Transcription
Please open with me to Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verse 14 to 15. Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verse 14 to 15.
After Proverbs, you have the book of Ecclesiastes, also called the Preacher. And this morning, we're sharing on divine strategy for success. Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verse 14 to 15.
I'm reading from The Living Bible. "There was a small city with only a few people living in it, and a great king came with his army and besieged it. There was in the city a wise man, very poor, and he knew what to do to save the city, and so it was rescued. But afterwards, no one taught any more about him."
Now, there are three major steps to success. The first step that you must specify the exact goal to be achieved. Specify the exact goal to be achieved. Number two, the second step to success, you must find an effective approach, an effective approach, or strategy to achieve it. You must find an effective approach or strategy to achieve it. Number three, you must diligently implement, diligently implement the chosen approach. These are the three major steps to success.
Now, the question, this question has come up from time to time: Which of the three steps to success is most difficult to achieve? Look at it from the individual level, look at it from the group level, look at it from even from the national point of view, and it's so clear. Number one is the easiest. In fact, number one is so easy that daydreamers, they excel in number one above serious people.
So, between number two and number three, which one is more difficult? Because when people don't succeed, at the end of the year, 95 percent of the time, it has more to do with the second step or the third step. So, which of them is more difficult?
What gave us a breakthrough to know the most difficult step to success was when we did an extended study on the power of desperation. By the time the Holy Spirit opened our eyes to discover the power, the positive side of desperation, it becomes clear to you that point number one is less difficult, or least difficult. And then it's followed by point number three. Why? When a man or a woman is really desperate, that one or woman cannot have issues with focus. A desperate man cannot have issues with procrastination. A desperate man or woman cannot have issues with laziness, complacency. The moment you become desperate, then of course, procrastination is gone.
So, when a man, you find a desperate man who has not succeeded concerning a particular thing, what that person needs is step number two. That person needs a winning strategy. The person needs an effective solution. The moment a desperate man or woman finds a winning strategy for what needs to be solved, what needs to be addressed, what needs to be achieved, the desperation in him, in her, would drive him, would drive her to achieve that goal, following the details of that winning strategy.
There is somewhere you must get to, and the time for you to get to that honorable level is now. I pray and I stand with you in the place of prayer before God. I pray that whatever's winning strategy, whatever approach, whatever step you will need to take to get to that great goal, may the Lord reveal it to you now. Let your amen connect with heaven. Let the Lord hear your amen. Receive access to your winning strategy in the name of Jesus.
So, that's the observation. When we critically analyze the three major steps to success and consider which of the three steps is most difficult to achieve, the insights from the message on the power of desperation show that the most difficult step to achieve is step two, step two, step two. And this is because when someone is desperate to achieve a specific goal, he would not have problems with step one. He would not have problems with step three. In fact, anybody who is desperate must be desperate over something, so that takes care of step one. You become desperate over a particular thing, so that takes care of step one. And the attitude of desperation will take care of step three. So, all a desperate man needs is how, how that is guaranteed to work if implemented.
What you lost in 2020, God will give you double portion in 2021, in the name of Jesus. All that a desperate man needs to succeed is to be able to find a guaranteed winning strategy, or find a guaranteed effective solution. Once he finds it, can somebody say, "Once"? And find it. Say it loud, let people hear you, because you are going to find it. Now, once he finds it, his desperation to achieve the goal would drive him to urgently and diligently implement a strategy, implement the solution. You don't tell a desperate man to wake up. You don't tell a desperate woman to work hard concerning what she's already desperate about. Just tell her what to do.
There are about 12 major reasons why New Year resolutions are not achieved. Two of them are relevant to this message. Number one: lack of proper planning, lack of an alternative plan, lack of a backup plan, not having a plan B, plan B, plan B. The source of your blessing in 2021 is clear, and your source is God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. But in the way God operates, He will use channels, different channels. Most times, people plan without an alternative backup plan. So, when plan A fails, everything fails.
A second reason why New Year goes and resolutions are not achieved is as a result of ineffective strategy, ineffective strategy. A lot of strategies that used to work until 2019 have suddenly become outdated. They have become, they have expired in 2020. There is a major shift in the way things are now done in so many realms of life. The way things were done in the past have shifted, have changed drastically in one year. So, for many people that were still holding on to the old pattern, when the year ended, they couldn't meet up their goals and targets because they were using outdated patterns that has been overtaken by the new wave across the surface of the earth.
So, for you to achieve success concerning your major goals for this season, wisdom and strategy is required. Wisdom and strategy is required. Wisdom is knowing how best to achieve a desired goal, knowing how best to achieve a desired goal, and getting it done within the right time. For instance, we observed seven common challenges amongst brethren. Now, for each of these seven major challenges that a lot of the brethren encounter, now, when we say brethren, right now, we are talking about people who, to an acceptable level, are living a godly life. So, even with that lifestyle, we'll still observe these kinds of challenges. Why? And what's the way forward? Wisdom and strategy will be required.
In Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verse 14 and 15, he said, "There was a small city with only a few people living in it, and a great king came with his army and besieged it." Said, "But in verse 15, there was in the city a wise man." There is a platform, there is a channel, there is possibly an individual or a group of people that has the answer to your need. May the Lord connect you with them with divine speed, in the name of Jesus. That information, that strategy you need, that someone already knows, may the Lord connect you with that channel speedily, in the name of Jesus. I pray that no month of this year will be wasted, in the name of Jesus. The fruit of the womb, there is a solution. Delay in getting married, there is a solution. Inadequate income, there is a solution. Inability to pay accommodation and education bills, there is, there is a way out. Overwhelming debt, there is a way out. Unbearable offenses in marriage, there is a way out.
"There was a man who knew what to do to save the city, and so it was rescued." Your problem will be over very soon. That challenge concerning a child will be over very soon, in the name of Jesus. He said, "But afterwards, no one taught any more about him."
So, step one, I defined wisdom just now, and they are actually broken into three major steps. Part one of that of the definition of wisdom tells you about knowing how best to achieve a desired goal. Part two, getting it done. Getting it done. Then part three, getting it done on time, within the right time. So, on that part one, knowing how best to achieve a desired goal, this man knew what to do to save the city. He knew what to do to save the city. Knowing how best to achieve a goal could imply the approach, the strategy, the best process, the best procedure, the best way to go about it and achieve it within the quickest time. In Mark 9:29, Jesus was speaking to His disciples, He said, "This kind cannot go. This problem cannot be solved except by prayer and fasting." This is what we work for. This particular one, this is the approach, the secret behind this problem is spiritual. The solution must be spiritual.
Step two of wisdom, part two of wisdom, is getting it done. Getting it done. In Ecclesiastes chapter 9, verse 15, "He knew what to do to save the city, and so it was rescued." The city was rescued. Why? Two things: what he told them to do, they carried it out. Two, they carried it out on time. Why? The king was already waiting. It was not a king that was the head will come. No, the king was already, he had surrounded the city. He had surrounded the city. They were just waiting to make the final move and crush the city and everyone inside. So, whatever they were in a position to do to save the situation, they needed to do it on time. Thank God they acted on time. I mean, what God is telling you to do, that winning strategy God is giving you, may it not be given in vain. May not expire in your hands. May someone else not go and use it ahead of you.
Tell your neighbor, "Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Now. Wake up now. Wake up now. Wake up now." We're in 2021 now. 2020 is over. Wake up now.
In closing, there is need for proper planning. Proper planning means mapping out ahead of time everything that needs to be done in order to accomplish a desired goal. In Luke chapter 14, verse 28 to 30, our Lord Jesus Christ gives some insight here that highlights the essence and importance of proper planning. Say, "But don't begin until you count the cost. Don't begin until you count the cost of that project." For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? I pray for a man listening to this message, the resources you need to start and complete that desired project, the Lord release speedily to your hands, in the name of Jesus. Receive access to funding. Receive access to abundant funds, in the name of Jesus. Say, "Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money." This year, by the mercy and favor of God, you will not run out of money. There will be a consistent flow. There will be an overflow, an overflow, an overflow. Can that woman say "Amen" to the Lord?
We need to be very thorough in our planning. Thorough planning involves going into specific details of what step that needs to be taken, what exactly needs to be done. What is your goal for this year? What is your major priority for this year? What exactly needs to be done? When should it be started? When should it be completed? When? When? There should be a date. There should be duration. There should be a takeoff date. There should be a deadline. Where exactly should it be done? Location is key. How exactly should it be done? Who exactly should get each of these various things done? In your planning, there must be a budget. How much will it cost? So, have a budget. What would each aspect of this thing, of that plan cost? Then, how do we raise the required financial resources? How do we raise it? When will the funds be available? Instrumentally or monthly? So, find out the cost and resources required.
And I say, close. I want to plead with us, don't be, let's not waste our time on sensational things that at the end of the day do not really change results. Let's get serious. There is need for better results, not just activity. We want to see productivity and not activity. Enough of traffic, we want to see profit and not, you know, people can come into your shop and anybody observing saying, "Hey, sure, people are always crowding." But are they buying? Are they buying? Are they buying? Are they buying? And I pray for someone here that whatever it is that makes people see the good thing you offer, but they end up not patronizing you, today the Lord break that yoke, in the name of Jesus. Whatever is sitting upon your glory, sitting upon your potential, today the Lord take it up, in the name of Jesus. Your potential will transform into reality. It will transform into good results, outstanding results, in the name of Jesus.
In Luke chapter 13, verse 6-9, a man had a vineyard, and they put someone there to take care of the fire. They planted the fig trees there. At the end of the year, nothing. He came back the second year. At the end of the year, nothing. You know, from afar, that man, you know, that tree may look like the most promising tree. And for all our brothers, we also want to challenge us, the men, we want to challenge us. We encourage our sisters to marry promising, promising, God-fearing men. He may not have, you know, all the material, financial, you know, whatever at that point in time, but he's godly, he's hardworking, and he's promising. But take note of this: you cannot remain promising for life. "I'm a promising young man. I'm a promising husband." No, you cannot remain on that level for life. You must move beyond that level. We want to see, we want to see, we want to see manifestation of your potential. God's grace will make it happen this time.
And so, the man got angry at the end of the third year that he was going to cut down the tree. People don't just want to see the tree standing as if it's productive. But if you go closer, you check the books, no profit, no profit. People are praising you that how you are doing well with your business, but you know that that business you are running, it's at a loss. There is need for good results, not just determined efforts. We want to see good results, not just determined efforts. So, don't just run and start doing things. No, think well. Strategy. Think well. Because many times, with a good strategy, you can predict the potential outcome.
There is need for realized goals, not just impressive performance. There is need for the expected transformation, not mere completion of the teaching or training program. And I pray that any area of your life where something is wrong, the Lord will turn it around this new season. There is need for realized potential, not just bright prospects.
In Second Kings chapter 2, verse 18, the waters of Jericho. Beautiful. But the elders knew what was there. The elders knew what was there. I said, "No, no, no, no." Say, "You see these waters? It looks so good, but it's a different result." It took a spiritual intervention for what was wrong with the waters of Jericho to be healed and restored. I speak to the foundation of your life. Whatever was altered, sometimes if this could have happened by people trying to spite your father, spite your mother, whatever was altered in your life, by the mercies and power of God, it is corrected right now, in the name of Jesus. Any arrow of curses, any arrow of spiritual manipulation that has altered an area of your life, the Lord heal and restore it now, in the name of Jesus. What you have long been denied of in that area, now you will begin to receive them. Your glory will shine now, in the name of Jesus.
There is need for profit and productivity, not just high customer traffic. There is need. Take note of this. There is need for answered prayers, not just fervent prayers. There is need for answered prayers. And that is why the study is continuous. The study is continuous on what is the secret of effective prayers.
We must, in closing, have a plan B. Have a plan B, an alternative plan, just in case your main plan doesn't work. Make a plan B for this year, concerning that goal. By the grace of God, 2021, the Lord who is able to make all things new, will make it a favorable year for you, in the name of our Lord Jesus. In the name of our Lord Jesus.