Hillcrest Chapel

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Hillcrest Chapel
Climbing the Ladder of Lasting Success (Rungs
that are reaching toward the heart of
success) I Peter 55-7
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A Review of the rungs for success in our
society!

• The first appealing message is fortune.
• The second appealing message is fame.
• The third appealing message is power.
• The fourth appealing message is pleasure.

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A Review of the rungs for success in the church!

• In the church, the corollaries to
  societys four rungs/messages might be
• A big budget and building
• Attendance records
• Name recognition (popularity)
• Advancement to greater opportunities
• Summary In and of themselves there is nothing
  wrong with these four, but they dont satisfy,
  if other heart matters are lacking.

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The rungs for reaching the heart of success. I
Peter 55-7

• 5 Young men in the same way be submissive to
  those who are older. All of you clothe yourselves
  with humility toward one another, because, God
  opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
  (See Proverbs 334.) 6 Humble yourselves,
  therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may
  lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your
  anxiety on him because he cares for you.

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The rungs for reaching the heart of success

• The first rung is horizontal humility toward
  spiritual authority and each other--I Peter 55.
  (Not a step up the ladder, but a step down the
  ladder.)
  Young men, in the same way be
  submissive to those who are older. All of you,
  clothe yourselves with humility toward one
  another, because, "God opposes the proud but
  gives grace to the humble. (See Proverbs
  331-35.)

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Rungs for reaching success

• The second rung of success that Peter suggests
  has to do with vertical humility. I Peter
  56--Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's
  mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due
  time. (What does it mean?) Two things
• The first is discipline (see Exod. 320 Job
  3021 Ps. 324)
• The second is deliverance (Deut. 926
  Ezek. 2034)

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Rungs for reaching success

• The second rung of success that Peter suggests
  has to do with vertical humility I Peter
  56--Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's
  mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due
  time. (What does it mean?) Two things
• The first is discipline (see Exod. 320 Job
  3021 Ps. 324).
• The second is deliverance (Deut. 926
  Ezek. 2034).

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The result of vertical humility will be that God
will lift us up in due time--I Pet. 57

• This is the success we are waiting for.
• It may mean we live on a lower rung of the ladder
  until God lifts us up.
• The same thought is seen in many passages of
  Scripture--Phil. 25-9 James 410--Humble
  yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you
  up.
• Example David serves as a good illustration of
  this attitude.

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Rungs for reaching success

• Peter's third rung in our climb to the heart of
  success has to do with interior serenity. I
  Peter 57--Cast all your anxiety on him...
  
  Why should we do this? Where
  does our confidence come from that this casting
  will work? because he cares for you.

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A simple formula that will enable us to handle
stress and anxiety but provide us true, lasting
success

• horizontal humility vertical humility
  interior serenity success

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How will all this be accomplished?

• We need direction so we can know to whom we
  should submit--Ps. 11998-100
• We need discipline to restrain our
  pride--II Tim. 316
• We need discernment so we can spot the beginning
  of anxiety--Ps. 11998-100

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Our Mission Statement

• Hillcrest Chapel is to be a dynamic force of
  people (community of believers),
  filled with the Spirit,
  meeting peoples needs in Jesus
  name (stead)
  --wherever we find
  ourselves.
• How will this be accomplished?