Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
1. Speak The Bible
Joshua 1:8 “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth;…”
In Jeremiah 20:7-9 we see what happens to a Christian whom refuses to speak the Word of God.
Jeremiah 20:7-8 “O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.”
-YOU WILL BEGIN TO DOUBT GOD! -YOU WILL BECOME A CRYBABY!
-THE TRUE CHRISTIAN CAN’T KEEP GOD’S WORD LOCKED UP INSIDE notice vrs 9. Jeremiah 20:9 “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.”
-WE ARE ALWAYS TO BE READY TO PREACH GOD’S WORD! II Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
-WE ARE TO BE READY ALWAYS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OF THE FAITH! I Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
Now how is it that we are to get this Word of God into us to always be speaking the Bible? Step number 2 of having good success is, well go back to Joshua 1:8, “…but thou shalt meditate therein day and night…
2. Think On God’s Word
To be able to think on something we need to have some input into our brain. We get this input from reading the Word of God & from hearing the Word of God preached.
The Bible says; John 5:39 “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” Deuteronomy 11:18-20 “Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates:” Psalms 1:2 “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalms 119:97 “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” Psalms 119:98 “Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.” Proverbs 8:33 “Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” Isaiah 34:16 “Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.” Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” II Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 3:14-17 “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
By studying and thinking on God’s Word we will be able to SPEAK THE WORD, which is the Bible” The 3rd step to success is then to, lets turn again to Joshua 1:8 “…that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein…”
3. Obey The Word Of God
-HAVING GOD’S WORD IN OUR HEART KEEPS US FROM SINNING. Psalms 119:11 “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
-THE ONE’S WHO KEEP GOD’S WORD ARE JESUS BRETHREN. Luke 8:19 “Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him [by certain] which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.”
-THE WISE MAN DOES THE WORD OF GOD, NOT JUST HEARS IT! Matthew 7:24 “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:”
This is why the salvation of those who disobey God’s Word is questioned. We prove our salvation to man by works. We are saved by faith through grace.
Obey the Word of God this is the 3rd step to success. If you love Jesus you have no problem obeying His commandments.
John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” I John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
God’s commandments are not grievous. Which means they do not bring great pain and suffering or are to severe.
AFTER THESE THREE STEPS, T H E N THE BIBLE SAYS [turn again to Joshua 1:8]; Joshua 1:8 “…for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Success does not come without the “for then” me must do these steps to have success and a prosperous way. Success is the achievement of something attempted. It is the gaining of fame or prosperity. Prosperity is having success and flourishing. It is to be favorable.
Would you not like to have favor of the Lord and have Him say unto you “well done thy good and faithful servant” this is success!!!!!!
Psalms 1:1 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” -this is prosperity… So in conclusion for one to have good success one must:
#1. PREACH THE WORD! #2 THINK ON/STUDY GOD’S WORD! #3 OBEY GOD’S WORD!
In obeying God’s Word one can become born again into the family of God for the Bible Says believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, this is a command.
Now notice Joshua 1:9 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
We are commanded to be successful [Biblically successful as explain above. Financial success is not a sign of Biblical success.] We are commanded to preach the Word, think on the Word and obey the Word which brings Biblical success. We are to be strong, courageous and not dismayed. Dismayed means to be filled with dread. Dread is to be in terror, or to have anxious or fearful anticipation.
Are you afraid to preach the Word of God? Are you afraid to think on Gods Word? Are you afraid to obey God’s Word?
Then verse 9 is for you, listen the Lord is with you where ever you go. he loves you and wants to help you. Won’t you ask Him to help you be a success today and get into the Word of God.
-STUDY IT! -OBEY IT! -PREACH IT!
by Frank Broughton
Original article can be found at http://www.fbbc.com/messages/success.htm