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Success At Your Command
Copyright © July 2016 by: Chinedum Azuh
ISBN: 978-1-365-28340-6
All rights reserved.
Published in Nigeria by The Learning Lab
No portion of this book may be used without the written permission of the Copyright owner, with the exception of brief excerpts in magazines, articles, reviews, etc.
Contact the author on
Mobile: +2348032069925
www.chinedumazuh.com
All scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible, except otherwise stated.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I want to appreciate the churches and ministries across Africa, where I have been privileged to share the principles contained in this book.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1 Buy the future…………………
2 You are designed to shine…...
3 Go for the best………………..
4 Success is in the heart………..
5 That curse is not mine…………
6 Break the limits…………………
7 Success at your command……
INTRODUCTION
Success is not a gift, but a choice. While it is the birthright of every child of God, the individual’s actions will determine his destination.
Success is God’s nature. If you are formed in His image, you cannot afford to be a failure on earth.
Ask yourself – What would you want if you could command the earth to release it into your hands? What would you love to do if you have enormous power to eliminate every obstruction? What level of fame and fortune would you attain if you discover that all the forces of the universe are at your beck and call?
At last, you are presented with a divine blueprint for guaranteed success in this exciting book titled Success at Your Command. No more will you be counted among the paupers in this world.
You can now read this amazing guide and begin to realize that success is truly at your command.
CHAPTER 1
BUY THE FUTURE
In the parable of the steward (Luke 16:1-13), the steward said, “What must I do”? My master is about to throw me out of the job. He quickly began to make plans for his future. Use today to create your desired future. What you are enjoying now or what you are suffering today is as a result of what you did yesterday. Today is the child of yesterday and today is the mother of tomorrow, the future is the womb of today. Your present opportunities, your present contacts and connections will determine what you will be tomorrow.
The servant in the bible said, “I am about to loose my job what do I do”? The same is applicable to you. The season you are in will not last forever. To have a better future, you need to maximize today.
Creating A Glorious Future
Have you ever asked yourself what if the company I am working for is no longer in existence, have you ever asked yourself what if there is no need for my current business?
Until you ask yourself this important question, your future is not guaranteed.
If what you are doing now stops working, will your life end? What will become of you?
What are you expected to do with the job or business that is working? Create another business with the resources of the one that is already working.
There Is Something You Can Do
The servant said, “I am about to be thrown out of business but I will not allow it”. He said to himself, “I cannot dig, I am ashamed to beg”. If you cannot preach, you can sing, if you can't do this you can do that. There is always something you can do. If you can't be a preacher you can be a tailor, if you can't be a singer you can be a broadcaster. There are many things you lack the ability to do, but there is something you can do.
I might not have the ability to be a politician but there is something I can do. If you don't have the capacity to market products but you can braid people's hair, then go ahead and do it.
There Is Always A Way Out
There is always a way out of every situation. There is a way out of that case, that problem, that predicament. But until
you engage your mind and find out what you must do. What can I do? The way out of that situation is dependent upon what you can do.
The solution to your financial crisis depends on what you can do. It is abomination if you can't do something. You may not have capital to do business but there are business deals you venture into that will generate money for you without financial investment. You can bring two businesses together and make profit. So if you can't start up a manufacturing firm, you can bring the manufacturer and the buyer together.
Let Go Of Your Weakness and Capitalize On Your Area of Strength
Let go of your weakness and embrace your strength; ignore your weakness. Don't let your weakness weigh you down. He said, “I can't dig, I am ashamed to beg but there is something I can do”. Let go of your weakness and capitalize on your areas of strength. Ignore your weakness because God is not concerned about your impossibilities He is only concerned about your possibilities. Is there something you can do? Then do it and forget about the things you can't do. So it is not a crime if you don't have the capacity to do certain things but it is a crime when you can’t do anything.
Appeal to Other People's Interest to Get What You Want
The man asked, “How much do you owe? 10,000 shillings.” And he asked him to write down 5,000 shillings. He called another and asked him how much he owed his Master and he said 3000 shillings and he asked him to write down a thousand. The Scripture said that he did so that when he is thrown out, they will receive him. You must give out something to get something.
You fail in business when you want to get something and you are not willing to give something. The easiest way to get someone to sponsor your business or partner with you is to let him know what is in it for him. In your package, you have to show the sponsor or potential partner what he stands to gain. The young man didn't talk about his need but concentrated on the needs and the interests of the people he wants to partner with. Everyone wants to hear what he stands to gain and what he stands to enjoy.
Instant Job Offer
My friend Gift went to a particular company in the eastern part of Nigeria. The personnel manager told her that there was no vacancy. She told him that she will contribute to the growth of the company. She told him that she has a game plan for the expansion of the firm. The personnel manger asked her to go and that he will relate it to the director. In less than 14 days, she got an appointment letter from the company without any form of interview.
Use Today To Create Tomorrow
The future is determined by what you do with the resources of today. Use today to create tomorrow. The future is in the
womb of today. There is a seed in your hands that can create a beautiful future.
However you want your future to look like is possible. All you need to do is make use of what you have today to create the future you need. Your future is bright!
CHAPTER 2
YOU ARE DESIGNED TO SHINE
The Almighty God created you to offer something special to the world. The book of Matthew 5:13-16 makes it clear that you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Salt preserves food from decay.
The world can never be perfect without your contribution. The world we live in will be tasteless without your impact. As light is needed in our world, your contribution is highly needed. Your songs, books, ideas, enterprise and concepts are needed in our world.
Simple Idea That Revolutionized Kenya
During my speaking tour in several cities of Kenya, I discovered how people receive and exchange money in Kenya. A young man came up an idea on how to send and receive money across Kenya from mobile phones.
This idea originated from somebody's mind. This simple idea has changed how business is done in Kenya.
This simple idea has affected how money exchange hands in Kenya. Today, this idea is becoming popular across Africa.
You Are Not Fit To Live If You Are Not Making Impact
If you are not contributing anything to your generation you are not fit to live. If the salt looses its taste it is of no use any longer but for men to trample upon it. What is your contribution to your church, family, society or company? Will your company miss you if you resign? Will your church miss you if you change location? What will people miss if you are not around?
People will not respect you as a result of your weight, your education or background but because of your input and contributions.
Make these confessions:
I will contribute to my world!
I will make an impact in my generation!
God Is Glorified When You Are Shinning
When you are shinning, God is glorified. When people around you are inspired and motivated because you are shining and they know that you are a child of God, it brings honor to God's Kingdom.
Jesus said they don't light candle and hide it under the table. Some people sing but nobody knows about their singing ability. If you can sing, let us hear it, if you have the
ability to write, publish books, information materials and materials that will bless mankind. If there is something you can do and nobody is seeing it, then it is useless.
Your Light Is For Shinning
We are admonished by Christ to put our light in a place that people will see it. Let the Light of God in you, in the form of talent, skill, expertise or ability shine to your World.
Light is for shinning not for hiding. Why do big companies spend millions and billions to advertise their products and services? You need to do something in order to make the light of your business shine. How can you have a product that nobody knows about?
If there is something in you, bring it out. Release your gifts, abilities and skills to bless humanity. If you are working for a company, make it a point of duty to make your input for the growth of the establishment. If there is a meeting, ensure that your voice is heard. If all you do is to sit down and watch things happen, your job is not guaranteed.
I Am Indispensable
Whenever I want to leave any Organization, they feel uncomfortable. A church I worked for increased my salary by 300% the very moment I announced my resignation. The General Overseer begged me to collect the salary and come to the office twice a week instead of seven times a week. This could happen because I allowed my light to shine when I worked with the ministry.
Make it impossible for people to exist without you. Light is indispensable in the night. Light is indispensable in our world. So make it impossible for the people around you to survive without you. How do you achieve this?
You achieve it by allowing your light to shine. Don't just exist, don't just live but make your imprint on the sands of life.
Write your name on the moon. Make your mark wherever you go.
Your Generation Will Not Forget You in a Hurry
During my speaking tour in four cities of Kenya, I asked the members of a particular church if they believe that despite the fact that they have had several guest speakers that I am one guest speaker they will not forget in a hurry? They all lifted up their hands in agreement.
To be on high demand, you have to release your hidden potential and your trapped glory. There is a giant on your inside; release it. There is a champion inside you but that champion is sleeping. The Scripture says that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. God created you with absolute care. He invested quality time to make you. You are not an ordinary being.
Before you are done with the reading of this book, I want you to make a resolution in your spirit that your world will hear your voice. The world will feel your impact; the world will feel the grace of God upon my life.
CHAPTER 3
GO FOR THE BEST
Christianity is not synonymous with poverty.
What You Desire Is What You Deserve
Our anchor scripture in this chapter is from the book of Luke 16:19-31. Lazarus desired for what came from the table, and that was what he received. You will always get what you desire out of life. If you desire three square meals per day, that is the only thing you can get. If you desire to live in affluence and work towards it, you will achieve it.
The righteous man that was heaven bound died in poverty because he desired to be fed with the crumbs. Nothing happens by accident. Nothing happens by chance.
Some young ladies out of desperation will say that any man that comes their way, they will marry.
I went with a fellow pastor to see a very wealthy man. He asked the pastor about his current ministry projects and the pastor told him the least among them. Three days later, the man asked the pastor to come and collect money that was in equal proportion to the project he mentioned.
The pastor started complaining to me but I bluntly told him that he got what he desired.
Don't Live at the Mercy of People
Any man that lives his life at the mercy of people can never be successful. Do something with your life. The Person you are waiting for has his own challenges. Have you not observed that the times you had great accomplishments were the times you took the bull by the horn?
Who are you waiting for? It's time you begin to take responsibility. God has blessed you with all things that pertain to life. All things are yours! He came daily to be laid at the rich man’s gate. This simply means that he
surrendered his life to the rich man. He allowed the rich man to run his life. The worst thing you can do to yourself is to have a man that you depend on completely for whatever you need.
I will not live my life at the mercy of a mere mortal man. He surrendered his destiny into the hands of a man. Success at your command is only possible when you understand that you are the architect of your own destiny.
You can never achieve anything in this life if your hope is on a human being. Create something out of this life. Lazarus died in poverty because he depended totally on the rich man. That was why he ended up in misery.
How do you want your life to end? It will be determined by your ability to work with your own hands or relying totally on other people.
The Scripture says, “Woe is he that trusts in a man.”
Wasted Destiny
I had a friend who was idle for seven years waiting for his uncle that was based in the United States of America to come and take him. We advised him to start doing something but he refused. It was after seven years that his eyes opened. Now he is doing something but his life would have been richer and better if he had not waited for such a long time. May be his uncle had good intentions for him,
but could not do anything because he had his own challenges.
Most pastors are frustrated because they are waiting for their members to give them offering before they eat.
Who are you waiting for? When you wait, you waste.
Don't Settle For Less, Go For the Best
Don't settle for less, go for the best. Lazarus settled for crumbs, that was why he died in penury. The best cloths, cars, jewelries and the wonderful things of life are meant for you; don't ever settle for crumbs. When a husband is coming, he must be the best. If you must marry a woman, she must be the best woman for you.
The people around you that are enjoying the good things of life were not created better than you. Why will you be the one to get the leftovers? Life can only give you what you demand.
Don't Die With Something That Is Not Working
Lazarus was laid at the table of the rich man on daily bases to eat the crumbs that fail from the table. And you can agree with me that no one can be satisfied with crumbs. Most times we stay with something that is not working. Don't settle with anything that is not producing. If it is not working, work out. If it is not producing leave it. I want you at this moment to be absolutely sincere to yourself. Find out something you have been doing for a long time that is not
working or producing. It is time to disconnect from unproductive ventures.
CHAPTER 4
SUCCESS IS IN THE HEART
The book of Numbers chapter 13 gives us insight on how bravery and boldness can help us achieve success.
Success is in the heart! If you have a chicken's heart you can't succeed. The major thing that kept the ten spies away from their destiny and from the land of promise was the condition of their heart. In your journey of success, if you don't have a strong heart, you are not cut out for success. When you fail in your heart you fail in life.
If you succeed in your heart, success is inevitable. Success is not for the feeble minded, it is for the bold and the courageous. Success is for the lion at heart. The men who lacked boldness and courage did not enter the promise land.
“Whether you think you can achieve success, or think you can’t amount to anything in life, you’re right.”
Your Self-perception Is Your Actual Reality
How other people perceive you is a reflection of how you see yourself. If you see yourself as a great person, a person of
glory, dignity and honor that is the same way people will perceive you. Your talent, ability and educational qualification notwithstanding, greatness emanates from the heart. Success is an inside job.
Say with me, “I am dynamic and intelligent.” This will eventually become your ultimate reality!
What You See Is What You Get
What you see is what you get. If you see poverty around your environment you will never be prosperous. Twelve men went into a land, ten said this land devours its inhabitants but the other two said, let us go forward and possess our land of opportunities, our land of milk, and honey, wealth and riches. What you are seeing in your environment is the cause of your success or failure. Because you have already condemned your environment that there is no opportunity, that is why you don't see opportunities for success.
If a young lady sees every man as unfaithful, check her life, all the men she has dated were unfaithful. Any young man who sees every woman as evil will see evil women everywhere. I saw a book written by the founder of Daewoo titled, “Every Street is paved with Gold”. What that means is that there are opportunities everywhere. That is why he is extremely rich. He sees wealth everywhere. There is money everywhere. The problem is not with the land, it is with its inhabitants.
The man who can't find opportunities in his environment, send him to any other place he will still not find opportunities. A lizard in Kenya will be a lizard in Jamaica. Success is not based on your environment but it is based on what you can see.
Life Is Full Of Challenges
They said that the land is full of giants, which is normal. A land that flows with milk and honey should have giants.
There is no gold without fire, no rose without thorns, no success without challenges and no opportunity without obstacle.
Life has its challenges. You will not leave the rose because of its thorns. If you want the gold then you should be ready to feel the heat.
CHAPTER 5
THAT CURSE IS NOT MINE
The book of Genesis 4:3-17 is the anchor scripture of this chapter.
Curses are real and powerful. The curse placed on Cain was not from a mortal man but from the living God, the Creator of heaven and earth, the one who speaks and no one can thwart it.
When Cain killed his brother Abel, the Lord said that he was going to be a wanderer and a fugitive. This means that he will be moving from place to place without a roof over his head. Cain said to the Lord, “This curse is too much for me”.
You can put an end to every sign of curse around you. Cain said to the Almighty God, “I reject your curse.” And God reversed it. Cain did not just move out of God's presence to build a house, he did not just build an estate but he built a city. Someone who was cursed not to have a roof over his head went as far as building a city!
What has somebody said you will not achieve? What is operating against your lineage, against your family that is tagged a curse? You can put a stop to it.
An Open Mouth Is an Open Destiny
An open mouth is an open destiny. A closed mouth is a closed destiny. When you close your mouth, you close your destiny, but when you open your mouth you open your destiny.
Make These Prophetic Declarations:
That curse is not mine
That curse of poverty is not mine
That curse of near success syndrome
Cain rejected the curse from the living God. If a mortal man can reject the curse from the creator of heaven and earth. Who is he that cursed you that you cannot reject his curse? You have the power to put an end to that misfortune.
Say It And Have It
God spoke to Moses in Numbers chapter 14:28; “Tell the children of Israel, whatever I hear them say to my ears so will I do”. Anything that is too hard for your mouth to say will be too hard for your hands to receive.
No matter what you are surrounded with and no matter who is looking at you, say what you want. If there is an agreement between your heart and your mouth, something will happen.
Whatever You Resist Cannot Remain
Whatever you resist will leave your life. Whatever you resist can never persist in your life. You can put a stop to every evil occurrence. If Cain did not resist the curse, it would have continued in his generation. Whatever your parents struggled with, you can put a stop to it. Cain discovered that his parents were cursed by God but when it got to his turn, he rejected it.
I discovered something about my own father; he wrote so many books but he never published any. When I came on board, I made up my mind that I will be a published author. How do you know a curse? Look at what your mother or father struggled with.
Resolve in your heart today, that whatever people say you cannot achieve, that which nobody has ever achieved in your lineage, you will achieve it a thousand fold.
Do you know that Barrack Obama while in primary three was asked what he would love to become when he grows up? He answered without hesitation that he would be the President of America. Before he became the president, there was an unwritten law that no black man will rule America, but the man said “I'm going to be the president of America.”
Begin to make declarations no matter who is angry, happy or sad. I have always been saying that I will preach the
gospel in all the nooks and crannies of the world and it is manifesting already.
In summary, don't forget that a closed mouth is a closed destiny. Say no to that evil occurrence. Resolve to do a thousand fold of what your parents could not achieve. You are the light of that family. Don't wait on anybody to do it for you. Arise and enjoy all the blessings of life.
CHAPTER 6
BREAK THE LIMITS
In this chapter, we are looking at the Parable of the Prodigal Son in the book of Luke 15:11-32
Break the limits off you! God gave you talents and abilities so that you can enjoy the fullness of life. You are packaged by God to be the best. When you live below the divine investments in your life, there is a problem. Why do people live below God's grace upon their lives? How can the talented and anointed be frustrated?
What You Choose Is What You Become
The first reason why this young man found himself in a position that was far below his expectation was the choice he made.
What you choose is what you become. He asked his father to give him his share of the property and the Father could not stop his choice.
God said in Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth to bear me witness this day that I set before you life and death, blessings and curses choose”. The day you chose that man as your husband, was the day you accepted a blessing or a curse.
Your Choice Is Unstoppable
God wants you to be successful but if you choose not to be, God cannot do anything about it. This man is an example of a typical believer whiles the father represents God. Man is a
free moral agent. You choose to be successful or you choose to be a failure, you choose to be blessed or cursed.
No matter the level of prayer made over your head, no matter the prophecy you have received, if you choose not to be great you will not be great. The young man chose to leave his father's house and no one could stop him, not even his father.
When the prodigal son chose to squander his wealth, nothing stopped him. Your choice is unstoppable.
You are at this present level of life based on the choices you made in the past. You will be where you will be tomorrow based on the choices you are making now. Make the right choices today.
The choice of friends, choice of relationship and choice of who you hang out with, will determine your life.
Do Something That Has a Future
Anything you are doing that doesn't have a future, step out of it. Always consider future possibilities of whatever you are doing. Have you asked if that business, relationship or job has a future?
This young man came to his senses and realized that what he was doing had no future.
Your Full Potential Is Under Utilized
This young man found out that he was living far below his potential and he decided to do something about his situation.
You are working in a firm that is paying you 5000 Naira a month, no problem but you are not supposed to end there. It is time to plan for a better career or business. If you need to acquire a skill, do it.
The young man came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s servants have food enough and to spare?” That singular discovery turned his life around.
Your success is in your hands!
CHAPTER 7
SUCCESS AT YOUR COMMAND
The story of four lepers in 2 Kings 7:3-9 gives you amazing principles for achieving success at your command.
The story of these men contains practical guide for commanding success. It is amazing to discover how their lives changed overnight via the application of the principles you will discover in this concluding chapter.
Do Something If You Want To Achieve Something
If you do nothing, nothing happens. If you don't work, nothing works. You are the creator of your own world, the architect of his own destiny, and the captain of your own ship. Your destiny is in your hands.
If you fold your hands and refuse to take bold steps required for success, you will remain stagnated for a long time. You are where you are at this moment based on your actions.
No matter how holy you are, if you refuse to do something about that situation, the situation will not change. You are the only one that can make something good or something great out of your life. Nobody else will do it for you.
The four lepers were at one spot for a long time until they realized that nothing will change until they do something. That situation has not changed because you have refused to do something about it. Until you do something about it, nothing will change.
Change Your Strategy and Change Your Life
If you keep doing what you have always done, you will keep getting what you have always gotten. Albert Einstein said, “It is insanity to keep doing the same thing over and over again the same way repeatedly and expect different results.”
Success has not come because you have refused to change your strategy. You can't be giving God peanuts every Sunday and expect to be a millionaire. It can't work that way. You can't be in the house by 10am every day without doing anything for your business and expect business success. Don't expect success in business in the 21st century if you are doing business like your grandfather.
The four lepers discovered that their change can only come through a change of strategy. They decided to make a change and their lives changed forever.
What You Sow Is What You Reap
The Bible says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sows, he reaps” This principle is applicable to every facet of life; you cannot sow rice and expect to reap maize. If you sow idleness, you reap poverty. If you sow diligence, you reap greatness.
Don't Allow Your Condition to Determine Your Position
The lepers got to a point that they discovered that they have allowed the condition of their lives to determine their position. Don't allow your condition to determine your position. Don't allow your background to keep you down. Refuse to be trapped by your background. You can get to any destination in life no matter where you are coming from.
A Thousand Miracles Happen When You Move
When you make a move, a thousand and one miracles happen but when you refuse to step out, nothing happens. God will not show you the whole picture of your destiny. It will unfold as you take bold steps. That you don't have cash in your pocket is not enough reason why you should be afraid to dream.
You want a Million Naira to start a business? It might not come until you start with that Ten Thousand Naira in your hands. The four lepers never knew that they will come in contact with enormous wealth but because they took bold steps, they had access to gold, silver and food in abundance.
There Is Risk Everywhere
There is risk everywhere. It is risky whether you want to be a civil servant or an entrepreneur. It is risky to marry and
also risky to remain single. If you relocate from Nigeria to America you will also meet with challenges.
During my speaking tour in Ghana, I saw young Nigerians selling Sachet Water. These young chaps left Nigeria to a country they thought that have no challenges. There is risk everywhere. This knowledge will motivate you to do what you can, with what you have, from wherever you.
Take Calculated Risk
Taking calculated risks means that you will take risks with your brain at work. Look before you leap. That I said that there is risk everywhere does not mean you should jump into anything without proper calculations.
It is risky to marry but it is better to marry a Christian than getting married to a heathen. Getting married to a Christian is taking calculated risk but marrying a heathen is taking risk without your senses.
When you venture into a trade you have knowledge of, you are taking calculated risk. But when you venture into a trade you have little or no knowledge of, you are taking risk without your senses.
Go Where Opportunities Are
Your prosperity is determined by opportunities. Go where opportunities are. Let your movements and plans with programmed with opportunities in mind. Out of the three options the four lepers had, they chose the one with
opportunities and possibilities. Your life will always be richer and better if it is consistently programmed by opportunities and possibilities.
Go where what you are looking for can be found. What is your business with people that can't contribute to your destiny? If you are looking for gold, go where gold can be found. If you are looking for silver, go where silver can be found. Life is very cheap if you know how to handle it. Plan every activity of the day with success, opportunities and prosperity in mind.
Those who are in need of golden connections and contacts don't move aimlessly. How do you spend your time daily? And the lepers said to each other, “Let us go to the camp of the Syrians where there are possibilities.”
Maximize the Moment
Maximize every opportunity. Make proper use of today. Each season has its opportunities, maximize it. That relationship has its opportunities, maximize it. That business has its blessings, maximize it.
One of my relatives had a political position some years back. During his two years in office, he stayed in a hotel and slept with all manner of women. He did not achieve anything. Today he looks so miserable and horrible.
His life is so terrible because he refused to maximize his moment. He refused to make proper use of his season. Make proper use of today. Today will not come again in your entire life. Maximize your time. Do things at the proper time. The lepers made proper use of their season.
God Has a Portion In Your Gold
And the lepers said to each other, “This is a day of good news and if we fail to reveal this, a punishment may come upon us.” When you eat your money alone, you attract divine punishment and attract disaster to your life. Any money God has no portion in, lacks divine insurance.
The reason why some people have not reached the level God planned and programmed for them, is selfishness. If you refuse to give the Lord His portion in what you are getting, you are attracting his wrath.
Conclusion
Your destiny is in your hands. Make up your mind to take the required steps for your success; because until you do something, nothing happens. When you keep doing what you have been doing, you keep getting what you have been getting.
There is risk everywhere but that does not mean you will take risk without your brain. Don't allow your condition to determine your position. Go where opportunities are, maximize the moment and remember that God has a portion and a lot in what you have.
Success is at Your Command!
