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Making plans and inviting God to bless it is transgression and Idolatry
... Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? Ezekiel 14:3
PART 1: CHRIST, THE REVEALER OF SUCCESS
There are many teachers, prophets, and leaders in the Bible. We read about them every day. But among them all, there is one who stands out—the Son of the Living God. He is the fullness of the Law, the revelation of God’s will, and the perfect expression of the Father.
Colossians 2:9–10 – “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him…”
There is no other way through which man can receive or reach God than Christ Himself. Yet today, many of us have adopted organized religious Christianity as the standard and yardstick for serving God. But what we often fail to see is that organized religious Christianity is a counterfeit to the Body of Christ.
If we sit in front of the mirror of the Word without bias, with a sincere heart to know the truth (John 8:32), we will see that even as God’s elect, much of what we are doing contradicts the teachings and ways of Christ.
PART 2: THE PRINCIPLE OF SERVANTHOOD
We talk about success today, and the common assumption is that power, authority, and control make a person great. But in Christ’s Kingdom, greatness is defined differently.
Matthew 20:26–28 – “Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant…”
The greatest among us is the servant.
Ask yourself honestly: Are you serving others selflessly, or are you playing the “boss,” intentionally or unintentionally?
PART 3: FAITHFULNESS IN LITTLE
Success in God’s Kingdom begins with faithfulness in the small things:
Luke 16:10–12 – “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?”
Be faithful in little, and God will entrust you with greater responsibilities.
The principle: If you are not faithful in another man’s house or initiative, you will not be given your own.
God gives the keys of the Kingdom, and He alone blesses what will help you succeed. Conferences, books, programs—these cannot replace obedience to Christ.
Luke 12:42–44 – The faithful and wise steward who serves others well will receive greater responsibility.
PART 4: EXPECTATIONS, PLANS, AND GOD’S TIMING
James 4:13–15 – “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go to such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain; Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life?… For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
Many of us plant expectations that are not from God, thinking we can plan everything ourselves.
Good intentions are not enough—if it is not from God, it will not prosper, no matter how right it seems.
Following the Spirit is the only way to align with God’s timing.
John 3:8 – “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”
God’s work unfolds according to His Spirit, not human schedules.
Revelation and teaching from God are pre-information, not instructions to begin working out in your own timing.
Misaligned expectations cause stress, distress, and emotional trauma when they do not come to pass
PART 5: AVOIDING IDOLS IN OUR HEARTS
Making our own plans and expecting God to put an aim into them is equivalent to having idols in our hearts.
Ezekiel 14:1–3 – “Certain elders came to inquire of me, and sat before me, but they had idols in their hearts…”
Many of us in organized Christianity are doing the same: asking God “Why?” and “When?” while still holding our own man-made plans.
You cannot seek the face of God with your own agenda in hand.
Ask yourself: if you have already mapped out your strategies, how do you want God to work with you?
John 15:16 – “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
God chooses and ordains your assignment. Your role is to obey and bear fruit, not dictate how or when His will must happen.
PART 6: AVOIDING COUNTERFEIT SUCCESS
Many of us fall into the trap of external appearances of success—big conferences, recognition, positions of influence—while neglecting those we are called to serve directly.
Jesus warned that those who bypass His Word or Christ’s principles are nothing but thieves and impostors.
Failure to serve faithfully brings stripes—discipline from God—not always from Satan.
Many are experiencing these “beatings” in struggles, delays, and unmet desires.
PART 7: THE FORMULA OF SUCCESS
From the teaching of Christ, the formula of God’s success is simple yet profound:
1. Follow Christ Alone – He is the fullness of the Law and the perfect expression of God.
2. Serve Others Selflessly – The greatest in God’s Kingdom is the servant.
3. Be Faithful in the Little – Do all entrusted to you diligently, as unto the Lord.
4. Avoid Counterfeits – Do not chase man-made success, conferences, or worldly systems as your source.
5. Trust God’s Spirit and Timing – Do not impose your plans; follow His revelation and guidance.
6. Remove Idols from Your Heart – Let God ordain your assignment; do not cling to your own strategies.
SUMMARY CHARGE
There is no shortcut to God’s success. To drink from the “wine of religion” without acting on what God assigns you to do is vanity. True success comes when you:
Serve faithfully, even in small matters.
Honour the Word and principles revealed through Christ.
Trust God’s timing and guidance, rather than imposing your own expectations.
Remove all idols—man-made plans and strategies—from your heart.
Recognize that blessings, increase, and authority are entrusted only by God.
Do not envy, do not bypass, do not cheat the process. Serve, obey, and align with Christ, for this is God’s formula for success.
Dr. Priscilla Otuya
Catalyst Champion
People's Bishop
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