Good Success Jos 1: 8 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO

The way to be prosperous and have good success is found in Jos 1:8.  Before we expound this text, though, we need to consider some ways that men and women try to have success but fail.

You will never be a success:

• Pretending to be something that you’re not – hypocrite – the “real” you will eventually come through.

• Trying to impress the people around you – people pleaser – if I want someone to please me, I’ll get a dog.  I expect that behavior from a dog.  You know what impresses me?  A person who pleases God and who doesn’t care whether another soul even notices or agrees is impressive these days.

• Attempting to fulfill your fleshly desires while serving God – carnal Christian – your fleshly lusts, fleshly desires, fleshly opinions, fleshly ambitions, and fleshly motives are all in the flesh.  And they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  You cannot have it your way and God’s way at the same time.

You will be a success over time if you:

Speak what this Book tells you to speak – mouth – You can tell when a person has been reading the Bible.  What they say lines up with this Book.  They speak as the oracles of God.  The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.  You can tell the difference between a person who simply speaks according to his wisdom and his emotions and a person who speaks with the wisdom of God.  Read this Bible so thoroughly until you speak like God speaks.

Think what this Book tells you to think – meditate – don’t just read the Bible but think about what it says and how God is applying it in your life.  The Bible says “as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.”  What you think about is what you eventually do.  This is where young people are blowing out today.  Their minds are consumed with other thoughts besides the Bible.  Social media is a big hindrance to good Biblical meditation.  The Bible and preaching must affect your thinking.  They will give you a sound mind [2 Tim 1:7] and the mind of Christ [1 Cor 2:16].

Do what this Book tells you to do – observe to do – get used to listening to God in your Bible and doing exactly what he tells you to do.  Follow his instructions.  Be faithful to what he shows you.  If you disobey his instructions, you will quit hearing from him.  Saul disobeyed the clear instructions to kill the Amalekites.  And God quit speaking to him through dreams, prophets and Urim and Thumim.  Young people, God told you to obey your parents.  Follow their commands and God will start showing you things in the Bible to lead you.

Conclusion: The Bible affects your mouth, your mind, and your manners.  When God shows you what to do, do it.  God will be with you to get it done.  Don’t be afraid, be courageous.  God is with you.