The greatest obstacle to success is sense knowledge contradiction. Sense knowledge is what I experience with my five physical senses (what I can see, hear, feel, taste and smell). Sense knowledge contradiction occurs when I expect a certain outcome and something else happens. In other words, what I expected did not happen; that is sense knowledge contradiction.
Here is a powerful truth for success: Remove the obstacles to success and success is almost automatic.
If success to you means experiencing peace and you are not experiencing peace, then something is producing obstacles to peace in your life. Remove the obstacles to peace and experiencing peace is almost automatic.
If success to you means living in health and you are not healthy, then something is producing obstacles to you being able to live in health. Remove the obstacles to health and living a healthy life is almost automatic.
The greatest obstacle to success is sense knowledge contradiction. I want to be financially free, but my checkbook is empty and I am working like a dog. Success is my goal of financial freedom; the sense-knowledge contradiction is my empty checkbook and my long work schedules. Remove the obstacles to success and success is almost automatic.
Hebrews 11:3 (NKJV)
By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:3 (NLT)
By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
There are two sources of information: information that comes from the physical realm we can see and information that comes from the spiritual realm we cannot see. The things which are seen (in Hebrews 11:3) refer to the physical realm; the things that are unseen refer to the spiritual realm.
According to Hebrews 11:3, the spiritual realm (the unseen realm) created the physical realm (the visible realm). The physical realm was not made out of things we see. The Word of God, released by faith, made the entire universe and everything in it, and God’s Word released by faith keeps everything is the universe going.
Sweeping statement now: If the spiritual realm created the physical realm, doesn’t it just make sense that the spiritual realm can change the physical realm?
The universe was created by the Word of God; formed at God’s command. God called the universe into existence out of nothing; He declared that it was to be, and it was. Speaking words preceded seeing results, and because God made you in His image, He expects you to do the same as He did; He expects you to use your faith-filled words to create the kind of life you want.
God’s Word and your re-created spirit represent the spiritual realm. Faith is a product of your re-created spirit, and faith is released when you speak God’s Word; that is why success really is an inside job.
2 Corinthians 4:18 (NKJV)
While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Know this: If you can see it or feel it, it is temporary and subject to change.
Do you have an unfavorable situation in your life? Can you see it? Know this; it is temporary and subject to change. Do you have an unwanted condition in your life? Can you feel it? Know this; it is temporary and subject to change.
Your unfavorable situation is going to change “while” you do not look at it; “while” you refuse to focus on it. Deal with it… Yes! Focus on it… No! Change takes place “while” you refuse to dwell on your problems. Sense knowledge contradiction changes when you refuse to focus on it.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)
We live by faith, not by sight.
Change takes place by faith; change takes place as you call those things which do not exist as though they did. The phrase “not by sight” means we do not live solely according to the sense realm. We are to govern our lives by faith and not solely by what we see or how we feel.
The life you want can be created by speaking the Word of God, and the unwanted conditions in your life can be changed by speaking the Word of His power. Hebrews 1:3 says that God is upholding all things by the word of His power. The Word of God is the source of truth that can change the circumstances in your life. As you speak God’s Word in the face of sense knowledge contradiction, you will be releasing your faith and your circumstances will begin to change.
Your faith should always be speaking regardless of your circumstances. Faith speaks even when there is no sense knowledge confirmation. Faith speaks even when there is only sense knowledge contradiction. Your words are invisible containers that are creating your future. God is always doing something in your life that you cannot see!
Hebrews 11:1 gives you your responsibility in all this; Hebrews 11:1 tells you what you are supposed to do:
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Faith is the substance that makes invisible things real. Faith is the substance that makes something out of nothing. Faith is embracing the plan God has given you for your future. Faith is released in words. Your words are the proof of how certain you are of what you do not see.
What you hope for is the realization of your God-given dream. You need to be sure of your God-given dream. Setting goals and making plans for their attainment are the steps you take to get there. Setting goals and making plans for their attainment is how you prove that you are certain of what you do not see.
Let’s talk about goal setting in light of our topic, “success is an inside job.” Success is an inside job; it is who you become in order to accomplish your goals and realize your God-given dream. Before you can have, you have to do and before you can do, you have to be. It is not have, do, be; it is be, do, have. By faith you are enabled to become everything God’s Word says that you already are.
If the benefits of your salvation are not manifesting in your life, you simply have not yet become the person who has learned how to receive God’s promises. Once you are born again, the rest of your Christian life is learning how to become a better receiver. Goal setting is a proactive process that helps you become a better receiver.
There are 4 aspects to goal setting:
1. What kind of life do you want?
2. Why do you want it?
3. Who is going to help you get there?
4. How is it going to happen?
1. What kind of life do you want?
You are the architect of your own life; you are the creator of your own future. You decide with your thoughts, your words, and your actions. Question: Are there any impossibilities for you? Jesus didn’t think so because He said in:
Matthew 17:20b (NKJV)
“IF you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Mark 9:23 (NKJV)
Jesus said to him, “IF you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
The phrase “nothing will be impossible” means that all things are possible, but here’s the catch: “If…” “If” is a word that means there is an opportunity for you do something. “If you have faith…” “If you can believe…” Faith and belief are the starting points of all possibilities. Faith will write out a description of what you want your life to look like.
Ben Stein, actor and author, said “The indispensable first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.” And I’ll add this: Every decision you make is an act of faith.
2. Why do you want it?
This is where your motivation is going to come from. “Why” is a question that determines motivation. Your belief is the proof of what you want. Believing is an action verb. What you do is the real proof of the kind of life you really want to live. After we have given all the excuses, the proof of how motivated I really am is revealed by what I do.
The answer to the question “Why?” is where you will find the motivation to take the necessary action to create the kind of life you want to live.
3. Who is going to help you get there?
God planned relationships for you during the course of your life for 2 reasons: First, for you to receive a blessing and second, for you to be a blessing.
Galatians 3:29 syas that if you are in Christ, you are Abraham’s seed. In Genesis 12:2 God told Abraham “I will bless you and you shall be a blessing.” If you are in Christ, God wants to bless you so you can be a blessing.
Relationships make you part of something bigger than yourself. I like to say this everyday: “Thank you Father for divine appointments and divine connections.”
4. How is it going to happen?
How are you actually going to live the kind of life you want? The answer is found in the first word in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “while” we do not look at the things we see. The life you want to live is going to happen for you when you stop focusing on sense knowledge contradiction and start focusing on God’s Word by speaking it and practicing it.
Question: Do you have a written vision statement for your life? Are you looking at it everyday? Are you saying it on a regular basis? Are you doing something everyday that will move you closer to the kind of life you want to live?
You can start by saying this everyday: “My power is based on God’s favor.” You can start by identifying one thing you can do everyday that will move you closer to the realization of your God-given dream.
If the spiritual realm created the physical realm, then the spiritual realm can change the physical realm. The unwanted conditions and unfavorable situations in your life are subject to change.
By faith you release the creative power that resides in your re-created spirit to create the kind of life you want to live.
God’s Word and your re-created spirit represent the spiritual realm. Faith is a product of your re-created spirit, and faith is released when you speak God’s Word; that’s why success really is an inside job.