In life, success is synonymous with winning. Success is not a one-time thing as we often erroneously think. Rather, it is a culmination of little steps that we take daily. Achievements in life are the results of several steps taken in the right direction.

"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little.”
– Isaiah 28:10

We must stop falling for prophecies and pronouncements of instant success—these are frauds. Success is a process, not an endpoint. It only comes from taking predictable steps consistently toward preset goals. When you fall for promises of instant success without the process, it leads to loss—since you failed to exercise the due diligence needed for your undertaking to succeed.  This is the reason why successful people do not play the lottery. They know that making wealth is a process, and that when that process is followed, success is predictable.

There are certain characteristics that distinguish winners from losers. Let's take a look at some of them:

1. Winners Are Driven. Winners are ambitious and driven about what they want to achieve. They do not take no for an answer, and are self-motivated to keep going.

“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed”. – Michael Jordan

2. Winners Take Responsibility. Winners hold themselves accountable for what happens in their lives and don’t blame external factors. They decide that they are in control of their destiny, and do not let others decide that for them.
3. Winners Are Eager to Learn. Winners are always learning, and are always looking for new ways to challenge themselves. They never feel like they know enough, and they truly understand that knowledge is power.
4. Winners Are Positive Thinkers. Winners always take an optimistic perspective towards life, and are always trying to leverage the field in their favor.

Watch your thoughts, they become words;
Watch your words, they become actions;
Watch your actions, they become habits;
Watch your habits, they become character;
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

5. Winners Are Humble. Winners never let their ego get in the way of their success. They know what is more important. Also, they don’t keep a short-term mentality. While they are modest, on the inside they know their worth and are confident in their abilities.
6. Winners Are Certain. Winners do not doubt their actions or decisions. They focus on what they are going to do next and “Pull the Trigger”. They don’t overthink negative thoughts and stand by their actions.
7. Winners Set Goals. Winners are very goal-oriented. They decide on what they want and when they want it, and then do whatever they morally can to reach it.

Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment. – Jim Rohn

8. Winners Focus on Solutions. Rather than focusing on the problem, winners focus on how to solve the problem. They don’t let the past hang over them—instead, they work on solutions.
9. Winners Work Hard. Winners put in their best effort and never run away from work. They have a relentless engine and they keep pushing forward no matter what they face. They are driven and yearn for success.
10. Winners Act. Winners never refrain from action and are always the first to start. They don’t need a reminder to begin working and become legendary.
11. Winners Listen. Winners pay attention to others and think before they speak. They know that don’t have all the answers and know that they need the help of others to reach their goals.

"Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply." ― Stephen R. Covey

12. Winners Are Passionate. Winners love what they do and are passionate about life. They use this inner obsession to fuel them and push them forward; especially when the going gets tough.
13. Winners Are Willing to Stand Alone. Winners are very independent, and they understand that the path to victory is sometimes a lonely one. While they are great at communication and networking, they are the best lone wolves.
14. Winners are Self-Motivators. Winners can motivate themselves when it gets tough and are able to keep going. They have a permanent fire inside of them that always burns for success.
15. Winners Constantly Expand Their Comfort Zone. Winners constantly explore challenges and opportunities to expand their comfort zone. They know that being satisfied means you’re not improving. They strive to stay on the edge.
16. Winners Have Strong Willpower. Winners can withstand all kinds of hurdles and hardships. They have good self-discipline and can control their mind and body.
17. Winners Have High Self-Esteem. Winners know what they are worth, and they feel good about themselves. They are self-assured and don’t need external approval to keep them steady.
18. Winners Are Persistent. Winners do whatever it morally takes to achieve their goals. They don’t easily give up and don’t let small obstacles get in their way. They push and push and keep pushing until they reach their goal.
19. Winners Aren’t Afraid of Failure. Winners know that to reach success, they will have to at one time or another face failure. So rather than fear failure, they embrace it and learn from it. Winners use failure to motivate themselves even further.

"Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker.
Failure is delay, not defeat.
It is a temporary detour, not a dead end.
Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing." - Denis Waitley

20. Winners Don’t Procrastinate. Winners don’t put things off; they try to get things done as soon as possible. They understand the value of time, and try to make every second count.
21. Winners Are Focused. Winners are always dedicated and focused towards whatever they are doing. They know that "multitasking" is a myth, and they try to be as productive as possible.

Conclusion

Brethren, success is not magic, but rather a process. Whatever you may have woken up with this morning—failed opportunities, disappointments, lack—do not let it stop you from running your race. You can experience more in life if only you are willing to get over excuses and get on living. You can have reasons, or you can have results—but you can’t have both.

If there is anything plaguing relationships, marriages, families, churches, even nations today, it is offenses that result in anger, arguments, violent exchanges, and even hatred. On the surface things might seem okay, but below, an undercurrent of anger is often brewing. You feel it in the atmosphere, and one way or the other, everything else is impacted by it. Unless we recognize and confront what the Bible refers to as the root cause of strife, we cannot resolve these issues that plague our homes and families.

The question facing us here is this: how do we live in agreement? In other words, how can we disagree agreeably?

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven." - Mat 18:19

The power of unity cannot be overemphasized. God says that harmony is very powerful in all contexts. When we agree, our prayers become so powerful. Anything we ask is answered.

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments.
It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore." - Psa 133:1-4

The anointing—the power and presence of God is manifested in our lives in an atmosphere of unity. Without unity in a home, there can be no anointing. Whatever you want to do, be sure it is done in unity and you will enjoy the presence of God in your life. Does it surprise you that Satan is doing everything he can to bring about rancor in our families? The blessing of God flows in unity.

Let us learn to keep strife out. Sometimes this means we have to take the initiative to adapt and adjust to others. Strife manifests in avoiding one another, criticism, malice, and so on. Love, on the other hand, always finds a way to make things happen. The key is in emphasizing areas of agreement, rather than disagreement. In reality, we will never always agree with one another on everything. We need to learn to leave a small window open when we disagree by saying, “I just may be wrong.” Don't slam that door shut by insisting on the other person being at fault. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Learn to yield.

"For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there." - Jam 3:16

"Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion." - Rom 12:16

If we don’t get along, we end up messing a lot of things up.

We cannot talk about anger without talking about pride.

By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. - Pro 13:10

Then the young men who had grown up with him spoke to him, saying, “Thus you should speak to this people who have spoken to you, saying, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter on us’—thus you shall say to them: ‘My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist! And now, whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges!’” - 1 Kings 12:10-11

A proud and haughty man— “Scoffer” is his name; He acts with arrogant pride. - Pro 21:24

He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered. - Pro 28:25

Also, greed is a big issue. Why? Because greedy people are never satisfied no matter what they have.

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners. - Pr 1:19

Greed robs you of your entire life. Let us learn to be satisfied with what we have, and not be resentful and jealous of what others have. God wants us to be happy where we are at, while we are on the way to where we are going.

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? - Jam 4:1

Instead of striving for what God hasn’t given us, why don’t we simply ask God and trust Him? And if He doesn’t, then let it go! Don’t get in strife to get what God hasn’t given to you. Avoid being jealous of others for what God has given them. Greed is what causes lust and covetousness. Rather, appreciate God for what He has done for you, and know that He loves you more than you love yourself.

Anger is dangerous. But beneath it are these issues which, if not dealt with, will cause us to be angry for all the wrong reasons and  get along with no one.

God is a generous God, loving us so much He gave His one and only Son (Jn 3:16), and because we are His children, we are to be generous like Him.

What is Generosity?  It is beyond giving away our possessions or not withholding.  Prov 11:24 says the generous will get richer but that the stingy will lack.  God’s principle for increase includes generosity (Psa 112:9; Pro 19:17, 28:8).  Unless, however, we ARE selfless, we cannot be generous.

The question is: Why are people selfish? Often it is self-preservation--they think they might run out, yet God says it is the person that withholds that becomes poor (Pro 11:2; Hag 1:9-10). It doesn’t seem to make sense, unless we come to terms with the fact that there is nothing we have that we have not been given (1Cor 4:7).  This is one thing David knew and taught well to Solomon his son, as seen in 1Chr 29:16.  Everything belongs to God, and it is out of what He has given to us that we give back to him.

What does it take to develop generosity?

1. Deadness to self, which is selflessness. We must bring our body into subjection (1Cor 9:27), otherwise we won't be able to show generosity at all.
2. We need to trust God as our source and know that even if we were down to our last meal, like the widow of Zarephath, ([bversebiblia title="1 Kings 17"]1Kg 17[/bversebiblia]), God would still meet our needs.
3. We need to glean lessons from generous people in the scriptures -- for example, the young man that gave his lunch of five loaves and two fishes to Jesus to feed the crowd. Who do you think they gave the 12 baskets that were left to?  (Jn 6:1-14).
4. God says that when we are generous, we are lending to Him, and He assures He will pay us back (Pro 19:17).
5. Generosity is one way we store treasure in our heavenly bank account, which can never be depleted – Mat 6:19-20.

A few people that exemplified generosity:

1. Barnabas, "the son of Encouragement" – sold his land and gave it as proceeds for kingdom expansion – Acts 4:36
2. The widow of Zarephath gave all and saved her son and herself from disaster – 1Kg 17:1-16.
3. Joseph of Arimathea – Mat 27:57-60
4. The church in Macedonia – 2Cor 8:1-5
5. The Shunamite woman – 2Kgs 4:8-10
6. The Israelite givers in Exo 36:1-7 – They had to be stopped from bringing their resources.
7. The Good Samaritan gave more than money – Lk 10:25-37
8. Joseph gave when it made no sense, to a wicked family – Gen 45
9. By the giving of the man of his food – Mat 14:14-20, Jesus was able to do the impossible, which is the purpose of generosity.
10. The generosity of Zacchaeus attests to his transformation – Lk 19:1-10

Introduction

Virtue is morally good behavior or character. It is the thinking and the doing of what is good, and avoidance of what is not good. In other words, it is moral excellence. The virtue we are zeroing in on today is honesty, which signifies conveying the truth both in word and in deed. This quality is an essential aspect of God’s own nature and purposes, and is expected of those whom He calls His people. A person of integrity is one who follows his or her moral or ethical convictions, and does the right thing in all circumstances, especially when it is not convenient; even when no one is watching.

Having integrity means that you are true to sound and godly principles, and would not do anything that dishonors God and your values. It means that you have a moral compass that you do not waver from. It literally means having “wholeness of character”. In ethics, integrity is regarded as the honesty and truthfulness or accuracy of your actions. A key tests of integrity is what you do when you face adversity, compared to what you do in times of prosperity. This virtue is exemplified in the lives of Daniel and Joseph in the bible.

I: Honesty

A. Why should we be honest in all our dealings?

1. God demands us to be honest. God requires us as His children to be honest in all our dealings, whether in public or in private. In Psalms 15:1-5, the Scriptures demand that believers walk uprightly, work righteously, and speak truth in their hearts. 2Cor 4:2 (NIV) says:

“Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways, we do not use deception, nor do we distort the Word of God. On the contrary, we set forth the truth plainly, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

2. God forbids us from dealing dishonestly. In Lev 19:35-36, God commands that we have honest scales, meaning we shouldn’t cheat. In Zech 8:16-17, God commands us to speak truth to our neighbor. Also in Jn 4:23-24, God says He is seeking for true worshipers that will worship Him in Spirit and in truth.

3. Jesus, Our Lord and Savior, was honest in His dealings, and so we too should follow His example. Mat 22:16 says deceit was not found in His mouth (also, 1Pet 2:22).

B. Biblical Examples of Honest Behavior

1. Joseph’s brothers returned the money they found in their sacks when they returned to buy food in Egypt - Gen 43:12.
2. Samuel was honest in all his dealings as a prophet to the people of Israel - 1Sam 12:3-5.
3. David was an honest man - 1Chron 29:17.
4. Paul strove to have a conscience without offense toward God and man - Acts 24:16.

C. What Honesty Might Cost You

1. It could cost you your very life. But if it does, it will only lead to glory – Jer 26:15, 24.
2. It could cause you pain, because you might be punished for it - Pro 17:26.
3. Others might prey upon you for your honesty. But in the end, it is worth it - Isa 59:14-15.
4. Telling the truth may not win you many friends. In fact, you might be hated as a result - Gal 4:16. It is better to be an enemy of man than to be an enemy of God.

II: Integrity

A. Characteristics of a Person of Integrity.

1. A person of integrity exhibits core values that never change over time – honesty, loyalty, respect, faith, compassion, and dedication.
2. Integrity is the antidote to self-interest.

B. Some Scriptures on Integrity.

Phil 4:8; Ps 41:11-12; Lk 6:31; Heb 13:18; Pro 4:25-27, 11:3, 21:3, 12:22, 28:6, 10:9; 2Cor 8:21; I Pet 3:16; I Kings 9:4 (God to Solomon - "As David your father did"); 1Chr 29:17 (God is pleased with people of integrity); Job 2:3 (God boasted to Satan about Job’s integrity); Job 2:9 (Job's wife rebuked him for retaining his integrity).

C. Daniel as a Case Study of Integrity.

Read: Dan 6:1-16

1. He had an excellent spirit. As such, when his enemies investigated him, they found nothing wrong.
2. They knew the only way they could trap him was to make him do wrong, by asking him to sin against his God; He would not do that because he was a man of consistency, praying as usual - Dan 6:30

Pro 20:7 says, "A righteous man who walks in his integrity; how blessed are his sons after him." Integrity leaves a legacy for one’s children to follow. And since ”honesty“ is embedded in “integrity”, let us live a life of integrity! Hallelujah!

^“There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight. – Num 13:33

Introduction

The year 2018 has been declared as the year of Giant Strides and we have been challenged to begin this year’s journey by making Bold Moves. One of the factors that however determines the rate of movement is the degree of visibility; that is the clarity and range of vision (what is seen or imaged within). Therefore, to make significant progress in 2018, we have to be mindful of the image we nurse within because we will always gravitate towards our dominant thoughts and not necessarily our best intentions (Prov 4:23). The following discusses the essential elements that are vital in birthing and nurturing the right image (IT) with respect to how we see ourselves and where we see ourselves going.

People do what they do for various reasons. In the journey of life, only those that can learn to stay afloat will thrive and the principle of living is God’s Word. The question has very seldom ever been whether the Word is our instrument for it. It has always been how do I do it? It’s always been a question of process, process, process. The best of plans without a process or strategy for accomplishing it is nothing short of willful thinking, the thought of any couch potato, ever wishing and putting nothing to work.

Yet I have found over these years that there are many that have the best of strategies without execution. What therefore I am sharing with you are basic plans and strategies that if you put to work will change your life and your world without fail.

Putting it in simpler terms, you don’t just make a man fly a plane. Show him how. It’s process, process, process. It’s about taking certain steps in certain order to guarantee certain results. It’s not just any steps, not just any order and not just any results. It’s what the Bible means when it says, ‘Precept must be upon precept, line upon line’ (Isa 28:10).

The primary purpose of personal Bible study is not to numb God, eliminate guilt or fulfill all righteousness. Its purpose is to Radically Transform our lives (RTL). Once the purpose of a thing is not grasped, abuse is inevitable. But when RTL remains our driving force, everything else falls in place. The purpose of personal Bible study is what it changes you into, how it impacts your life. If it is in not changing you, it is a waste.

The question therefore is this: How will all your personal Bible study change you? Let’s keep it simple by sticking to this age-old tested and thoroughly proven process. It’s a simple three-step approach that pretty much guarantees RTL, that is Radically Transformed Lives. These steps must follow one another in the order they are given. They are:

1. Observation

This is the first step, that is, purely of observational nature. When you get to a Bible passage you simply ask what is it saying? What’s here? What are all the facts? Like a detective investigating a crime scene, you gather all the facts, leaving nothing out. Nothing is too trivial. All the facts must be collected. If you leave anything out here, everything else you do will fall apart. It is the foundation upon which everything else is built. Gather all the facts, leaving absolutely nothing out.

2. Interpretation

This is the stage when you get meanings for all the facts you collected in Step 1 above. In a quest for answers, you ask, what does this mean? Unfortunately, the travesty common today is that people read and begin saying it means so and so. How can you reach correct conclusions without getting all the facts? And the sadder aspect is that once they reached an interpretation, it all ends there. No. Life-changing personal Bible study does not begin with interpretation and interpretation is not the end of the process. There is still a third step.

3. Application

Here is where you ask, how can I put this to work in my life? How does this apply to me? Hear this, the Bible is the revealed Word of God. It is therefore God’s instruction manual for living. When we return to the Bible, we return to reality. Every time we read and do what it asks us to do, we cannot but experience transformation. No food, no matter how nutritious or delicious it may be, will do you any good unless eaten. Just reading scriptures and interpreting them without applying it to our lives by doing what it says is therefore an exercise in futility. Back to the core purpose of personal Bible study. It is life changing, which automatically occurs as we gather all the facts from our study, correctly interpreting them and then putting them to work in our lives. In the words of Hendricks, “Method is methodical with a view to becoming receptive and reproductive”.

Do you want your life to make a difference? Do you want to impact your world? Do you desire to leave an imprint on the sand of time? First it has to begin by you allowing scriptures to impact your own life. Do you know the analogy of sperm and egg? Neither the male sperm nor the female egg by itself can produce a new life. Conception and reproduction are the result of the fusion of both, that is, the sperm must be embraced by the egg.

What is true of egg and sperm is true of the Life Transformation. Rom 12:2 says, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. When God’s word and a receptive and obedient heart get together, something extraordinary happens. It is referred to as a Radically Transformed Life (RLT). And what’s more, the more the lives are impacted by the Living Word of God, the better our society and world becomes.

Let’s add yet another small flare to our definition. “Method is methodical with a view to becoming receptive, and reproductive, by means of first hand acquaintance with the Word.”

By way of emphasis therefore, there is no substitute for personal prolonged exposure to the Bible. You have to read it for yourself. No substitute. The alternatives to it is you would have to depend on a third party or an intermediary to tell you what the Bible says. Imagine having to rely on a third party to tell you what your spouse is saying. Exactly how long do you imagine that such marriage will last? Remember always that Christ, the Living Word is the husband and head to His body (Eph. 5:23). A good marriage is not designed to thrive upon a third party but on a smooth interaction between the couple. Don’t be a let down to your beloved. Get the Word for yourself. You can never be over-exposed to Scripture. The more you get into Scripture, the better opportunity you must get transformed by it.

Grace be with you in 2018 and beyond!! AMEN!!!

"But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption" —1Cor 1:30

The scriptures reveal that God sent His son, Jesus Christ to the earth to die for our sins. He died and resurrected so that through His death those who accept Him would receive salvation and eternal life. The coming of Christ is the most essential and fundamental reason for our Christian faith. We study four of the things Christ has been made to the Christian from the scripture 1Cor1:30. ”But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”

The Christ life is the life God intends the believer to live. Gal 2:20 says, “I have been crucified in Christ, it is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God.” What this is saying therefore is that as believers, we don’t live a natural life. The question we are therefore called to answer is, what is the Christ life, the kind of life that Jesus lived or would live if He were here right now? It is this life and its effects that we’re focusing this study upon.

Read: Hebrews 4:1-10

“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. ….⁹ There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”

The English dictionary defines rest as follows:

1. To cease from work or movement, to relax, sleep, or recover strength, be placed or supported so as to stay in a specified position;
2. To be free from whatever worries or anything that disturbs you;
3. To lie down, to be settled or to be fixed;
4. To remain confident, to put your trust in something, in other words, you rest in something in the sense of confidence;
5. To lean on something.

Surprisingly, God’s kind of rest not only means all these five things but much more spiritually as well physically. Divine rest means a relationship with God in which you are trusting and relying on the finished work of Christ, and not on your own efforts or on yourself.