Practical Principles for Success in Life and Ministry

Isaiah 48:15 MSG; Joshua 1:8

What is a Principle:

1. A Principle is a Universal Law
2. A Principle is a fundamental truth
3. A Principle is a foundational law or truth
4. A Principle is a broad and basic truth that explains why things work and why things happen the way that they do.

Success is the fulfillment of your purpose and destiny. See Genesis 24:42 NLT; 1 Chronicles 22:11 NLT

Success is becoming what you were born to be, doing what you were born to do and having what you were born to have.

1. Purpose.
   The purpose is the reason for a thing. Your purpose is your why, your intention. Your purpose is why you do what you do. When you find your why, you will know your what. See Jeremiah 1:5; Acts 26:16-19; 1 John 3:8; Acts 10:38; John 10:10; 1 Chronicles 22:5; 2 Chronicles 2:5. Many people go into Ministry without first defining or determining from God what they have been called to do and why. Why are you in the Ministry? Why are you in business? Why do you do what you do? See John 18:37; 1 Samuel 17:17-53
   
2. Prospect:
   Your prospect is your vision. It refers to the mental image of a preferred future. It is your aspiration, your dreams, and desire of what the future should look like. It should be clear and concise. What do you see about the future of the Ministry. The future that you see is the future that will be. Conceptualize the future of your Ministry. Imagine it. Dream it. See it in your mind. The success you do not see inside of you will not happen outside. Every man’s future is in his own heart. See Genesis 11:6; 13:14-17; Proverbs 23:7; 29:18; Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; Matthew 5:13-14.
   
3. Permission:
   Your permission is your right to do what you do. Your permission is your authorization or commission. Knowing that you are divinely authorized emboldens you. Permission gives you the audacity and boldness to step out in faith. Know what you are called to do and know who called you to do it. When you know you are commissioned to do and you pursue it, you will excel at it. See Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 4:19; 5:38-39; 16:9-10; Acts 10:38; 26:19; Hebrews 5:4; Jeremiah 1:5,10; John 15:16.
   
4. Priorities:
   Your purpose for existence determines and defines your priorities. It gives you a sense of purpose and a sense of mission. You cannot succeed in life and Ministry without a sense of focus. All successful Ministries are unapologetically focused on their priorities. Success is a reward for focusing on your priorities. Success is the reward for prioritizing correctly. Successful people know the importance of determining your priorities and focusing on them. Your priorities determine your prosperity, your progress and your possessions. See 2 Chronicles 26:5; Matthew 6:33; Acts 6:1-7; 20:24: Philippians 3:12-14; John 9:1-5
   
5. Practice:
   Practice means (a) To carry out or apply: Successful people are doers. No matter how much you know, your knowledge is useless unless it’s applied. See John 13:17; James 1:25. There’s a blessing in active obedience to God’s instructions and commands. See Deuteronomy 28:1-13. Whatever God tells you to do, do it. See John 2:5. Whatever God shows you act upon it immediately. See Deuteronomy 29:29. (b) To do or perform often, habitually or customarily. There should be things you do habitually like prayer, study and meditation for the purpose of becoming successful. See Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3. (c) To train by repeated exercises. To become a spiritual success or to succeed in anything you need intentional training for the purpose of becoming better at what you do and excelling at it. See 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Timothy 2:3-7 (d) To to perform or work at repeatedly in order to become proficient. See 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17
   
6. Power:
   God will empower you to do whatever He has called you to do. The anointing is the divine empowerment for a God given assignment. The anointing is the ability or capacity to competently execute a God given task. Every time you function within your divine gifting you will excel. Recognize the grace that is on your life and exercise it. See 2 Corinthians 6:2; Matthew 10:1,5-8; Luke 4:18; 24:49; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:7; 1 Peter 4:10; Romans 12:4-8
   
7. Passion:
   Passion is the intensity of desire. Passion is the willingness to do something. Passion is interest. Where there is interest, there is energy. Pay attention to your passion. What angers you? What brings you joy? Where do you find the most fulfillment? See John 4:34; John 9:1-5; Matthew 14:14; Mark 6:34; Luke 7:11-17
   
8. Partnership(s):
   You cannot fulfill God’s plan alone. It takes partnership to fulfill destiny. Your first partner should be God. He is your Senior Partner. See John 3:27 MSG; Genesis 39:2-3 NLT; 2 Samuel 23:5 NLT; Joshua 1:5; Judges 6:11-16; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14. You cannot succeed in ministry without partnering with God. He is your Sponsor and your Destiny facilitator. See Acts 2:22; John 14:10; Acts 19:11.
   
9. Plan:
   Your plan is your written strategy for accomplishing your goals. It is your tactical game plan for reaching your goals. You cannot succeed in Ministry without planning. Your plan is your written list of action steps that you need to take to achieve your goals and fulfill your destiny. You cannot effectively organize the efforts of others for maximum impact without planning. See Proverbs 21:5 NLT; 24:7 NLT; Luke 14:28-32; Deuteronomy 1:9-18
   
10. Preparation:
    To prepare is to make ready or to get ready. The future belongs to those who prepare for it. Preparation is positioning. You prepare yourself for what God has ordained you to be, do or have. You prepare by consecration. See 2 Timothy 2:19-21. You prepare by acquiring the necessary knowledge and training that will position to reach your goals. See Galatians 4:1-2. The worst thing that could ever happen to a man is to succeed before he is ready. You also need prepare your team. See Mark 3:13-15; 2 Timothy 2:2.
    
11. Personnel:
    Your personnel are the people that you intend to work with to fulfill your goals. No ministry can rise above the quality of its personnel or team members. You cannot achieve excellence when you are surrounded by incompetence. It takes quality people to do quality work. To achieve the highest level of excellence possible, you need to work with the best hand and minds. The fulfillment of any worthwhile dream requires the involvement of others. You need people whose expertise cancels out your weaknesses. See Exodus 31:1-6; 2 Chronicles 2:5-7; 2 Chronicles 2:13-14: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 1 Chronicles 12:22-23; 12:38. There are assigned to work with you and there are people who are assigned to work with you. See Acts 13:2-3; 1:17.
    
12. People:
    Every purpose or business has a target audience or community. To whom are you assigned. Where is your tribe? Where is your target audience? Your Ministry has a target audience. There are people to whom you are sent. See Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 17:17
    
13. Performance:
    Focus on doing your best every time. Diligence is priceless in the pursuit of destiny. Excellence is priceless in the pursuit of destiny. Diligence and discipline are the mother of excellence. See Proverbs 13:4; 10:4; 22:29.
    
14. Parameters:
    By parameters we refer to limits or boundaries. We are not called to do everything or go everywhere. We need to focus on doing what we are called to do and finishing it. Your parameters help you measure success or failure. See John 17:4; 4:34; 2 Corinthians 10:12-16; Romans 12:3; Matthew 10:5; Acts 16:6-10
    
15. Perseverance:
    The pursuit of any God given dream requires patience and perseverance. Perseverance is the backbone of all successful people. To become outstanding you must be willing to stand for a long time. The fulfillment of vision takes time. You have to keep on keeping on. See Habakkuk 2:1-4; 1 Corinthians 15:57-58; Hebrews 6:11-12; 10:32-39; James 5:7-12; Revelation 14:12
    
16. Perception:
    You cannot succeed without following your inward witness or inner perception. The leading of the Holy Spirit is important to your personal or organizational success. See Isaiah 1:19; 48:17; Psalm 16:7; 32:8-9; Acts 27:9-10; 27:21-25
    
17. Patterns:
    Everyone needs a pattern or model that they need to emulate, copy or follow. Your pattern can be your spiritual father or mentors. These individuals embody and exemplify the virtues and values that you aspire to have. They are visual embodiments of the future that you desire. See Luke 6:39-40; Matthew 4:19; Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 4:14-17; 11:1; 2 Timothy 3:10-14; 2 Corinthians 12:17-18. You are also a pattern unto others. See 1 Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:6-7.
    
18. Prim and Proper:
    You cannot achieve great things without great character and credibility. Character gives you respect on all playing fields. Character is priceless in the school of life. Develop it and you will gain honor and respect. Lose or trivialize it and your influence will diminish. See 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 3:8-15; Titus 1:5-9; 2:7-8