Your Success is Waiting on You #2

Your Success Is Waiting On You #2

01-02-05 Pastor Darryl Manning

A few weeks ago, God said this to me. “Your success is waiting on you.”

He reminded me of the scripture in 1 Peter 5:5 “…humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” I quickly understood that pride was standing in the way of my success and God is waiting on me to humble myself so he can give me success that will not harm me and will glorify Him.

This past week, God spoke the same words to me again. “Your success is waiting on you.”

This time He reminded me of the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel.

1 Kings 17:³⁰Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. ³¹And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” ³²Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. ³³And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” ³⁴Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. ³⁵So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water.

³⁶And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. ³⁷Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”

God pointed out this to me. Elijah was able to say to the Lord, “I have done everything you told me to do.”

Then God asked me the question. “Have you done all I have told you to do?”

“No,” I had to admit. I first thought about the checklist of items that include publishing my two books, doing infomercials about the Message of Joy, having a talk radio program and a few other things. But then the Lord reminded me of one thing I had forgotten, my weight.

A few months ago, the Lord had spoken to me about my weight. In our discussion, I saw myself in front of my congregation repenting of my lack of discipline and intemperance then asking God’s forgiveness. At the next service I did not do what I had seen myself doing. I thought I would put it off. After a couple of weeks, I thought maybe I had just dreamed up the whole deal, so I forgot about it until last week when God spoke again.

Suddenly, I knew I must follow through with what I had been given to do. All week I was careful with my eating. I even went to three buffets and was not intemperate. Then Sunday, I did repent before my congregation and then encouraged them to examine themselves to see what might be holding back their success.

Friend, I want to challenge you in the same way. Have you completed every assignment God has given you? Do you have your list of things completed like Elijah did?

I can see Elijah mentally checking off the items. He had challenged Ahab about repenting and serving God. He had spoken and declared no rain. He had obeyed the directions of God to find sustenance during the drought. He had been patient to wait on God till God said to challenge the false Gods on Mount Carmel.

Now the altar has been repaired with the twelve stones. The wood and sacrifice has been set in order. The trench has been dug. The water has been poured over the sacrifice three times. The trench has been completely filled with water. There is nothing left undone except calling for God to ignite the fire.

God responded to Elijah’s complete obedience by sending the fire. Elijah’s success was waiting upon him. It was waiting for him to complete all the assignments God had given.

Friend, your success is waiting on you. It is waiting for you to humble yourself and get pride out of your life. It is also waiting for you to complete the assignments God has given you. It may be an assignment concerning personal sin in your life. It may be ministries God gave you vision to start and you never did. It may be any number of things, but it is waiting on you.

If you do not have a list of things God has given you to do, the most important thing you can do is make one. Set the list in order and begin checking the items off as you fulfill your obedience to Christ. When you have done all on your list you can say to God, “I have done everything you told me to do. Let the fire of God fall. Let the Glory of God be seen by all who are touched by my life and ministry. Let this be, not for my glory, but for Your Glory O God.”