The Text Matthew 7:15-28, 6:22-23, Isaiah 61:1-4

No other Foundation Laid
1Cor 3:11-12

A. For other foundation-On which the whole church: and all its doctrines, duties, and blessings may be built.

B. Can no man lay than what is laid-In the counsels of divine wisdom, in the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament, in the preaching of the apostles, St. Paul in particular.

C. Which is Jesus Christ-Who, in his person and offices, is the firm, immovable Rock of Ages, every way sufficient to bear all the weight that God himself, or the sinner, when he believes, can lay upon him.

D. If any one build gold, silver, costly stones-Three sorts of materials which will bear the fire; true and solid doctrines.

E. Wood, hay, stubble-Three which will not bear the fire. Such are all doctrines, ceremonies, and forms of human invention; all but the substantial, vital truths of Christianity.

The Holy Spirit is upon us for various reasons according to Isaiah 61:1-4
The poor needs to be comfort and provision. {The gospel is rich for the poor}
The brokenhearted need to be beautify {The gospel is healing for beautification}
The captives need the oil of gladness {The gospel is blessed for gladness}
The prisoners need the garment of praise {The gospel is strength for praise}
The year of the Lord will be proclaimed through righteousness {The gospel is power for righteousness}

Here are five to examine:
1. To make others rich through the preaching of the gospel.
2 Cor 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (NKJ)

2. To heal those that are wounded by sin.
Matt 4:24
Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. (NKJ)

Ps 107:20
He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (NKJ)

3. To announce the freedom from bondage.
Isa 58:6
"Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? (NKJ)

John 8:32
"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (NKJ)

John 8:36
"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (NKJ)

4. To proclaim freedom for those in prison.
Isa 42:6-7
6 "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles,
7 To open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. (NKJ)

5. To announce the year of Jubilee and joy.
Lev 25:9
`Then you shall cause the trumpet of the Jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement you shall make the trumpet to sound throughout all your land. (NKJ)

1. The Holy Spirit has anointed us for success
1. Success by obedience
True success can only be achieved by total obedience to God and His Holy word. In the eyes of God success is not a matter of how much you can attain, but how much of God will remain.
Everyone who sets his or her feet on the path for success must love TRUTH.

2. A ready heart and mind
The heart that is set for success has to have also with it a mind prepared for battle.
The person that is slothful will come to ruin by his or her own hand, but he who puts his hand to the plow will reap a harvest.

3. Experience is the teacher
A scarred individual is an experienced individual.
Blood is at the root of every true accomplishment. There is no such a thing as easy success, whoever wants to achieve must believe that no matter how large or small the tasks may be, impossibilities are possible through God Almighty; for nothing is too difficult for God.

4. Purity is essential for great success
Faith and purity go hand in hand, likewise God and truth cannot be separated. The path of purity will have with it an unpolluted destiny. Every road apart from truth will only find at its end destruction.

5. Get God have success
God is at the root of every good and holy dynasty, He is the force behind every thing that is ultimately good.

6. Success is purpose fulfilled
It's not enough to wish success we must win success
George s. Patton said, "always do more than is required of you."

These words are simply an echo of the words of Jesus
Matt 5:41
"And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. (NKJ)
Success is going beyond the first mile, success is reaching beyond the goal.

Talent is God given- Be Humble
Fame is man given- Be Thankful
Conceit is self given- Be Careful

John Wooden Crassus said, "those who aim at great deeds must suffer greatly."

Ann Landers
"Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't recognize them."

Remember:
· An individual's greatest challenge is at the peak of his success, and that is the danger of becoming prideful
Prov 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (NKJ)

· Whoever feeds on pass achievements will be hindered from future progress.
Isa 43:18-19
18 "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

· Irving Berlin
"The toughest thing about success is that you've got to keep on being a success."

· Edmund Burke
"All men that are ruined, are ruined on the side of their natural propensities."

· Margery Eldredge Howell
There's dignity in suffering
Nobility in pain
But failure is a salted wound
That burns and burns again.

· Elbert Green Hubbard. 1856-1915. American writer, editor, and printer,
"A failure is a man who has blundered, but is not able to cash in the experience."

WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT SUCCESS
Josh 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (NKJ)

The Heb. Word SUCCESS
7919 sakal (saw-kal');
a primitive root; to be make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent:
KJV-- consider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent (-ly), (give) skill (-ful), have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand (-ing), wisdom, (be, behaveself, consider, make) wise (-ly), guide wittingly.

In order to partake of the riches of Christ we must hold on to our Confidence
Heb 3:14
For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,

The Greek word STEADFAST
949 bebaios (beb'-ah-yos);
to be firm, to be of force, to be sure.

The meaning of Success
(a) to come next after another in office or position or in possession of an estate; esp : to inherit sovereignty, rank, or title
(b) to follow after another in order
(c) to turn out well
(d) to attain a desired object or end
(e) to pass to a person by inheritance ~ vt
(f) to follow in sequence and esp. immediately
(g) to come after as heir or successor syn see follow _ succeeder n

Thesaurus Meaning of Success
attain good outcome
To accomplish, achieve, acquire, arrive, avail, benefit, be successful, carry off*, come off*, conquer, distance, do all right*, earn, flourish, fulfill, gain, get, get to the top*, grow famous, hit*, make a fortune*, make good*, make it*, make out*, obtain, outdistance, outwit, overcome, possess, prevail, profit, prosper, pull off*, realize, reap, receive, recover, retrieve, score, secure, surmount, thrive, triumph, turn out*, vanquish, win, work, worst

To be an heir through succession means:
One who receives or is entitled to receive some endowment or quality from a parent or predecessor

God Has No Predecessor Because No One Is Before Him

· Ralph Waldo Emerson
"No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but you."

· You have heard the old English proverb
"Where there is a will there is a way."
But I tell you God made a way but you have to WILL

God uses a fair and just standard
He knows your strengths and your weaknesses
He knows how much growth to expect from you
Your success is determined by your growth

IF YOUWANT SUCCESS GET IN-LINE WITH THE PURPOSES OF GOD.

2. The Holy Spirit has anointed us for purpose

1. Purpose without aim is equivalent to a crooked arrow trying to fly straight.
2. Show me a person with a purpose and I'll show you a person who has life.

1. We are predestined according to the purposes of God
Eph 1:11
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, (NKJ)

2. God works out everything for his good purpose

Rom 8:28-29
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

The Greek word PREDESTINED
4309 proorizo (pro-or-id'-zo);
from 4253 and 3724; to limit in advance, i.e. (figuratively) predetermine:
KJV-- determine before, ordain, predestinate.

God's kingdom is advancing
Matt 11:12
"And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. (NKJ)

The Greek word for SUFFERS VIOLENCE
971 biazo (bee-ad'-zo);
from 979; to force, i.e. (reflexively) to crowd oneself (into), or (passively) to be seized:
KJV-- press, suffer violence.

The Greek word for VIOLENT take it
73 biastes (bee-as-tace');
from 971; a forcer, i.e. (figuratively) energetic:

PURPOSE WILL SUFFER VIOLENCE

Quotes
One person asked another
"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
The other responded
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,"

· Oliver Wendell Holmes,
"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving."

· Louis Kronenberger
"The trouble with our age is that it is all signpost and no destination."

· Jose Ortega y Gasset
"Really to live is to be directed towards something, to progress towards a goal."

Purpose has aim, and it is for this very reason that the Heavenly Father purposed us to be conformed to the image of his Son.

God created us in His Image
Gen 1:26
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." (NKJ)

We are recreated in the image of Christ
Rom 8:29
For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (NKJ)

The Greek word for Conformed
4832 summorphos (soom-mor-fos');
jointly formed, i.e. (figuratively) similar: fashioned like unto.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are transformed
Phil 3:21
who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (NKJ)

Conformity to the image of God will bring transformation by the Spirit of God.

Sanctification is a by-product of the Holy Spirit.

God's Image is incorruptible
Rom 1:23
and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man-- and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. (NKJ)

Purpose
(a) something set up as an object or end to be attained : intention
(b) resolution, determination
(c) a subject under discussion or an action in course of execution syn see intention _ on purpose : by intent : intentionally

Purposeful \'per-pes-fel\ adj (1853)
(a) having a purpose: as
(b) meaningful <~ activities>
(c) intentional <~ ambiguity>
(d) full of determination <a ~ man> _ purposefully \-fe-le\ adv _ purposefulness n
to propose as an aim to oneself

Thesaurus Meaning of Purpose
intention, meaning, aim
ambition, calculation, design, desire, destination, determination, direction, dream, premeditation,

3. The Holy Spirit has anointed us to possess
Quotes INFOPEDIA 2.0 on a quick biography of Jesus.
Baptized by John the Baptist; gathered twelve disciples; preached in Galilee; received with enthusiasm by common people because of extraordinary healing powers, effective teaching by parables, message of redeeming love of God for every person; strongly opposed by Pharisees and privileged classes because of attacks on hypocrisy and interest in the poor. Regarded by some as long-expected Messiah, hence suspected by rulers of revolutionary aims. After brief ministry in Galilee went with disciples to Jerusalem to observe Passover; taught in Temple and drove out money changers, arousing hostility of priestly class. After Last Supper with disciples, betrayed by one of them, Judas Iscariot; seized by Roman soldiers; examined by high priest and Sanhedrin and condemned as blasphemer deserving death; sent to Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate, and by him to Herod Antipas, who sent him back to Pilate; turned over by him to the Jewish authorities. Crucified on Golgotha and buried in tomb of Joseph of Arimathea; believed by his followers to have risen from the dead and ascended to heaven. Christian religion grew out of his disciples' proclamation of him as the Messiah and Savior of mankind.

The Apostles give witness of Jesus
Acts 4:33
And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. (NKJ)

A fourfold witness of Jesus by John and the other disciples
I Jn 1:1-4
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--
2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us--
3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. (NKJ)

You will posses what you desire,
when you achieve a desire for the purpose for which you were called,
then and only then will success be attainable.

1. to have and hold as property : own
2. to have as an attribute, knowledge, or skill
3. to take into one's possession
4. to enter into and control firmly : dominate <was ~ ed by demons>
5. to bring or cause to fall under the influence, possession, or control of some emotional or intellectual
reaction <melancholy ~ es her>
6. to instate as owner
7. to make the owner or holder _

Thesaurus Meaning of Possess
have or obtain
acquire, bear, be blessed with, be born with, be endowed with, carry, control, corner*, corner the market*, dominate, enjoy, get hands on*, get hold of*, grab, have to name*, hog*, hold, latch on to, lock up, maintain, occupy, own, retain, seize, sit on, take over, take possession

4. The Holy Spirit has anointed us for destiny
1. Jesus was destined for greatness Luke 2:34
Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is (set)- destined for the fall (crashing down) and rising (the standing up again) of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (NKJ)

2. Abraham Lincoln:
It is said of Abraham Lincoln
Although he was defeated in his campaign for the Senatorship, this failure turned him into a great success by making him the leading candidate for the presidency for the U.S.A. in which he was elected in 1860.

3. Abraham Lincoln, letter (1863) Lincoln is sometimes quoted as having said, "The ballot is stronger than the bullet," in a speech in 1856,

4. Martin Luther King, Jr. Strength to Love
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

Martin Luther King, Jr., speech (at the March on Washington, 1963)
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

The meaning of Destiny
(1) something to which a person or thing is destined : fortune
(2) a predetermined course of events often held to be an irresistible power or agency syn see fate

Thesaurus meaning of Destiny
fate
afterlife, certainty, divine decree, expectation, finality, foreordination, predestination, predetermination,

5. The Holy Spirit has anointed us for warfare
We are engaged in a spiritual battle, and therefore we need spiritual weapons.
EPH 6:10-18 The heavenly armour of God

The Lord has opened his heavenly Armoury
Jer 50:25
The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. (KJV)

We are to hunt for the game Isaac speaks to Esau
Gen 27:3
"Now therefore, please take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. (NKJ)

God has a people who has understanding of the times and who are EXPERTS with weapons.
1 Chr 12:32-33
32 of the children of Issachar who had understanding (wisdom) of the times (season), to know (recognize) what Israel ought to do (bring forth or exercise), their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;
33 of Zebulun there were fifty thousand who went out (break out) to battle, expert (direct) in war with all weapons of war, stouthearted men who could keep ranks;

Martin Luther King, Jr., "Letter from Birmingham Jail" [This open letter was widely reprinted after its first publication in April 1963.] The means by which we live have outdistanced the ends for which we live. Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.

Arthur Koestler , Janus
The most persistent sound which reverberates through man's history is the beating of war drums.
General Douglas MacArthur , speech (1952)

It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.