God want His children to be successful.

1. A Biblical View
By Pastor Tim Hodge

2.  NEEDED: Paradigm Shift
 Matthew 16:26, “For what will it profit a man if he
gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what
will a man give in exchange for his soul” (NASU)?
 Success has to do with ETERNAL value.

3.  A working biblical concept of true success:
“Living and working with the Lord Jesus Christ to
implement plans in our lives which achieve or exceed
desired results.”

4. 1. ABILITY
 Ability is IN-BORN.
 Ability is sharpened by experience, learning, mentoring,
and PRACTICE!
 Ecclesiastes 10:10, “Remember: The duller the ax the
harder the work; use your head: The more brains, the
less muscle” (The Message Bible).
 Example: Michael Jordan
 You are equipped to be “YOU” and no one else. And, no
one else can be “YOU”. Celebrate yourself.

5. 2. ATTITUDE
 Attitude determines altitude.
 Your attitude must be continuously scrutinized and
evaluated.
 Your attitude sets the atmosphere in your life, home, school,
business, relationships, etc.
 Your attitude isn’t about “how you feel”. Your attitude is
“WHO” you “ARE”. Adverse situations do not manifest
certain “attitudes” in you they just squeeze out the true you.
 Your attitude is your witness in a multi-media presentation:
big screen and loud volume.
 Attitude sets the atmosphere for greatness. Too often we
allow our attitudes to be set by our atmospheres
(circumstantial surroundings).

6. 2. ATTITUDE (continued)
 You attitude will make you successful where you ARE
while in route to becoming successful in WHO YOU
ARE. You are NOT where you are GOING TO BE! (cf.
Eleazar [Genesis 24] and Joseph [Genesis 39:3,23] were
slaves, but still successful in their destinies).
 An attitude of WORSHIP must prevail in those who will
be successful.

7. 3. ACTION
 The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
 A goal without a plan is nothing but a dream.
 Even God has plans. His goal was to redeem man. His plan:
send Jesus. Jeremiah 29:11, “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” (NIV). 1 Peter
1:20, “He (Jesus) was chosen before the creation of the
world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake”
(NIV).
 If you don’t “DO” something then NOTHIING will happen on
its own.
 Success takes WORK!
 Salvation is free and the work performed by Christ at the
cross. Success you have to work for.

8. 4. APPROACH
 You have to approach people if you’re going to be a success.
Trees, rocks, empty rooms, or animals will not make you a
success. PEOPLE make you a success whether its business or
ministry.
 You must APPROACH people if you’re a successful Christian.
 Don’t be intimidated. You are a designer special. You are the
only “YOU” in the world. If we sold you piece by piece you’d
be worth millions. Carry yourself like you know that.
 Approach with confidence… smile… hand out. Be confident
of your assignment (cf. Eleazar, Abraham’s servant in Genesis
24).
 Child of God, your Daddy (God the Father) and your elder
brother (Jesus Christ) are the greatest success stories ever to
be known to man. They’re backing you. Walk like it.

9. 5. APPETITE
 You must be hungry for success. You can’t just be “wanting”
it. You’ve got to be consumed with it.
 The difference between those who just dream and those who
are successful is that one got hungry enough on the inside to
do something about it.
 Your success is your heavenly Father’s will. Your will must be
synchronized with His.
 Jesus said in John 4:34, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to
do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (KJV).
 Be thankfully dissatisfied.
 Eight hours per day won’t make you a success. It will get you
by and make your employer more of a success. Extra effort is
needed when your appetite is whet for success.

10. 6. ADAPTABILITY
 Abounding – offensively pushing ahead for the score
when everything’s good.
 Rebounding – defensively bouncing back from the bad.
Rebounding is just as important as scoring.
 You had might as well acknowledge there will be good
and there will be bad. Go with it all.
 You’ve got to play both sides of the ball: offense and
defense (i.e. the little kid who didn’t like defense on the
basketball team).

11. 7. ADMIRAL
 Someone once said, “Be the captain of your own life and
make your own decisions. Don’t wait for circumstances
to dictate to you.” I say forget the captain. Be the
admiral so there’s no one over you but God in making
the decisions and setting the pace for your life. If you
don’t set the pace your circumstances will.
 Be decisive in your life.

12. 8. ACQUIRE
 Get wisdom. Proverbs 4:7 states, “The beginning of
wisdom {is:} acquire wisdom; and with all your
acquiring, get understanding” (NAS).
 Acquire fame and fortune – they are fringe benefits of
your kingdom covenant.
 Pursue the face and will of God; lavish in His wealth
while on the journey.

13. 9. ASSOCIATION
 Assimilation by association. Birds of a feather flock together.
Tell me “WHO” you hang with and I’ll tell you “WHAT” you
are.
 You associations are different from your acquaintances.
Associations are people you are around and who influence
you. Acquaintances are people you seldom see and bear no
influence on you.
 There is a transferable anointing in associations. 1 Chronicles
12:18, “Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty,
and he said: ‘We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son
of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who
help you, for your God will help you.’ So David received them
and made them leaders of his raiding bands” (NIV).

14. 9. ASSOCIATION (continued)
 There are some people you can’t associate with. Nehemiah
1:11b, “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this
your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in
revering your name. Give your servant success today by
granting him favor in the presence of this man.” (NIV).
Nehemiah 2:20, “ I answered them by saying, ‘The God of
heaven will give us success. We his servants will start
rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or
any claim or historic right to it’” (NIV).
 Surround yourself with advisors. Proverbs 15:22, “Without
consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors
they succeed” (NAS).

15. 10. ATMOSPHERE
 The atmosphere YOU CREATE sets the pace for your
success.
 Manipulators of atmosphere include:
music, television, movies, tapes, locations
(hospitals, factories, motel rooms, and other places
where demonic activity has gone primarily unchecked).
 Atmosphere must be manipulated in your
home, office, prayer area, work area, etc.
 Manipulate your atmosphere with praise and
worship, prayer, reading the scripture out
loud, Christian television.

16. 11. ANOINTING!!!!!!
 Judges 15:14, “As he approached Lehi, the Philistines
came toward him shouting. The Spirit of the LORD
came upon him in power. The ropes on his arms became
like charred flax, and the bindings dropped from his
hands” (NIV).
 1 Samuel 10:6, “The Spirit of the LORD will come upon
you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you
will be changed into a different person” (NIV).
 The anointing empowers you to DO what you CAN NOT
DO.

17. 12. ANTICIPATION
 Your expectancy is the barometer of your faith.
 You expect NOTHING and you get nothing.
 You anticipate the success and you will have success.
 The pep in your step and the glimmer in your eye shows
everyone your level of expectancy. They will believe with you.
 When you’re dragging in late to appointments
(work, church, dates, etc) then it can be known you won’t get
anything out of the norm because you’re not expecting
anything else.
 Anticipation of success delivers you from the
financial, spiritual, and emotional constipation of mediocrity.
 Anticipation is contagious. The lack of it can be worse than
the bubonic plague.
 Prayer is the key to heaven. Faith unlocks the door. But, if
you don’t have any expectation you will never even put the key
in the lock… much less turn it.