Success Blockers
To achieve success, we must overcome fear, doubt, and excuses by deepening our relationship with God and counteracting them with the truth of Scripture.
Charles Stanley emphasizes the importance of overcoming fear, doubt, and excuses that hinder our success as Christians. Fear can lead us to doubt our abilities and God's direction, while past failures and guilt can also contribute to doubt. Excuses, like those made by Adam and Eve, can prevent us from fulfilling God's plans for us. To combat these obstacles, we must rely on the truth of Scripture, remember the power we have received from the Lord, and deepen our relationship with God to better understand and obey His instructions.
Text
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)
While everyone wants to feel like a success, many--if not most of us--do not. It may seem surprising, but a good number of our Christian friends do not believe they are either.
One of the culprits is fear. We may think we lack ability or have insufficient experience to accomplish the task God has given us. As a result, fear has become a dominant emotion. Instead of seeing ourselves as moving forward, we begin to visualize our failure. What do you see for yourself in the future--success or failure?
Another block to success is doubt. It makes us question our thinking, our God-given abilities, and even His direction. If we do not know what the Lord says in His Word, we may find it hard to understand what He is asking of us personally. Doubt may cause us to question whether the direction is from Him or not. Furthermore, past failures and guilt over prior mistakes can create doubt, just as critical comments from others can impede us. Has doubt slipped into your thinking?
Success can be hindered by the excuses we offer for not doing what God has asked. Adam blamed Eve; Eve blamed the serpent. Moses said he was not good at public speaking. What excuses have you been offering lately?
To remove these success blockers, we must: counter our fear with the truth of Scripture; remember we have received a spirit of power from the Lord (2 Timothy 1:7); and invest time in deepening our relationship with God so we will believe His instructions and obey.
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Success Blockers
- Fear as a Blocker
- Doubt as a Blocker
- Excuses as a Blocker
Key Quotes
“What do you see for yourself in the future--success or failure?” — Charles Stanley
“Has doubt slipped into your thinking?” — Charles Stanley
“We must: counter our fear with the truth of Scripture; remember we have received a spirit of power from the Lord (2 Timothy 1:7); and invest time in deepening our relationship with God so we will believe His instructions and obey.” — Charles Stanley
Application Points
- We must be willing to overcome our fears and doubts in order to achieve God's plans for us.
- Excuses can prevent us from taking action and achieving God's plans, so we must be honest with ourselves and take responsibility for our actions.
- Deepening our relationship with God is essential for believing His instructions and obeying Him.