LIVING A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE Henry O. Quarshie

What comes to your mind when you hear the term "a successful Christian"? How you answer is dependent on your definition of success. Many consider success to be power, prosperity, and prestige. The most common definition of success given is simply achieving one's personal goals. For example, a football coach may consider himself to be a success if he wins every game. A college student may appear successful if he or she makes straight A’s.

The problem is that success by that definition varies being dependent on our individual goals. I believe God has a different outlook and definition of success for the Christian. What is it that would make God see me as a success? "success means walking in His way".

Hebrews chapter 11 provides us with what has been often referred to as "Faith's Hall of Fame". It is the testimony of those who lived successful lives as followers of the Lord. By the world's standards most were anything but successes but in God's eyes they succeeded by living and dying for Him. Based on their testimony, the writer of Hebrews, in the opening verses of chapter 12 tells us what it will take for us to live a successful Christian life.

Heb 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

1: The Successful believer is separated in his walk of life; Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful. The successful believer realizes that there is a vast difference between himself and the world he was saved out of.

II Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (NKJV) The old man has been put forever away. He feels out of place when surrounded by the evil things.

2) The successful believer is genuinely and completely in love with the Word of God. Ps 1: 'But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.' The Word of God isn’t a Book of ancient stories. To the child of God it is the very Word of Truth. He loves it and he lives it, finding in its pages all he needs to grow and prosper for Jesus Christ. He is in constant touch with God.

3) The successful believer has a renewed mindset: Phil 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.(NKJV). This is the mindset of the successful believer. The mindset is renewed

He has a better appreciation of life. He is able to taken in the challenges of life and knows who God is. His footsteps are ordered by God. Pr 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (NKJV). You will know and understand God with time. He has faith in God as we see in Heb 11.

4) The successful believer is a blessing to all those around him, because his fruit is plentiful. John 7:38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

Ps1: 3 'He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper'. You are a blessing to your church, family and society. You always stand for the Truth, which is the word of God.

5:The successful believer has the Character of Christ. The life of the successful believer stands heads above all those around him. Men will know, you have been with Jesus.

In Act 4:13 'Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus'. (NKJV).Christ was seen in their speech, walk, dressing, the way they present themselves at home, school, work etc.

Pr 14:34 Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a shame to any people. (MKJV). It is righteousness that builds nations and families. These are principles of God, the reason why countries that do not pray as we do but live honest lives prosper. It is good to do all the things we do as Christians but what will make your country as a first world is when the people believe and live this principle in Prov 14:34.

To God our greatest achievement is a continuing desire to be the person He has called us to be and to strive to carry out the goals He has for our lives.