Open Heaven 19 October 2024: The Challenges of Success 1
MEMORISE: According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. Hosea 13:6
READ: Daniel 4:25-35 (KJV)
25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
Read Yesterday’s Open Heaven Devotional Here
Many people pursue success, and that is good. However, being successful has its own challenges.
Success has destroyed many people in the past because they were not prepared for the challenges that come with it.
Over the next few days, I will be sharing some of the challenges that come with attaining success with you.
I may not be able to share all of them with you in this series, but I hope that what you learn will help you prepare for success because you will be successful unto the end, in Jesus’ name.
The first challenge of success is pride.
In Genesis 48:1-20, the blessing of the firstborn was transferred to Ephraim by his grandfather, and as a result, he became greater than his elder brother, Manasseh.
Pride set in, and God kept pleading with him, but he wasn’t listening.
Then, in Hosea 4:16-19, God said that Ephraim should be left alone. By the time we get to Hosea 5:9, God said, “Ephraim shall be desolate.”
In Revelation 7:5-8, when the various tribes of Israel were being sealed, Ephraim was no longer there.
The pride that came with Ephraim’s success ended up destroying him.
Proverbs 16:18 says:
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Those who are down can fear no fall. The higher you go, the more cautious you should be of falling, and that caution should drive you to be more humble as you rise.
James 4:6 says: But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
It is only by God’s grace that you are able to attain and sustain success.
If you become proud, God will withdraw His grace, and the result of that will be disgrace.
Don’t let God resist you; don’t allow pride into your heart. Do everything to ensure that you don’t think of yourself as more important than you really are.
Don’t look down on others, and don’t see anything as being too low for you.
Let Matthew 20:26-28 keep ringing in your head, that the one who will be the greatest must be the servant of all.
Jesus Christ showed us an example of service and humility in John 13:1-17.
He also told us clearly that this is the way to greatness in God’s kingdom (Luke 22:24-27).
Beloved, seek to serve more than to be served so that God will continue to lift you up.
ACTION POINT:
No matter how high God lifts you, don’t allow pride into your heart.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Mark 15-16
Open Heaven 19 October 2024
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