What Matters the Most?

I watch people. I like to watch what they do, how the do it what the results are? I compare their actions to Biblical Principles and try to make sense of the situations that people are in. Different people have different priorities. For some they reevaluate their priorities daily. This constant changing can sometimes look like floundering.

Remember this: Satan is on the outside looking in and all he needs is an opening in our protection to get to us. He is not trying to take everything that we have. If you study the Bible, Satan was never able to completely defeat . Rather, he is trying to take that one thing which will sabotage all other areas in our life. In this series, we will look at some things that should matter to everyone. In this part we examine…

1.) Your Goals:

The simplest definition for a goal is: A specific and measurable plan you will fulfill. A goal is more precise than an objective. An objective is usually broken down into several goals. Even Jesus had recorded goals for His Ministry (see Luke 4:16-21).

Your goals determine the value of every relationship, be it human or material, in your life. The key to fulfilling your goal is simply: how much do you want it? The more valuable the goal, the more energy you will invest in pursuing that goal. In other words, your ability to move toward a desired future is determined by the energy you apply to your goals. Jesus invested great sums of energy to achieve His goal, (see Hebrews 12:2) because we were valuable to Him.

Look at some of the ways we fulfill our goals:

We trade money for services rendered when they fulfill our goals.
If your teeth hurt a dentist becomes valuable to you.
If you need spiritual advice, a Pastor becomes valuable to you.
If you need education, a teacher becomes valuable to you.

Again, how valuable is your goal. the more valuable the goal is to you, the more you would be willing to invest in it.

Be aware that when you announce your goals, you force relationships to reveal their level of loyalty to you. It so often happens that people tend to pick sides when you announce what you are planning. You may find that your enemies will come out into the open and that someone you thought would support you does not. David had to endure his oldest brother Eliab’s objections and convince King Saul to let him fight Goliath, despite the fact that David was the only volunteer. (see 1 Kings 17)

As you write and achieve your goals, you will find that everything in your life will connect to the goals you are pursuing. Your library of goals
I will build my library around my goals, because it will be my inspiration to continue pursuing my goals.
I will build my relationships around my goals, because they will either encourage me as friends or push me like a mentor.
I will build my daily schedule around my goals so that I have time to work on the issues that will lead to fulfilling my goals.
Did you know:
Percentage of people that have written goals is still three percent.
Percentage of people that at least have a mental picture of their goals is seven percent.
Likelihood that you will complete a goal if it is written down is 90 times more likely than not having it written down.

Habakkuk 2:2-4 KJV+
(2) And the LORD3068 answered6030 me, and said,559 Write3789 the vision,2377 and make it plain874 upon5921 tables,3871 that4616 he may run7323 that readeth7121 it.
(3) For3588 the vision2377 is yet5750 for an appointed time,4150 but at the end7093 it shall speak,6315 and not3808 lie:3576 though518 it tarry,4102 wait2442 for it; because3588 it will surely come,935, 935 it will not3808 tarry.309
(4) Behold,2009 his soul5315 which is lifted up6075 is not upright3474, 3808 in him: but the just6662 shall live2421 by his faith.530

If you do not plan your future, someone or something else will.
Here are some things to consider.
Keep a written list of your goals with you.
Create a dream wall instead of a memory wall.
Don’t stop talking about your dreams.
Yes, it did get Joseph into trouble initially, but he was promoted through the trials so that he could fulfil his dreams.

The question is, “What do you want?” because God is waiting on us to start.

Psalms 37:4-5 KJV+
(4) Delight thyself6026 also in5921 the LORD;3068 and he shall give5414 thee the desires4862 of thine heart.3820
(5) Commit1556 thy way1870 unto5921 the LORD;3068 trust982 also in5921 him; and he1931 shall bring it to pass.6213

2.) Your Ideas and God’s Wisdom

Keep a Wisdom Journal of ideas that come to you.
Wisdom is God’s Scriptural solution to a human problem.
God has already spoken it.
It is not a reaction to your problem.

Ideas are seeds that can be acted upon.
God’s greatest miracles come in the form of ideas.
Oral Roberts was conducting a camp meeting a number of years ago.
He spoke about God given ideas, concepts and insights.
A man in that crowd went home, dug out his notebooks and $123 million dollars later we have Post-it Notes.

This means that your ideas and inspirations can be passed on to your children and your children’s children as a seed.
Knowledge and Wisdom transmitted leads to miraculous change.
Example: the Copeland’s, us, etc.

You need to listen to ideas even when they are in the form of negative comments.
Successful organizations listen to customer feedback.
All we want at Church is positive affirmations.
Feedback is vital so don’t speak just to be heard when giving feedback.
Speak to be understood.

The Bible is the collected works of Wisdom. It is a Wisdom Journal.

Proverbs 4:4-8 KJV+
(4) He taught3384 me also, and said559 unto me, Let thine heart3820 retain8551 my words:1697 keep8104 my commandments,4687 and live.2421
(5) Get7069 wisdom,2451 get7069 understanding:998 forget7911 it not;408 neither408 decline5186 from the words4480, 561 of my mouth.6310
(6) Forsake5800 her not,408 and she shall preserve8104 thee: love157 her, and she shall keep5341 thee.
(7) Wisdom2451 is the principal thing;7225 therefore get7069 wisdom:2451 and with all3605 thy getting7075 get7069 understanding.998
(8) Exalt5549 her, and she shall promote7311 thee: she shall bring thee to honor,3513 when3588 thou dost embrace2263 her.

3.) Your Self – Portrait

You cannot outperform the picture you have of yourself.
You will always act like the person you think you are.
You are a perfect you.
How do you picture yourself?

When God changes you radically, he changes your self-portrait.
In Christ, we are:
Righteous (2 Cor 5:21) Forgiven (1 John 1:9)
Holy (Col 1:22) Redeemed (1 Pet 1:18-20)
Justified (Rom 3:24) Delivered (Col 1:12-13)
Healed (1 Pet 2:24) Joint Heir (Rom 8:17)
Prosperous (2 Cor 8:9)

God talks to your picture.
If you don’t listen through that picture you will misinterpret the message.

The goal of every enemy is to create enough negative propaganda to convince you that the lie is true.
If you believe the lie it will affect your ability to endure while completing your goals.
Sin affects your self-portrait negatively, which will change your outward behavior.
When David met Goliath he was bold and had unwavering faith.
After David sinned, David was unsure of his relationship with God.

2 Samuel 12:17-22 KJV+
(17) And the elders2205 of his house1004 arose,6965 and went to5921 him, to raise him up6965 from4480 the earth:776 but he would14 not,3808 neither3808 did he eat1262 bread3899 with854 them.
(18) And it came to pass1961 on the seventh7637 day,3117 that the child3206 died.4191 And the servants5650 of David1732 feared3372 to tell5046 him that3588 the child3206 was dead:4191 for3588 they said,559 Behold,2009 while the child3206 was1961 yet alive,2416 we spoke1696 unto413 him, and he would not3808 hearken8085 unto our voice:6963 how349 will he then vex6213, 7451 himself, if we tell559, 413 him that the child3206 is dead?4191
(19) But when David1732 saw7200 that3588 his servants5650 whispered,3907 David1732 perceived995 that3588 the child3206 was dead:4191 therefore David1732 said559 unto413 his servants,5650 Is the child3206 dead?4191 And they said,559 He is dead.4191
(20) Then David1732 arose6965 from the earth,4480, 776 and washed,7364 and anointed5480 himself, and changed2498 his apparel,8071 and came935 into the house1004 of the LORD,3068 and worshiped:7812 then he came935 to413 his own house;1004 and when he required,7592 they set7760 bread3899 before him, and he did eat.398
(21) Then said559 his servants5650 unto413 him, What4100 thing1697 is this2088 that834 thou hast done?6213 thou didst fast6684 and weep1058 for the child,3206 while5668 it was alive;2416 but when834 the child3206 was dead,4191 thou didst rise6965 and eat398 bread.3899
(22) And he said,559 While the child3206 was yet5750 alive,2416 I fasted6684 and wept:1058 for3588 I said,559 Who4310 can tell3045 whether GOD3068 will be gracious2603 to me, that the child3206 may live?2416

4.) Your Mentorship

Mentors are not:
your cheerleader.
your friend.
Don’t be surprised if you have success and they point out areas of opportunity.
Mentors tell you what you did wrong so you can improve.
While friends are comfortable with your past and do not care if you change, mentors are comfortable with your future and push you to change.
Highly successful people and highly successful generations are mentored by the previous generation.
For example:
Elijah mentored Elisha who carried on right where Elijah was scooped up.
Naomi mentored Ruth who married Boaz
Moses mentored Joshua who took the Children of Israel into the Promised Land. He won one victory, and lost one. Then he had a string of 20 consecutive victories.
Paul mentored Timothy who continued building the early Church.

Mentors create shortcuts to success.
The shortcut to success is the Wisdom and knowledge mentors can provide.
For example:
Have you ever looked for the procedure to do something on a computer for about twenty minutes?
Someone like me comes in and shows you how to do it in about five seconds.
If you divide 20 minutes by five seconds it works out to 240.
A mentor would have accelerated your success 240 times.
Learning is a process that can be shortened.

Mentors are not responsible for you success or failure.
Your actions are your own.
Willingness to reach upward qualifies you to receive.
Who are you listening to?
Who is your mentor?
Who is teaching and correcting you?
Don’t stay in the stupid chapter of your life.
Seek professional help.

5.) Opportunities Recognized

You have so many opportunities in life to succeed.
There is something that you are not seeing and it is costing you because you have not seen it.

Examples:
The Thief recognized an opportunity while hanging on the cross.
It wiped out his entire past.

Luke 23:39-43 KJV+
(39) And1161 one1520 of the3588 malefactors2557 which were hanged2910 railed on987 him,846 saying,3004 If1487 thou4771 be1488 Christ,5547 save4982 thyself4572 and2532 us.2248
(40) But1161 the3588 other2087 answering611 rebuked2008 him,846 saying,3004 Dost not3761 thou4771 fear5399 God,2316 seeing(3754) thou art1488 in1722 the3588 same846 condemnation?2917
(41) And2532 we2249 indeed3303 justly;1346 for1063 we receive618 the due reward514 of our deeds:3739, 4238 but1161 this man3778 hath done4238 nothing3762 amiss.824
(42) And2532 he said3004 unto Jesus,2424 Lord,2962 remember3415 me3450 when3752 thou comest2064 into1722 thy4675 kingdom.932
(43) And2532 Jesus2424 said2036 unto him,846 Verily281 I say3004 unto thee,4671 Today4594 shalt thou be2071 with3326 me1700 in1722 paradise.3857

David recognized an opportunity when he fought Goliath.
Nowhere does it say that the Prophet came to visit David or that the Spirit of God said to David go and kill Goliath.
Solomon told us to consider the mentorship of the ants.
Example: Canora Beach

Proverbs 6:6-11 KJV+
(6) Go1980 to413 the ant,5244 thou sluggard;6102 consider7200 her ways,1870 and be wise:2449
(7) Which834 having no369 guide,7101 overseer,7860 or ruler,4910
(8) Provideth3559 her meat3899 in the summer,7019 and gathereth103 her food3978 in the harvest.7105
(9) How long5704, 4970 wilt thou sleep,7901 O sluggard?6102 when4970 wilt thou arise6965 out of thy sleep?4480, 8142
(10) Yet a little4592 sleep,8142 a little4592 slumber,8572 a little4592 folding2264 of the hands3027 to sleep:7901
(11) So shall thy poverty7389 come935 as one that traveleth,1980 and thy want4270 as an armed4043 man.376

The old adage, “Time is money, ” is true if you know how to recognize an opportunity.
How you use your time will determine how many opportunities you can recognize.

6.) Your Faith

Faith is your confidence in God and in His Word put to action.
God did not create the worlds out of nothing.
He had a spiritual substance.

Hebrews 11:1 KJV+
(1) Now1161 faith4102 is2076 the substance5287 of things hoped for,1679 the evidence1650 of things4229 not3756 seen.991

Hebrews 11:6 KJV+
(6) But1611 without5565 faith4102 it is impossible102 to please2100 him: for1063 he that cometh4334 to God2316 must1163 believe4100 that3754 he is,2076 and2532 that he is1096 a rewarder3406 of them that diligently seek1567 him.846

Mountain-moving faith changes your life.
If we only knew what was on the other side of the mountain, we would not stop until that mountain was moved.

Mark 11:22-25 KJV+
(22) And2532 Jesus2424 answering611 saith3004 unto them,846 Have2192 faith4102 in God.2316
(23) For1063 verily281 I say3004 unto you,5213 That3754 whosoever3739, 302 shall say2036 unto this5129 mountain,3735 Be thou removed,142 and2532 be thou cast906 into1519 the3588 sea;2281 and2532 shall not3361 doubt1252 in1722 his848 heart,2588 but235 shall believe4100 that3754 those things which3739 he saith3004 shall come to pass;1096 he846 shall have2071 whatsoever3739, 1437 he saith.2036
(24) Therefore1223, 5124 I say3004 unto you,5213 What things soever3956, 3745, 302 ye desire,154 when ye pray,4336 believe4100 that3754 ye receive2983 them, and2532 ye5213 shall have2071 them.
(25) And2532 when3752 ye stand4739 praying,4336 forgive,863 if1487 ye have2192 aught5100 against2596 any:5100 that2443 your5216 Father3962 also2532 which3588 is in1722 heaven3772 may forgive863 you5213 your5216 trespasses.3900

The children of Israel let an opportunity go because they could not believe the goodness that was on the other side of the mountain.
Ten of the 12 spies came out with a bad picture.
The two that came out saying the giants are so big that we cannot miss were the only two that were allowed into the Promised Land.

7.) Your Focus

This is one of the deciding factors of your ability to succeed at anything you put your hand to.
It is the battle for your soul.
Did your know:
Companies will spend $2.4 million USD for 30 seconds of your time during the SuperBowl.
Race car drivers are taught to look at the road and not at the wall.

What you focus on grows.
Don’t react to needs in your life.
React to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Be ruthless with distractions.

Protecting your focus requires:
You to create or sculpt an environment that protects your gift.
You to purge that environment of anything alien to your goals.
You should not have anything that promotes your weaknesses in this protected environment.

2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV+
(5) Casting down2507 imaginations,3053 and2532 every3956 high thing5313 that exalteth itself1869 against2596 the3588 knowledge1108 of God,2316 and2532 bringing into captivity163 every3956 thought3540 to1519 the3588 obedience5218 of Christ;5547

Jairus kept his focus on Jesus not on fear in order to bring his goal to pass.
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8.) Your Seed

Seed is not a money principle, but a supply principle.
Seed faith is:
You sow what He gave you that you wanted to keep
He gives you what He promised.
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Keep an inventory of your seeds.

Proverbs 27:23 KJV+
(23) Be thou diligent to know3045, 3045 the state6440 of thy flocks,6629 and look7896, 3820 well to thy herds.5739

A Seed is anything that can be sown.
You are a walking warehouse of seeds.
Access Time
Love Forgiveness
Affection Listening

Your paycheck or pension is the result of the seed of time that you have sown.
You can obtain a lifetime income from a seed.
Your wealth is determined by your Wisdom.
Super-prosperity comes from Wisdom.
Wisdom will give you the ability to protect and multiply your wealth.
Ask God to double your Wisdom in the next six months.

9.) Your Obedience

Most people live life like this:
It is not that they do not want to do it right, they just don’t want to do it wrong.
Ninety-nine percent of Believers are underdog driven.
Remember: No man can serve two masters (Mat 6:24).
The Annointing that you respect is the Annointing you attract.
Since God does not lie (Num 23:19), why is it that we have trouble trusting that God knows what He is doing?
It is dangerous to ignore the nudgings of the Holy Spirit because we do live in a physical world.
We need to take a lesson from September 11, 2002.
Satan is out to steal kill and destroy us.
Not receiving and doing what the Holy Spirit relays you to circumvents the order of things that God has for us.
What if Stephen did not show his faith in Acts 7? We might not have had Paul?
What if Paul did not answer the call on his life?
What if you don’t answer the call on your life?