The Portrait of True Kingdom Success (Success Through the Lens of Scripture)
By Apostle Joshua Selman

Revelation 5:5 - 6

Results matter! 1 Kings 18:38-39, Matthew 5:13-16, John 15:8&16, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Galatians 4:1

Psalm 112:3-9

Success is a highly subjective concept - It is relative based on many viewport. While there are many parameters that define it, for instance wealth, status and achievement. Most people choose to define it based on noble spiritual parameters such as wellbeing, health..

Success is the achievement of goals or desires in any given areas

Success in the kingdom has to do with the quality of your relationship with God, the quality of life and living that is derived from that relationship, the discovery and completion of your assignment on earth and the extent of impact you make to your world.

The believer’s confidence is anchored on the word of God.

Jeremiah 29:11, Genesis 1:28, 12:1-3, 39:21-23, Leviticus 26:3-5, Deuteronomy 11:12-15, 28:13, Joshua 1:5, Psalm 92:12-15, 126:5&6, John 4:34, Galatians 6:9, 1 Peter 5:10

Conclusion to draw from the above scriptures:

1. God is glorified when believers succeed, it validates his love, fatherhood and the integrity of His words in their life
2. Success is a strong consolation to believers as they work with God. It builds their faith, it brings dignity and honor, it makes their witness effective and then it establishes joy and peace in their hearts.
3. The success and victory of believers and the church at large is one of the most potent ways of drawing men to Jesus.

Why does the idea of success create mix feelings

1. The subject of success has been thought only from the standpoint of material acquisition while ignoring nobler parameters like spiritual health, fulfillment, and peace
2. The subject has been over emphasized and exaggerated to the point overriding the core mission of the church which is soul winning and the revelation of Jesus
3. It has been erroneously used as a major yardstick to major spiritual progress and faith in God 10:18-22
4. The success of many christians has been discovered to be fruits of compromise and ungodly practices. This has put a negative pressure on admirers to embrace evil and compromise for material gain
5. The 5th reason is that many people have used their success to gratify the flesh and create unhealthy stratification in the house of God
6. Envy and Jealousy - Most people know intrinsically that true success is not cheap. They know that it is a product of knowledge, discipline, diligence, sacrifice, productivity, consistency, humility, endurance, strategic relationship and the grace of God - and so when they fail to leave by this principle, they naturally gravitate towards failure as a result they hate and envy those who are consistently successfulRomans 10:22
7. The believers success validates the reliability of the word it is understood and practiced

Biblical parameters that both determine that both determine true success in the kingdom

Anyone who passes the test based on this parameter is truly successful and anyone who fails, regardless of how they look is a failure

1. Character Galatians 5:23
2. A superior word compliant belief system.

   Things to believe to have a superior belief system.

   1. You must believe in the finished work of christ
   2. You must believe in the dignity of human life
   3. You must believe in the responsibility component of working in victory
   4. You must believe in power of laws and principles

3. The discovery of purpose and excelling in your God ordained assignment. Jeremiah 1:5, Hebrews 10:7
4. Your ability to understand the mysteries of the kingdom and the ability to use those mysteries
5. Kingdom impact and exploits - The greatest parameter to major this is souls 1 Timothy 2:4

   Others include:

   Changing and transforming lives

   Making the world a better place/improving society

6. Influence - The capacity to command the attention and the loyalty of men, nations and systems.

   The capacity to compel men to buy into your convictions and your ideologies is called influence.

7. The health of your relationship - first your family, then all those who are close to you. The testimony of these people about you matters
8. Your willingness to lose everything and if need be, including your life for Jesus and to stand by your kingdom values
9. The ability to look beyond yourself and create a legacy for those who would live after you
10. The ability to still have joy, peace, and rest with or without the presence of any material blessing. When these are anchored on Jesus, then you truly have attained success in the kingdom.

Ecclesiastes 12:13