Village Schools of the Bible

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES THAT WILL
LEAD TO SUCCESS
By Max Frazier, Jr.

We are now several weeks into the New Year. We know that it will contain its share of opportunities and responsibilities. We often begin a new year with the following question: "What does 2006 have in store for me?" Well, that is a good question to ask, but, unfortunately, there is no way that it can be answered. Only God has the answer to that question and He has chosen in His wisdom not to provide us with the answers.

A better question we should ask is this: "How can I live my life during 2006 so that God can use me effectively?" Friends, the Bible provides some exciting insights in answer to that question. The result is that God will provide His abundant blessings if we follow His plan. So, what is His plan? I would like to have us examine four individuals in the Bible, people that we generally respect as being successful both in their lives and in their relationships with God, and see what made them that way. At least this would be a place to begin.

NOAH - Perseverance

Genesis 6-9

The phrase "rotten to the core" is more than an adequate expression to describe the spiritual state of mankind preceding the time of Noah. In fact, mankind was so inherently sinful that God regretted that He had made man. This is the way that Moses recorded it in Genesis: The Lord saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain (Genesis 6:5-6). God could see nothing good in mankind at all. All of his thoughts were continually of evil and selfish motivation.

So, God decided that He would destroy the world that He had created. So the Lord said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth - men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air - for I am grieved that I have made them" (Genesis 6:7). The plan was to destroy this world using a gigantic flood. And so, the plans were set into motion by God for this act of destruction.

But, as God looked down upon the earth, in the midst of this chaotic morass of evil, there was a beacon of light. But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God (Genesis 6:8-9). Noah was different from those who lived around him. Perhaps he wore the label of "weird" or "strange" or "ultra-conservative." But Noah possessed the courage to live a godly life in the midst of that godless society. And God would honor him for that perseverance. But, even that honor, would stretch that perseverance.

God's command to Noah was that he and his three sons - Shem, Ham, and Japheth - were to construct an incredibly large sailing vessel. We know it as an ark. It was to measure 450 feet in length and 75 feet in width (half again as long and wide as a modern football field) and to rise to a height of 45 feet (four and one half stories). It was to be coated with pitch both on the inside and the outside, making it totally waterproof. Quite possibly, this was one of the most massive building enterprises ever undertaken by one man.

And so, Noah began. It was a difficult task cutting the trees, sawing the lumber, and assembling the boat. He was thankful for the helpful encouragement from his three sons and their families. Of course the neighbors thought he was "nuts", probably even more than a "little crazy." Yet, Noah persevered for 120 years! Yes, that is how long it took to build the ark. The Bible records this perseverance with this simple statement: Noah did everything just as God commanded him (Genesis 6:22).

Key #1 to success is: Perseverance. We might also call it "stick-to-it-ivity." This is a trait that seems to be lacking in so many of us. As a result we experience constant failure. It is the reason why we don't witness - we give up on our neighbors too quickly. It is the reason why we don't read our Bibles - we give up when we read a passage we don't understand. It is the reason why we don't pray - we grow impatient because we see few answers to our prayers.

I am reminded of the story D. L. Moody told one time. He had gone into the shop of a clockmaker, and there on the counter was a beautiful pendulum that was about to be attached to a new clock. He mused to himself about that pendulum and how it would be expected to tick night and day for decades; 60 times a minute, 3600 times every hour, which soon came to over 190 billion ticks every year. As overwhelming as it seemed, Moody was reminded that the pendulum ticked one tick at a time. That is the essence of perseverance.

Perseverance is needed by each of us during 2006 and every year. We need to stay the course with God just as Noah did. It probably won't take us 120 years to realize God's purpose, but it might take us 120 days, or 120 weeks, or even 120 months. We need the perseverance of Noah!

DANIEL: Principles

Daniel 1:1-21

Daniel was a young man growing up with privileges. He was a member of the royal family living in Jerusalem and was enjoying all that being a member of royalty accorded him. Then one day, his life was dramatically changed. He was separated from his family and hauled away in chains to become a slave in Babylon. Upon his arrival, he was told that he and his friends were going to be put through some rigorous training exercises so that they might become employees of the government.

Soon, the meal was brought before Daniel. He took one look at it. Oh, it was eatable and looked good, but it was of foods that Daniel knew he could not eat. They were not kosher. They violated God's dietary laws. We might have been tempted to help Daniel by saying, "Oh come on, Daniel. This is Babylon. We are not at home anymore. Besides, I don't think God really cares whether we eat lamb or pork."

Daniel had a strong resolution for God, and the Bible speaks of it in this fashion: But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way (Daniel 1:8). Daniel knew what the Word of God had to say. He knew its principles. And these principles had told him that he was to be different from the world. He was not to compromise with the world.

During 2006 we need to be willing to take a positive stand for the principles found within God's Word. Here are just a few of them:

Principle of Caring - Carry each other's burden, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ (Galatians 6:2)

Principle of Loving - A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another (John 13:34)

Principle of Forgiving - Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:32)

Principle of Separation - "Therefore come out from them and be separate," says the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:17)

Key #2 to success is: Keeping God's Principles.

ELIJAH - Prayer

1 Kings 18:1-46

Perhaps one of the most intriguing men to ever grace the pages of Holy Scripture is that of Elijah. He suddenly appears before King Ahab in 1 Kings 17 with no introduction or fanfare. He is a wilderness man with a resolution as "tough as nails." Yet he had a great confidence in God. Throughout most of the pages of his story, as told in First and Second Kings, he was a man who did exactly what God told him to do, when God told him to do it. He was not a puppet, but empowered by the Master.

Of course, Elijah is best remembered for his dramatic encounter with the 450 prophets of Baal and King Ahab upon the plateau summit of Mount Carmel. We will not take the space to review this epic contest, what I refer to in my classes as "the Superbowl of the Old Testament." The first half of the contest became rather long and rather boring. For nearly twelve hours the only drama on the field was that of 450 men really making fools of themselves. Oh the yelling! Oh the screams! Oh the blood that was smeared over their bodies as they slashed themselves! Yet their god was strangely silent. Now it was time for Elijah to take the field. He acted with confidence in erecting his altar and killing his sacrifice and laying it upon the altar. Then he changed the rules a little. Twelve barrels of water were dumped upon the altar and sacrifice, soaking them thoroughly. Then Elijah lifted his hands and began to pray. Before he could even complete the prayer, God answered with fire from the heavens! The crowds responded that they now knew that Jehovah was God!

Key #3 to success: Prayer.

Elijah was successful because he prayed. There are many promises in the Bible that are associated with prayer. Here are just a few of them:

I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:27)

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know (Jeremiah 33:3)

Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven (Matthew 18:19)

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer (Matthew 21:22)

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you (John 15:7)

Friends, Village Schools and I are dependent upon the prayers of God's people for this year. I ask that you might remember us in your prayers. God will work in response to our prayers.

PETER AND THE DISCIPLES - Power

Acts 4:19-20; Acts 5:27-42

Following the events on the Day of Pentecost, the expressions of fear on the faces of the disciples became changed to ones of confidence. Before they had feared for their lives. Now they almost lived with reckless abandon. When confronted by the religious leaders and instructed to keep quiet about Jesus, Peter and the group responded with a strong testimony: Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard (Acts 4:19-20).

From where did this boldness come? And, why did they have it and we seem to have not discovered it? Peter, John, and the other disciples had experienced the power that came when the Holy Spirit came upon them. We read of that experience in Acts 4:31 - After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. They understood the truth that in themselves they had no strength. Many years later, the Apostle John was to reiterate this truth when he wrote: You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world (1 John 4:4).

It seems that today it is much easier for us to place our confidence in people or in programs. But, people can often disappoint us, if not hurt us. And programs can fail resulting in tragedy and heartache. But, if we rely upon the power that is available to us through the Holy Spirit, we shall never be disappointed. God's power always prevails mightily.

Key #4 to success: Filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit

Conclusion

Charles Kettering is a name that is unfamiliar to many of us. He and his friend, Edward Deeds, started what is known today as the Delco Products Division of General Motors Corporation. Mr. Kettering had successfully invented the first electric auto ignition and lighting system. Also, among his more than 140 patents that he held at the time of his death were these: the electric cash register, Freon for refrigerators and air conditioners, quick drying paint for automobiles, automatic transmissions, and the electric railway gate. Kettering died in 1958, but definitely left his mark upon a world that he sought to improve. He one time stated, You will never stub your toe standing still. The faster you go, the more chance there is of stubbing your toe, but the more chance you have of getting somewhere. You know, I sort of like that philosophy.

Friends, I believe that this will be a dynamic year for the Village Schools. The Beta Class has leaped from the computer screen into the classroom. This course has the potential to add another dimension to the ministry of the Village Schools.

I covet your prayers that we might know the power of the Spirit, thus being able to persevere in those principles of God's Word that we know are important. Then our way will be successful.

Back To The Philogian Archive