and decree a thing (or a set of objectives) in not only their common earthly language(s), but also their heavenly language: tongues!

In Job 22:28 we read, "You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you ..." In the original Hebrew language the word "decree" is a primitive root form of the word "gazar", which means "to cut out exclusively, or to decide". In its primitive form it is used also as a "quarrying" term ... as in cutting out stone from a rock quarry.

It means more than to "say" or "speak". It conveys the meaning of "cutting something out in your mind's eye"; that is, "to envision [to make a vision], to decide upon it, and confess it" ... and then it will be established unto you! If you and your Christian brothers and sisters have a common vision or goal, and decide upon it, confessing it in a common language, speaking it ... "nothing will be restrained from you which you have imagined (or, envisioned) to do!! [Read again Genesis 11:1-6.]

The SECRET . . . the capstone to the whole process . . . without which you will not be the ULTIMATE WINNER . . . is LOVE.

The vehicle for attainment of your goals, no matter how intense your desire, your faith and the other twins we have studied, cannot bring you into success and continued vision without LOVE. Love is the channel through which the gifts of the Holy Spirit work. "Faith works by love." [Galatians 5:6]

Remember ... if you have LOVE, then FAITH can work.

I trust this series on The Eight Twins for Success and Continued Vision has been a blessing to you, and that it will help you accomplish your God-given desires!

Prince Handley

P.S. - Write and let me know how God has spoken to you through these messages. You may email me personally at: princehandley@gmail.com

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