JRM Sison Chapter - Teachings

                                                                           The Ego-centric Success

The best way to explain this kind of success is studying what happened to Paul and Silas in Acts 16:16. They were doing their missionary work in Thyatira when they were met by a damsel, who was possessed by a “spirit of divination”. Note that damsel means a girl or young unmarried woman, originally one of noble birth. This damsel was the source of livelihood to her masters through soothsaying (predicting the future). Verse 17 states that this damsel cried, saying, “These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation”. Was she wrong when she said this? Obviously not; she was proclaiming it correctly but in verse 18, Paul was grieved and commanded the spirit of divination to come out of her. And the spirit came out the same hour. Many questions start to pop out: why, when and how. Why did Paul do it, when she was serving as the advancing committee for them? When did he know that the damsel had that spirit? How did that spirit deceive Paul?

Let us study this spirit that possessed the damsel. The “spirit of divination” comes from the Greek word puthowna that means a Python. She was possessed by the spirit of python. This spirit possesses the qualities of a python; it approaches its victim slowly and carefully; it deceives, it lies and creates an opening that leads its victim to where it wants. Now, this spirit deceived Paul and his group; they thought wrong about her; what they thought was God-given was instead brought by the devil. The spirit of python was presenting them a lie. Just as what the serpent did in the Garden of Eden with Eve; it deceived her into doubting God’s word and thus defying God’s commands and ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The same deception was presented with Paul. From my point of view, that was the reason why he grieved; he never knew it beforehand. The spirit of python was building an “ego-centric success” in Paul’s head. The spirit led them to a certain success that built a certain kind of ego that increased their pride that they were the “servants of the most high God” and that they were to “show the people the way of salvation”.

What then are the symptoms of an “ego-centric success”?
     a.     builds pride instead of humility
     b.     expects praise from men
     c.     neglects the teaching and guidance of God
     d.     starts to love sin

                                                                         The Hallowed Success

Hallowed success means success that is blessed. Although it is not meant to be carried on, it is to show God’s glory and power unto us; that nothing is impossible to Him. It is best to explain this kind of success through our past experiences and testimonies. One testimony is what happened to me in 2002; I had a plan of applying in the municipality of Sison. But they have a requirement that I don’t have; Civil Service Eligibility. Thus, I took a Civil Service Exam and God blessed me. Even though I haven’t reviewed for the exam, God not only allowed me to pass, but He also honored me by topping the exam. Now, the question is, did God blessed me in passing the CSE to apply in the municipality? Obviously not because God called me to become a pastor instead of a government worker.

Another testimony is the success of certain brethren in their success with their business. They earned big, and I mean really big. But where did it lead them? They listened to the Lord and became ministers of God. They left their business and served God. The question again, did God gave them victory in their business and become millionaires in their own way? No, God wanted them to have riches, and honour, and life by living in humility and fear of the Lord. Their lives right now made them almost billionaires. God has blessed them so much that the success of their business before couldn’t be compared to what God is giving them now.

The key to a hallowed success: listen to the voice of the Lord our God.

                                                                                Good Success

Let us study the life of Joshua. Joshua was Moses’ minister. He was not the right hand man of Moses; it was Aaron. He was not the boldest; it was Caleb (Numbers 13:30). But God chose him to lead the people of God to the promise land. (Note: Joshua is the Hebrew name of Jesus) When God spoke to him, God commanded Joshua three things: Arise, Go and Hope.

Arise. In Isaiah 60:1, God wants us to arise, to shine just as Jesus hath said in Matthew 5:16, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Why, because our light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen with us! Another reason; the Gentiles shall come to our light and kings to the brightness of our rising (Isaiah 60:3). Arise means that we must stand with faith in our Lord. But to arise is quite difficult especially in terms of perfection and holiness. That is why God told Joshua to be strong and be courageous three times (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9)! As Christians, we must arise with strength and courage.

Go. Go is an action word that leads to victory. In Genesis 8:16-18, Noah was commanded to go after the victory from the flood. The word go was a command to Noah to be fruitful and to multiply. In Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15; John 15:16, Jesus commanded His disciples to go. And Jesus wanted results; He wanted His disciples to bear fruit; He wanted them to make disciples; He wanted them to make leaders out of the disciples. Go is a command issued also to us; for us to have good results, to bear fruit and to make disciples and leaders.

Hope. In Joshua 1:2-8, God has promised Joshua the same promise He gave to Moses and Abraham; a promise of hope. Note that Israel during that time doesn’t have any nation of their own. Their hope was the promise of God of an inheritance in the promise land, a land flowing with milk and honey, a land that is filled with blessings and promise. But there is one promise of the Lord in Joshua’s life that touched my life (Josh 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success).

                                                                           A Life of Good Success

Brethren, the Lord is communicating with us through the life of Joshua. God wanted us to have a prosperous life and a life of good success. Just as what Jesus confirmed in John 10:10 that He came to give life and life more abundantly! But we must hold on to God’s soothing words, He will be with us whithersoever we goest. Only by being strong and being courageous through living in faith and in God’s words shall we be prosperous and to have good success.

Good Success	Hallowed Success	"Ego-centric Success"
Knows the result	Don't know the result	Wants to know the result
Continued victory	Discontinued victory	Continued victory
Blessed and victorious	Blessed and victorious	Begins to fall
Allows the Holy Spirit to lead and guide	Allows the Holy Spirit to lead and guide	Allows the "spirit of divination" to lure to sin