(Read Daniel 6:28)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. This week we are closing out our study of Daniel. Yesterday I shared a message entitled “Improbable Success”. Daniel’s success in Babylon was certainly improbable, and it was nearly impossible (considering the circumstances). But what is success anyway? The Bible says, “So Daniel was successful during the time Darius was king and when Cyrus the Persian was king.” What does it mean to be successful? How do you define success? How is success measured in God’s eyes? That’s what we’ll talk about today.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- This is the way God spells success: P.U.R.P.O.S.E.
- You cannot find Godly success outside of your divine purpose.
- God made plans for you before the world began. So success, for you, has already been defined. In order to be successful you must FIND, FOLLOW and FINISH your purpose.
- Daniel was not successful because of the positions he held, the influence he yielded, the money he had access to, or his proximity to the king. The Bible calls Daniel successful because he accomplished his divine purpose. It’s that simple.
- Jesus waited 30 years to start his ministry and when He finally started, it only lasted three and a half years. Jesus never left a 100 mile radius. Jesus’s impact, while he was on the earth was limited to a very focused region. Was Jesus successful? You better believe it! Jesus died at 33 having done what He came to the earth to do. It’s that simple. Jesus was successful because He accomplished His purpose.
- Peter lived about 30 years past Jesus’ death. He started the New Testament, he focused his ministry on reaching Jews for Jesus, and he was crucified (upside down) in Rome under Emperor Nero Augustus Caesar. Under Peter’s leadership the church was established but it did not branch out far. You can judge Peter by the reach of his influence, but that’s not the way God judges. God only measures success by purpose. Peter didn’t reach the world, but that was not his assignment. Peter was successful because he did was he was born to do.
- While God had Peter (an uneducated fisherman) focused on the educated Jews, God sent Paul (a highly educated Jew) to focus on the uneducated Gentiles. Paul’s assignment was to reach non-Jews for Jesus. Paul went on four missionary journeys, he started churches, mentored Pastors, and wrote letters we are still learning from today. In his last letter the Apostle said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” You can say, “Hold on Paul, the world has not heard the Gospel yet!” To which he would reply, “I have finished MY course.” Paul knew his assignment and he kept pressing — even in the face of ardent opposition — until his assignment on the earth was complete. Paul was successful because he finished HIS course.
- Like Daniel, Jesus, Peter and Paul, you were born with a purpose and you will never be judged a success in God’s eyes until you find, follow and finish it.
- You will never experience true success pursuing something you were not born to do. Don’t pursue things. Pursue your purpose and you will have more ‘things’ than you know what to do with.
- If you learn to spell success “P.U.R.P.O.S.E.”, then God will make a success out of you; by His grace, for His glory.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. You made plans for me before the world began. The measure of my success has already been defined. I can never find success outside of the plans You made for me. My success is connected to my purpose. By faith I declare that I shall FIND, FOLLOW and FINISH my purpose in life before I die. You have made provisions for me already. I have sometimes been frustrated because I was pursuing the wrong things. I have asked You for things You have not planned for me to have. But now, as I am led of Your Spirit, I will ask You for things that line up with my purpose, things You have already allocated for me by Your grace, and You will freely given them to me. Everything I need to accomplish my divine purpose is already available for me and all the power I need is already IN me. I thank You for Your grace, I pursue Your purpose for my life with laser-focus and bulldog-tenacity, and I am determined to be the man I was born to be. I shall be considered a success in life because I spell success like You do, P.U.R.P.O.S.E. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
