Grosey's Messages

The Secret of Success by Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey Clarence Darrow, a famous attorney who happened to be an atheist or agnostic, had an intriguing conversation with a minister. As he reflected on his law career, he admitted, “This has been an exciting life.” He felt he had been somewhat of a success. Darrow asked, “Would you like to know my favorite Bible verse?” The minister said, “Indeed I would.” Darrow said, “Luke 5:5, ‘We have toiled all night and have taken nothing.’” He added, “In spite of my success, that verse seems to sum up the way I feel about life.” It is interesting to note that Darrow was so close to discovering the secret of success, in fact, it was hidden in plain view in the passage he cited. Notice three steps in this success story. First, there is a confession of failure to the Lord. Luke 5:5a reads, “But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing. . .’” Second, there is an expression of faith in the Lord. Luke 5:5b reads, “. . .nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” Previously Jesus commanded him, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” (Luke 5:4). Third, there is the possession of favor from the Lord. Luke 5:6-7 reads, “And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.” This time their efforts were crowned with success! Dr. Enoch Mellor explains the lesson, “We can do worse than fail — we can succeed and be proud of our success, and burn incense to our net, and despise those who fail, and forget the Hand whose it is to give or to withhold.” Luke 5:8-11 reads, “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’ For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.’ So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.” Dr. Henrietta Mears shares the following in Dream Big: The Henrietta Mears Story: “Will is the whole man active. I cannot give up my will; I must exercise it. I must will to obey. When God gives a command or a vision of truth, it is never a question of what He will do, but what we will do. To be successful in God's work is to fall in line with His will and to do it His way. All that is pleasing to Him is a success.” Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, Author of Don’t Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah and Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice [Both available on Logos and Amazon] July 4, 2022 © All Rights Reserved

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