The Success Test
Sunday, October 25
It’s easy to turn to God when life is hard, but we need Him just as much when things are going well. This message is about staying grateful, keeping your faith alive, and showing your children how God has made a difference in your life.
Escrituras clave
- Hebrews 11:9–11
- Deuteronomy 8:10–11, 17–18
- Luke 17:11–19
- Revelation 3:15–17
- Joshua 4:6–7
- Genesis 19:17–26
- Luke 17:32
Puntos clave
- Praise is rare on Earth. When Jesus healed ten lepers, only one returned to thank Him. God has everything, and all He wants is your praise and worship.
- Remember the Lord. When you get to a place of success, it’s easy to think it was your own power or strength to get there. Some people know how to serve God in the valley but cannot live by faith on the mountaintops.
- Don’t get comfortable. Although Abraham was very rich, he chose to live in tents so he could go wherever God wanted him to go. Don’t allow your blessings to prohibit you from hearing from God.
- Teach it to your children. When God’s hand is on you, God’s hand is on your children. God’s promises are for you and your children. You pass the success test by raising your children in the faith.
Introducción
What does it mean to be truly successful in God’s eyes? In his message, The Success Test, Pastor Jabin Chavez reminds us that success is not measured merely by material possessions, promotions, or answered prayers, but by our ability to remain faithful to God when we receive the very blessings we have been praying for.
The phrase “Remember the Lord” is emphasized in the sermon as a command repeated 172 times in the Bible. God knows that when life becomes comfortable and our prayers are answered, we can easily forget the One who made it all possible. Abraham passed the success test because, even after receiving God’s promise, he continued to live by faith, remaining dependent on God and mindful of His eternal purposes.
In today’s study, we will focus on three principles for passing the success test: remember the Lord and remain grateful, never become so comfortable that you lose your dependence on God, and teach the next generation to know and remember His faithfulness. These principles challenge us to keep God at the center of our lives, whether we are experiencing a valley or standing on a mountaintop.
Discussion Questions
1. Can you recall a time when God answered your prayer or blessed you in an unexpected way? How did you express your gratitude to Him?
2. How can we guard against becoming so comfortable with God’s blessings that we begin to neglect our relationship with Him?
Don’t Let Prosperity Cause You to Forget
Pastor Jabin made the point that when we have a desperate financial, physical, or relational need we are often at every church service. We serve every Sunday and are at every prayer meeting. Then, after we receive the blessing, we can begin to think like the Israelites who said in Deuteronomy 8:17, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me,” and suddenly we are nowhere to be seen at church or the weekly prayer meeting. We have forgotten the Lord our God.
Deuteronomy 8:11, 18 (NIV)
“Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God… But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.”
When He has blessed us financially, professionally, physically, and relationally, we must remember that it is He who gives us the ability to produce wealth. Thinking that our own strength, ability, and intelligence got us where we are can be a slippery slope toward self-reliance and an unthankful heart.
Luke 17:11–17 (NIV)
Jesus cleansed ten lepers, yet only one returned to thank Him. When the Samaritan gave the appropriate response by throwing himself at Jesus’ feet, Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?”
Take time this week to thank God specifically for the blessings He has given you. Guard your heart against self-reliance and remember that every ability, opportunity, and success ultimately comes from Him.
Discussion Questions
1. What blessing or success in your life could tempt you to rely on yourself rather than remember God’s provision?
2. What practical habit can you develop to help you thank God consistently when life is going well, not just when you are facing a need?
Don’t Be Promoted Out of Your Need for the Lord
Abraham’s faith is celebrated in Hebrews 11. Even after God blessed him with great wealth, he chose to live in tents rather than building a permanent home. This kept him mobile and ready to respond the moment God called him to move.
Hebrews 11:8–9 (NIV)
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.”
In contrast, Lot chose comfort and settled near Sodom. When destruction came, his wife looked back longingly at the life she was leaving behind and paid the ultimate price.
Genesis 19:26 (NIV)
“But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”
Jesus later warned, “Remember Lot’s wife!” (Luke 17:32). When we become too comfortable with our blessings, we risk losing our fire and our dependency on God. The church in Laodicea was warned about becoming lukewarm.
Revelation 3:15–17 (NIV)
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
Application: Prosperity can quietly promote us out of our felt need for God. Stay mobile in your faith. Don’t let comfort replace dependence. Keep your heart hot for the Lord, ready to move when He speaks, and never lose your fire, your praise, or your dependency on Him.
Discussion Questions
1. In what ways has comfort or success made it harder for you to stay dependent on God?
2. What practical step can you take this week to keep your faith “mobile” and your heart from becoming lukewarm?
Teach It to Your Children
After the Israelites crossed the Jordan River on dry ground, God commanded them to set up memorial stones. These stones were meant to spark conversations with their children about what the Lord had done.
Joshua 4:6–7 (NIV)
“In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
When God moves powerfully in our lives, we must intentionally build those testimonies into our families. Time and prosperity can dull our memory of His faithfulness. Sharing the stories of how God has intervened keeps our hearts grateful and dependent, and it plants seeds of faith in the next generation.
Application: Create moments to tell your children (or spiritual children) about specific ways God has been faithful to you. These “stones of remembrance” help the whole family stay anchored in thanksgiving and trust, no matter how long ago the miracle happened or how comfortable life becomes.
Discussion Questions
1. What is one story of God’s faithfulness in your life that your children or family members may not know?
2. How can you intentionally create “memorials” or regular conversations that keep God’s past faithfulness fresh for your family?
Group leaders, this is a great opportunity to pray for group members who have children who are not currently following the Lord. You can take time to pray together now, or at the conclusion of your group time.
Conclusión
Passing the success test means remaining faithful to God not only when we need a breakthrough, but also when we have received one. Abraham demonstrated this by continuing to live by faith even in the land God had promised him. His example reminds us that every blessing, ability, opportunity, and achievement comes from God and should draw us closer to Him rather than away from Him.
As we reflect on today’s message, let us remember these three principles:
1. Remember the Lord. Never forget God’s goodness, mercy, and faithfulness. Cultivate a heart of gratitude and give Him the praise and honor He deserves.
2. Never become too comfortable. Remain open to God’s leading, continue to seek His presence, and serve Him faithfully, even when life is going well. Our blessings should never replace our need for Him.
3. Teach the next generation. Let our children see our faith through our prayers, worship, service, generosity, and testimonies. Help them understand what God has done and encourage them to develop their own relationship with Him.
Action Plan: Putting the Message into Practice
This week, let us put the sermon into action through the following steps:
1. Practice daily gratitude. Each day, identify at least one way God has been faithful to you and thank Him in prayer.
2. Examine your priorities. Ask yourself whether your blessings, work, relationships, or personal achievements have taken the place of God in your life. Make any necessary adjustments.
3. Renew your commitment to God. Set aside intentional time for prayer, Bible study, worship, and fellowship, regardless of your current circumstances.
4. Share your testimony. Tell your children, family members, or someone in your circle about a time God helped you through a difficult season or answered a prayer.
5. Live with open hands. Use your gifts, resources, time, and opportunities to honor God and bless others, remaining willing to follow wherever He leads.
Oración final
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your unfailing love, mercy, and faithfulness. Forgive us for the times we have forgotten You or taken Your blessings for granted. Help us remember that every good thing comes from You.
Teach us to pass the success test and remain humble and dependent on You in both abundance and times of need. Keep our hearts on fire for You and never let comfort weaken our desire for Your presence. Help us pass our faith to the next generation through our lives, worship, and testimonies.
May we live by faith with eyes fixed on You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Recursos