A. You don’t have to believe in predestination to predict who will most likely succeed. If we properly define “success”, there is no way one can be a failure if the following things are done. If you are a child of God and you are willing to do the following things then it will help to assure your success.

1. THOSE MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED

2. 2 Pet 1:3-11 as His divine power has given to us all things that
pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him
who called us by glory and virtue, {4} by which have been
given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that
through these you may be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through
lust. {5} But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add
to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, {6} to knowledge
self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance
godliness, {7} to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly
kindness love. {8} For if these things are yours and abound,
you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of
our Lord Jesus Christ. {9} For he who lacks these things is
shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was
cleansed from his old sins. {10} Therefore, brethren, be even
more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do
these things you will never stumble; {11} for so an entrance
will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

3. SUCCESS
A. 2 Pet 1:10-11 Therefore, brethren, be even more
diligent to make your call and election sure, for if
you do these things you will never stumble; {11} for
so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly
into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.
B. You don’t have to believe in predestination to
predict who will most likely succeed. If we properly
define “success”, there is no way one can be a
failure if the following things are done.
C. If you are a child of God and you are willing to do
the following things then it will help to assure your
success.

4. I. Those who know that they believe and
stick to honorable goals will succeed.
A. (Isa 26:3) You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he
trusts in You.
B. (2 Tim 1:12) For this reason I also suffer
these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed,
for I know whom I have believed and am
persuaded that He is able to keep what I
have committed to Him until that Day.

5. II. Those who show mercy to others
will succeed.
A. (Mat 5:7) Blessed are the merciful, For they
shall obtain mercy.
B. (James 2:13) For judgment is without mercy
to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy
triumphs over judgment.

6. III. Those who go the second mile will
succeed.
A. (Mat 5:41) "And whoever compels you to go
one mile, go with him two.
B. (Eph 6:7-8) with goodwill doing service, as
to the Lord, and not to men, {8} knowing
that whatever good anyone does, he will
receive the same from the Lord, whether he
is a slave or free.

7. IV. Those who shun evil companions,
wrong doing, and evil speech will succeed.
A. (1 Cor 15:33-34) Do not be deceived: "Evil company
corrupts good habits." {34} Awake to righteousness,
and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge
of God. I speak this to your shame.
B. (1 Pet 3:10-12) For "He who would love life And see
good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And
his lips from speaking deceit. {11} Let him turn away
from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and
pursue it. {12} For the eyes of the LORD are on the
righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the LORD is against those who do
evil."

8. V. Those who are persistent in fulfilling
duty faithfully to the end will succeed.
A. (2 Pet 1:3-11) as His divine power has given to us all things that
pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who
called us by glory and virtue, {4} by which have been given to us
exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you
may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust. {5} But also for this
very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue
knowledge, {6} to knowledge self-control, to self-control
perseverance, to perseverance godliness, {7} to godliness
brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. {8} For if these
things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. {9} For he
who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has
forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. {10} Therefore,
brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election
sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; {11} for so
an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

9. V. Those who are persistent in fulfilling
duty faithfully to the end will succeed.
B. (Rev 2:10) "Do not fear any of those things which
you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about
to throw some of you into prison, that you may
be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days.
Be faithful until death, and I will give you the
crown of life.

10. VI. Those who humbly serve others
without desire for glory will succeed.
A. (Mat 20:20-28) Then the mother of Zebedee's sons
came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking
something from Him. {21} And He said to her, "What do
you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons
of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other
on the left, in Your kingdom." {22} But Jesus answered
and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able
to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be
baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?"
They said to Him, "We are able." {23} So He said to
them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized
with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on
My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it
is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.“>>>

11. VI. Those who humbly serve others
without desire for glory will succeed.
{24} And when the ten heard it, they were greatly
displeased with the two brothers. {25} But Jesus
called them to Himself and said, "You know that the
rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those
who are great exercise authority over them. {26}
"Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever
desires to become great among you, let him be your
servant. {27} "And whoever desires to be first
among you, let him be your slave; {28} "just as the
Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,
and to give His life a ransom for many."

12. VI. Those who humbly serve others
without desire for glory will succeed.
B. (Mat 23:8-12) "But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One
is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. {9}
"Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your
Father, He who is in heaven. {10} "And do not be called
teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. {11} "But he
who is greatest among you shall be your servant. {12}
"And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who
humbles himself will be exalted.
C. (Mark 9:33-35) Then He came to Capernaum. And when
He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you
disputed among yourselves on the road?" {34} But they
kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among
themselves who would be the greatest. {35} And He sat
down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone
desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."

13. ARE YOU SUCCEEDING?
A. Are you likely to succeed if you continue doing
what you are doing now?
B. If you have questions or doubts about your
salvation please clear them up so you can be
sure of your home in heaven.
C. 1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you
who believe in the name of the Son of God, that
you may know that you have eternal life, and
that you may continue to believe in the name of
the Son of God.

15. TONIGHT’S SERMON
A “C” AVERAGE FOR THE NEW YEAR