Lesson 26: Defining Success

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

The secret for successful Christian living is not a secret but a truth -- a truth you can learn to embrace in your own relationship with Jesus Christ. The “secret” is this: “Christ lives in me.” As we permit Him to do so, He will live His life through us and overcome the world through us!

Not one of us can count on the joy we experienced when we accepted Jesus as being a constant in our life from that moment forward. We loved Jesus so much in those first few weeks and months and maybe even for a few years – but then it seems like “life” begins to take our interest and passion for Jesus, and we lose that “first love” to other things.

How do we define success in our Christian life? In the last lesson we learned about making good decisions, but when our life becomes a tangle of bad job, not enough money, broken relationships, despair, and too many questions and prayers that go “unanswered” – how do we define success? There are plenty of lies from hell that tell us if we were really Christians, or if we had enough faith, or if we send someone money then Jesus promises to give us everything we want. They are exactly that – lies from hell to discourage us.

A good life here on earth is not success – Jesus was murdered; all of His disciples but one were tortured to death; millions of Christians since then have died; and many Christians live in poverty. Jesus said in John 16:33 that in this world we would have trouble.


Then what is success in a Christian life? Galatians 2:20 gives us a great answer: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Success is becoming:
The ambassador for Christ to those who have never heard.
The prayer warrior for His kingdom.
The witness to tell others of His love and offer of forgiveness.
The helper to others in need.
The servant to the body of Christ.
The teacher of Truth to those who want to learn.
The encourager who stands alongside another while they battle with the dark forces of evil in their lives.
The mercy-giver to someone who believes they are beyond redemption.

None of these things can be done in our own strength or wisdom; but He, living in us, can do all these things through us who give ourselves to Him as willing servants.

Yes, trouble will come to us. It may even mean that some of us will give our lives for what we believe. How can that be success? It is a proven fact through history that more people believe because of the testimony of a martyr than through the preached word of most pastors. The world cannot understand joy and peace in the face of death. They cry for peace and security and find it only in the face of someone who dies for Jesus. This makes no sense to them, and therefore is a powerful call to discover this for themselves. Jesus says we should not fear the one who can merely kill our earthly body, for that act immediately results in the believer being with Jesus for eternity (Matthew 10:28).

Memorize: John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”