Succeed But Don’t Lose Your Heart-Audio Track

SUCCEED; BUT DON’T LOSE YOUR HEART
TEXT: Deuteronomy 8:6-18

INTRODUCTION:
 Success is to be DESIRED in the providence of God (Gen. 39:2-4, Josh. 1:7-8; 1 Sam. 18:14)
“The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned.” (Gen. 39:2-4)
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:7-8)
“In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him.” (1 Sam. 18:14)

 God PROMISED Israel success (Deut. 8:7-9)
“For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land – a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, Olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.” (Deut. 8:7-9)

 You will POSSESS God’s promises of success for your life (Ps. 145:13b; 2 Cor. 1:20; Prov. 2:7; Ps. 20:4; Ps. 25:12-13)
“…The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.” (Ps. 145:13b)
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.” (2 Cor. 1:20)
“He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless.” (Prov. 2:7)
“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” (Ps. 20:4)
“Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.” (Ps. 25:12-13)

BUT when you SUCCEED; Don’t lose your heart
Success has the potential to CORRUPT your heart if not managed appropriately
A. Success can corrupt your heart if you FORGET spiritual principles given to you (Deut. 8:6,11)
“Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and revering him.” (Deut. 8:6)
“Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.” (Deut. 8:11)

Don’t NEGLECT spiritual disciplines that have guided you (Ps. 119:16; Acts 1:14; 2:42; Col. 4:2; Heb. 10:25; Rom. 12:8; 2 Cor. 8:7)
“I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” (Ps. 119:16)
“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” (Acts 1:14)
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Col. 4:2)
“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” (Heb. 10:25)
“But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.” (2 Cor. 8:7)

B. Success can corrupt your heart if PRIDE overpowers you (Deut. 8:17-18a; 2 Chron. 26:16; Prov. 16:18; 1 John 2:16)
“You may say to yourself, ‘My power and strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth…” (Deut. 8:17-18a)
“But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.” (2 Chron. 26:16)
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18)

CONCLUSION
However, Success should be CELEBRATED with praise to the Lord (Deut. 8:10) WITH YOUR HEART IN GOD
“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.” (Deut. 8:10)

LESSON # 1 – INTRODUCTION:
SESSION ONE: (More Sessions will follow in this Introductory Study)

OUR UNDERSTANDING OF SUCCESS IN LIFE, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY AS CHRISTIANS
1. Few people in your CLC Group to share briefly their understanding of SUCCESS in life.
2. Is there any difference in what SUCCESS is between those who are Christians and those who are not? For those who think there is a difference, discuss some of those differences. Also, for those who think there is no difference, share why you have come to that conclusion
3. Discuss some practical examples of what generally Success is perceived to be among human beings.
4. In the introduction to the Message, “Succeed; But Don’t Lose Your Heart” there are three principles given regarding Success. Here below you will discuss each of those principles, and establish a better understanding of why you should aspire for Success as a Christian.

(a) PRINCIPLE #1: Success is to be DESIRED in the providence of God (READ: Gen. 39:2-4, Josh. 1:7-8; 1 Sam. 18:14)
 What were the underlying factors in Joseph’s success and prosperity?
 Discuss Joseph’s character traits, which may have led to his being entrusted with greater and higher responsibilities?
 Describe Joseph’s life circumstances that brought him to Egypt, and compare them to some personal experiences and life’s circumstances that you may have had, which seemingly could not have been perceived as a path to your eventual success (this could be at work, in the family, church, or among friends, etc.).
 What were the conditions given to Joshua for him to succeed in his new assignment to lead Israel into the Promised Land? How do such requirements apply, if at all, to us today in order for us to succeed in our life’s assignments?
 Why was Saul so afraid of David?

(b) PRINCIPLE #2: God PROMISED Israel success (Deut. 8:7-9)
 Share from the Bible at least three (3) PROMISES God has given to all those who diligently follow him
 Why do you suppose the Lord was emphasizing the magnificence of the success Israel was entering into as he led them into the Land he promised them?
 Some of you can attest to the experiences of once being in humble circumstances, but later entering your present more bearable or better
experiences. Few of you, share how that may compare to Israel’s pilgrimage, before entering their Promised Land.

(c) PRINCIPLE #3: You will POSSESS God’s promises of success for your life (Ps. 145:13b; 2 Cor. 1:20; Prov. 2:7; Ps. 20:4; Ps. 25:12-13)
 Why do you think God can guarantee SUCCESS in your life?
 In the light of contemporary, and sometimes skewed, teachings on material prosperity, how does the Bible in Proverbs 2:7 and Psalm 25:12-13 help us to understand the basis of what may be considered as God-ordained success in our life?

Use this PRAYER GUIDE every time you’re coming to the end of your CLC Group gathering for the evening:
 Ask two (2) people to lead out in prayer that within your CLC Group you will see new people that will be brought to Christ, and added to your number, through obedience to preach the gospel to friends, family and workmates.