Sometime ago we began to explore the key principles and practical steps that we need to passionately pursue and firmly establish in order to succeed in all aspects of our lives. I stated that true success is designed for the person who prepares to achieve productive results, and learns to trust God for the accomplishment of his or her plans and activities. I also emphasized that he times are really tough, turbulent, and unpredictable. Consequently, we must respond to our challenges accordingly with diligent planning that will enable us to obtain tangible results for our efforts, and attain levels of success that will offer us true prosperity for the future. I concluded by cautioning that if we neglect or refuse to prepare properly and work hard to leave a solid legacy of integrity, fruitfulness, and genuine success for future generations, then our children will be robbed of the necessary tools and hope that will enable them to make progress and become successful. The Keys we have discussed so far are: 1) Be committed to God and to people; 2) Deal with your past; and 3) Be prepared. The article for these keys (published on 21st Dec. 2011) can be retrieved from Myjoyonline website under “Features”. I used the life and journey of the Israelites (led by Joshua) as a classic example to make my points. Let us explore four more keys at this juncture: 4) Key #4 --- Know who you are and what is at stake “The Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: ‘Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise (prepare), go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them --- the children of Israel.” “Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, ‘Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess” (Joshua 1: 1, 2, 10, 11). It is a great tragedy and a recipe for failure, if someone decides to embark on a crucial trip or engage in an important project without having a clear knowledge of what the whole thing entails, what is really at stake, the inherent dangers, and intended plus unintended consequences. That will always happen, I am afraid to say, if the one does not even know who he or she really is in the eyes of God in the first place. That will not enable the person to know how he or she is seen and known by people, and especially what it really means for the one to be the type of person entrusted with handling the task that is at stake. Many people end up as failures in this world, or fail to succeed in important aspects of life, because they do not truly discover themselves as they grow up, which will help them to find out who they genuinely are, in order to have a dream and pursue their vision. Several other people are given the opportunity to receive special blessings, occupy responsible positions, and become entrusted with treasures and responsibilities, but they become shortsighted in their view of themselves in their particular situation. The conceive a low view of themselves, and do not think, talk, act, dress, behave, devote, and conduct themselves in a manner worthy of their state of life. If you are, for example: married; parenting; trusted by your parent or guardian as a faithful and promising child; enrolled in a good institution; regarded as an accomplished singer speaker, or performer in the public arena; occupying a ministerial position within the Christian community; executing a managerial position in an organization; Head of an institution; elected politician; respected medical officer, teacher, lawyer, architect, businessman, farmer, engineer, scientist, or some other professional etc.; then you must sit down, and engage in honest reflections as you examine your life critically. You must come to a point where you recognize who you really are, and the real implications of your position and privileges, and where all the opportunities are leading you in life, whether you are heading towards a fruitful and successful future or not. To discover yourself, you must know your talents and gifts, and find out how, where, and when to use them. Several gifted individuals do not become very effective in the exercise of their gifts, misuse the gift, or later get the gift dormant and rusted, because they do not exercise the gift with the correct knowledge and enlightenment that should accompany the gift and make it fully productive. Joshua knew clearly that Moses his master and mentor, was dead, and Moses had trained him to be his successor to lead the Israelites into Canaan. He knew that he was God’s choice. 5) KEY #5 --- Cross your Jordan “Go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them. And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap. Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan” (Joshua 1: 2 & 3: 13, 17). The River Jordan formed a dividing boundary and a hindrance between Israel and the Promised Land. It was more than an obstacle that stood in their path and hindered their forward movement to possess their inheritance. For the Israelites, the Jordan constituted a landmark and a decisive line whose crossing signified a transition from one land into another, a firm decision to overcome a huge problem and succeed, and an entrance into their final struggles before entering their promised land of rest. The Jordan was the second body of water that stood in their path to victory, and had risen to its highest water level at that time of the year. There were two major rainy seasons every year: the early rains and the latter rains. When the Israelites got to the Jordan, it was the time for the latter spring rains which were heavier, and which caused the Jordan to overflow its banks. I believe that the people of Israel had four major concerns: 1) An over-flooded river that was dangerous to cross. The over-flooded river appeared too scary to cross without drowning, since one could not fully determine the true depth and the strength of the currents. Application: It happens to us too, when we suddenly encounter problems at the peak of their exposure on our road to succeed, for which we have no choice but have to deal with and overcome all obstacles in order to obtain victory. 2) Frightening memories of past similar problems. The troubling memories of frightening moments at the Red Sea, was too fresh in the minds of many of them. In their weak faith that was still struggling to continue trusting God completely, they wondered if they were going to make it safely to the other side again under similar unfavorable conditions. Application: The memories of past failures and mistakes could always haunt us and discourage us from moving ahead to succeed in a second attempt to tackle an issue or undertake a similar or the same project that gave us trying and troublesome moments before. 3) Absence of their trusted leader Moses. Their familiar leader, Moses, was no more. How could they be very sure that this new leader, Joshua, could successfully get them across the Jordan without the tremendous experience Moses had, and the Rod of Moses that God used to work wonders for them? Application: We often become anxious and very doubtful when our conditions, familiar leadership, benefactor, or supporting partner suddenly changes for another unfamiliar one to be in place. We begin to seriously wonder if we would enjoy the same good leadership, support, or provision. 4) Unfamiliar instructions from God and their leader Joshua. The instructions for crossing the Jordan were completely different from the directives God gave them for a successful crossing of the Red Sea. Instead of the stretching of a Rod by the leader for the waters to divide, the Ark of God, carried by the priests, was the object of their focus. Until the priests set foot in the dangerous waters of the Jordan, the river would not divide for them to cross over. No matter how spectacular God was leading them in a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day, they would stand at the west bank of the Jordan and rot if they did not step in the waters first! But, as soon as they obeyed God’s instructions for the priests to step into the water, and submitted themselves to follow the Ark of the Covenant, the waters divided for the whole assembly to walk over on dry land. The Ark represented the divine Presence of God, and the people were to focus on the Ark for their victory and success. Application: We normally become apprehensive or actually worry over any unfamiliar instructions contrary to our expectations for the solution to any unexpected or gigantic problem we meet in our daily routine, or when we venture out to tackle a tough project. Most often we do not understand that we are part of the solution to many of our own problems. Until we step in by faith to play our expected part, we would not see the part that God is expected or has promised to perform. I believe that once the people had seen the great deliverance wrought for them at the Red Sea, the crossing of the Jordan should not have been much of a frightening impediment for God to deal with on their behalf. Although it must have been a matter of concern to them, it was no wonder therefore that there were no cries of despair and wild complaints by the people at the river Jordan like they did at the Red Sea and accused Moses for misleading them into the wilderness to kill the (Exodus 14: 9-12). There are many of us who are able to work with God and leave the “Egypt” of our lives, but meet the Red Seas and hard places of our wilderness and grumble instead of trusting God who promised to give us full deliverance, and then get stuck in the mud and waters at the “Jordan River” of our journey, and end up not inheriting our Canaan. We need a lot of insight to discern God’s leading and God’s ways as we walk closely with Him, and be able to distinguish between obstacles that come into our path only once to teach us a specific lesson, and prevalent hindrances that we encounter for the purpose of preparing us to be tougher to face and go through greater difficulties in the future. 5) KEY #6 --- Overcome your Jericho “Now Joshua the son of Nun sent out two men from Acacia Grove to spy secretly, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho.’ So the two men returned …and they said to Joshua, ‘Truly the Lord has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are faint-hearted because of us.’ Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua: ‘See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. But the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. It shall come to pass, when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, that all the people shall shout with a great shout; then the wall of the city will fall down flat. And the people shall go up every man straight before him. So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city” (Joshua 2: 1 & 6: 1-5, 20). It is interesting how we jubilate and make plans to relax and enjoy after crossing the apparent un-surmountable Jordan standing in our way to obtain our inheritance, only to realize that a more formidable Jericho suddenly pops up to hinder our progress in a more frightening way. In almost all cases as we sincerely follow the Lord, God does not reveal everything involved in His will to us, otherwise we would be overwhelmed, and probably too scared (or apprehensive and sometimes overexcited) to proceed. We might, on the other hand, rush and make terrible mistakes or even not be motivated to start doing anything at all, and could decide to run away from fighting and winning God’s battles for the expansion of his Kingdom. God’s Ways Are Not Always Predictable Just as the plan and method for crossing the Jordan River was not the same as those used to overcome the Red Sea, God’s instructions for conquering Jericho was entirely unique and completely different from all the other problems the Israelites encountered in their pilgrimage to Canaan. At the Red Sea, only the leader (Moses) was instructed to do something --- stretch his rod over the sea for a miracle of the parting of the sea to create a pathway for the people to cross. At the river Jordan the Levitical Priests carrying the Ark of God were instructed to step into the waters by faith, and initiate the parting procedure for the waters to give way, for God to use His power to create a path for the crossing. But at Jericho, the entire army (men of war) was instructed to march around the city once for six days, and do so seven times on the seventh day. Then the priests were instructed to blow their trumpets, accompanied by great shouts by all the people, and consequently the gigantic walls of Jericho fell down flat (Joshua 6: 1-20). The more inexplicable your “Jericho” seems to be, and the more difficulties that your “Jericho” problems pose to your forward march towards success, then the more unfamiliar or strange that your instructions from God for victory are likely to be, in your estimation. Some important facts to learn about Jericho, and their relevance to us: 1) It was the first city and its people to conquer after crossing the Jordan In every war, the first people we need to deal with at the frontlines can be frightening, especially when we have no idea about their strength and tactics. It was the first major encounter of the Israelites with a city and a group of people on the opposite side of the Jordan close to their land of promise, as they journeyed to acquire their inheritance. They needed very clear directions and wisdom from God to handle the people properly. They were more used to handle the lack of amenities like food and water, fighting one or two isolated enemies, and crossing the Red Sea and the Jordan River. Now they had to deal with a large number of human beings who were real impediment in their way. Lesson: We need the same kind of wisdom and very clear directions from the Lord to know how to deal properly and efficiently with other people, especially those that seem to stand in the way to our victory. This is crucial especially when we happen to work only with things (machines, instruments, materials, etc.), hide behind people who do the talking, negotiations, and fighting for us, and we now have to suddenly start working with people directly. It is more challenging when we are not used to the habits, pattern of thinking, and culture of the new people, and need to strive and adapt to their ways of doing things. 2) The first major battle close to Canaan Jericho was the people’s first real battle or war with their enemies after entering the precincts of the territory they would inhabit. They were not faced only with the problem of dealing with new people, but how to also use their weapons to make their way through and advance towards their possession that was within their reach. They needed to fight and win, else they would be stopped from proceeding towards their goal. Lesson: We also need to know how to use our weapons as we get close to victory, and we must get ready to face the enemies in our first major battle after overcoming several obstacles in our way towards the achievement of success. 3) Jericho was too tough to conquer Jericho was so impregnable and extremely formidable to the extent that they needed the supernatural intervention of God to fight on their behalf. Lesson: We need to be very careful how we employ human strength without total reliance on God’s grace and power to fight hard, unexpected battles that spring up during our efforts to obtain success. The more difficult and gigantic the task appears to be, the more humility we need to depend entirely upon God for victory. 4) It was necessary for the Israelites to experience Jericho God did not prevent the Israelites from confronting Jericho because they had had enough troubles on the way already. Jericho was still necessary to train them to know how to depend on God to fight the other greater battles with more enemies in Canaan. Lesson: No matter how much you have struggled in life as a righteous or devoted individual, God will not always spare you any suffering, trials, and obstacles that He considers necessary to train you as His beloved child, and prepare you to fight and win greater future battles and obtain better inheritance. Only God knows the best syllabus for your school of discipleship; and He makes sure that it is always one good lesson at a time. To overcome your Jericho, you would need to: 1) Clearly see the problem that you are faced with. 2) Make a fair assessment of what you would need to fight and win. 3) Seek the face of God and receive clear instructions from Him. 4) Be fully aware of what to do and what not to do. 5) Follow God’s instructions carefully and completely. 6) Use all of your God-given natural and acquired wisdom to wage a courageous war. 7) Know what to do with your victory at Jericho, and how to move towards total success. It is often said that if you want to see what you have never seen before, then you must be ready to do what you have never done before. 8) KEY #7 --- Live by god’s word and fully obey instructions “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure (about 2,833-3,666 feet). Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before. And Joshua said to the people, ‘Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (Joshua 1: 7, 8 & 3: 4, 5). Follow Instructions Carefully In the early part of 2007, a pilot who mistakenly tried to take off on a wrong shorter runway (instead of the correct longer runway for his type of aircraft) on a Sunday morning in the USA, ended up crashing into the nearby woods after an abortive attempt to take off, and killed everyone on board plus himself. The dead included a married couple that had had their wedding the day before and were on their way to their honeymoon! Part of the problem that the air traffic controller, who was supposed to direct and correct the pilot, was not paying attention at his post in the control tower as well. If we are ever going to succeed in anything we set out to accomplish, then we must make a firm decision to obey God’s word, and follow the correct instructions designed for that particular project or course of life. Every pilot needs the correct speed, right altitude, and precise direction in order to fly an airplane from one point to the next destination safely and successfully. Any careless and presumptuous deviation from any of these, including the other minute numerous operations, could end in disaster. How many times have we not brought a machine home to operate, or bought furniture or some equipment that needs to be assembled, but have tried to do so hurriedly by ignoring some of the fine details of the instructions and rather spent a needlessly longer time to make things work? Sometimes we feel too lazy to be bothered with meticulous observance of all the step-by-step instructions, and end up more frustrated because the machine would not work, or the parts of the furniture or instrument would not fit properly. In some instances we even finally mess up and ruin the whole instrument or expensive property. Many people have ruined marriages, families, friendships, expensive machines, businesses, economies of communities and nations, churches and ministries, institutions, organizations, and even people’s lives that way. The Wounds May Heal But The Scars Would Remain – Take Caution! God specifically made the people understand that they were cruising on unfamiliar and un-chartered waters that seriously called for caution and heeding of God’s clear instructions. There are many Believers who have much biblical knowledge and can quote bible verses or even preach and teach God’s word, but fail miserably when it comes to the practical application of what they know, and for them to follow God’s instructions diligently. Success therefore continuously eludes them. The same thing applies to teachers, managers, directors, presidents, parents, pastors, and other leaders as well as students, workers, children, and adults of all walks of life who have been taught what to do and what not to do, and can recite the rules and instructions to others, but never diligently follow the instructions themselves. Indeed, it is sad to see someone with enormous head knowledge of God’s word and a spectacular display of expert instructions for the accomplishment of great goals, but being so proud, foolish, undisciplined, or careless in following the required clear instructions to the end. Such tragic consequences and miserable failures for the final end of notable biblical and historical characters are spread across the nations of the world, and are classic examples of the enormously bitter cost of self-will and disobedience. Even those who succeed in a large measure, end up with indelible disgrace attached to their names, dents on their character, or tarnishing of their reputation in one way or another that trail their lives of success. Usually the wounds of their errors and carelessness do heal, but the scars of their mistakes remain on the walls of history. Adam and Eve, Abraham, King David, King Saul, King Solomon, Samson, and many others had their bad moments in their walk with God by ignoring divine caution. Disobedience Is Costly We all know that disobedience is very costly. We would have to pay especially for the stipulated punishment or the automatic accompanying suffering, plus unintended consequences, which can linger on for years and affect several generations. Refusing or ignoring important instructions, can give us incalculable problems and misery on our way to inherit our promises and possess our treasure. Success could completely elude us, and even if we obtain any success by God’s mercy, it could be partial or tainted success that is mixed with unnecessary pain and regrets. This happened to Israel, and has happened to countless individuals and groups of people in our time as well. We need to learn our lessons, follow instructions very carefully, and live in obedience! “For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord—to whom the Lord swore that He would not show them the land which the Lord had sworn to their fathers that He would give us, ‘a land flowing with milk and honey’” (Joshua 5: 6). TO BE CONTINUED Obtain more detailed information on this topic from Dr. Samuel Kisseadoo’s Book “Ten Keys For Success” from RedLeadBooks.com or Amazon.com. Tune in to JOY 99.7 FM in Accra, Ghana on Saturdays at 5:30 am – 6:00 am (Ghana Time) or US Eastern ST 1:30am – 2:00am March to October, and listen to Dr. Kisseadoo's broadcast "Hope For Your Family". Access anywhere in the world on the Internet using MYJOYONLINE.COM, and click on “Live Radio”. Obtain 8 of Dr. Kisseadoo’s books online from: RedLeadBooks.com or Amazon.com using his name. Contact him in the USA (1-757-7289330) for copies of his 14 books, free counseling and prayer. Visit his website: www.fruitfulministriesint.com for essentials that will enrich your relationships and ministry. Get copies of his books from Challenge Bookstore & other bookstores in Ghana, or call 233-20-8209567 or 233-276-322982 in Accra or 233-275-353802 in Kumasi for message CD’s, books, free counseling, prayer, and seminars. Use DrSamuel Kisseadoo to access his Wall on Facebook. Copyright March 2012. Rev. Dr. Samuel A. Kisseadoo (Professor of Biology, USA. International Evangelist. Ordained & Licensed Minister. Teacher, Author, Prayer Minister, Conference Speaker). Founder and President, Fruitful Ministries International Inc. (Evangelistic & Teaching Ministry). 6 Red Robin Turn, Hampton, Virginia 23669, USA. Tel.1-757-728933 E-mail: kisseadoo@msn.com