2 TYPES OF SUCCESS

John answered, “It’s not possible for a person to succeed—I’m talking about eternal success—without heaven’s help" (John 3:27, The Message). 

There are at least two types of success. There is eternal success and there is what we may call temporal, earthly success. A man could wiggle his way through and attain some measure of earthly success, all by himself. But our focus today is on eternal success - success that comes from God. In Psalms 121, the Psalmist confirms to us that those who want eternal success must look up to heaven for help, to the Almighty God who made heaven and earth. 

Eternal success may be described as the blessing of God that makes rich without adding sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). It is success that comes with inner peace, health, joy and contentment. Like Matthew Henry observed in his Bible commentary, we are talking about a success or blessing of which there is "no disquieting care to get and keep it, no vexation of spirit in the enjoyment of it, [and] no tormenting grief for the loss of it". It is only through the help of the God of heaven that we can achieve this. 

The question now is, how do you access heaven's help? Jesus is the straight answer to that question. Let me illustrate. A middle aged man who had been born lame suddenly began to walk after receiving prayers from Peter and John. All who saw and heard of the miracle began to look at them as some special people. But Peter told them, "We are not any special people and we don’t have any special powers or unusual holiness. We have been able to succeed at this only because we secured heaven's help through the name of Jesus. It was through faith in His name that this lame man was made whole". 

Later on, Peter addressed the Jewish council on this same matter. He made it clear to them (and us) that there is no other means of drawing help from heaven other than through the name of Jesus. His words, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved [or helped]" (AActs 4:12). 

Friends, that situation has not and will not change. If you need God's help, please call on Jesus. He said, "the Father will give you anything that you ask him. If you ask him in my name (because you are mine), he will give it to you" (John 15:16b, Easy English Version). No one else has ever given us such an assurance. 

"Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth" (Psalms 124:8). 

I pray for you today, that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will avail for you and unlock every door of success the enemy has closed against you. May that name defend you as you labour on in the field that God has given you until you land in the palace of eternal success. Victory is yours in the precious name of Jesus Christ.