Secrets To A Successful Life - PDF

Own Your Opportunity Open the Door

Acts 12:5-18 (NIV) 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision.

 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.

11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” 12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door.

14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” 15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”

16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place. 18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.

1. You open a door when you pray it open.

2. You open a door when you take your next step.

3. You open a door when you invest and invite.

Proverbs 19:3 People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord. (NLT)

Philippians 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

Luke 12:31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. (NIV)

Malachi 3:10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! (NLT)

2 Kings 4:1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” (NIV)

3 Mindset Shifts You Have To Make To Own Your Finances 

1. Own the overwhelmed mindset

2. Own the poverty mindset 

2 Kings 4:2  Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” (NIV)

3. Own the “This is too much work” mindset

2 Kings 4:3–7 3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” (NIV)

Work The Biblical Plan 1. Track your income and your spending 2. Save $1,000 in an emergency fund 3. Pay off your consumer debt from smallest to largest 4. Save 3 to 6 months in an emergency fund 5. Start tithing now 6. Live with margin

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (NIV)

ACKNOWLEDGE THE PAIN

Romans 8:28  And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (NLT)

Jeremiah 6:14 You can’t heal a wound by saying it’s not there! (TLB)

SHED THE SHAME

2 Corinthians‬ 12‬:9‬ My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (NIV)

PSALMS 34:4-5 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. 5Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy: no shadow of shame will darken their faces. (NLT)

BREAK THE CYCLE

ROMANS 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (NLT)

1 CORINTHIANS 6:12 I have the right to do anything,' you say--but not everything is beneficial. 'I have the right to do anything'--but I will not be mastered by anything. (NIV)

DO THE WORK

ROMANS 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (ESV)

GENESIS 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. (NLT)

Own Your Mistakes

1. Own admitting your mistakes 

Luke 15:18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. (NIV)

2. Own knowing where you are and how you got there

Luke 15:17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! (NIV)

3. Own seeing how your life can be different 

4. Own taking the steps to change your life

Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. (NIV)

Proverbs 24:16 The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked. (NLT)

5. Own receiving the grace and forgiveness of God

Luke 15:20-23 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate (NIV)

Luke 15:28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. (NIV)

Luke 15:30  But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ (NIV)

People's Church of OKC is a multi-cultural church designed with you in mind. Senior Pastor, Herbert Cooper.

1 Kings 19:1-4 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beershebain Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” (NIV)

6 Habits To Owning Your Health

1. Own recognizing the warning signs of being emotionally unhealthy

2. Own evaluating how you got where you are 3. Own listening to spiritual guidance  1 Kings 19:7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” (NIV)  4. Own doing the practical things

1 Kings 19:5-7 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” (NIV)

5. Own pursuing the presence of God 1 Kings 19:9-13 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (NIV) 6. Own pursuing God’s purpose for your life

1 Kings 19:15-16 The LORD said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. (NIV) Philippians 2:12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (NASB)

Own Your Relationships

Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (NIV)

3 Things That Keep You From Owning The Building and Maintaining Of Your Relationships

1. Pain

2. Problems

3. People
 4 Lessons You Learn From Ruth On How To Own Your Friendships

1. Press through pain

Ruth 1:8–10 Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. 9 May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.” Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud 10 and said to her, “We will go back with you to your people.” (NIV)

2. Be committed

Ruth 1:11–18 But Naomi said, “Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons - 13 Would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!” 114 At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her. “15 Look,” said Naomi, “your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.” 16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.” 18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. (NIV) 

Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (NIV)

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)

3. Have realistic expectations

4. God’s plan for your life is connected to people

Own your Relationship with God

Philippians 2:12–13 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (NIV)

6 Ways To Own Your Relationship With God

1. You have to own your sin

Psalms 51:3-4 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. (NIV)

Psalms 51:9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. (NIV)

Psalms 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. (NIV)

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)

2. You have to own repenting before God

Psalms 51:2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. (NIV)

Psalms 51:7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (NIV)

3. You have to own prayer

4. You have to own your desperation for the presence of God

Psalms 51:11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. (NIV)

5. You have to own worshiping God

Psalms 51:14-15 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness 15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. (NIV)

Psalm 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (NKJV)

6. You have to own your spiritual growth

Psalms 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (NIV)

Psalms 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (NIV)

For One Year Run The Spiritual Play 1. Faithfully pray and read God’s word 2. Worship in God’s house faithfully 3. Give your life away by serving others faithfully 4. Grow closer to God and others by attending a small group faithfully

Psalms 51:13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways so that sinners will turn back to you. (NIV)

Own It: I Will Own My Life

Genesis 3:11–13 “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (NIV) 

Matthew 11:12 from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. (NKJV)

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV)

Philippians 2:12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; (NASB)

3 Common Excuses That Will Keep From Owning it

1. Complaining 

Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, (NLT)

2. Arguing  

Philippians 2:14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, (NLT)

3. Blaming 

Philippians 2:15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”  Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky (NIV)

Mark 9:28-29 - 28 After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” 29 He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” NIV

Top 10 Reasons to make prayer a priority in 2024

1. It’s the basis of our relationship with God.

Romans 10:9-10, 13 - 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved…13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” NIV

2. It brings forgiveness of sin.

1 John 1:9 - 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.  NLT

3. It helps you discern God’s will.

Acts 13:2 - While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." NIV

4. It strengthens you.

Psalm 105:4 - Look to the Lord and His strength, seek His face always. NIV

5. It gives you peace.

Psalm 34:4-5 - I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; NLT

Philippians 4:6-7 - 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. NIV

6. It gives you victory over temptation.

Matthew 26:41 - Jesus told his disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” NIV

7. Makes you wiser.

James 1:5 - 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. NIV

8. Brings God’s healing.

James 5:13-15 - 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. NIV

9. It brings spiritual Intervention

Daniel 9:23 - 23 As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you NIV

10. God rewards those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 - 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. NIV

Why don’t we prioritize prayer?

1. We don’t know what to say.

2. We don’t think God will answer.

3. We get busy.

1 Thess. 5:17 - Pray continually.