The Pathway to Success: Part 1: Kingdom Keys for Succeeding in Life; Part 2: Principles for Success

By Pastor S. O. Nnadikwe

The book is divided into two parts with an introduction. Part 1 has four chapters, and part 2 has three chapters. Part 1 is kingdom keys for succeeding in life, and part 2 is principles for success. The book has seven chapters in whole.
The book is all about succeeding in life, and there are pathways you must follow to get there. Apparently, success is not a destination but a movement upward from one level to the next level. Success can become a failure when you dont continue moving forward. Success of yesterday can become failures of today, if there is no further progress.
Through this book, you will understand that failure is a confession, as success is. So when you say it is impossible, you become a failure indeed. Even God cannot help you until you change your confession.
Failure is the beginning of success because it tells you to try it again. And in doing it again, you win.
Through this book, you will also learn how to invest in Gods kingdom, obey his word, and manage your life and time in others to get to your wealthy place. There is a wealthy place God has prepared for you, and he wants you to get there.
The pathway to success is summed up in the following:
Dont lose the sight of God. You will learn that if you loss the sight of God, you will lose sight of greatness. King Uzziah lost sight of God as well as Apostle Judas Iscariot. Both never became great.
Succeeding through the force of labor. You will understand that your wealth, success, or prosperity is traceable to your assignment or Gods purpose you are carrying out. There is no entitlement in title bearing. It is the work you do that bears the title and brings about your wealth.
Invest in the kingdom of God. Here in this chapter, you will learn how to serve God properly. You will also know that if you dont service your purpose, your purpose will become purposeless. Kingdom investment is what brings life increment. Whatever that is saved in Gods hands is secured and generates wealth. There is a bank of heaven and given is the channel through which you store up treasures in the bank and righteousness is the medium through which you activate it for withdrawal, and through the name of Jesus withdrawal is made possible. Patience is a divine factor that stabilizes your faith for effective performance in any given areas of life.
Obedience is one of the spiritual tests for succeeding in life. You will get to understand that when you obey Gods Word, natural and even spiritual things will obey you. Application is the scientific way of getting answers to any equations of scientific nature, and so it is in the kingdom of God.
Manage your life. You will know that God created you to be a leader and a manager. Management is the key to enthronement. You will manage your life through planning, organizing, directing, and controlling.
Manage your time wisely. You will get to understand that time is the currency of life and the key to fulfillment. Time management is the proper use of time to achieve all your goals and prioritizing them according to importance. Time management will help you prioritize, know your objective, plan very well, and then schedule your task. Discipline helps to maintain sanity and prepares one for future glory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9781973629627

Pastor S. O. Nnadikwe

Pastor S. O. Nnadikwe is the president of The SON Ministries International and serves in Christ Royal Assembly, London. A prolific writer, an Author and a teacher of the word of God. Preaches and teaches in conferences, conventions and crusade internationally. Commissioned to preach the Word of Liberty, that Gods people might be liberated from satanic oppressions. Pastor S. O. is blessed with three children-Emmanuel, Eliana and Elisha and currently we all live in the UK.

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Copyright © 2018 Pastor S. O. Nnadikwe.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-2961-0 (sc)

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WestBow Press rev. date:  06/26/2018

CONTENTS

Introduction

PART ONE

KINGDOM KEYS FOR SUCCESS

Chapter 1   Do Not Lose Sight Of God

Chapter 2   Succeeding Through The Force Of Labour

Chapter 3   Kingdom Investment

Chapter 4   Obedience

PART TWO

PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS

Chapter 5   Managing Your Life

Chapter 6   How To Manage Your Life

Chapter 7   Make Use Of Your Time Wisely

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

FIRSTLY, I ACKNOWLEDGE THE Almighty God and His Spirit for giving me the inspiration to write this book and also helping me financially to publish it.

Secondly, I will not fail to thank my Spiritual fathers and mentors who through their teachings and books have shaped my life and also prepared me for what I am today. Fathers like Pastor E.A Adeboye; Bishop David Oyedepo; Dr Mensah Otabil; Dr Mylse Monroe; Dr Mike Murdoch; Bishop T.D Jakes; Dr K.C Price and the rest of them.

Special thanks to Dr S.U Imoh, my spiritual mother, who initially laid the foundation of what I am today, as I served under her for eight years. The things I learned from her are the key foundation on which my life is built on today. I can never forget that experience. Special thanks to Dr T.M Masade who recognised the gift and calling of God in my life and gave me the opportunity to use them as I served in his church. Many thanks to Dr P.U Okonji and Pastor Charles Richman, my colleagues in ministry, for their many contributions to make me what I am today.

DEDICATION

THE PATHWAY TO SUCCESS is dedicated to the Almighty God, who through His Spirit has inspired and enabled me to write this book for the benefit of all those who are questing for breakthroughs in business, striving for success and finding solutions to life’s daring problems.

May His Name be glorified for ever more.

INTRODUCTION

FOR YOU KNOW THE grace of our lord Jesus Christ, that, though HE WAS RICH, yet for your sake, he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9

"He was rich", meaning that He owns everything, including life. He created all things and all things were created for His purpose alone (Colossians 1:16, paraphrased). So, that He became poor is an understatement. What you should ask yourself is, how can someone who owns all things be poor? It is just like a father giving out his property, possessions or wealth to his children to inherit, it does not make him become poor afterwards.

A good example is the father of the prodigal son.

And He said, a certain man had two sons:

And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

Luke 15:11&12

One could have said that the father became poor after dividing his living to his children, but the bible didn’t say that the father became poor, lacked anything or was in want or need afterwards. This became evident when the prodigal son came back to his senses. Notice what he said concerning his father’s house in verse 17: How many hired servant of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger. The servants have more than enough to eat, much more than the true sons of the father. Now, that does not suggest someone who became broke when he gave out his portions to his children, because he still had enough to spare. Also, notice that when the son finally returned back home, the father celebrated his return in a lavish way.

That is what abundance is all about. It means more than enough to spare; that is having much to give, share and distribute to others around you and still have more at your disposal. It also means beyond limit or more in large quantity, as defined by the Oxford Advanced Dictionary.

The bible says in verse 22 & 23:

But the father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry.

If he was indeed broke after giving his children his portions, he would not have been able to organise such a huge banquet for his son, who was returning from a wasted life. Giving out his portions did not reduce him at all, but rather he had more than enough to celebrate his son’s return in an extravagant way and change his garments with expensive ones.

So, the bible never made a mistake by using the words that Jesus became poor, but was only explaining that He relinquished everything that He had, so that we can partake of all that He had. Relinquishing his riches did not reduce, restrict, limit or exhaust him. In other words, He emptied himself - all that He is and all that He had - so that we can have all of Him to the fullest. Remember, He owns all things.

The bible declares:

The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Psalm 24:1

For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof.

Psalm 50:10-12

The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the Lord of hosts.

Haggai 2:8

So, you can see that God cannot be exhausted, no matter what we ask of Him; He is inexhaustible. He has more than enough to satisfy all our needs because all things are His and He owns them all. As a matter of truth, He knows all your needs and has already made provisions for them before you even ask Him, so that nothing takes Him unaware or by surprise.

The bible says:

For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your father KNOWETH that ye have need of these things.

Luke 12:30

He knows that you need all these things in life, which is why Jesus said in verse 32 for it is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom, but only if you will make Him your priority, as described in verse 31. So, it is not a question of Him intending to or trying to provide for our needs, as if He does not have them, but a question of us setting our priorities aright, so that we can draw in abundance from His wealth. Hallelujah!

Which is why, the bible says:

Now unto Him that is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY above all that we or , according to the power that worketh in us.

Ephesians 3:20

Paul lost words. I mean he was looking for the right words to describe the weight, extent beyond limit to which God can perform, bless and provide for His children, that is why he used those combinations of words exceeding abundantly above to explain how God’s providence is inexhaustible and immeasurable. God can do above all you ask or think, both in size and in nature, but to the degree of the POWER at work or functioning in you. What He does or performs can only respond in direct proportion to the POWER at work or functioning in you and not to the medium of asking or thinking. All you need to do is to crave for His power, have faith in God and trust Him completely, and you will see wonders and miracles in your life. Asking or thinking is just the medium, but it is the power that draws the answers and then releases the blessing in that capacity.

Look at the way the Amplified renders it:

Now to Him who by (in consequence of) the (action of His) power that is AT WORK WITHIN US is ABLE to [carry out His purpose] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hope, or dreams].

So, if the power at work in you is limited or not functioning at all, it will draw little or no result at all from God, which is why so many Christian believers keep wondering why they are praying and not getting answers or results. It may be that the power in them is dormant and as such it cannot draw the answers desired. It is just like having money in your bank account and not having any power; such power like not having a withdrawal slip, ATM card or cheque book to withdraw it. To what effect will it bring you if you have the power and it does not draw answers from God? None!

You may have the power and the power is not working for you, because you have not activated it for use, that is why Paul said stir up the gift of God, which is in you (2 Timothy 1:6). It is in you but you have to STIR — the word stir actually means to activate or to put into use. It’s just like buying a SIM card and slotting it into your phone; no matter how smart that phone is and how much power the SIM card possesses, it cannot work until it is activated. So, remember that what you don’t use becomes useless and ineffective.

Remember what the angel told Jacob after the wrestling contest:

And he said, thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou POWER with God and with men, and hast PREVAILED.

Genesis 32:28

So in God’s kingdom we prevail by power and not by wishing; you must understand that and crave for it earnestly from the depth of your heart. You don’t wish your way into your destiny, you power your way into your destiny, for scripture says But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you (Acts 1:8). It is a kingdom of power as much as it is a kingdom of abundance, a kingdom where there is no lack and no scarcity; it is a wealthy kingdom, which meets the needs of her citizens. There is nothing like poverty in that kingdom either. Therefore, no one born in God’s kingdom should embrace such a lifestyle of poverty here on earth to represent the simplicity of the gospel of Christ in terms of holiness — that is what some folks in the body of Christ have reduced this kingdom to.

There is a champion in you waiting to be announced to your generation. Your dreams are about to be born, and your presence is about to be announced to this generation in the name of Jesus Christ. I want you to take hold of every kingdom key written in this book and make use of them in your everyday life and business activities, and success will be your testimony.

PART ONE

Kingdom Keys For Success

Everyone that followed the Lord whole heartedly where made champions in life.

CHAPTER ONE

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Do Not Lose Sight Of God

ONE VITAL KINGDOM KEY to success and prosperity in this kingdom is to never lose sight of God. Losing sight of God means not considering God as important in the pursuit of your affairs. It means pursuing other things in life at the expense of God. It also means taking other things of life first, before God — some in this earthly kingdom don’t even believe in God, and yet the scripture says in Psalm 53:1 The fool has said in his heart, there is no God (NKJV). It also means to be disconnected completely from God — that is you don’t have any existence of God in your life. When you seek God first, other things in life will seek you out. That is what the scripture says.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:34

Look at the Amplified version:

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

So the other things of life are just an addition to you seeking after God. They are not the most important, but unfortunately a lot of folks, even in the body of Christ today, have made these other things major. They pursue the things of life first with tenacity, ignoring the one who is able to make them prosperous and successful. Don’t you know that the making of a man or champion is traceable to their following of God?

Everyone that followed the Lord wholeheartedly were made champions in life. "Come ‘FOLLOW ME’ Jesus said and l will make you fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19, Paraphrased). He is able to make champions out of you. He has the power to command those blessings to follow you all the days of your life.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO SEEK GOD

To seek God means to deny yourself first priority and PURSUE his will, his word and Kingdom. It does not mean that you will no longer labor, have a family or go about your daily affairs, but it does mean that in all your activities, He will take the preeminence; the first place in your life. In other words, God and His kingdom will be the first priority in your life. Just as the Amplified version puts it: aim at and strive after His things first, not yours. This is not always easy, but that’s what it is.

The Bible says:

Seek ye the lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.

Isaiah 55:6

And in Proverbs:

I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me.

Proverbs 8:7.

A heart full of pride, seeks after his own will, depends on his own strength and effort, and wants to be seen and recognized first. It is all about me, me, and me. Pride takes all the glory exclusively, and does not care about the feelings of other people.

LUCIFER

Pride was the major reason why Lucifer, now Satan, lost his place in God’s kingdom.

Isaiah declares:

How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth you once laid low the nation.

You said in your heart I will ascend to heaven: I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assemble on the utmost height of the sacred mountain.

I will ascend above the tops of the clouds: I will make myself like the most high.

But you are brought down to the grave, to the depth of the pit.

Isaiah 14:12-15

What a glorious position this angel occupied that he was even named morning star, a title given to Jesus Christ also. That was not enough; he wanted to be like and above God his creator. He lost his sight of God to pride, and what was the result of his action? He was brought down. Look at the characteristics of pride from the scriptures quoted above — I, I and I. The moment you become proud in your heart, destruction is inevitable.

The Bible says:

Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

There must be the existence of pride before destruction comes and that has to be dealt with before success can be achieved. Nations, families and people get destroyed because of pride. What pride does is to make you lose sight of God and concentrate on yourself to the point of denying the fact that whatever achievement or level you are today was reached with God’s help. Remember the children of Israel’s exodus movement.

Their coming out of Egypt was a great success, a huge one indeed, considering God’s hand and the wonders He performed before they left. Shortly after they came out of Egypt, Moses was upon the mountain with God, while down below the people became impatient with his absence and lost focus on the God that saved them out of Egypt.

They thought that both God and Moses were gone, nowhere to be found. They were so focused on their provision and security that they lost the sight of God, and compelled the inconsistent Aaron to build them a god that would lead them all the way to the Promised Land. What was the repercussion of this behaviour? Three thousand people died on the spot. Pride is a stronghold, it holds its victims captive. That is why you have to fight to gain victory over it.

THE RICH MAN

Consider this parable in Luke:

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully;

And he thought within himself saying, what shall l do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruit?

And he said, this will l do: I will pull down my barns and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

And I will say to my soul, soul thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thin ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

Luke 12:16-19

The rich man in all his achievement never considered God as his first priority; neither did he consider the poor, less privileged or the widows. He was the only focus for his venture. He was selfish and took the glory for himself. His success became his idol. That is what pride does. It breeds self, self-centeredness, selfishness, self-interest and so on. It idolizes anything that is of gain. There is nothing that kills so fast than idolizing something. Whatever you idolize; success, wealth or achievement; husband, wife or children; education, career or great possessions will eventually become a snare to you.

What was the end for the rich man?

But God said unto him thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou have provided?

Luke 12:20

The rich man traded his life for pride and he never enjoyed the things he acquired. Pride withholds and never does it share or distribute to anyone selflessly, and when it does share or distribute it takes the glory, seeking to make gain out of its gift. Pride shortcuts people’s destiny and makes them fail to reach their goal or be fulfilled in life.

KING UZZIAH

Look at Uzziah who took the throne and became the next king of Israel after the death of his father. The bible said of him:

He did what was right in the eyes of the lord just as his father Amaziah has done.

He SOUGHT God during the days of Zechariah who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he SOUGHT the Lord, God gave him SUCCESS.

2 Chronicles 26:4&5.

Understand that success, prosperity or wealth in life is traceable to you seeking after God. True wealth and riches cannot be void of God. When you remove God from the equation, your success becomes useless and a snare to you. God gave King Uzziah success beyond his wildest imagination; because he SOUGHT Him. God became all that consumed his heart. He became what mattered to the King.

It was on this platform that King Uzziah became successful and very powerful, to the extent that the countries surrounding Israel paid tribute to him. But his success didn’t last. He thought that it was by his power he got it all and soon forgot were the source of his success was coming from. He celebrated his success more than the God that put him there. Success and wealth became his idols and engendered pride. He removed God totally from the equation of his success and wealth.

And the bible said:

But, after Uzziah became powerful. His pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

2 Chronicles 26:16

What led to his downfall? Pride. And how did he end up?

King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died he lived in a separate house — leprous and excluded from the temple of the Lord. Jonathan his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

2 Chronicles 26:21

What a pathetic way of ending one’s life. Before his wealth, he was the King that was looking for God everywhere. He was a humble king who could not make decisions without God. He couldn’t rule or execute anything without God, until his success came and become an idol in his life. Pride removes God from the equation and puts you in the centre of affairs. May you never end your journey in the way of King Uzziah in Jesus’ name! Many lives, dreams, families, businesses and careers have gone down the drain because of pride. Don’t you know that God resist the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6 Paraphrased).

The NIV (New International Version) renders resist as oppose. These words, resist and oppose, are battle words and are used forcefully to stop or put something to an end. So, it therefore means from a scriptural point of view that God can oppose and stand at the door to fight a prideful heart until he fails or puts to an end whatever he embarks on. If the devil is fighting you, you are sure of victory in Jesus’ name, but if it is God that is fighting you, how do you win? That is what happened to Uzziah. God fought him until he died of leprosy. No matter the achievement, succeeding or not, do not lose sight of God by becoming prideful in heart, because the consequences are too costly to pay. Whatever may make you lose sight of God, may it be terminated from your life today in Jesus’ name!

JUDAS ISCARIOT

Judas Iscariot, one of the apostles of Jesus Christ, went out with his company, preached about the kingdom, healed the sick, performed miracles and cast out demons, but lost his place in the kingdom because he lost sight of God.

The scriptures say:

Then one of the twelve called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,

And said unto them, what will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Matthew 26:14-16

He no longer sought after God, but rather quick riches, and decided to betray Jesus who called him into apostleship. The bible say’s then Satan entered Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of twelve (Luke 22:3). Just as the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of God, so is pride the spirit of Satan, the devil. Whatever Satan does, it is for his interest and purpose, and at the expense of God. So, when Satan entered Judas, he began to seek his own interest, at the expense of the death of Jesus Christ and irrespective of the cost. Even when Mary poured the costly ointment at the feet of Christ, Judas Iscariot complained that the oil should have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor.

The scriptures say:

He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief as a keeper of the money, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

John 12:6

Remember that Satan is the author of pride. So, when Satan entered Judas Iscariot, pride, the spirit of Satan, also entered him and he became arrogant and lost focus. He was no longer interested in the mission God chose him for; rather, he went about seeking an opportunity to make profit out of Jesus. He must have thought to himself that if I sell my master, I’m sure he will disappear or they wouldn’t catch him like other times. But he got