Isaac Opoku - Plan Your Life

ISAAC OPOKU

PLAN YOUR LIFE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ©2014 BY REV. ISAAC OPOKU First Printing, March, 2010 Second Printing, March, 2015 ISBN 998879687-0 No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the publisher. Unless otherwise indicated, all of the scripture quotations are taken from the Authorized King James Version (AKJV) of the Bible. Scripture quotations marked with NIV are taken from the New International Version of the Bible. Scripture quotations marked with NASV are taken from the New American Standard Version (NASB) of the Bible. Scripture !"#$%$&#'()*%+,-.)/&$0)1*23&4&-.)%+-)$%,-')5+#*)60-)1*23&4&-.)7&83-) (TAB). THE PROPHETIC PUBLICATIONS An imprint of Prophet Isaac Opoku Ministries PUBLISHED BY: The Resurrection Center Publishing house 1850 Rue Saint Antoine, Lachine, QC H8S 1V4 Tel: (514) 469-2408

[email protected] LAY OUT & COVER DESIGN: MamaGraphica.com PRINTED BY: P.O. Box - 12916 ksi. 9-%.):54&;-<)=0%'%>)?@AA)@BAA@@C@D) EF>)?BB)GBHG)BHHIJD K%'%.%>)?IBG)J@L)CGBBB Email: [email protected] Website: www.inhimislife.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• vii

Dedications Acknowledgements

viii

Foreword

x

Introduction:

xii

1. What Is Planning?

1

2. Lack of Planning Will Lead You to ‘Be In Want’

8

AM) N-$)O&(.#*)%'.)=#.P()O#+.)="&.-)Q#"+)R3%''&'S) ))))HA 4. Planning Prepares Your Future Today

19

5. Your Need A Dream-Maker

26

6. T&(;#U-+)$0-)R#$-'$&%3)9&..-')V')Q#")

)

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7. K%2$"+-)Q#"+):22#+$"'&$&-()%'.)7-)T&3&S-'$)

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8. You Need To Plan Even Your Funeral And Burial!

42

9. Key into God’s Strategic Plan for Your Future

46

10. Do Proper and Purposeful Negotiation

58

11. :U-+;#*&'S)W2&+&$"%3)N&*&$%$&#')X-!"&+-()R3%''&'S))))))IA 12. Plan To Multiply Your Success in Others

70

Conclusion

74

About The Author

78

DEDICATIONS

• THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED to my parents, Opanin Atta Kwadwo, my late father, and Madam Ama Serwaah, my dear mother, for their great help to me since my childhood, especially for giving me a good upbringing. I recall vividly the advice my father often gave me: ‘’Son… your destiny is in your hands!” Today I understand what he meant! To my parents-in-law, Opanin Kwadwo Anokye and Madam Ama Sam, for releasing your lovely daughter to become my wife. To my dear wife Grace, for your faithful companionship. You have been a great blessing in my life. To my children, Jacob, John, Isaiah, Ruth and Deborah, I am really proud of you all! God has used you to grant me the great opportunity to experience how to be a father!! 13(#<) $#) $0-) ;#"'$3-(() &'(2&+%$&#'%3) 4&S"+-() $0%$) 0%U-) played diverse roles in various stages of my life and ministry, I dedicate this book to you all. Thank you and may God bless you richly!

• [ vii ]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

•

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RITING A BOOK LIKE THIS clearly requires the collective efforts of several people, mostly the various congregations before whom I have been privileged to preach and teach God’s Word, as well as many mentors who taught me how to practice the subject of planning. This book contains just a ‘tip of the iceberg’ of teachings I learned and I taught in more than twenty years. To all of you whose names do not appear here -you know who you are- I am forever indebted to you. God bless you all! There are a few people without whose efforts and expertise Planning Your Life would have remained as scattered ideas and %') "'5"34&33-.) .+-%*M) Y&+($) %'.) 5#+-*#($) *Z) 5+&-'.<) *#$&U%$&#'%3) speaker and writing consultant, Pastor Claude A. Mann whose ‘diamond pen’ picked up every bit of insight I shared with him as he wrote with professional acumen! He researched and added ‘bones’ %'.)[43-(0P)$#)*Z)/#+.()%'.)-'3&U-'-.)$0-)*%'"(;+&2$M)9-).-(-+U-() great commendation. Thank you, Claude! V) /#"3.) %3(#) 3&,-) $#) $0%',) $0-) -'$&+-) ($%55) #5) 1+$-S+%4&\) N$.M<) -(2-;&%33Z)$0-&+)-.&$#+)/0#).&.)$0-)4&'%3)2+##5+-%.&'S)#5)$0&()8##,M)6#) Nii Saul Mettle, who designed the beautiful cover and did the layout of this book. To all others, who played professional editorial roles behind the scenes, I say God bless you all! My late father, Opanin Atta Kwadwo, my mother, Madam Ama Serwaah; my parents- in-law, Opanin Kwadwo Anokye and Madam Ama Sam communicated to me invaluable, practical lessons on planning in diverse ways. Next to my Lord Jesus Christ, they played major roles to make me what I am today. I appreciate them very much! ]3.-+)7".")^#5)83-((-.)*-*#+Z_)/%()$0-)4&+($)2-+(#')$#).&(;&23-) me and offer me training in ministry when I was growing up as a young inexperienced minister of the gospel. As Paul was to Timothy, he was indeed my spiritual father. The disciplinary principles I [ viii ]

learned from him have brought me this far in ministry. I know he surely feels very proud of me as he beholds me from the heavenly ‘’great cloud of witnesses.’’ Bishop Francis Akwaboah and Rev. Charles Okrah have been S+-%$) *-'$#+() %'.) (2&+&$"%3) 5%$0-+`4&S"+-() &') *Z) 3&5-M) V') .&U-+(-) ways, they guided me and showed me how to model my life after the character of Christ Jesus. I salute you great servants of God! Rev. Charles Ansah Owusu: Since I came into contact with you, my life has received great inspiration. Coming into contact with your great school, Abundant Grace Academy, added so many ‘vitamins’ to the health of my life and ministry. When I saw and read your books, sat in your motivational seminars, etc, I knew that I met a ‘dreammaker!’ God bless you for your great contributions to my life and this book. A special thanks to all the Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Leaders and Congregations of In Him Is Life Church International. You have provided me the platform and the listening ears to teach on this subject over the years. Special thanks to you, my assistant Pastors Anthony Kwakye, Justice Owusu and Kwaku Addei for your great 3#Z%3$Z)%'.)(-343-(()(-+U&;-(M To my beloved wife Grace: You have contributed immensely to this book. Those hours and days that I had to be travelling, leaving you alone with the kids; all the nights you had to sleep alone because I had to leave the room to read, study, pray and put my thoughts together for this book. You showed great understanding and gave me both emotional and spiritual support. To my sons, Jacob, John, Isaiah, and my daughters Ruth and Deborah: Thanks for patiently enduring my rebukes, corrections and long ‘lectures.’ Forgive me for all those times I missed playing with Z#"M) O-33<) &$P() '#$) $##) 3%$-a%() (##') %() /-) 4&'&(0) +-%.&'S) $0&() 8##,) $#S-$0-+<)V)/&33)S#)$#)$0-)23%ZS+#"'.)/&$0)Z#")%'.).#)(#*-).#S4&S0$() and dance with you those ‘break dances’ that I have always screamed at you to stop dancing! Know that you are the most wonderful gifts God could ever have given a dad like me! This book is a great heritage from me to you, and I promise to help you plan your lives excellently and in line with the God-ordained purpose and destiny for each one of you. I love you all!

[ ix ]

FOREWORD

• !"#$% &''% ()'% *+,-.,,/'0(% $*% 1$+2% ,.*',$03% 42'5/6% 1$+"7'%3$(%($%8'%/$2'%()50%9+&(%5%42'5/'2:%;$+"7'% 5,&$%3$(%($%8'%5%4$'2:%;$+"7'%3$(%($%8'%<.,,.03%($% -.3)(%()'%($+3)%85((,'&:""=>?@A%?##BCB@@;

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HEN I PUBLISHED MY BOOK, D,50%($%E.06 in 2009 I thought I had dealt with all aspects of planning that one could ever think of. Then I had the manuscript of Rev. Isaac Opoku’s book6% D,50% ;$+2% F.*' on my $%83-M)7Z)$0-)$&*-)V)0%.)+-%.)$0+#"S0)$0-)4&+($)$0+--);0%2$-+()V)%S+--.) with King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 12:12 that: ‘’…Of making many books there is no end…’’ Yes, no one has all the knowledge of any particular subject. We all know in part, and God has designed that each of us contributes our quota of the gifts he has deposited in us so that we can hear callings and become sources of blessings unto humanity. That is exactly what Rev. Isaac Opoku has done by writing this great book. THIS BOOK CARRIES A LOT OF INSIGHTS and revelations about planning. The author emphasizes planning your life by the standard set in God’s Word. As a minister of the gospel, I totally agree with him. Our generation lays exaggerated emphasis on acting on the spur of the moment and places little or no value on planning. It is that erroneous notion that the author seeks to correct in this book. He points out that all of us on this earth have ‘’an expiry date’’

[x]

and no matter how long we live one day each of us will die. Upon our death, everything we were designed to do ceases. Long ago King Solomon wrote that: ” !"#$%&%'()*+'("#,-(.,-/($*(-*0(-*(1$(21$"()*+'(314"$5(6*'($"%'%(1/( ,*(2*'7(*'(-%&18%(*'(7,*29%-4%(*'(21/-*3(1,($"%(4'#&%(2"%'%()*+(#'%( 4*1,4:;- ECCLESIASTES 9:10, NKJV THE QUESTION IS: [9#/).#)V).#)/0%$-U-+)*Z)0%'.()4&'.)$#).#) with all my might?’ I have the answer here. Whatever your hands 4&'.)$#).#)*"($)4&+($)%'.)5#+-*#($)8-)&')3&'-)/&$0)=#.P()2"+2#(-)5#+) your life. When you have discovered your purpose, you have found the meaning of your existence. Once you know the reason why you live, you have caught the vision of the future that your Maker has prepared for you. When you have that ‘mental picture’ of your future your calling is sure and you have a level ground to pursue the career or ministry God has called you to pursue. It is at that point that you qualify to map out a plan. The author has cited many examples of great planners in the Bible and I encourage you to read with rapt attention and apply what you read to your life. At all costs, plan your life and in all your planning, plan to win! Do not wait until you die for after death there will be no more room for planning. The only thing after death is ‘judgment’ (Hebrews 9:27). Do not skip any page of this book. Spend time to examine your life after you have read each chapter. R+%Z)$#)=#.)$#)0-32)Z#")4&\)/0-+-)-U-+)Z#")5%33)(0#+$)%'.)0-)/&33) give you wisdom to plan to succeed. You have in your hands a golden opportunity to know what you ought to do to plan every stage of your life, including your funeral! This book is a must-read and I commend the author for the great effort. I commend you also for buying a copy. The great investment you have made shall surely yield great dividends!

Rev. Charles Ansah Owusu Founder & Senior Pastor Abundant Grace Christian Centre Accra, Ghana

[ xi ]

INTRODUCTION

•

I

T IS VERY DANGEROUS TO LIVE A DISORGANIZED LIFE in this 21st Century! With the passing of each day, our days on earth are being numbered, and we are getting closer to eternity. This means that life on earth has an expiry date and, no matter how long we live, one day each of us will join our ancestors on the ‘other side.’ We must therefore heed to what King Solomon wrote thousands of years ago: >1%&$06%*$23'(%0$(%/1%,5
[ xii ]

our parents or guardians. (Proverbs 22:6) It also includes those years of attending schools, colleges and any other form of training. It is a period when we must acquire knowledge that will prepare us for employment or career pursuit. I call this long period, years of investment. Those years can be likened to planting season on the farming calendar. A good farmer uses the occasion to plant his good seeds and nurse his growing plant shoots. The seed you plant and nurture will determine the type of harvest you will reap and enjoy when the harvest season comes. What you plant and nurture in your ‘farming season’ is what you enjoy during the time of harvest. The quality of your preparation determines the quality of your harvest. The investments you do during your youthful years and working years determine the size of your harvest during Z#"+)*&.3&5-)(-%(#'`)/0&;0)&()8-$/--')5#+$Z`4&U-)$#)%8#"$)4&5$Z`'&'-) years. Sadly, there are many leaders who grow old and die, and as soon as they die their visions also die because they failed to invest themselves in others and in their future. They die without training successors so their families suffer greatly. May you never do that!

Great Leaders Train Their Successors Q#").-4&'&$-3Z),'#/)(#*-$0&'S)%8#"$)$0-)S+-%$)(2&+&$"%3)3-%.-+) Moses. He is regarded as the meekest and the greatest prophet in the Old Testament and I agree completely. The Bible makes it clear that since he died, ?04% ()'2'% 52$&'% 0$(% 5% I2$I)'(% &.0J'% .0% P&25',% ,.H'% +0($% >$&'&6% <)$/%()'%FQRS%H0'<%*5J'%($%*5J'NO- DEUTERONOMY 34:10 WHY IS MOSES REGARDED SO HIGHLY? He was a great planner. From his childhood there was a plan for his future. Raised in Pharaoh’s palace, he was given the best education and training to prepare him to become the next King of Egypt. Personally, he prepared himself to 5"34&33)0&()=#.`S&U-')2"+2#(-)%()V(+%-3P().-3&U-+-+M)V$)&()'#$)("+2+&(&'S) that, at the age of forty, he was fully ready to deliver the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt (Genesis 2:11-22). God had other plans for Moses though, so he orchestrated -U-'$() &') (";0) %) /%Z) $0%$) b#(-() 0%.) $#) 43--) ]SZ2$M) =#.) /%'$-.)

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Moses to receive additional training- as a shepherd or pastor- so he sent him to a shepherd called Jethro. For forty years, Moses was in exile in Midian where he married, Jethro’s daughter, Zipporah. Jethro mentored Moses and offered him the opportunity to ‘study shepherding’ or ‘pastoring’ and that took him forty years! At his ‘graduation,’ God called Moses out of the ‘burning bush’ (Exodus A>H`@@_)%'.);#**&((&#'-.)0&*)$#)3-%.)0&()2-#23-)5+#*)]SZ2$)$#)$0-) Promised Land. MOSES OBEYED GOD and led his people through a forty-year Exodus. During that 40-year period Moses trained Joshua as his successor. Then, before he died, Moses summoned all Israel for a very important occasion and ceremony. That day was his 120th birthday as well as the ending of the fortieth year of Exodus. Moses %54&+*-.<)%'#&'$-.<)2+%Z-.)5#+)%'.);#**&((&#'-.)c#(0"%)%()$0-)'-\$) leader to take over from him. He handed over his great leadership mantle to Joshua and blessed him. He ensured that all the people of Israel accepted Joshua and were ready to permit him to lead them to the Land of Canaan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nd the BCDE(/#1-(+,$*(>*/%/0(K%"*9-0($")(-#)/(#??'*#8"($"#$( $"*+(3+/$(-1%A(8#99(G*/"+#0(#,-(?'%/%,$()*+'/%9&%/(1,($"%($#I%',#89%(*6( $"%(8*,4'%4#$1*,0($"#$(@(3#)(41&%("13(#(8"#'4%:(=,-(>*/%/(#,-(G*/"+#( 2%,$0(#,-(?'%/%,$%-($"%3/%9&%/(1,($"%($#I%',#89%(*6($"%(8*,4'%4#$1*,:;L( DEUTERONOMY 31:1-3, 6, 7,14 , NKJV ELIJAH also followed a similar approach of leadership succession. He had a school of prophets where he trained the ‘sons of the prophet.’ At the peak of his ministry, God instructed him to seek for ‘’Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah’’ and ‘’anoint (him) as prophet in your place’’ (1 Kings 19:16). Elijah obeyed. He sought

for Elisha and found him. He threw his mantle on him and, from that moment, Elisha became his adjutant (1 Kings 19:19-21). Elisha followed him and served him faithfully. Then, on the day Elijah was to ascend to heaven, Elisha discerned and followed him closely until he received the leadership and prophetic mantle from him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hen a successor is properly and adequately prepared, it is very -%(Z)5#+)%33)$#)%;;-2$)0&*)%'.)+-U-+-)0&()#54&;-<)d"($)%()$0-Z)+-U-+-.) that of his predecessor. This is a good model that I recommend spiritual leaders to practice, or else we will commit the great error c#(0"%);#**&$$-.)%5$-+)0&()$-+*)&')#54&;-M

Learn From Joshua’s Great Error And Omission From the excellent example of Moses’ leadership succession, Joshua should have done the same when his time came to die. But what did he do? The book of Joshua reveals the great works Joshua .&.)."+&'S)0&()$-'"+-)&')#54&;-M)9#/-U-+)0-)5%&3-.)&')#'-)$0&'S<)%5$-+) serving his generation well, he died leaving no successor! That mistake resulted in all that is recorded in the Book of Judges (Judges 2:10-12; 21:25). TP&25',%&'27'4%()'%FQRS%5,,%()'%451&%$*%X$&)+56%504%5,,%()'%451&%$*% ()'%',4'2&%<)$%$+(,.7'4%X$&)+56%<)$%)54%H0$<0%5,,%()'%<$2H&%$*%()'% FQRS%<).J)%W'%)54%4$0'%*$2%P&25',:O- JOSHUA 24:31, NKJV The people of Israel went astray and worshipped other gods. Why? Because Joshua failed to prepare a successor to take over from

him. His leadership mantle and unction was left untransferred to anyone, and as the saying goes, !.*%1$+%*5.,%($%I,506%1$+%I,50%($%*5.,U"" Joshua’s failure led to about 200 years of a spiritual leadership vacuum in Israel. God had to raise a series of leaders, .0%()'%.0('2./, who were not called and commissioned as God did with Moses and Joshua. God put in place ‘judges’, who were more or less political leaders or governors. They were civil magistrates that served as ‘heads of state’, not spiritual leaders. All through that period the Tribes of Israel ran into trouble every '#/)%'.)$0-'M)60-)20&3&($&'-()8-;%*-)%)2%&'5"3)$0#+')&')$0-&+)43-(0) and God had to send those ‘interim leaders’ to rescue them. Until God sent Prophet Samuel, the King-maker, Israel suffered greatly. God sent a total of thirteen judges to lead his people. This I believe should serve as a great lesson for all of us who are at the forefront of spiritual leadership. One single leadership error led to two hundred years of God’s people living without a true ‘shepherd’ over them. Can you imagine a New Testament church surviving without a called, trained, anointed and commissioned pastor for even twenty years? Yet, unfortunately, this is happening in our day. There are Churches and Christian ministries that as soon as the founding leader dies, the vision dies also. Do you know why? They 5%&3-.)$#)2+-2%+-)#$0-+()/0#)/-+-)!"%3&4&-.)$#);%++Z)$0-&+)U&(&#')$#) the next generation. In many cases most of such churches split, as [3-%.-+(P)#+)[-3.-+(P)4&S0$)#U-+)/0#)&()$#)$%,-)#U-+M)W##')$0-);0"+;0) or ministry goes extinct. For those who survive, in many cases, a ‘democratic system’ is put in place to ‘vote’ to ‘elect’ the next leader. Often such succeeding leaders are not necessarily called or appointed by God. The church uses a system to elect and most of such leaders are like the Judges of the Old Testament. For this reason, I have made it clear that my successor does not have to automatically be my biological child. As a prophet, I am (--,&'S) =#.P() *&'.) ;#';-+'&'S) /0#) !"%3&4&-() $#) 8-) *Z) [c#(0"%P) #+) ‘Elisha’ and as soon as God reveals that to me, the training will begin promptly. I shall ensure that he receives the necessary trainingspiritual, theological, academic, and what have you. If God chooses my own son to succeed me, glory be to his name. If he chooses one of my pastors, may his name be praised. At all cost, I must plan my succession so well that, before my departure from earth, I could introduce him the same way Moses introduced Joshua

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to his people. That is my plan and I advise that to you also, especially if you are a founder or a leader of your organization.

Planning Is Crucial For Your Success and Prosperity MAKE PLANNING A HABIT and soon you will enjoy it the way you enjoy sports! Do all you can to become a good planner and plan all aspects of your life. Do not leave anything to chance. As you read on, you will discover many more interesting insights and illustrations in this book. I pray that by the time you have read the last page, your attitude towards planning changes drastically and you will join me in the ‘holy crusade’ for the practicing and advocacy of good planning.

Rev. Isaac Opoku (Obotou) Founder& Head Pastor In Him Is Life Church International Accra, Ghana

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CHAPTER 1 WHAT IS PLANNING?

• !"P*%1$+%3.7'%+I%8'*$2'%1$+2%3$5,%)5&%8''0%2'5J)'46% 1$+% 52'% 5% ![+.(('2:"% ?% [+.(('2% 0'7'2% <.0&% 504% 5% <.00'2%0'7'2%[+.(&:O%=%NAPOLEON HILL

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NTIL YOU DEFINE WHAT A PRODUCT IS that product 0%() '#) U%3"-M) V$) &() $0-+-5#+-) ;+";&%3) $0%$) V) .-4&'-) /0%$) planning is before I can sell it to you as a product that I think you need to buy and use! So, what is planning? I have done an extensive research to help me explain the concept of planning and all the content of this chapter is what I have understood as planning, so let us explore now. PLANNING HELPS TO FORECAST what a planner intends to do and achieve in the future. Planning is a map that outlines your desires. Planning is what guarantees your expectations of a great future. Planning is the science, the art and the act of preparing your tomorrow today. Good planning is that little extra you add to an ordinary lifestyle to make it an extraordinary achievement. Planning grants the planner the sense of urgency and focus to build a good foundation for an excellent future. Planning gives the planner an opportunity to write down his thoughts on paper, obeying the age-old adage that ‘’the weakest pen is stronger than the strongest memory”. When goals are written on paper, it gives the 23%''-+) ;3%+&$Z) #5) $0#"S0$) %'.) %) /-33) .-4&'-.)2&;$"+-) #5) $0-) 5"$"+-) he desires. Planning helps us to translate into visible representation what we have in mind. Planning helps us communicate intelligibly as well as predict the future today. So at all cost, plan your life my dear reader! CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS PLANNING?

[1 ]

Your Plan Must Be Strategic THE 21ST CENTURY CHAMBERS DICTIONARY) .-4&'-() %) 23%') as: ‘’a thought-out arrangement or method for doing something,’ or ‘a sketch, outline, scheme or set of guidelines’ or ‘a large-scale .-$%&3-.) .+%/&'S) #+) .&%S+%*) #5) %) 43##+) #5) %) 0#"(-) .#'-) %() $0#"S0) viewed from above,’’ Thus planning- as a present participle of plan- is the act of developing a plan for something. For example, no building would be permitted to continue until and unless the owner produces a ‘planning permission’, which is a permit from the local authority to erect or convert a building or to change the use to which a building or piece of land is put. Now, when you consider the planning of your life or mission, as this book attempts to teach, know that planning has to do with a strategy to develop and put an idea, or a proposal, into action. In line /&$0)$0-).-4&'&$&#'()%8#U-)%'.)$#S-$0-+)/&$0)*Z)/+&$&'S);#'("3$%'$<) I found out, from a research carried out by Indiana University, that planning must always be strategic. Strategic planning involves the following: •

Mission=%>.&&.$0%4'&J2.8'&%<)5(%8+&.0'&&%()'%$2350.\5(.$0%.&% .0:

•

Vision-% ].&.$0% 4'&J2.8'&% <)'2'% ()'% $2350.\5(.$0% .&% )'54'4% $7'2%()'%,$03%('2/:

•

Strategic Objective-%#).&%I,50&%*$2%5J).'7.03%()'%/.&&.$0%504% 7.&.$0:

•

Actions-% #)'&'% 52'% (5&H&% 4$0'% ($% 5J).'7'% J2.(.J5,% &+JJ'&&% *5J($2&:

•

Measures-% #)'&'% 52'% ()'% H'1% I'2*$2/50J'% .04.J5($2&% ()5(% /'5&+2'%<)'()'2%&(25('31%.&%8'.03%/'(%$2%0$(:

If as a leader I choose to adopt the above steps to plan my life or $0%$)#5)*Z)#+S%'&e%$&#'<)4&+($)#5)%33<)V)*"($),'#/)*Z)*&((&#'M)60%$)&(<) $0-)(2-;&4&;)2"+2#(-)#5)*Z)3&5-)%()/-33)%()$0-)U&(&#')%'.)%((&S'*-'$) that my organization must concern itself with. Next to mission, I *"($)0%U-)%)U&(&#')/0&;0)&'.&;%$-()%'.).-4&'-()/0-+-)*Z)*&'&($+Z)

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PLAN YOUR LIFE BY ISAAC OPOKU

and I are going in the long run. In fact, I believe that knowing my U&(&#')*"($)-U-');#*-)4&+($)8-;%"(-)/&$0#"$)%)U&(&#')V);%''#$)0%U-) a mission. 15$-+) ;%($&'S) *Z) U&(&#') %'.) .-4&'&'S) *Z) *&((&#'<) V) 0%U-) $#) S#) further and set, what management experts word as, my ‘strategic objectives’ or ‘goals. These comprise of the bold steps I will have to take and follow in order to realize my vision and mission respectively. Furthermore, to achieve my goals, I need to know the core competences as well as capabilities of myself as well as each member of my team. From experience I have discovered that education or academic !"%3&4&;%$&#') #') &$() #/') ;%''#$) -'("+-) (";;-(() &') 3&5-M) :'-) *"($) know his strengths and special abilities, develop them and use them in order to chalk success in life. So I advise you, young man, young woman, at all cost go to school and get good grades and degrees. But at the same time, make time to motivate yourself and harness your God-given talents and skills. That is what will bring you bigger income! Having done all the above, go ahead and turn the plan from $0-) 8#%+.+##*) $#) $0-) 2+%;$&;%3) 4&-3.M) R"$) Z#"+) .#;"*-'$-.) 23%'() into action. Do not stop there; see to it that you have in place an effective system to monitor and evaluate your actions. This is called performance indicator or project evaluation. Do this regularly and religiously, or else you will discover problems too late! My dear reader, I hope you agree with me that planning your life is so crucial that we must dare to pay whatever price it takes to plan our future today and leave the planned future in the able hands of God who alone knows tomorrow! Do you have a dream? Then begin to make plans today. Find out what it would take to bring your dream into reality. Add works to your faith. Make your thoughts visible by taking action according to plan. After having listened to Claude A. Mann’s motivational presentations at Abundant Grace Academy on the subject of life management, I have come to love this particular management tool that, according to him, is used by many highly successful organizations and individuals for the planning of their daily lives. I recommend it to you as well. For more detailed explanation, I recommend that you go to the internet to search or you can buy books on management from any good bookshop to learn more about it. I present a summary of it here as my friend taught it at the seminar. It is known as the SWOT Analysis. CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS PLANNING?

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!"#"$"%&'()*+,-&./0&1)2&%)&34-&56&%)&',./&7)8(&9+:S.W.O.T is the shortened form of the following words, namely: S for Strengths, W for Weaknesses, O for Opportunities and T for 60+-%$(M)W#)%()2%+$)#5)Z#"+)2+-`23%''&'S)*-%("+-(<)4&+($)2"$)#')2%2-+) the following:

1. YOUR STRENGTHS- they include your strong points in 3&5->) Z#"+) %8&3&$&-(<) $%3-'$(<) (,&33(<) -.";%$&#'%3) !"%3&4&;%$&#'(<) health, family, occupation, wealth, investments, ministry, etc. With these ‘tools in your bag’, you are put in a position of advantage to succeed in whatever area of life you make a plan for. They also include your positive attitude, godly character, humility, diligence and time-consciousness.

2. YOUR WEAKNESSES- these comprise of the talents and %8&3&$&-()Z#")3%;,f)Z#"+)/-%,)(2#$(<)(0#+$;#*&'S(<)43%/(<)5%"3$(<) inadequacies, blind spots and failure potentials. Failure to know these and to work on them will make you prone to making gross mistakes, or repeating mistakes you made yesterday, that put you at a disadvantage in life and prepare you for failure. They ;#*-)&')$0-)5#+*)#5)'-S%$&U-)%$$&$".-(<);0%+%;$-+)43%/(<)3%e&'-((<) indiscipline, indecisiveness, procrastination and many other personal shortcomings.

3. YOUR OPPORTUNITIES- Life is full of opportunities and God has designed you in such a way that you have an inner scanner- called intuition- that has the power to spot even the smallest opportunity and makes you aware of it. So turn on your inner ‘antennae’ and catch your opportunity on time. Common opportunities you can catch include: • • • •

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24 Hours that are available and you have unlimited access to (chronos). Kairos Moments (uncommon, divinely inspired thoughts or prospects). Work (an opportunity to test your acquired knowledge, abilities and skills). Your Five Senses (opportunity to sense and spot your time


• • • •

and maximize it). Your Family (opportunity of relationships and emotional support from loved ones). Your Friends (opportunity to team up with, work with and share with peers, etc). The Church (opportunity to fellowship with people who share the same faith with you). The State (opportunity to be a free citizen and carry out your civic responsibilities, etc).

4. YOUR THREATS- Life on earth is a big risk. Fortunately, God has designed in us a built-in mechanism to help us discern good from evil. This is known as a conscience and it has the power to discern negative things and warn us to run from them. You must listen to the voice of your conscience when you are planning. Your threats could include: lazy and time-wasting friends, as well as all others who feel threatened by your success. Threats include those who wish you evil and will go to any length to divert you or dilute your zeal for success. They will even try to prevent you from serving God or live a purpose-driven life, so watch out! USING THE S.W.O.T helps you to be proactive and to make room for mistakes. Thus, whenever you make a mistake, you can readily %;;-2$) +-(2#'(&8&3&$Z) 5#+) &$) %'.) 4&'.) Z#"+) /%Z) 8%;,) #'$#) $0-) +&S0$) path. As you use your personal S.W.O.T, do a daily review of your plan. Spend a ‘quiet time’ in God’s presence. Include him in your planning. Share your fears with him and re-fuel your faith tank in his presence. Ask him to direct your path and he will gladly do it.

7)8(&;+44+)/&5/&9+:-&54&<(8=+.,&5/&',.//+/> Another vital fact you need to employ in planning is to know God’s purpose and mission for your life on earth. Pray and ask God about your destiny. Find out how long you are to carry out your life’s assignment. That will guide and motivate the depth of your planning. John the Baptist spent thirty and half years on earth. The greatness of his ministry required that he use thirty years of his life

CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS PLANNING?

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span to train and prepare. His actual ministry covered a period of just six months! Born with a prophetic unction, he still needed to go through a thirty-year training to do what he was born to do: to prepare the way and introduce Jesus Christ as the messiah to come. As soon as His mission was completed, he was executed by King Herod. Jesus Christ Himself spent only thirty-three and half years on -%+$0M)6#)8-S&')%'.)5"34&33)0&()*&((&#')#5)$0+--)%'.)0%35)Z-%+(<)$0-)N#+.) (2-'$)$0-)4&+($)$0&+$Z)Z-%+()#5)0&()3&5-)$#)2+-2%+-M)V$)$##,)b#(-()5#+$Z) years of exile on the desert before God called him and sent him to tell Pharaoh, ‘’Let My people go!’’ It took Caleb forty years of waiting before he told Joshua, ‘give me the mountains…” It took Abraham $/-'$Z`4&U-)Z-%+()$#)0%U-)$0-)R+#*&(-.)W#'M)V$)$##,)9%''%0)(-U-+%3) years before she could conceive Samuel, the great prophet of God. I believe that for all those years, she was praying and making vows unto God. She was preparing the destiny of the unborn prophet. So my dear reader, the most important thing is for you to know your purpose, calling and vision. Once you know them, don’t rest on your oars. Plan and prepare for the due season to launch out. You must prepare because it is when preparation meets opportunity that success results!

Plan Your Finances And Your Wealth Creation Strategies [O0Z) .#) V) 0%U-) $#) 23%') *Z) 4&'%';-() /0-') V) 0%U-) S+-%$) 5%&$0) &') God?’ Many sincere Christians ask this question, but the fact is, you can be sincerely wrong. You see, Satan has no respect for an anointing $0%$)43#/()&')%)2-+(#')/0#)&()-;#'#*&;%33Z)2##+g)V')5%;$<)/0-')Z#") are full of the Holy Spirit but lack money, you often feel frustrated and get depressed easily. The fact is that the anointing breaks the yoke and the yoke includes poverty. That is why David declared that ‘’The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want (lack).’’ As a child of God, poverty is never your ally. You have God’s power in you to deal a blow to poverty. I like what the respected and veteran great evangelist, Dr. T.L Osborn once said about poverty: ‘’Satan does not care how much spiritual wealth we possess, so long as we do not have the material means to share God’s blessings

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with his world.’’ I pray to God to help direct your path! May he direct you in Z#"+)4&'%';-()%'.)0-32)Z#")$#)8-)%)/&(-)/#+,-+)%'.)%)/&(-)(2-'.-+M) Never downplay the God-factor in your planning. Make it a priority to seek God’s face for his purpose for your life. He will give you a prophetic direction that is essential in the planning of your life. A classic example is Prophet Jeremiah. God knew Jeremiah long before he was born. At the time God called him, he was very young so he $0#"S0$) 0-) /%() '#$) !"%3&4&-.) $#) 8-) =#.P() (2#,-(2-+(#'<) /0%$) /%() God’s response? “F"%,($"%(!*'-(*6($"%(BCDE(8#3%($*(3%0(/#)1,4A(
!"E'% H0$<% <)5(% )5II'0&% ($% I'$I,'% <)$% &(51% .0% ()'%/.44,'%$*%()'%2$54:%#)'1%3'(%2+0%$7'2:"" -ANEURIN BEVAN, P0%#)'%^8&'27'26%_àb

CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS PLANNING?

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CHAPTER 2 POOR PLANNING WILL LEAD YOU ‘TO BE IN WANT’

• !"P*%1$+%3.7'%+I%8'*$2'%1$+2%3$5,%)5&%8''0%2'5J)'46% 1$+% 52'% 5% ![+.(('2:"% ?% [+.(('2% 0'7'2% <.0&% 504% 5% <.00'2%0'7'2%[+.(&:O%=%NAPOLEON HILL

I

T IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE to come from a rich family background. If God has blessed you and located you in a wealthy family, rejoice and thank him. Beyond that, do not be complacent and assume that !/'%I5I5%<$%&.H5U" meaning, /1% *5()'2% .&% <'5,()1. If you are blessed and privileged to inherit wealth and riches from your father or your family it is good news that puts you on a good ground to succeed. Nonetheless, you can inherit the wealth of even a whole empire and still end up a failure in life eventually. I have seen many cases like that in my lifetime. Yet, I have also seen people from very humble and poor backgrounds that have made it and are very wealthy today. The whole issue lies on good and effective planning.

A Wealthy Young Man Reduced To A Pauper. &1)2&?+0&%@.6&1.AA-/B YOU CAN INHERIT A GREAT HERITAGE and yet waste it all and be reduced to a pauper. It happened to the younger son in the parable Jesus Christ gave, which is popularly known as The Prodigal Son. The younger son asked for his share of his father’s inheritance while the father was still alive. That was a strange request, but the loving father gave it to his son. What did he do with the wealth that /%()S&U-')0&*h)N-$)"()4&'.)#"$>

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“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to him on urgent but unimportant activities such as drinking sprees, /#*%'&e&'S<)S%*83&'S<)(2#+$()%'.)#$0-+)'#'`2+#4&$&'S)3&5-($Z3-M)i#) investments, no savings, no planning, perhaps he wrongly assumed that the money was limitless. It was when ‘a severe famine’ came on that land when he realized how prodigal he had been! That should sound a caution to you, my dear reader. If you are part of the majority of people, it is likely that you have not inherited a great wealth. You are a worker and you gain income through your employment. How do you plan the ‘little’ income you gain at the end of the week or month? You must learn how to plan with whatever amount of money you make. It is not wise to compare the spending style of your friends or others you see in your neighbourhood or church. You do not know $0-&+)4&'%';&%3)($+-'S$0<)8"$)Z#"),'#/)Z#"+(M)W#)S#)%0-%.)%'.)23%') according to what you have on hand, for when all is said and done, planning is everything and everyone that has breath in him must learn how to plan his life. Heed to King Solomon’s advice that: !"?01%'0('2I2.&'%.&%8+.,(%81%<.&'%I,500.036%8'J$/'&%&(2$03%()2$+3)% J$//$0%&'0&'6%504%I2$-.(&%<$04'2*+,,1%81%H''I.03%582'5&(%$*%()'%*5J(&:% ?%<.&'%/50%.&%/.3)(.'2%()50%&(2'03():"" -PROVERBS 24:3, 4, THE LIVING BIBLE VERSION (TLB) !"#)2$+3)%&H.,,*+,%504%3$4,1%<.&4$/%.&%5%)$+&'%c5%,.*'6%5%)$/'6%5% *5/.,1d%8+.,(6%504%81%+04'2&(504.03%.(%.&%'&(58,.&)'4%c$0%5%&$+04%504% 3$$4%*$+045(.$0d:%?04%81%H0$<,'43'%&)5,,%()'%J)5/8'2&%8'%-.,,'4%<.()% 5,,%I2'J.$+&%504%I,'5&50(%2.J)'&:""=PROVERBS 24:3,4, THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE (TAB)

CHAPTER 2: LACK OF PLANNING WILL LEAD YOU TO ‘BE IN WANT

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Time Can Neither Be Stopped Nor Reversed TIME IS THE MOST PERISHABLE COMMODITY ON EARTH! Once time is used or misused it is gone. A minute wasted is gone forever. That is why you must guard against wasting time on things #+)%;$&U&$&-()$0%$)%+-)'#$)2"+2#(-5"3)%'.)2+#4&$%83-M)1$)%33);#($<).#)'#$) allow friends and relatives to waste your time. Be a good planner because God himself is an excellent Planner. At the creation of the earth, God planned before he began his great work. He ‘brooded’ over the chaotic earth before he declared, !F'(% ()'2'% 8'% N"" within a seven day period, God accomplished his purpose of creation. At the end of that grand project God was able $#)+-($)%'.);-3-8+%$-<)$0-)(-U-'$0)#+)4&'%3).%Z<)$0%$)0-);#*23-$-.)$0-) creation:
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0-)!"%3&4&-.)%()$0-)[5%$0-+)#5)5%&$0MP)13(#<)%()/-)(0%33);#'(&.-+)&')$0&() book, David planned for the future so well that his son Solomon had all he needed to live a wealthy life and to build the temple for God. I pray that if you are a servant of God, you will begin from today to plan effectively for your future.

CD9-6&E)8(&:.+6@&2)(F&GE&2)(F+/>&GE&:.+6@!’’ Planning is the secret of all truly successful people. An unplanned life will cause you to miss your direction in life. It would lead you to make mistakes that could have been avoided. So do all you can to gain knowledge on planning. Ask God for wisdom to enable you to convert that knowledge into actual planning. Get understanding to establish yourself on a solid foundation for your life. It is said that planners eventually become winners because ‘’to fail to plan is to plan to fail.’’ I will say that to plan your life is to succeed in life!

H(-&7)8&I/>.>-0&5/&H/E&J-.4+G,-&I/6-(A(+4-B WISE PLANNING, strengthened by common sense and solid facts are the golden steps that will make you a wise person. When you invest today in wise planning of your personal life, ministry, business or job, be rest assured that you shall surely reap great harvest of success tomorrow. That is my simple message for you in this book. I seek to show you that, on planet earth, all good planners have the edge to succeed. We will touch on examples in the Bible and discover that it is not only the anointing that breaks the yoke. Good planning that is executed with God’s wisdom also brings victory, %;;#*23&(0*-'$) %'.) 5"34&33*-'$<) %'.) $0%$) &() +-(-+U-.) 5#+) S##.) planners only. When you plan, plan right and let your plan be effective and practicable. Note also that, as much as you need to plan, it is equally important that your plan is designed according to planning principles that are result-oriented. In fact, I have come this far by God’s abundant grace and mercies. In addition to that, it is my ability to put into plan the vision that God has given me that has brought me this far in ministry as a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Also, I see to it that I plan in line with God’s Word and the divine direction that he gives me. After I have done my part, I leave the rest

CHAPTER 2: LACK OF PLANNING WILL LEAD YOU TO ‘BE IN WANT

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to God and He always honours my plan by giving me great results. That is why I have been able to write this book to encourage you also to be a good planner. In fact, I have planned my whole life and the ministry God has given me. I have planned my children’s education and my wife’s ministry and business. I have not left anything disorganized. In fact, I even have a plan for my funeral, burial and how I should be remembered when I am dead and gone to be with God in eternity! That is why I am so bold and passionate and have written this book to help you plan how to succeed and make a good name for yourself and to God’s glory.

T?,,%/'0%42'5/6%8+(%0$(%'[+5,,1:%#)$&'%<)$%42'5/% 81%0.3)(%.0%()'%4+&(1%2'J'&&%$*%()'.2%/.04&%5<5H'% ($% -.04% ()5(% .(% <5&% 750.(1:% C+(% ()'% 42'5/'2&% $*% 45I%52'%4503'2$+&%/'06%()5(%()'1%/51%5J(%()'.2% 42'5/&%<.()%$I'0%'1'&%($%/5H'%.(%I$&&.8,':"" -T.E. LAWRENCE

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CHAPTER 3 LET WISDOM AND GOD’S WORD GUIDE YOUR PLANNING

• !"C')$,46% P% &'04% 1$+% $+(% 5&% &)''I% .0% ()'% /.4&(% $*% <$,7'&:% #)'2'*$2'% 8'% <.&'% 5&% &'2I'0(&% 504% )52/,'&&%5&%4$7':""%=MATTHEW 10:16, NKJV

G

OOD PLANNERS ARE those who use God’s word as a standard. There are many examples in the Bible of godly people who lived their lives according to God’s plan and therefore succeeded in the face of their weaknesses. There are also others who failed in life despite their great strengths. Why? Because those who succeeded depended on God’s wisdom and power, while the others depended on their own might and ways. King Saul was very tall and had admirable looks. Yet, in spite of his physical advantage his leadership quality was poor. He panicked and disobeyed divine orders and went ahead to make an unlawful (%;+&4&;-)/0-')0&()(#3.&-+()8-S%')$#)(;%$$-+)^V)W%*"-3)HA_M)W%"3)3%;,-.) patience and courage because he did not know how to depend on God for directions. Moreover, he could not stand correction. When confronted over his mistakes, he gave excuses and never admitted being wrong. He hated to accept his wrongs. He was ungodly. He was irresponsible. No wonder God refused him and he attracted God’s judgment on him and his kingdom: <=,-(R#3+%9(/#1-($*(R#+90(
CHAPTER 3: LET WISDOM AND GOD’S WORD GUIDE YOUR PLANNING

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So King Saul lost his place as king over Israel long before God brought to the throne the next king. Saul’s own insecurity and lack of commitment to God led to his losing the throne. King Saul was simply self-centered, rebellious as well as a poor planner. David on the other hand was a humble man who had a heart of worship. From the day God instructed Prophet Samuel to anoint him for Kingship, David’s dependence on God increased. Beyond depending on God’s grace and power, David also prepared himself for his future roles. Yes, he was able to slay Goliath by God’s strength. However, over his years as a shepherd boy, he trained his hands how to throw the sling %'.)0-)8-;%*-)%')-\2-+$M)60%$)S%U-)0&*)$0-);#'4&.-';-)$#)$0+#/)$0-) sling that killed Goliath!

5K+6.6-&?.L+0D4&18K+,+6E Years later, after he had become king over Israel, David committed serious errors. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and went as far as killing the Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba. He lived unrepentant for almost a year. Then God sent Prophet Nathan to confront him. David repented and admitted his sins without giving any excuses or shifting blame on others. He humbly and repentantly accepted God’s judgment and disciplinary measures on him:
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GOD GIVES A SECOND CHANCE to those who repent humbly. After God forgave him, David never repeated the gross sin of adultery. He faced great challenges but he continued to depend on God. He sought God’s direction and planned his life in God’s directions. Although several family problems came his way, David lived for God and lived the rest of his life according to wise planning. He even planned who would succeed him. He prepared adequately for the building of the temple, as well as the succession plan of his successor. However, the one area of life he failed to plan led him unto adultery and that brought untoward repercussions in his life. One was the revolt of Absalom.

1+4&$2/&!)/&HG4.,)K&%(+-0&%)&?-6@()/-&1+K DAVID ABSALOM WAS THE MOST BELOVED SON OF DAVID. Q-%+() %5$-+) 0&() %."3$-+Z<) T%U&.P() 4&+($8#+'<) 1*'#') $+&;,-.) 0&*) %'.) got access to his daughter Tamar. Amnon raped his half-sister. David failed to rebuke him. That angered Absalom, because Tamar was his full sister. Absalom also tricked David and killed Amnon in revenge for his sister. David banished Absalom from Jerusalem. That increased Absalom’s bitterness. Out of pain, Absalom decided he bid his time. Four years later, when it seemed that everything was calm, one day, he asked permission from David saying, dad, ‘’Let me go to 9-8+#')%'.)5"34&33)%)U#/)V)*%.-)$#)$0-)N:XT)aMPP)T%U&.)S%U-)0&*)0&() blessing: ‘’Go in peace.’’ Absalom had already maneuvered to win the favour of the people (11 Samuel 15:1-6). As soon as he got his father’s approval to go to Hebron- the place where kings were enthroned in Israel- his secret messengers went throughout the tribes of Israel and declared with trumpets, ‘’Absalom is king of Hebron’’. Soon many people began to pledge their allegiance to him, including Ahithophel, David’s close pal and counselor. The Bible declares that, ‘’the conspiracy gained strength and Absalom’s following kept on increasing.’’ David hardly expected such a storm so he never planned for it. Then came a messenger to him with the bad news: #7%("#/$%( $*(-%?#'$0(9%/$("%(*&%'$#7%(+/(/+--%,9)(#,-(I'1,4(-1/#/$%'(+?*,(+/0(#,-( /$'17%($"%(81$)(21$"($"%(%-4%(*6($"%(/2*'-:;=II SAMUEL 15:14


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Absalom could not succeed in his evil scheme. His hair, which /%()0&()2+&.-<)/%();%"S0$)&')$0-)8+%';0-()#5)%)$+--)%()0-)$+&-.)$#)43--) from Joab. Later as Joab was informed, he killed Absalom and by that David was restored to his throne. Many years later, after Absalom’s instruction, another of his sons, Adonijah, also attempted to usurp the throne. David was old and Adonijah knew that he could become the next king. So he tried to proclaim himself as David’s successor. Prophet Nathan heard about Adonijah’s action and quickly reported it to Bathsheba, who also ran to David. Bathsheba besought David to make Solomon his heir, a decision David had already taken. David immediately unveiled his plan for his son Solomon: <=,-($"%(71,4($**7(#,(*#$"(#,-(/#1-0(<=/($"%(BCDE(91&%/0(2"*("#/( '%-%%3%-(3)(916%(6'*3(%&%')(-1/$'%//0 S+/$(#/(@(/2*'%($*()*+(I)($"%(BCDE H*-(*6(@/'#%90(/#)1,40(N=//+'%-9)(R*9*3*,()*+'(/*,(/"#99(I%(71,4(#6$%'( 3%0(#,-("%(/"#99(/1$(*,(3)($"'*,%(1,(3)(?9#8%0O(/*(@(8%'$#1,9)(2199(-*($"1/( -#):;=I KINGS 1:29, 30

?.L+0&5/46(8=6-0&1+4&!)/&!),)K)/&M-:)(-&1-&?+-0 After David had successfully carried out his plan and enthroned Solomon as the next king of Israel, he went further to give Solomon some vital instructions. That is how a responsible father must do: so plan and prepare the future for your children before you die. That was what David did: <=,-( Y1,4( M#&1-( /#1-0(
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<>*'%*&%'()*+(7,*2(#9/*(2"#$(G*#I($"%(/*,(*6([%'+1#"(-1-($*(3%0( #,-(2"#$("%(-1-($*($"%($2*(8*33#,-%'/(*6($"%(#'31%/(*6(@/'#%90($*(=I,%'( $"%(/*,(*6(V%'(#,-(=3#/#($"%(/*,(*6(G%$"%'0(2"*3("%(7199%-:(=,-("%(/"%-( $"%(I9**-(*6(2#'(1,(?%#8%$13%0(#,-(?+$($"%(I9**-(*6(2#'(*,("1/(I%9$($"#$( 2#/(#'*+,-("1/(2#1/$0(#,-(*,("1/(/#,-#9/($"#$(2%'%(*,("1/(6%%$:LI KINGS 2:5, 6 Concerning Shimei, who cursed David with a malicious curse in the day he went to Mahanaim, this was the instruction David gave to Solomon: <=,-(/%%0()*+("#&%(21$"()*+(R"13%1($"%(/*,(*6(H%'#0(#(K%,S#31$%( 6'*3(K#"+'130(2"*(8+'/%-(3%(21$"(#(3#9181*+/(8+'/%(1,($"%(-#)(2"%,(@( 2%,$($*(>#"#,#13:(K+$("%(8#3%(-*2,($*(3%%$(3%(#$($"%(G*'-#,0(#,-(@( /2*'%($*("13(I)($"%(BCDE0(/#)1,40(N@(2199(,*$(?+$()*+($*(-%#$"(21$"($"%( /2*'-:;-I KINGS 2:8, 9 Soon after those instructions, David ‘’rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David’’ (I Kings 2:10). Then Solomon sat on $0-)$0+#'-)#5)0&()5%$0-+)T%U&.M)9&(),&'S.#*)/%()4&+*3Z)-($%83&(0-.M) Now, Solomon, as a wise man, also planned and executed to the letter all the instructions his father David gave him. He quickly dealt with Adonijah, his brother. The reason? When David was old and advanced in years, his caretakers got a young woman, Abishag, to keep the old man’s body warm. Indeed, Abishag was ‘’very lovely; and she cared for the king, and served him; but the king did not know her’’ (I Kings 1:4). After the death of David, Adonijah went to Bathsheba to seek her help to have Abishag as his wife. That made Solomon angry and he acted promptly: <=,-(/%%0()*+("#&%(21$"()*+(R"13%1($"%(/*,(*6(H%'#0(#(K%,S#31$%( 6'*3(K#"+'130(2"*(8+'/%-(3%(21$"(#(3#9181*+/(8+'/%(1,($"%(-#)(2"%,(@( 2%,$($*(>#"#,#13:(K+$("%(8#3%(-*2,($*(3%%$(3%(#$($"%(G*'-#,0(#,-(@( /2*'%($*("13(I)($"%(BCDE0(/#)1,40(N@(2199(,*$(?+$()*+($*(-%#$"(21$"($"%( /2*'-:O V*2($"%'%6*'%0(-*(,*$("*9-("13(4+19$9%//0(6*'()*+(#'%(#(21/%(3#,( #,-(7,*2(2"#$()*+(*+4"$($*(-*($*("135(I+$(I'1,4("1/(4'#)("#1'(-*2,($*( $"%(4'#&%(21$"(I9**-:;LI KINGS 2:8-9


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After Solomon had executed Adonijah, he planned and executed all the other enemies to his throne. He executed Joab, the army general of David, who defected to Adonijah’s camp. King Solomon went further and gave Shimei a ‘house arrest’ and made him swear that he would not leave Jerusalem for a number of years. Later Shimei broke that rule and by that Solomon said to Shimei: !";$+% H0$<6% 5&% 1$+2% )'52(% 5JH0$<,'43'&6% 5,,% ()'% <.JH'40'&&% ()5(% 1$+% 4.4% ($% /1% *5()'2% e57.4G% ()'2'*$2'% ()'% F^@e% <.,,% 2'(+20% 1$+2% <.JH'40'&&%$0%1$+2%$<0%)'54:%C+(%A.03%V$,$/$0%&)5,,%8'%8,'&&'46%504% ()'%()2$0'%$*%e57.4%&)5,,%8'%'&(58,.&)'4%8'*$2'%()'%F^@e%*$2'7'2:"%V$% ()'%H.03%J$//504'4%C'05.5)N504%)'%<'0(%$+(%504%&(2+JH%)./%4$<06% 504%)'%4.'4:%#)+&%()'%H.034$/%<5&%'&(58,.&)'4%.0%.(:"" Even when God has prophesized over your life or has given you a great vision, it is up to you to apply wisdom to play your part before you can enjoy good success and prosperity. So, as you move with me $#)$0-)'-\$);0%2$-+<)0%U-)$0&()(%Z&'S)4&+*3Z)+##$-.)&')Z#"+)*&'.)%'.) heart: ‘’if it is going to be, it is up to me!’’ (Dr. Robert H. Schuller).

TE.()$+(% 5% 7.&.$0% ()'2'% J50% 8'% 0$% 4.2'J(.$0G% <.()$+(%4.2'J(.$0%()'2'%J50%8'%0$%I,50G%<.()$+(%5% I,50%()'2'%J50%8'%0$%'**'J(.7'%5J(.$0G%504%<.()$+(% '**'J(.7'%5J(.$0%()'2'%.&%0$%5JJ$/I,.&)/'0(:""% -GUY DUININCK

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CHAPTER 4 PLANNING PREPARES YOUR FUTURE TODAY

•

!"D,50%($%&+JJ''46%$26%1$+%)57'%I,500'4%($%*5.,U"" - DONNIE HALL

P

REPARATION IS CRUCIAL to prosperity and good success in life. All the great fathers in the Bible prepared adequately for their successor before they passed on. Noah blessed his children and gave the double-portion 83-((&'S)$#)W0-*<)0&()4&+($8#+'M)60%$)5%$0-+P()83-((&'S)2+-2%+-.)W0-*) to become the father of faith. Out of Shem’s lineage emerged Abram, who was called by Jehovah God. “V*2($"%(BCDE("#-(/#1-($*(=I'#3A(
CHAPTER 4: PLANNING PREPARES YOUR FUTURE TODAY

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come after you! The patriarchs planned their future and ensured that they transferred that ‘father’s blessing’ to their children before they died. We must also practice that in order to preserve and transfer God’s anointing upon us to the next generation. By that we secure the future that God has in store for our children and our children’s children.

Inheritance Is Not All About Money And Material Wealth Another spiritual principle I want you to understand is that inheritance is not always about material wealth. Great inheritance includes a good name, a diligent heart, diligent hands, obedience, trustworthiness, self-discipline and a positive attitude. These cannot be bought with money, neither do they come by accident. A father must invest these great virtues in his children. A father must make character building an important part of the training of his children. A mother must ensure that she teaches her daughter how to keep a home and how to be a good wife. “F'#1,(+?(#(8"19-(1,($"%(2#)("%(/"*+9-(4*0(=,-(2"%,("%(1/(*9-("%(2199( ,*$(-%?#'$(6'*3(1$:;=PROVERBS 22:6, NKJV

?)&H,,&7)8&<./&%)&9-.L-&H&N))0&O.KIt is irresponsible for a father to squander all his wealth in his lifetime and leave nothing as an inheritance for his children! That was what one of Elisha’s servants did. Although he ‘feared the Lord’ he died very poor, leaving a huge debt as a heritage: <=(8%'$#1,(2*3#,(*6($"%(21&%/(*6($"%(/*,/(*6($"%(?'*?"%$/(8'1%-(*+$( $*(]91/"#0(/#)1,40(
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of his death, his children will have investments that would outlive them. That would be a good example for our members to follow and imitate. A GOOD FATHER, according to God’s Word is ‘’a good man (who) 3-%U-()%')&'0-+&$%';-)$#)0&();0&3.+-'P();0&3.+-'aPP)^R+#U-+8()HA>@@_M) A good father does not invest in good inheritance for his children only; he prepares an inheritance that goes as far as blessing even his grand-children! That is the kind of father God expects every good man to be. ARE YOU A FATHER? Then begin from today to plan and prepare an inheritance that will last at least two generations to come! Is that achievable? Yes! You can do that, no matter what age you are today %'.)&++-(2-;$&U-)#5)Z#"+)4&'%';&%3)($%$"(M)V5)Z#")%+-)8-Z#'.)$0-)%S-)#5) 4&5$Z)$0-)$%(,)*%Z)8-)0%+.-+<)8"$)=#.);%')0-32)Z#"M)V5)Z#")%+-)Z#"'S-+) you have a better opportunity to start early. Seek for the help of a 4&'%';&%3)23%''-+)#+)%)($#;,)8+#,-+M)1$)%33);#($)(--,)%')-\2-+$P()%.U&;-) on how you can begin to sow seeds today, no matter how small, that will accrue to good wealth tomorrow. I have decided that henceforth, I will be making investments into land property and estate development establishing educational institutes and a few others. I have already started and I have a well laid out plan for my wife, my children, my extended family members and other dependants, as well as the church that God has made me a head over. Everything I do is documented and I ensure to do everything according to plan. My prayer is that God will continue to help me stick to my plan. If I follow my plan faithfully, by the time I am gone to glory, I will have invested in great wealth that will become a great inheritance that my wife, children, extended family members and even my children’s children will continue to enjoy. Do What Is Appropriate Today and Leave Tomorrow In God’s Hands FOR ANY INVESTMENT YOU MAKE, ensure that proper legal documentation are procured and are kept in the right places. Have a good witness, including a legal advisor. Do not leave anything to chance. If you are a founding pastor or a business owner, please ensure that you separate your personal and family property from that of the church or the business.


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As a founder, ensure that your church has proper records that are 0%'.3-.)8Z)!"%3&4&-.)2-#23-M)W--)$#)&$)$0%$)Z#"+);0"+;0)%.*&'&($+%$&#') &()-\;-33-'$)%'.)0-%.-.)8Z)S#.3Z<)!"%3&4&-.<)-\2-+&-';-.)%'.)-55-;$&U-) administrators. Carry out all functions of the church in line with the constitution. Make all transactions clear. Your church must pay you a salary commensurate with your position and functions. KEEP GOOD RECORDS OF YOUR ACTIVITIES. Separate another 4&'%';&%3)&'43#/)$0%$);#*-()$#)Z#")$0+#"S0)Z#"+)2-+(#'%3)8"(&'-(() or ministries that are independent of the church’s operations, programmes and incomes. When you do that very well, you will avoid $0-);#'$+#U-+(&-()%'.)%;;"(%$&#'()/0&;0)*%'Z)S#(2-3)*&'&($-+()4&'.) themselves in during our times. If you are founder of a church, see to it that you make an adequate preparation for whoever would be chosen as your successor in the future. Have the plan in place long before God calls you onto glory. When you do that, your church or ministry will be free of the controversies and divisions that follow soon after a founding leader dies. Do what King David did. Long before he was old and near the end of his days on earth, he began to prepare his successor. He made Nathan mentor and he groomed his son, Solomon, to become the next King after him.

?.L+0&'(-A.(-0&P-(E&#-,,&J)(&%@-&M8+,0+/>& $:&%@-&%-KA,LONG BEFORE HE DIED, David purposed in his heart to build a temple for God. God refused to grant him the permission to build him a temple. What did David do? All of chapter twenty-two of the Book of First Chronicles gives a detail account of how David laboriously prepared to build a temple for God. He put together all the items that /#"3.)8-)'--.-.)$#)8"&3.)$0%$)*%S'&4&;-'$)-.&4&;-> )(/*,0(#/(6*'(3%0(1$(

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2#/(1,(3)(31,-($*(I+19-(#("*+/%($*($"%(,#3%(*6($"%(BCDE(3)(H*-5(I+$( $"%(2*'-(*6($"%(BCDE(8#3%($*(3%0(/#)1,40(NU*+("#&%(/"%-(3+8"(I9**-( #,-("#&%(3#-%(4'%#$(2#'/5()*+(/"#99(,*$(I+19-(#("*+/%(6*'(>)(,#3%0( I%8#+/%()*+("#&%(/"%-(3+8"(I9**-(*,($"%(%#'$"(1,(>)(/14"$:(K%"*9-0(#( /*,(/"#99(I%(I*',($*()*+0(2"*(/"#99(I%(#(3#,(*6('%/$5(#,-(@(2199(41&%("13( '%/$(6'*3(#99("1/(%,%31%/(#99(#'*+,-:(Q1/(,#3%(/"#99(I%(R*9*3*,0(6*'(@( 2199(41&%(?%#8%(#,-(_+1%$,%//($*(@/'#%9(1,("1/(-#)/:(Q%(/"#99(I+19-(#("*+/%( 6*'(>)(,#3%0(#,-("%(/"#99(I%(>)(/*,0(#,-(@(2199(I%("1/(P#$"%'5(#,-(@(2199( %/$#I91/"($"%($"'*,%(*6("1/(71,4-*3(*&%'(@/'#%9(6*'%&%':O( V*20(3)(/*,0( 3#)($"%(BCDE(I%(21$"()*+5(#,-(3#)()*+(?'*/?%'0(#,-(I+19-($"%("*+/%(*6( the BCDE()*+'(H*-0(#/(Q%("#/(/#1-($*()*+: `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`6( 4*9-(#,-(/19&%'(#,-(I'*,T%(#,-(1'*,($"%'%(1/(,*(9131$:(='1/%(#,-(I%41,( 2*'71,40(#,-($"%(BCDE(I%(21$"()*+:;-I CHRONICLES 22:5-16, NKJV In fact, David did not stop there. After having instructed his son on what to do after his demise, he went further to call upon and commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon, his son. He exhorted them to set their hearts and souls on God. He charged them to do this:

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upkeep when he is old. A good father rather prepares the future of his children today. A good father makes wealth and prepares great inheritance for his children and even his children’s children. Begin today to plan for your children’s future, make investments today for Z#"+) ;0&3.+-') $#) 8-'-4&$) 5+#*) $#*#++#/M) 7"Z) 3%'.(<) 8"&3.) 0#"(-(<) establish companies in their name, give them good education, and help them develop godly character. Mentor your children and help them discover their purposes and catch visions for their future careers, professions or ministries. 154&+*)$0-*)%'.)0-32)$0-*);0##(-)$0-&+);%+--+(M)1$)%33);#($(<)2+-2%+-) the way for your ‘Solomon’ to succeed your ‘throne’ long before you die. Do it and the Father of fathers will bless you! Because King David planned well for the future of his son Solomon and Solomon /&(-3Z) ;%++&-.) #"$) $0-) 23%'() #5) 0&() 5%$0-+<) 0&() F&'S.#*) /%() 4&+*3Z) established and he prospered all through his reign over Israel. That ;#'4&+*() $0-) 5%;$) $0%$) 23%''&'S) &() %) *%d#+) %'.) %) U&$%3) 2%+$) #5) %'Z) success you desire in this life.

9-.L-&H&9->.=E&$:&N)0,E&<@.(.=6-( I COME FROM A POLYGAMOUS HOME and my mother was the second wife of my father. Knowing that our father had little time for us, my mother went the extra-mile to ensure that my siblings and I were well-behaved and disciplined. She made sure that our lifestyles were different from all the other young ones in our village. My *#$0-+)/%()'#$)4&'%';&%33Z)+&;0<)8"$)(0-)/%()U-+Z)+&;0)&');0%+%;$-+) which is a great legacy indeed! She was a very competent woman and she put in a lot of effort to help develop good character and moral attitude in me and all my siblings. She trained us to be morally upright and to take our education seriously. That training helped us to be distinguished in the whole community. In fact, all my siblings got a good education and training and, as I write this, all of them have travelled to Europe and are doing very well. They all carried with them the early training they received in our childhood years. One outstanding character quality my mother ensured that we %33).-U-3#2-.)/%()(-343-(('-((M))O-)/-+-)%33)$+%&'-.)$#)$0&',)#5)#$0-+(P) welfare, to be kind and compassionate towards others, especially the needy and the under-privileged. No wonder, when God called

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*-)&'$#)5"33`$&*-)*&'&($+Z)/#+,<)$0-)4&+($)$0&'S)V)8-S%')$#).#)/%()$#) invest in the training of many young ones that I adopted as sons and daughters. I was unmarried at that time, yet I catered for them as I would for my own biological children. I saw the future they had and began to invest into that future. “=(4**-(3#,(9%#&%/(#,(1,"%'1$#,8%($*("1/(8"19-'%,O/(8"19-'%,0(I+$($"%( 2%#9$"(*6($"%(/1,,%'(1/(/$*'%-(+?(6*'($"%('14"$%*+/:;LPROVERBS 13:22, NKJV Today my benevolent efforts have yielded great dividends. Most of them have graduated from university and other tertiary institutions. Just this month one of my sons is to leave for Europe to pursue his Master’s degree. That is a clear evidence of long-term planning. Tomorrow, when I am old and retired from active service, King David’s prophetic words would come to pass in my life. “K%"*9-0( 8"19-'%,( #'%( #( "%'1$#4%( 6'*3( $"%( BCDE0( F"%( 6'+1$( *6( $"%( 2*3I( 1/( #( '%2#'-:( B17%( #''*2/( 1,( $"%( "#,-( *6( #( 2#''1*'0( /*( #'%( $"%( 8"19-'%,(*6(*,%O/()*+$": Q#??)(1/($"%(3#,(2"*("#/("1/(_+1&%'(6+99(*6($"%35( $"%)( /"#99( ,*$( I%( #/"#3%-0( I+$( /"#99( /?%#7( 21$"( $"%1'( %,%31%/( 1,( $"%( 4#$%:;=%PSALM 127:3-5, NKJV

TD'$I,'%4$0"(%J52'%)$<%/+J)%1$+%H0$<%+0(.,%()'1% H0$<%)$<%/+J)%1$+%J52'%58$+(%()'/:""


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CHAPTER 5 YOU NEED A ‘DREAM-MAKER’

• !"Z$%/50%J50%8'J$/'%2.J)%<.()$+(%)./&',*% '02.J).03%$()'2&:"" =%ANDREW CARNEGIE

A

DREAM-MAKER IS A MENTOR, a life coach, a counselor, a master and a guide. Dream-makers are experienced in life and are often leaders who have made their mark in life. Dream-makers bring about change in the lives of those they mentor. Until you have met your dream-maker, you are U-+Z)3&,-3Z)$#)+-*%&')"'+-4&'-.)&')*%'Z)%(2-;$()#5)Z#"+)3&5-M)K0%+&(*%) is good, but it needs quality character and a sense of responsibility to balance it. A dream-maker is someone who can show you the right path and the training required to prosper. He, then, will lead you to that right path and teach you what you can do to get there. That was what Sir. Isaac Newton meant when he declared: TP%)57'%&''0%5*52%.0($%()'%*+(+2'%8'J5+&'%P%&($$4%$0%()'%&)$+,4'2&% $*%()$&'%<)$%)57'%3$0'%5)'54N"" A TRUE DREAM-MAKER) 0%() /0%$) &$) $%,-() $#) 0-32) Z#") .-4&'-) Z#"+(-35)%'.)$#).&(;#U-+)%'.)2"+("-)Z#"+).-4&'&$-)2"+2#(-)&')3&5-M)1) good dream-maker multiplies his success in you. In other words, he uses his success as a spark to ignite your own God-given purpose and vision. Often it takes a dream-maker to help you balance your charisma with character, so get a dream-maker at all costs!

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My Personal Example For many years I have documented a lot of inspired ideas, revelations, research information as well as notes of my teachings and preaching that I have written down in the past twenty years or more. I even contracted someone to publish some of my teachings and the book is almost about to be printed. My dream has been to become an author as soon as possible. Then came the most opportune moment through my dear friend, Rev. Charles Ansah Owusu. I met Pastor Claude Mann, who &()%)O+&$&'S)K#'("3$%'$)%'.)%)b#$&U%$&#'%3)W2-%,-+M)60-)4&+($)$&*-)V) listened to him, I knew that he had something I needed. Therefore I got copies of CDs of all his motivational speeches and listened to them. Also, I was aware that he was the Editor of all the books Rev. Ansah Owusu had published. I informed my friend of my intention to have Pastor Claude Mann speak at my church and also work on my books. So he came and we sat down a couple of times. I spoke extensively and communicated to him all the revelations, &.-%()%'.)&'(&S0$()$0%$)/-+-)43#%$&'S)%33)#U-+)*Z)*&'.)%'.)0-%+$M)V) showed him my notebooks and he wrote down every single word I spoke. He asked me questions and wrote down the answers. He took the copy of the book I was about to publish and decided to do some editing on the contents. That meeting resulted in the birth of $0+--) 8##,(<) $0-) 4&+($) 8-&'S) $0&() S+-%$) 8##,) &') Z#"+) 0%'.(g) 60%$) &() what I mean by meeting your dream-maker. As far as book writing is concerned, I see Claude Mann as my dream-maker. The bottom-line therefore is that, no matter how gifted you are in your unique area of calling or training, you need someone who is anointed and has the expertise of what you need, but lack the know-how. So at all costs, do all you can to meet your dream-maker and you will have your dreams come true.

56&54&H&N(-.6&H0L./6.>-&5:&7)8&;--6&7)8(&?(-.KQ;.F-(& P-(E&I.(,E&5/&9+:JOSHUA MET HIS DREAM-MAKER, MOSES, at an early age. He knew Moses very well and served him wholeheartedly. He obeyed Moses in every way and learned the art of good leadership from Moses. It was the good training he got from Moses that prepared

!"#$%&'()*(+,-(.&&/(#(/' #2&'

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him to lead Israel to the Promised Land. Samuel met his dreammaker, ELI, in his tender age and he trained him to become a priest. i#)/#'.-+)W%*"-3)8-;%*-)%)d".S-<)%'.)$0-)4&+($),&'S*%,-+)#5)V(+%-3M) Saul had great stature and he was very strong. He was therefore the one who was often sent to search for the lost donkeys of his father. After he had done many of those donkey chasing errands, he concluded that he was born to chase donkeys! He therefore had no big dreams until he met Samuel, his dream-maker!
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opinion so much that he remained her chief advisor all through her reign as a Queen (Esther 4). BARNABAS)/%()R1ENPW).+-%*`*%,-+)^1;$()J>@GÀC_M)=#.)S%U-) that opportunity to Prophet Ananias but he refused to mentor Paul (Acts 9:10-18). Barnabas, who took Paul’s hands, introduced him to the church and the rest is history! TIMOTHY met PAUL very early in his ministry and Paul became his dream-maker. You also need a dream-maker who is a connector, who will connect you to your purpose and destiny. When you have a dreammaker, see to it that you consult him before you make any important decision in life. Joseph Needed A Dream-Maker & Pharaoh Needed A Dream Interpreter THE KEY TO JOSEPH’S DREAM-MAKER WAS IN PHARAOH and Pharaoh had to dream to make Joseph’s dream come to pass. God had to cause Pharaoh to dream and until that divinely orchestrated dream came Joseph was a mere prisoner. Even in prison Joseph was anointed with the grace to interpret dreams. He was loaded with great wealth of wisdom for rulership, but because he had not come into contact with his dream-maker, he remained poor and locked up in the prison. Then God intervened, the king dreamt and no one could interpret the dream. The butler remembered Joseph after two years of delay! Your success may delay after you have received the promise. For Joseph everything looked gloomy, but God was working behind the scenes. God reminded the butler to testify about Joseph’s extraordinary skills in dream interpretation and that was the beginning of great things to come in Joseph’s life. Joseph was ushered before the great king. He was able to interpret the king’s dream and, not only that, he went further to offer free consultancy on how Egypt would prepare for the seven years of plenty and the seven years of famine. After he had completed his task, what took place?
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?%*?9%( /"#99( I%( '+9%-( #88*'-1,4( $*( )*+'( 2*'-5( *,9)( 1,( '%4#'-( $*( $"%( $"'*,%(2199(@(I%(4'%#$%'($"#,()*+:;(=,-(c"#'#*"(/#1-($*(G*/%?"0(
<@))4-&7)8(&?(-.KQ;.F-(&#+4-,E&H/0&!6(.6->+=.,,E A dream-maker will not always come your way. Sometimes you must make a great effort to seek after a dream-maker. When you have spotted your potential dream-maker, be determined and get hooked to him no matter the cost. That was what RUTH, the Moabite did. NAOMI told Ruth and Orpah to go back to their country because they were still young and could get husbands and have children. Orpah agreed and left. Ruth refused to go. Why? She knew that her destiny was tied to Naomi so she refused to leave her company. Ruth chose Naomi as her dream-maker and that paid off big time! Her decision teaches us that who you choose as a dream-maker will eventually determine who you become in life!-RUTH 4:13-17, NKJV The great American industrialist, philanthropist and millionaire ANDREW CARNEGIE saw his employees as his dream-makers. As a man of great humility, wisdom and discernment, he saw that any leader who became ‘the boss’ failed eventually. So as the CEO of his company he chose to rather see himself as a co-owner of all his wealth. He saw all those he strategically employed as his dreammakers. That was why he once said, CD5&)[email protected]([email protected]&.=@+-L-0R&GE&6@-&,.(>-R&6)&KE& .G+,+6E& 6)& 48(()8/0& KE4-,:& 2+6@& A-)A,-& 2@)& .(-& 4K.(6-(& 6@./& 5& am.’’ [ 30 ]


Carnegie knew his areas of limitations so he employed experts in those areas and that was a key to his great success. On the other hand, Carnegie was also the dream-maker of his team members because he ensured that each of them became a millionaire. That &()$0-)*%+,)#5)%)(-343-(()3-%.-+<)'#)/#'.-+)#')0&()$#*8($#'-)$0-(-) words are engrafted: !"W'2'%,.'&%5%/50%<)$%H0'<%)$<%($%'0,.&(%()'%&'27.J'%$*%8'(('2%/'0% ()50%)./&',*:"" I also try to work by this same philosophy and it works for me. I have made it my duty to discover experts who are excellent in areas that I have no expertise. I employ their services and ensure that we 8-'-4&$) *"$"%33ZM) 1') -\%*23-) &() /0-') V) .-;&.-.) $#) /+&$-) 8##,(<) V) sought for an experienced writer to help me develop my ideas into 8##,()/0&3-)V)%3(#)-'("+-.)$0%$)0-)8-'-4&$-.)4&'%';&%33Z)5#+)0&()-55#+$M) I found one and we worked together. Now you have the evidence in your hands, this book, and many others soon to come!

Be Sure You Are On The Right Path And %@-&S+>@6&?+(-=6+)/ It often happens that many potentially great people on earth do travel through wrong roads in life and by the time they are in their midlife they have gone far away from their dreams and the dream-makers God intended for them. As a pastor and a prophet, I 0%U-);#"'(-3-.)*%'Z)2-#23-)&')$0-&+)4&5$&-()%'.)(&\$&-()/0#)%+-)5"33) of regret and bitterness. Why? Because they discovered almost too late what they were supposed to have done when they were in their teens and early twenties. They begin to lament,%!".*%$0,1%P%)54%/'(%/1% 42'5/=/5H'2%(<'0(1%1'52&%53$%NU"" A man, whose wife is a medical student, came to see me. According $#)0&*<)0&()/&5-)/%();3#(-)$#)0-+)4&'%3)Z-%+<)8"$)("..-'3Z)(0-)(--*-.) to have totally lost interest in pursuing the medical training. That puzzled her husband because, according to him, she really loved the medical course. Later on he found out the reason why his wife wanted to quit her course. She had enjoyed the theoretical aspect of the course until they had to practice ‘post mortem’ as part of their training. The sight of dead bodies and she cutting into them was the

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cause of her loss of interest in medicine. She had a serious phobia of dead bodies! It is very likely that the wife of my counselee is not designed to 8-)%)*-.&;%3).#;$#+M)W0-)*&S0$)0%U-);0#(-')$0%$)4&-3.)-&$0-+)8Z)$0-) &'43"-';-)#5)0-+)2%+-'$()#+)2-+0%2()8-;%"(-)(0-)S#$)-\;-33-'$)S+%.-() in science subjects. As an avid reader and a lover of theories, it is likely $0%$)0-+)'%$"+%3)4&-3.)#5)($".Z)/#"3.)0%U-)8--')$0-)%+$()+%$0-+)$0%') the sciences. If she had met her dream-maker to counsel her earlier on, she might have chosen a course that suited her temperament, personality, interest and passion. That is why if you are a student, Z#").-4&'&$-3Z)'--.)%)S##.);%+--+);#"'(-3#+)$#)S"&.-)Z#")$#);0#(-) the right subjects or course that match you, your natureyou’re your purpose.

IL-/&5:&7)8&H(-&H0L./=-0&5/&H>-R&56&54&O)6&%))&9.6-T There are times when some people conclude that ‘it is too late’ for them to pursue their original purpose in life. While that sounds to be factual, the truth is that God can, and sometimes does, call people when they are in their old age! God called Abraham when 0-)/%()%3+-%.Z)(-U-'$Z`4&U-)Z-%+()#3.M)]U-')&5)Z#")*&((-.)$0-)4&+($) opportunity, God can give you a second chance. So never give up hope! A CLASSIC BIBLICAL EXAMPLE IS MOSES. At the prime age of forty Moses assumed that the time had come for him to begin to pursue his mission as the deliverer of the Hebrews from Pharaoh (Exodus 2:11-22). But in God’s scheme of things Moses had not yet met his dream-maker, so he caused events to turn around and that 5#+;-.)b#(-()$#)43--)$#)$0-).-(-+$)#5)b&.&%'<)/0-+-)0-)5#"'.)c-$0+#<) his dream-maker, who mentored him for the great task ahead. It took %'#$0-+)5#+$Z)Z-%+()#5)0&()3&5-)8-5#+-)=#.)4&'%33Z);%33-.)%'.)%((&S'-.) b#(-()$#)8-S&')$#)5"34&33)0&()*&((&#'> “R*(2"%,($"%(BCDE(/#2($"#$("%($+',%-(#/1-%($*(9**70(H*-(8#99%-($*("13( 6'*3($"%(31-/$(*6($"%(I+/"(#,-(/#1-0(<>*/%/0(>*/%/\;=,-("%(/#1-0(
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c%'1TT1$%/( #,-( $"%( Q1&1$%/( #,-( $"%( G%I+/1$%/: V*2( $"%'%6*'%0( I%"*9-0($"%(8')(*6($"%(8"19-'%,(*6(@/'#%9("#/(8*3%($*(>%0(#,-(@("#&%(#9/*( /%%,($"%(*??'%//1*,(21$"(2"18"($"%(]4)?$1#,/(*??'%//($"%3: Z*3%(,*20( $"%'%6*'%0(#,-(@(2199(/%,-()*+($*(c"#'#*"($"#$()*+(3#)(I'1,4(>)(?%*?9%0( $"%(8"19-'%,(*6(@/'#%90(*+$(*6(]4)?$:;=EXODUS 3:4-10, NKJV No matter how things look in your life, encourage yourself in the Lord and ask him to give you the opportunity to meet your dreammaker and God shall do it!

TV+JJ'&&%.&%0$(%2'&'27'4%*$2%()'%(5,'0('4:%P(%.&%0$(% .0%()'%).3)%P:f:%Z$(%.0%()'%3.*('4%8.2():%Z$(%.0%()'% 8'&(% '[+.I/'0(:% Z$(% '7'0% .0% 58.,.(1:% V+JJ'&&% .&% 5,/$&(% ($(5,,1% 4'I'04'0(% +I$0% 42.7'6% *$J+&% 504% I'2&.&('0J':"" Q&?IO5!&#H5%9I7

!"#$%&'()*(+,-(.&&/(#(/' #2&'

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CHAPTER 6 DISCOVER THE POTENTIAL HIDDEN IN YOU

• !"BgI'2.'0J'%.&%0$(%<)5(%)5II'0&%($%1$+:% BgI'2.'0J'%.&%<)5(%1$+%4$%<.()%<)5(%)5II'0&% ($%1$+:"" =%ALDOUS HUXLEY

A

YOUNG MAN WAS PHYSICALLY-CHALLENGED and he sat by the roadside each morning, begging for donations. He had become popular in that area and people passing by often had pity on him giving him coins and other gifts. One day, a man who had been giving him alms planned to bless him with a huge capital that would end his misery and keep him out of the begging business. This was what the ‘good Samaritan’ did: He bought a big-sized bread loaf. He opened it and hid in it a piece of pure gold. He closed it up carefully and went to see his friend the beggar. He conversed with him and as he was about to depart he said to the beggar: ‘’Take this bread, go home and eat it. I assure you that when you really eat this bread, you will never need to come here again to beg!’’ He did not reveal to him that there was gold in the bread. At about 5 pm that same day, another man was passing by and the disabled man called him and said, ‘’ please you know my condition… please take this loaf of bread and give me some money to buy food to eat.’’ The man had pity on him, took the bread and gave him some money. When he got home, lo and behold, he found a sparkling piece of gold hidden in the bread and took it. The following day, the benefactor who gave the bread with gold +-$"+'-.)%'.)/%()("+2+&(-.)$#)4&'.)$0-)8-SS%+)($&33)%$)2#($)&')0&()"("%3)

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place. He approached the beggar and told him: !"P%5/%7'21%&+2'%1$+% 4.4%0$(%'5(%()'%82'54%P%357'%1$+6%*$2%.*%1$+%4.46%1$+%<$+,4%0'7'2%8'%)'2'% 535.0%8'33.03U""%Well, out of compassion he went home and brought the beggar another bread which also had a piece of gold hidden in it. 60-)8-SS%+)%S%&')5%&3-.)$#)S#)0#*-)$#)-%$)$0-)8+-%.M)60-')%$)%8#"$)A) pm the opportunist returned. He met the beggar, who immediately offered the second bread for sale. Of course the man took it and gave him money. The opportunist went home and indeed, there again was another piece of pure gold! A few weeks later, the benefactor was passing the spot and there again was the beggar! That made him so angry that he rebuked the beggar sharply. Of course the beggar was not at all moved because, after all, it was mere bread and what he needed and wanted was money! Then came the revelation, the benefactor took pain to disclose to the beggar: !"E',,6%*$2%1$+2%.0*$2/5(.$06%()'%(<$%,$57'&%$*%82'54%P%357'%1$+%8$()% J$0(5.0'4%I.'J'&%$*%I+2'%3$,4%()5(%J$+,4%*'(J)%1$+%&'7'25,%()$+&504&% $*%4$,,52&NU"" Angrily, the beggar began to limp his way as fast as he could to the house of the opportunist. He was told that the man had relocated and was directed to his new residence. The beggar was amazed at the sight: a new house beautifully decorated with exotic $%2-($+Z)%'.)43#/-+)S%+.-'()&')5+#'$M)60-)8-SS%+)$+&-.)$#)%+S"-)/&$0) the opportunist, but he obviously had no case. Yes, of course, he had bought the new house and cars with the money that he found in the two loaves of bread which was meant for the poor beggar. Now the beggar began to beg him to offer him a job and he was told: !"E',,6%()'%8'&(%)',I%P%J50%3.7'%1$+%.&%($%/5H'%1$+%$0'%$*%()'%&'J+2.(1% 3+524&%5(%/1%35('U"" As funny as this story might sound to you that is what is happening in the lives of many people who have much potential for success. There is a piece of gold in all of us. How we are able to discover it and use it determines our worth in life. God has hidden a ‘piece of gold’ –raw talents, skills and abilities in each of us. As you read, you carry in you a dynamic potential that must be tapped and used. God has given you a vision and a dream that contains your success

CHAPTER 6: DISCOVER THE POTENTIAL HIDDEN IN YOU

[ 35 ]

and destiny. If you fail to discover the ‘seed’ of your dream or vision, you will not value it. And anything you do not value you sell it cheap, as Esau sold his birthright to Jacob. You can sell your dream to others without knowing it! There are people like the opportunist who are U-+Z)(*%+$)%'.)/&33)[($-%3P)Z#"+).+-%*)%'.)*%,-)0"S-)2+#4&$()#"$)#5) them. They may even employ you and make you their proverbial hen that hatches golden eggs for her master, so beware my dear reader! There is a sleeping giant within you, so wake up from your slumber! May the Lord open your eyes to see what you have inside you. As you do, may you begin to make plans for your dreams. 9%+'-(()$0-*<)"$&3&e-)$0-*)%'.)*%,-)S+-%$)2+#4&$)#"$)#5)Z#"+).+-%*M) Seek help to identify your unique talents, gifts, abilities and skills. Plan how to develop each of them and live a purpose-driven life. May God show you the dream-makers who can help you to maximize your potential!

!"P0('32.(1%<.()$+(%H0$<,'43'%.&%<'5H%504%+&','&&6% 504% H0$<,'43'% <.()$+(% .0('32.(1% .&% 4503'2$+&% 504%42'54*+,:"" Q?S"&!H;3I9&U$1O!$O

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CHAPTER 7 CAPTURE YOUR OPPORTUNITIES AND BE DILIGENT

• TZ$().03%<$2H&6%8+(%*$2%<$2H'2&:%Z$().03%/$7'&% 8+(%*$2%/$7'2&6%0$%$0'%$8(5.0&%8+(%<.00'2&:%;$+% )57'%4.&J$7'2'4%()'%4.7.0'%4'I$&.(%.0&.4'%1$+:% E)5(% ()'0% 4$% 1$+% 4$% <.()% .(Y% ;$+% I+2&+'% .(U% ;$+%2+0%<.()%.(6%0$(%&,''I%<.()%.(U%P(%.&%<$2H%()5(% 4'('2/.0'&%1$+2%<$2():%#$%8'%!<$2H=,'&&"%.&%($% 8'%<$2()=,'&&:O% = BISHOP DAVID OYEDEPO

P

LANNING PREPARES YOU FOR TIMES OF OPPORTUNITIES. Life is full of opportunities, but only a few people see such opportunities. The people who are most likely to seize their opportunities are good planners. A good planner is very likely to spot great opportunities long before others do. Even as life is full of opportunities, life is also in stages and each stage carries its own unique opportunities. The few people who succeed in seizing their opportunities ahead of many others are those who are discerning visionaries, who have the edge to be good planners. Such people are able to see and seize their moments and become trailblazers, founders, pioneers and pacesetters on earth! Have you caught a vision? Do you see an opportunity before you? Seize it and seek direction. Plan how to put your dream into action. Set good goals and objectives. Move by faith to begin the journey of your dreams, now!

CHAPTER 7: CAPTURE YOUR OPPORTUNITIES AND BE DILIGENT

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1)2&%)&',./&%)&5KA,-K-/6&7)8(&P+4+)/ There are people who are very good planners, but yet are very poor when it comes to casting a vision, seeing opportunities and seizing them. Such persons are very effective planners but are poor implementers of what they plan. They are theorists and are not practically-oriented. So, they dream and plan, but others, who are smarter in pursuing dreams, implement the plans the dreamers have drawn. I recommend, therefore, that you learn how to be a dreamer as well as a good planner. When you are gifted in casting visions and you learn how to plan your life around your dreams, you can become very successful in the future. So I advise that, if God has given you a dream and you know what that dream is, make an additional effort to plan how you will execute your dream. Learn to set goals for each of your dreams. Develop an action plan for each of the goals you set. Make sure that your plan is divided as short-term, medium-term and long-term goals. Develop a long-term plan for the next ten years of your life. 7%(-.) #') $0%$) *%($-+) 23%'<) .-U-3#2) 23%'() 5#+) $0-) '-\$) 4&U-) Z-%+(<) next two years, next one year and what you will do daily, weekly and monthly to achieve the medium and long term goals you have set in your master plan. Have someone, like your mentor, evaluate your plan with you. Correct your mistakes and re-strategize where you need to do so. As much as your future is in God’s hands, it is also true that you can plan your future today. Do not leave the future to fate. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to develop a good plan that will make your 5"$"+-) 2#((&8&3&$&-() ;#*-) $#) 2%((M) R"$) =#.) 4&+($) &') %33) Z#") .#M) 9%U-) priorities. Focus on your mission in life. Do not allow anything or anyone to distract your attention. Never give attention to the devil, he will give you direction which is opposite of God’s direction for you! Let us take for example that you have a vision to pursue the dream of becoming an Estate Developer. That is your vision, but &$()5"34&33*-'$)&()&')$0-)3#'S`$-+*M)Q#")*"($)$0-+-5#+-)(-$)3#'S`$-+*) goals, medium-term goals as well as short-term goals. Begin today to implement your short-term goals, which include research into what property development is all about as well as the prospects of that business in your country or city.

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Seeking for huge funds as capital, securing a land, and employing building contractors are all essential, but are not at all relevant at $0-)8-S&''&'S)($%S-M)O0%$)Z#")'--.)4&+($)&()$0-)U&(&#'<);#**&$*-'$) and passion to pursue that vision. That is your invisible capital for that business. As you conceive the idea, go further to incubate and nurture it. Pray fervently and seek God’s wisdom and understanding in that specialized area. As the vision becomes clearer, move a step forward to under-study a successful estate manager. Step by step, you will progress and your dream will unfold until, by God’s help, you will maximize your potential and opportunity and you will become an estate owner in the long-term.

1.L-&H&<,-.(&'-(4A-=6+LYou must set your long-range vision for the ‘big picture’ before you. In Genesis 15:2, God had given Abram a vision of his future. Abram however had a myopic view of what God had destined for 0&*) $#) 2#((-((M) 18+%*) /%() ;#'4&'-.) $#) 0&() $-'$<) /0-+-) 0-) ./-3$<) and that obviously blocked him from seeing clearly into his glorious future. To worsen his plight, he had his nephew Lot hanging on him and making trouble with his servants. Although he was a great man of faith and trusted God, he still had a limited view of his future blessings and was stuck to the status quo. ABRAM needed to experience a radical paradigm shift in order to see what God had prepared for him. So this was what God did: Firstly, he inspired him to separate from Lot. Secondly, he needed to come out of his tent and begin to see and think outside the box. As soon as Abram obeyed and separated from Lot, God spoke to him and directed him on the next step to take: “And the BCDE( /#1-( $*(=I'#30( #6$%'( B*$( "#-( /%?#'#$%-( 6'*3( "13A( “Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are L(,*'$"2#'-0( /*+$"2#'-0(%#/$2#'-0(#,-(2%/$2#'-5( 6*'(#99($"%(9#,-(2"18"()*+(/%%(@(41&%( $*()*+(#,-()*+'(-%/8%,-#,$/(6*'%&%':(=,-(@(2199(3#7%()*+'(-%/8%,-#,$/( #/($"%(-+/$(*6($"%(%#'$"5(/*($"#$(16(#(3#,(8*+9-(,+3I%'($"%(-+/$(*6($"%( %#'$"0($"%,()*+'(-%/8%,-#,$/(#9/*(8*+9-(I%(,+3I%'%-:(='1/%0(2#97(1,($"%( 9#,-( $"'*+4"( 1$/( 9%,4$"( #,-( 1$/( 21-$"0( for I give it to you:;-GENESIS 13:14-17, NKJV


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GOD SPOKE, ABRAHAM BELIEVED, obeyed and came out of his tent. God commanded Abraham to look up to the sky and behold the stars. God instructed him to look at the four corners of the earth, north, south, east and west. Abraham obeyed and he caught the vision of his mission! Whenever you visualize your vision, purpose becomes meaningful and your mission becomes possible. Suddenly you see opportunities everywhere. So be like Abraham, and mentally, and by faith, walk through the length and breath of your vision. 1((-(() &$) %'.) 8-3&-U-) $0%$) /&$0) =#.<) Z#") ;%') 2"+("-) %'.) 5"34&33) &$g) Always remember God’s Words to you:

!"F.*(%+I%1$+2%'1'&%504%,$$H6%<)5('7'2%1$+%&''%.&% 1$+2&:%?&%*52%5&%1$+%J50%&''6%P%<.,,%3.7'%($%1$+:"" Have you lifted up your eyes to the dimensions God showed you? If you have, how far do you see and do you have the faith to get there? V5)Z#")(--)#'3Z)Z#"+(-35)&')$0%$);#+'-+)#+)(*%33)+##*)$0%$)Z#")4&'.) yourself in today, then that is all you will continue to see tomorrow. If you see yourself in a greatly enlarged place that God designed for you, then you will surely possess it! GOD IS THE SAME TODAY as he was yesterday and shall be tomorrow. What he did yesterday, he still does today. He wants you to behave as Abram did. Move out of your small corner and look up the sky. Have a paradigm shift. Broaden your horizon. Enlarge your territory mentally. Correct your narrow-minded worldview and think big, in line with God’s big plans for your life. Shift from mediocrity to excellence. Overcome your fears and have faith in God. Enjoy your freedom in Christ and see yourself seated with him in the heavenly places. You will begin to enjoy new creation realities Christ has given you access to. Never permit anyone to distract your attention from where you are going. Motivate yourself and make room for the Holy Spirit to inspire you. Keep seeing the great future ahead of you and plan how to get there. Step by step, move ahead with a positive attitude and faith in God. John the Baptist knew exactly who he was and was bold enough to refer himself as the forerunner of the Messiah.

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!"V$/'% I'$I,'% 52'% 4$.03% 8'(('2% ()50% $()'2&% 8'J5+&'% ()'1% 4$% J'2(5.0% ().03&% 4.**'2'0(,1% 504% ()'1% 4$% ()'% 2.3)(% ().03&% 2.3)(:% B&I'J.5,,1% ()'1% +&'% ()'.2% (./'% *526% *526% 8'(('2% ()50% ()'% 57'253'% I'2&$0:"" - BRIAN TRACY


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CHAPTER 8 YOU NEED TO PLAN EVEN YOUR FUNERAL AND BURIAL!

• “If a man beget an hundred children, and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul !"#$%&#'((")#*+&,#-%%).#/$)#/(0%#&,/&#,"#,/1"#$%#!23+/(4# 5#0/6.#&,/&#/$#2$78"(6#!+3&,#+0#!"9"3#&,/$#,": For he ;%8"&,#+$#*+&,#1/$+&6.#/$)#)"#&,+0#,/&,#8%3"# 3"0&#&,/$#&,"#%&,"3:? - ECCLESIASTES 6:3-5, NKJV

I

T MAY SURPRISE YOU TO HEAR THIS, but it is true that you must plan your funeral long before you die! In fact, all the great people in the Bible had great burials and it was a big disgrace to die and not have a good burial. A case in point was when King Saul and his three sons, including Jonathan, died at $0-) 8%$$3-4&-3.) #') b#"'$) =&38#%M) 60-) R0&3&($&'-() $##,) $0-&+) 8#.&-(<) cut off Saul’s head, stripped him off his armour and put them in the temple of the Ashtoreth’s. Because of their reverence for the dead and because they valued a decent burial, the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead sent valiant men to take the slain bodies of Saul and his sons, burned them, took their bones and gave them decent burials,

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<=,-( 2"%,( $"%( 1,"#I1$#,$/( *6( G#I%/"LH19%#-( "%#'-( *6( $"#$( 2"18"( $"%(c"191/$1,%/("#-(-*,%($*(R#+95(#99($"%([#,$(3%,(#'*/%0(#,-(2%,$(#99( ,14"$0(#,-($**7($"%(I*-)(*6(R#+9(#,-($"%(I*-1%/(*6("1/(/*,/(6'*3($"%(2#99( *6(K%$"/"#,0(#,-(8#3%($*(G#I%/"0(#,-(I+',$($"%3($"%'%:(=,-($"%)($**7( $"%1'(I*,%/0(#,-(I+'1%-($"%3(+,-%'(#($'%%(#$(G#I%/"0(#,-(6#/$%-(/%&%,( -#)/:;-I SAMUEL 31:11-13 All the kings and dignitaries in the Bible were given decent burials. Jesus Christ was buried in the tomb of a wealthy man, Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-61). In fact, the women who followed Jesus ensured that they helped Mary to elaborately prepare the body of the Lord before he was buried in that beautiful and expensive $#*8M)=#)$#)%'Z)'%$&#')%'.)Z#")/&33)4&'.)$0-)S+%U-Z%+.)#5)2+#*&'-'$) people as part of the tourist attraction of that nation. Ghana has the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra to immortalize the name and remains of the ‘Greatest African of the Millennium’. King Solomon knew what he was saying when he remarked: the “evil which I have seen under the sun and is common among men is for a man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honour, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all his desires’’ and yet does not have the power or wherewithal to enjoy his wealth, worst of all, for a ‘foreigner’ to come on the scene to ‘consume it’. Solomon makes ;3-%+)$0%$>)[P$0&()&()U%'&$Z<)%'.)&$)&()%')-U&3)%543&;$&#'PP)#5)$0-)(#"3g This is a great caution every man must have in life. For a man to father many children, live many years and yet fail to enjoy the ‘goodness’ of his toil is more than a curse! It is so sad to notice that there are many men who are aged and have given life to many children, yet they are so lonely and poor that today they have to beg before they can eat. What can account to this sad situation? As a man, as you become successful in your business, please begin to plan today for your retirement and old age. Do it while you still have money. Invest in your children’s education. Take care of your extended family members. Take care of the poor and the needy. Mentor others; invest in money-generating ventures. Buy properties and develop them, build schools, build clinics, sponsor God’s works. At all costs, do something with your wealth and don’t just horde it or squander it on vain pleasures. When you use your wealth for a worthy cause, your people will celebrate you and give you a good burial when you die. If you fail to make good use of your wealth today, you are likely

CHAPTER 8: YOU NEED TO PLAN EVEN YOUR FUNERAL AND BURIAL!

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to fear retirement and you will keep changing your real ages in order $#);#'$&'"-)/#+,&'S)$#)-%+')(%3%+&-(M)b#($)#5)$0-)*-')/0#)(-34&(03Z) /%($-)$0-&+)*#'-Z)#')2+#43&S%$-)(2-'.&'S).&-)&')2#U-+$Z)%'.).#)'#$) receive a decent burial. Such a man, according to Solomon, ‘’is worse than a stillborn baby!’’ why? Because you had all the opportunity to prepare for your own exit from earth as well as prepare a legacy for your children and your posterity. Once you ‘’fail to plan, you plan to fail!’’ and failures are insulted and buried like animals! Think about this. Whenever I see old men begging for money at the roadside, my heart becomes sad. I imagine them in their youthful years. Perhaps they made money and had great prospects, yet they failed to plan their future. Perhaps they even failed to cater for their own children. Today they are old and near their grave and have no money and nothing to leave as an inheritance to their children. What a sad life to live! I pray that you will be wise and sober enough to plan your life.

',./&#@-(-&7)8&?-4+(-&%)&M-&M8(+-0 O0-+-) Z#") %+-) 8"+&-.) &() %() (&S'&4&;%'$) %() 0#/) Z#") %+-) 8"+&-.M) Anyone conversant with traditions knows this. Every patriotic 2-+(#'<) &';3".&'S) (#3.&-+() /0#) 4&S0$) #') 5#+-&S') (#&3<) .-(&+-) $#) 8-) 8"+&-.)&')$0-&+)'%$&U-)$#/')#+)U&33%S-M)V5)0-)&()%)'%$&#'%3)4&S"+-<)$0-) person’s mortal remains are usually given a state burial and buried in the state’s special cemetery for dignitaries. I strongly believe in this and when I die I would have to be buried within the yard of my headquarters of the In Him Is Life Church International! Jacob caused Joseph to plan for his burial as well as his own. When his father was very old in Goshen and was close to dying, Jacob called Joseph and required of him to swear to him that he would never bury him in the land of Egypt. Joseph obeyed his father and later, after he was dead, he ensured that Jacob was given a ‘state burial’ in Canaan. In fact, Jacob was buried by the side of his grandfather Abraham and his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. Joseph himself requested of his surviving brethren and his children to swear to carry his bones with them when they were leaving Egypt to the Promised Land which was so many years to come and the Hebrews obeyed:

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c"#'#*"0($"%(%9-%'/(*6("1/("*+/%0(#,-(#99($"%(%9-%'/(*6( $"%( 9#,-( *6( ]4)?$0 =,-( #99( $"%( "*+/%( *6( G*/%?"0( #,-( "1/( I'%$"'%,0( #,-( "1/( 6#$"%'O/( "*+/%A( *,9)( $"%1'( 91$$9%( *,%/0( #,-( $"%1'( X*87/0( #,-( $"%1'( "%'-/0($"%)(9%6$(1,($"%(9#,-(*6(H*/"%,: =,-($"%'%(2%,$(+?(21$"("13(I*$"( 8"#'1*$/( #,-( "*'/%3%,A( #,-( 1$( 2#/( #( &%')( 4'%#$( 8*3?#,): And they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

T>'0%504%<$/'0%52'%,./.('4%0$(%81%()'%I,5J'%$*% ()'.2%8.2()6%0$(%81%()'%J$,$2%$*%()'.2%&H.06%8+(%81% ()'%&.\'%$*%()'.2%)$I':"" QU$1O&U$1O!$O

CHAPTER 8: YOU NEED TO PLAN EVEN YOUR FUNERAL AND BURIAL!

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CHAPTER 9 KEY INTO GOD’S STRATEGIC PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE

•
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I

believe you must have read and can easily quote Jeremiah 29:11. Without a doubt, it is one of the most motivating and inspiring Words that God ever said to his people who were living in slavery in a strange land. For us today who may be S#&'S)$0+#"S0)0%+.)$&*-()%'.).&54&;"3$);0%33-'S-(<)&$)&()+-3&-U&'S)$#) read this great verse to encourage ourselves in the Lord. Indeed, no other exhortation could be more reassuring than to hear the Almighty God himself declare to us: “P*'(@(7,*2($"%($"*+4"$/($"#$(@($"1,7($*2#'-()*+0(/#1$"($"%(BCDE0( $"*+4"$/( *6( ?%#8%0( #,-( ,*$( *6( %&190( $*( 41&%( )*+( #,( %^?%8$%-( %,-:; -JEREMIAH 29:11, NKJV Many writers and individual Christians have read and quoted this verse so often that we have somehow failed to read it within the context of the whole chapter. That is why I have chosen to write this whole chapter based on God’s Word of prophecy through his servant, prophet Jeremiah. I want us to review this great verse through the eyes of history in order to appreciate it and put it in proper context.

56&#.4&H&9-66-(&%)&%@-&U-2+4@&<.A6+L-4&5/&M.GE,)/ THE PROPHET JEREMIAH was one of the greatest prophets in the Holy Bible. He was young and belonged to the priesthood. He lived in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. God chose to make him 0&() 2+#20-$) %'.) (2#,-) $#) 0&*) 5#+) $0-) 4&+($) $&*-) &') I@I) 7MKM) ."+&'S) the thirteenth year of the reign of King Josiah, king of Judah. God continued to use Jeremiah and spoke through him during the reign of the kings of Judah. His contemporaries were Prophets Habakkuk and Daniel. Concerning his destiny, the Lord declared to Jeremiah: F"%,($"%(2*'-(*6($"%(BCDE(8#3%(+,$*(3%0(/#)1,40 I%6*'%(@(6*'3%-( $"%%( 1,( $"%( I%99)( @( 7,%2( $"%%5( #,-( I%6*'%( $"*+( 8#3%/$( 6*'$"( *+$( *6( $"%( 2*3I(@(/#,8$1.%-($"%%0(#,-(@(*'-#1,%-($"%%(#(?'*?"%$(+,$*($"%(,#$1*,/:;JEREMIAH 1:4, 5, KJV Jeremiah was great indeed, and his pronouncements and writings were very passionate and full of patriotism. He lamented a lot about the ungodly living patterns of the leaders of his day and he preached

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a lot on holiness and God’s judgment. No wonder he was given the nick-name, ‘’the weeping prophet.’’ His prophetic statements were very bold, sharp and always came to pass. God used him to prophesy of the fall of Jerusalem and of Israel’s captivity in Babylon. Years after they had been in captivity, Jeremiah prophesied of the return of the nation of Israel from slavery to their own land once again. He wrote a letter and entrusted it to one Elasah to send it to Gemariah, whom Zedekiah, the king of Judah had sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. The full contents of the letter are what we read in Jeremiah 29. At the time, the letter was addressed to ‘’all who were carried away captive…from Jerusalem to Babylon’’ (verse 4). That included all the prominent people of Israel whom Nebuchadnezzar took away $#)7%8Z3#'M)60-);%2$&U-()&';3".-.)2+&-($(<)2+#20-$(<);#"+$)#54&;&%3(<) leaders of Judah, and professionals of various skills. Some false prophets were also taken along. After some years in exile, the false prophets began to give false prophecies to God’s people. They spread false hopes that encouraged the Jews to relax and thus fail to dream big and plan for their future. Having carefully analyzed the whole chapter, I want to share /&$0)Z#")(&\),-Z)%'.)(2-;&4&;)&'($+";$&#'()=#.)S%U-)$#)0&()2-#23-)&') exile. The content of the letter was to inspire them to have hope for the future as well as to prepare adequately for their future success after the seventy-year captivity. Each of the six key points spells out (2-;&4&;)$0&'S()=#.)/%'$-.)$0-*)$#).#)&')#+.-+)$#)(-;"+-)$0-&+)5"$"+-M I want you to assume that your life on earth is a seventy-year 2-+&#.M) 9#/) .&.) Z#") 23%') $#) *%\&*&e-) Z#"+) 2#$-'$&%3) %'.) 5"34&33) your God-given purpose within this seven-decade period? That is what I challenge you to do as you read this book. Examine your life, plan your life, and plan how you will be able to obey each of the six &'($+";$&#'()5+#*)=#.)$#)Z#"M)Y"34&33)Z#"+)2"+2#(-)%'.).-$-+*&'-)$#) ‘die empty.’

1. BUILD HOUSES GOD COMMANDED HIS people to ‘build houses and dwell in $0-*MPP):8U&#"(3Z<)$#)8"&3.)0#"(-(<)Z#")*"($)0%U-)%).-4&'&$-)23%')%() well as the means to begin the building project. Without adequate preparation, you may begin to build houses only to abandon them

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in the middle of the project and give up. That was the lesson Jesus taught his disciples when he said:
5:&7)8&H(-&7)8/>&H/0&H&!680-/6&$(&H&%(.+/-Begin today to build the foundation for the career you aim to pursue in the future. Stay in classes and study diligently. Ensure that your foundation is solid for as King David asked: ‘’when the 5#"'.%$&#')&().-($+#Z-.<)/0%$);%')$0-)+&S0$-#"().#hj)^R(%3*)HH>A_M)V$) is a solid foundation that makes you face your future with boldness and hope. A shaky foundation leads to failure. So, study diligently %'.)%;!"&+-)$0-)'--.-.)-.";%$&#'<);-+$&4&;%$-(<)%'.)$+%&'&'S)5#+)Z#"+) profession, career or ministry. If it is a vision for a particular business or organization, begin to document your dreams and start from somewhere. A true visionary 2-+(#')4&+($)/+&$-()0&()U&(&#')%'.)*%,-()&$)23%&')^(&*23-)%'.);3-%+_) 8-5#+-) 0-) 8-S&'() $#) +"') /&$0) &$) ^9%8%,,",) @>@À_M) O0-') $0-) $&*-) comes, move by faith to put your vision into action. At all costs, start early, before you grow too old and disillusioned about pursuing that


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dream; build the foundation of your tomorrow’s dream today. Be wise and do not waste time. Put your dreams into action because, according to the great international evangelist, Dr. T.L. Osborn, !"#)'2'% J$/'&% 5% (./'% <)'0% 1$+% )57'% 42'5/'4% '0$+3)% $7'2% ()'% &H'(J)'&6% I,50&% 504% 8,+'I2.0(&% $*% 1$+2% )$+&':% ?% 4'J.&.$0% /+&(% 8'% /54':%?%J$0(25J(%/+&(%8'%&.30'4G%/$0'1%/+&(%8'%,5.4%$0%()'%,.0':%?% J$//.(/'0(%/+&(%8'%/54':%#)'%I,+03'%/+&(%8'%(5H'06%1$+%/+&(%452'% ($%2.&H%'7'21().03%()'0%3$%*$2%.(:""

2. PLANT GARDENS The next instruction God gave his people was, ‘’plant gardens and eat what they produce (fruit).’’ Your garden today is your occupation or any business venture that creates wealth for you. Pause now and think of what you are capable of doing. You will be amazed to .&(;#U-+) $0%$) %2%+$) 5+#*) Z#"+) -.";%$&#'%3) !"%3&4&;%$&#'<) Z#") 0%U-) many hobbies, abilities, talents and skills that can be transformed into income generating services. Your capabilities are your ‘garden’ and God has given them to you to use. Work with them to earn a living and make wealth. Most wealthy people I know did not become rich through their academic !"%3&4&;%$&#'(M) V$) &() $0-) 0#88&-() %'.) $%3-'$() $0%$) /-+-) $"+'-.) &'$#) 2+#4&$%83-) U-'$"+-() $0%$) ;+-%$-.) /-%3$0) 5#+) *%'Z) S&5$-.) 2-#23-M) You have no moral right to enjoy from a commodity you have not produced through diligence! MY PROPHETIC COUNSEL TO YOU, DEAR READER IS THIS: if God is your God, then know that he has already blessed you and made you a blessing! All you must do now is to move ahead by faith to build your house and ‘plant (your) gardens. ‘When you have done so, you have the right to ‘eat their fruit.’ Go ahead and believe in God’s Word and have a positive attitude. Plant your garden with seeds of Z#"+) $%3-'$(<) S&5$(<) %8&3&$&-(<) (,&33(<) %'.) !"%3&4&;%$&#'(M) 7-) 2"+2#(-` driven. God has already given you the ‘measure of grace’ (Ephesians 4:7) to accomplish your purpose so, go ahead and just do it! Be patient, persistent and hopeful. Go on and execute your ‘good plan’ and ‘plant gardens.’ Soon you shall begin to enjoy the proceeds of your own

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S%+.-'g) Q#") (0%33) 8-;#*-) /-%3$0Z<) 0-%3$0Z) %'.) 5"34&33-.g) 60-) =#.) who provided you the seeds to plant shall continually water them and give you beautiful harvest!

V"&;HSS7&HO?&1HPI&!$O!&HO?&?H3N1%IS! MARRIAGE IS VERY GOOD and one of the best experiences you can ever have on earth! It is through marriage that God blesses you with children as well as perpetuate your name on earth. A man who lives and never marries or brings forth children, dies and his name is wiped out forever! Read what King Solomon wrote on this: “Lo, children are a heritage of the !"#$: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”PSALM 127:3-5, NKJV EXCEPT IF GOD HAS TOLD YOU TO BE AN EUNUCH for His Kingdom’s sake, as he did with Apostle Paul, please make plans to marry and if possible marry while you are still young. Enjoy the wife of your youth and bring forth children. A man who is in his thirties and forties and still remains without a wife is mocked in our society. A married man on the other hand, if you marry in your youthful years, God blesses you to enjoy ‘the wife of your youth.’ In fact, God grants you good health and great satisfaction in life when you are married to one woman that you love and cherish. Of this, Solomon wrote:

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4. TAKE WIVES FOR YOUR SONS…GIVE YOUR DAUGHTERS TO HUSBANDS… When you marry during your youthful years and give birth to children on time, you will live long enough to see your children mature and marry. You will give your daughters in marriage and help your sons marry wives. They will bear children and so crown you with grandchildren. Then, in your old age, you will be surrounded by *%'Z)%'.)Z#"+);0&3.+-')/&33)8-)S3#+&4&-.)8-;%"(-)#5)Z#")%'.)$0-Z)/&33) be very proud of you. Then what Solomon wrote shall come to pass:
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“

=(4**-(3#,(9%#&%$"(#,(1,"%'1$#,8%($*("1/(8"19-'%,O/(8"19-'%,A(#,-($"%( 2%#9$"(*6($"%(/1,,%'(1/(9#1-(+?(6*'($"%(S+/$:;-PROVERBS 13:22a Pray for your children, instructing them on what to include in planning. A good father blesses his children and even his grandchildren. A good father prophesies over his children. That was what Jacob did when he was old and ill, and when he was about to .&-M)V')$0-)4&+($)&'($%';-<)0-)83-((-.)0&()8-3#U-.)(#')c#(-20)!"&;,3Z<) as well as his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Afterwards he called all his sons to his bedside and said, ‘’gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days (years) to come’’ (Genesis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b%+I%,( #,-( R13%*,0( $"%)( /"#99( I%( 31,%:(=,-( $")( 1//+%0( 2"18"( $"*+( I%4%$$%/$(#6$%'($"%30(/"#99(I%($"1,%0(#,-(/"#99(I%(8#99%-(#6$%'($"%(,#3%( *6($"%1'(I'%$"'%,(1,($"%1'(1,"%'1$#,8%:=,-(#/(6*'(3%0(2"%,(@(8#3%(6'*3( c#-#,0(b#8"%9(-1%-(I)(3%(1,($"%(9#,-(*6(Z#,##,(1,($"%(2#)0(2"%,()%$( $"%'%(2#/(I+$(#(91$$9%(2#)($*(8*3%(+,$*(]?"'#$"A(#,-(@(I+'1%-("%'($"%'%( 1,($"%(2#)(*6(]?"'#$"5($"%(/#3%(1/(K%$"9%"%3:=,-(@/'#%9(I%"%9-(G*/%?"O/( /*,/0( #,-( /#1-0( !"*( #'%( $"%/%a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G*/%?"0(#,-(/#1-0(H*-0(I%6*'%(2"*3(3)(6#$"%'/(=I'#"#3(#,-(@/##8(-1-( 2#970($"%(H*-(2"18"(6%-(3%(#99(3)(916%(9*,4(+,$*($"1/(-#)J;-GENESIS WXYZQ[\R&O5P APART FROM BLESSING HIS CHILDREN, Jacob also gave out the plan for his burial. That is what great fathers do. They plan their lives even to the very last breath and even what their children must do after their death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b%I%7#"("1/(216%5(#,-($"%'%(@(I+'1%-( B%#": F"%(?+'8"#/%(*6($"%(.%9-(#,-(*6($"%(8#&%($"#$(1/($"%'%1,(2#/(6'*3( $"%(8"19-'%,(*6(Q%$":=,-(2"%,(G#8*I("#-(3#-%(#,(%,-(*6(8*33#,-1,4( "1/(/*,/0("%(4#$"%'%-(+?("1/(6%%$(1,$*($"%(I%-0(#,-()1%9-%-(+?($"%(4"*/$0( #,-(2#/(4#$"%'%-(+,$*("1/(?%*?9%:;- GENESIS 49:1,2,28-33, NJKV David was another great father who blessed his son Solomon at his bedside, exhorted him and instructed him on what to do after he was gone. He gave Solomon insight into those he must eliminate in order to secure his throne and his own life, as long as those individuals lived Solomon would have had serious problems. So as a good father, David counseled and gave his son a plan on what to do with those enemies:
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R"+,#331$%0(#,-(I'*+4"$("%'($*($"%(71,4:(=,-($"%(-#3/%9(2#/(&%')(6#1'0( #,-(8"%'1/"%-($"%(71,40(#,-(31,1/$%'%-($*("13A(I+$($"%(71,4(7,%2("%'(,*$:( F"%,(=-*,1S#"($"%(/*,(*6(Q#441$"(%^#9$%-("13/%960(/#)1,40(@(2199(I%(71,4A( #,-("%(?'%?#'%-("13(8"#'1*$/(#,-("*'/%3%,0(#,-(.6$)(3%,($*('+,(I%6*'%( "13:(=,-("1/(6#$"%'("#-(,*$(-1/?9%#/%-("13(#$(#,)($13%(1,(/#)1,40(2")("#/$( $"*+(-*,%(/*a(=,-("%(#9/*(2#/(#(&%')(4**-9)(3#,5(#,-("1/(3*$"%'("#-( I*',%("13(#6$%'(=I/#9*3:(=,-("%(8*,6%''%-(21$"(G*#I($"%(/*,(*6([%'+1#"0( #,-(21$"(=I1#$"#'($"%(?'1%/$A(#,-($"%)(6*99*21,4(=-*,1S#"("%9?%-("13:( K+$([#-*7($"%(?'1%/$0(#,-(K%,#1#"($"%(/*,(*6(G%"*1#-#0(#,-(V#$"#,($"%( ?'*?"%$0( #,-( R"13%10( #,-( b%10( #,-( $"%( 314"$)( 3%,( 2"18"( I%9*,4%-( $*( M#&1-0(2%'%(,*$(21$"(=-*,1S#":(=,-(=-*,1S#"(/9%2(/"%%?(#,-(*^%,(#,-( 6#$(8#$$9%(I)($"%(/$*,%(*6([*"%9%$"0(2"18"(1/(I)(],'*4%90(#,-(8#99%-(#99("1/( I'%$"'%,($"%(71,4O/(/*,/0(#,-(#99($"%(3%,(*6(G+-#"($"%(71,4O/(/%'&#,$/A K+$( V#$"#,($"%(?'*?"%$0(#,-(K%,#1#"0(#,-($"%(314"$)(3%,0(#,-(R*9*3*,("1/( I'*$"%'0("%(8#99%-(,*$:;- I KINGS 1:1-10, NKJV David ensured that his son Solomon was secure before he died. He prayed prophetic prayers for him, such as, ‘’Don’t let the prayers of Solomon cease. Let the queen of Sheba carry her gold from Ethiopia to Jerusalem. Let his kingdom transcend from coast to coast.’’ True to David’s prayer, the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame and she went to Jerusalem, carrying along with her ‘’a very great retinue, camels that bore spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones…’’ (II Chronicles 9:1).

5. SEEK THE PEACE AND PROSPERITY OF THE LAND Praying for your nation is not optional; it is a command from God. As a citizen, you must pray for your political leaders and government. It is God’s will for you to be patriotic and put your nation’s interest 4&+($)#')Z#"+)2+&#+&$Z)3&($M)N#U-)Z#"+);#"'$+Z)%'.)/#+,)$#);#'$+&8"$-) to her economy. In case you are living in a foreign land or abroad, do what God told Israel to do in Babylon: <=,-(/%%7($"%(?%#8%(*6($"%(81$)(2"%'%(@("#&%(8#+/%-()*+($*(I%(8#''1%-( #2#)(8#?$1&%0(#,-(?'#)($*($"%(BCDE(6*'(1$5(6*'(1,(1$/(?%#8%()*+(2199("#&%( ?%#8%:;=%JEREMIAH 29:7, NKJV If you are a Ghanaian seeking ‘greener pastures’ in any other part of the world, take note of this: Ghana must be to you as Jerusalem is


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to the Jew. Love the soil of Ghana above all other nations because it is in Ghana that you were born, rooted and established by your Maker. He has a good reason for making you a Ghanaian and no other national. Never turn your back on this great nation and change your identity. That will attract a curse on you. Be patriotic and contribute to the building of your motherland. That is the quality attitude the Jews possess. While in Babylonian captivity, their captors asked them to sing the sacred songs of the Lord to entertain them. This was their response: TC1%()'%2.7'2&%$*%C581,$06%()'2'%<'%&5(%4$<06%1'56%<'%<'I(%<)'0%<'% 2'/'/8'2'4%h.$0:%E'%)+03%$+2%)52I&%+I$0%()'%<.,,$<&%.0%()'%/.4&(%$*% .(:%L$2%()'2'%()$&'%<)$%J522.'4%+&%5<51%J5I(.7'&%5&H'4%$*%+&%5%&$03N:: V51.036%!&.03%+&%$0'%$*%()'%&$03&%$*%h.$0U"%W$<%&)5,,%<'%&.03%()'%F^@e"V% &$03%.0%5%*$2'.30%,504YO- PSALM 137:1-6, NKJV

6. DO NOT LET FALSE PROPHETS AND DIVINERS DECEIVE YOU DO NOT LET THE FALSE PROPHETS DECEIVE YOU. I am grateful that God has called and anointed me as his prophet to this great nation. It is therefore uneasy for me to talk against prophets. However, as God’s spokesperson, I must be like Jeremiah. He loved his people very much and hated all who claimed to be prophets when God had not called them. There are many false prophets and diviners today as there were then. Many consult them and are given 5%3(-)2+#20-$&;).&+-;$&#'(M)60-Z)%+-)."2-.)#5)0"S-)4&'%';&%3)+-/%+.() by those prophets. Get a copy of my book, i04'2&(504.03% ()'% D2$I)'(.J%>.0.&(21 and you will gain more insights into the dynamics of prophetic ministry. The Jews in Babylon received ‘sugar-coated’ words from false prophets and diviners and those words made them lazy, waiting for God to drop manna from heaven into their mouth! That is what fake prophets do. They give ‘short-cuts’ to prosperity and charge huge sums for that. Soon those who receive those supposed prophetic words become disillusioned because they discover that they had been tricked and deceived! So my dear, beware of false prophets and false teachers, especially as we live in the ‘perilous times.’

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#.,F&5/&]/)2,-0>-&H/0&')44-44&7)8(&')44-44+)/ If you claim to have faith, let your great works prove that you have great faith. You can quote Jeremiah 29:11 a hundred times a day for one year and still end up worse off in life. You must therefore understand the great verse within the context and obey all that I have discussed above. After you have obeyed all the six instructions above, God will then grant you his great favour and visit you. Then $0-)S+-%$)%(("+%';-)#5)c-+-*&%0)@J>HH)/&33)8-;#*-)5"33Z)5"34&33-.)&') your life and you can call upon the Lord, seek him with all your heart %'.)4&'.)9&*)^c-+-*&%0)@J>HH`HB_M AS YOU PLAN YOUR LIFE TODAY and leave tomorrow in God’s hands, I pray that you will experience God’s fullness in your life and succeed in all that you do. So go ahead and plan today where you desire to be tomorrow. Plan your future today and you will get to that desired future tomorrow. Update your knowledge of God and 0&()/%Z(M)9%U-)%)U&(&#')#5)0&().-4&'&$-)23%')5#+)Z#"+)3&5-)%'.)23%')Z#"+) life in line with God’s vision for your life.

T#)'% *+(+2'% 8',$03&% ($% ()$&'% <)$% I,50% 5)'54% 504% <)$% 52'% 58,'% ($% (250&*$2/% ()'.2% I,50% .0($% I25J(.J5,%5J(.$0!’’


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CHAPTER 10 DO PROPER AND PURPOSEFUL NEGOTIATION

• !"D2$I'2%I,500.03%I2'7'0(&%I$$2%I'2*$2/50J':"" =%BRIAN TRACY

N

EGOTIATION IS A SKILL THAT IS ESSENTIAL IN GOOD PLANNING. Never go to the negotiating table while you are hungry! A hungry man will eat anything that is put on the negotiating table. Go to the negotiating table either with your lawyer or know enough law yourself to deal with the legalities of the deal you intend to negotiate on. Whenever you go into any form of negotiation with your stomach empty, you will end as Esau did!

O->)6+.6+)/Y&N-66+/>&#@.6&7)8&#./6R&#@-/& You Want It… NEGOTIATING IS A NORMAL PART OF EVERYDAY LIFE. However, when it comes to business, it is an absolutely critical factor to your success. Poor negotiation can cripple a company just as quickly as losing key clients. It’s not uncommon for people to get caught up in the emotion of the moment and ignore their basic instincts. The honest truth is, emotion and luck has no place in any successful negotiation. It takes honest gut, good background work, discipline and ‘street smart’ wisdom to be an effective negotiator. These keys will unlock your ability to get the best deal possible under any circumstances.

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When it comes to business negotiation, you must check your ego at the door and keep your eye on the big picture at all times! Your preparation counts a lot. Know about the party that you are negotiating with. This will help you capitalize on your strengths and the other party’s weaknesses. If the other party is very experienced, that means he also has a history that could contain useful information. Many negotiators develop patterns and certain styles that you may be able to use to your advantage. Stay godly, but also smart! For example, if you are a buyer, make sure that you are scrupulously familiar with the product or service that will be the subject of the negotiation. If the other party senses you are weak on such details, or that you are naïve, he or they can take advantage of you. Psychology, therefore, plays a crucial role in your ability to make the most of the other party’s lack of preparation and anticipate their next move. Most negotiators have a price target or goal in mind before they start. Have that in mind and have a counter answer. Also note that, during the course of the negotiation, the goal may change based on changes in scope and other unforeseen actions by either party. While your ultimate goal should be realistic, this should not constrain your 4&+($)#55-+)#+);#"'$-+`#55-+M Before you start the negotiation, ensure that the other party is fully aware that they must make binding commitments. You do not /%'$)$#)4&'.)Z#"+(-35)&')%)2#(&$&#')/0-+-)Z#")8-3&-U-)Z#")0%U-)($+";,) a good deal, only to discover that your agreement must be approved by someone higher in the chain of command! So the key is: have a strategy in place.

#@.6&54&7)8(&!6(.6->EB THERE ARE BASIC PRINCIPLES that generally apply to every '-S#$&%$&#'M)60-)4&+($)#55-+)&()"("%33Z)$0-)*#($)&*2#+$%'$)%'.)(-+U-() as the benchmark by which all subsequent offers will be judged and compared. You will never get what you do not ask for, so make your 4&+($)#55-+)8#3.)%'.)%SS+-((&U-)-'#"S0M)V5)Z#")%+-)(-33&'S)(#*-$0&'S) to another, start lower than the seller expects. Do not worry about insulting the other party. As long as your offer is not ridiculous, the other side will continue the negotiations in hopes of settling at a better number.

CHAPTER 10: DO PROPER AND PURPOSEFUL NEGOTIATION

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If on the other hand, you are a buyer, do not disclose your budget #+) #$0-+) 3&*&$%$&#'() &') Z#"+) '-S#$&%$&'S) 2#(&$&#'M) X-(0"543-) $0-) 2+#.";$)(2-;&4&;%$&#'(<)(;0-."3-)%'.)#$0-+)2%+%*-$-+()&')#+.-+)5#+) $0-*)$#)(-33)Z#")%)!"%3&$Z)2+#.";$)%$)%)2+&;-)$0%$)4&$()Z#"+)8".S-$M) You want the best product you can get for the money you have to spend, so employ a wise approach that maintains the possibility of you spending less than you had originally planned. The bottomline is: always have something to give away without hurting your negotiating position. AS THE NEGOTIATION GOES ON, watch out for clues such as body language, speech patterns and reactions to what you say. Be prepared to suspend or cancel negotiations if you feel things are getting nowhere or the other party seems stuck in their position. Indicate your unwillingness to continue under those conditions and make the other side wonder if you are ever coming back. If they are on the hook to cut a deal, they will feel the pressure to move. BE PATIENT even if the other party is being hostile. This can 8-).&54&;"3$)5#+)$0#(-)/&$0)%)2%((&#')5#+)&'($%'$)S+%$&4&;%$&#'<)8"$)$0-) last thing you want is for the other party to think you are under the S"') $#) 4&'&(0) !"&;,3ZM) :';-) %') #55-+) &() *%.-<) Z#") (0#"3.) -\2-;$) %') acceptance or rejection of your offer, or a counteroffer that keeps the negotiation open. If your offer is rejected and you are asked to submit a new and better offer, do not fall into that trap. That would be tantamount to negotiating with yourself, and you should never do this. If the last offer on the table is yours, always insist on a counteroffer to force the other party to move their position before you make another offer. In addition to exploiting the other party’s weaknesses, concentrate on taking maximum advantage of your strengths. If you are the only source available for a particular product, you have tremendous leverage across the board. If economic conditions have created a market in which the product you are selling is in great demand and low supply, that gives you more bargaining power to name your price. Establish a strong foundation early in the process by demonstrating your knowledge and expertise of the negotiation subject matter. This may intimidate those on the other side and put them on their heels before they have a chance to establish their

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own credibility. Playing catch-up in a tough negotiation can be challenging, so it’s much better to take the initiative and steer the process in the direction you want.

Go For A Win-Win Solution Throughout the negotiation, try to determine what you believe to be an acceptable outcome for the other party. It may be a combination of different things that aren’t necessarily tied solely to price. For example, the delivery date may be the most important thing to the other party, while product quality may be your primary driver. Understanding the other side’s priorities is just as important %() "'.-+($%'.&'S) Z#"+) #/'<) (#) 4&S"+-) #"$) /0%$) Z#") /#"3.) .#) &5) you were in his shoes. When constructing your offers, attempt to satisfy some of his priorities if doing so doesn’t weaken your overall position. Be prepared to give up the little things in exchange for the big things you don’t want to concede. Know your limits and how far you’re willing to go on all aspects of the deal. O0&3-)Z#")0%U-)$0-)2#/-+)$#)&'43"-';-)$0-)'-S#$&%$&'S)2+#;-(() in your favor, your goal should be to secure a good deal without -\$+%;$&'S) $0-) 3%($) 2#"'.) #5) 43-(0) 5+#*) $0-) #$0-+) 2%+$ZM) 60&() &() especially true if you will be negotiating with the same party on a recurring basis. The most effective negotiators are professionals who know their business and don’t let personalities and irrational behavior interfere with their mission. They are capable of making the other party believe they got the best deal they could under the circumstances. Once the negotiation is completed, you want to be able to work effectively with those in the other party during contract performance. If they are threatened and pounded into submission, they probably won’t negotiate with you again, possibly cutting off any future business. While heated confrontation is a common occurrence during negotiations, at some point collaboration and compromise are needed to get a deal. Successful negotiation requires a sense of timing, creativity, keen awareness and the ability to anticipate the other party’s next move. Generally, your moves should get progressively smaller, and you can expect the same from the other party. Always have the endgame in mind as you plot your strategy, and be prepared at some

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point to split the remaining difference. It’s almost inevitable when the parties are close, but can’t seem to make that last leap to a single number. It’s completely arbitrary, but it gets the job done. That is why all the offers leading up to that point are so important, setting $0-)($%S-)5#+)$0-)4&'%3).-%3M

?)&O)6&!-,,&7)8(4-,:&<@-.A DO NOT SELL YOURSELF CHEAP! You sell yourself cheap now and you regret it later on! Esau sold his birthright and forfeited his legal right to receive the double-portion of blessings from his father Isaac (Genesis 25:29). Because he was so hungry he did not think through to see the spiritual implications of Jacob’s request (Genesis @D>@JÀB<)iFck_M)7-;%"(-)#5)$0-)2%'S()#5)0"'S-+<)](%")'-S#$&%$-.)0&() destiny cheaply. He felt he was at the point of death and so birthright meant nothing at that state of desperation of his soul. Jacob then smartly added a higher demand: ‘’swear to me…’’ At that point Esau should have seen how serious Jacob was, yet he did not. He foolishly swore to him, and ‘’sold his birthright to Jacob.’’ By the time his senses returned, Esau realized, to his dismay, that Jacob 0%.)[($#3-'P)0&()83-((&'S(M)7Z)$0%$<)0-)0%.);0-%$-.)0&*)$/&;-f)4&+($)&') the womb, and then of his birthright.

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CHAPTER 11 OVERCOMING SPIRITUAL LIMITATIONS REQUIRES A PLAN

• T?04%X58'\%<5&%/$2'%)$0$258,'%()50%).&%82'()2'0G% 504% ).&% /$()'2% J5,,'4% ).&% 05/'% X58'\6% &51.036% 8'J5+&'% P% 852'% )./% <.()% &$22$<:% ?046% X58'\% J5,,'4% $0% ()'% M$4% $*% P&25',% &51.036% ^)% ()5(% ()$+% <$+,4'&(%8,'&&%/'%.04''46%504%'0,523'%/1%J$5&(6% 504%()5(%().0'%)504%/.3)(%8'%<.()%/'6%504%()5(% ()$+%<$+,4'&(%H''I%/'%*2$/%'7.,6%()5(%.(%/51%0$(% 32.'7'% /'U% ?04% M$4% 3250('4% )./% ()5(% <).J)% )'% 2'[+'&('4:O = I CHRONICLES 4:9,10, NKJV

W

HEN YOU ARE SPIRITUALLY LIMITED IN LIFE you can be the most respectable person, but nothing will work in your favour. Yes, you can be the most diligent and skillful person in your family, yet nothing works in your favour. You will end up serving those younger and less gifted than you! Sometimes you meet someone who looks so nice, beautiful or handsome, but he suffers a very ugly situation in his life. We meet people we admire because they look so rich and highly successful. It is only when you get closer to such a person that you will discover that ‘all that glitters is not gold!’ It is so sad to see a sister who is very beautiful, but suffers barrenness. It is sad to be (#)0&S03Z)&'$-33&S-'$)%'.)/-33`-.";%$-.<)8"$)8-)U-+Z)2##+)4&'%';&%33ZM) It is unfortunate to have a huge and appealing personality, yet be weighed down by poverty and huge debts. It is very frustrating to be

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highly skillful and gifted and you have to eat the ‘crumbs’ that fall off $0-)$%83-)#5)$0#(-)/0#)8-'-4&$)5+#*)Z#"+)(,&33-.)3%8#+g :0<)Z-(<)Z#")%+-)0&S03Z)3-%+'-.)%'.)0%U-)*%'Z);-+$&4&;%$-()%'.) ;+-.-'$&%3(M)Q-$)Z#"+);-+$&4&;%$-()0%U-)#'3Z)(";;--.-.)&')8-&'S)"(-.) as mementos or a souvenir that decorates the wall of your hall or Z#"+)#54&;-)%'.)'#$0&'S)*#+-g)V$)&()$0-)(%..-($)'-/()$#)8-)%),&'S)#+) a prince and yet a pauper! Whenever people see you coming from a distance you look so majestic in appearance, yet you are poorer than all of your subjects. These days there are many very beautiful ladies who are highly placed in society and have all the money and properties, yet they have no husbands. They look so much like married women yet no man is ready to propose to them. Some of them even buy nuptial +&'S()%'.)2"$)#')$0-&+)4&'S-+()&')#+.-+)$#)(0#/)#55)%()&5)$0-Z)/-+-) either engaged or married. If you fall in any of the categories above, I pray that the Lord shall break any ‘nanso’ (or ‘but’) in your life and give you what you really need, in Jesus name! As you read the rest of this chapter, I encourage you to do what Jabez did and get your spiritual breakthrough and success in life.

U.G-^&#.4&%@-&C;)46&1)/)(.G,-D&M86N YOUR NAME can sentence you to a life of frustration and unceasing pain. There are a number of people in the Bible who became victims of the very names they bore. A typical example is the man Jabez, who was described as ‘’more honorable than his brethren’’ yet, despite his personal dignity, his life was full of sorrow. Why? Because his mother gave him a name that carried a curse of sorrow. According to traditional Jewish history, the father of Jabez went to battle and was killed in the process. His mother had already conceived him, so at the time of that battle he was unborn. The untimely death of the husband caused a deep sorrow in the mother’s heart. No matter the reason, the death of her husband had brought hardship on her and she was in a state of great sorrow. Then came the time for travailing to give birth to her baby. When she was told her newborn child was a boy, she named him according to her situation. The name she gave him was Jabez, which in Hebrew literally means, ‘’because I bore him in pain.’’ Sadly, the meaning of

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$0%$)'%*-)'-S%$&U-3Z)&'43"-';-.)$0-)Z#"'S)*%'M)13$0#"S0)%;;#+.&'S) to the Bible, ‘’Jabez was more honorable than his brothers…’’ (I Chronicles 4:9a), nothing honorable was happening in his life. The name given to him had attracted a curse and caused huge limitation on his path to a successful life. No matter what work Jabez found to do with his hands, all he reaped was sorrow, pain and disappointment. His life was tough circles of failures. His destiny was imprisoned. His life had been programmed by the name his mother gave him. There was a spiritual limitation that prevented Jabez from climbing the ladder of success. There was a spiritual blockade on his way. His life was full of poverty, grief and pain, all because of the name he bore. 60-+-) %+-) *%'Z) S#.3Z) %'.) S#.`5-%+&'S) 2-#23-) /0#) 4&'.) themselves trapped by their names and circumstances just as Jabez was. They need what I term as ‘destiny counseling’ to diagnose their problem. It is only a highly anointed prophet, a person of higher authority, who can look into your past, your present and your future to diagnose your issue and prescribe a spiritual solution that will lead to your total liberty from the curse of your name or background. God, by his grace, has given me that anointing and by that I have been able to help countless numbers of people to discover what is really obstructing their progress in life. Q:E) .-4&'&$-3Z) '--.) (#*-#'-) 0&S0-+) &') (2&+&$"%3) *%$$-+() $#) help you gain freedom from the spiritual limitations of your name or background. You need a ‘counsel of destiny’ before you can be liberated by the negative power of your past, your name or your background. In the case of Jabez, just like you, he needed a deliverer who could deliver him and restore his dignity and his destiny. I am sure he had tried so many ways to gain his freedom. He might have sought counseling from various professionals as well as spiritual men, yet there was no deliverance. After years of frustrations, Jabez took the wisest decision to seek help from Jehovah God Himself. He needed liberty and he was ready to pay any price to get a supernatural breakthrough. Jabez was neither a priest nor a leader to get a supernatural breakthrough, but his name and his prayer is recorded in the Bible. The reason is simple: he prayed a fervent and effectual prayer. He sought for ‘destiny counseling’ from the Almighty God Himself. His prayer +-!"-($()/-+-)U-+Z)(2-;&4&;M)60&()/%()c%8-eP()2+%Z-+> T^)%()5(%()$+%<$+,4'&(%8,'&&%/'%.04''46%504%'0,523'%/1%J$5&(6%504%


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()5(% ().0'% )504% /.3)(% 8'% <.()% /'6% 504% ()5(% ()$+% <$+,4'&(% H''I% /'% *2$/%'7.,6%()5(%.(%/51%0$(%32.'7'%/'U%?04%M$4%3250('4%)./%()5(%<).J)% )'%2'[+'&('4.O-I CHRONICLES 4:10, NKJV THIS IS THE LESSON I WANT YOU TO LEARN HERE: your family background plays a major role in your progress in life. Satan, the enemy of your soul will often throw his arrows and attack on you based on where you are coming from. If you come from a family who are idol worshippers, Satan will use that as his legal basis to attack you and impede your success in life. If you come from a background where you were named with a name that is evil- such as Jabez- that name, in the spiritual realm, will scatter any blessing that follows you and replace it with curses. You may even be a Christian or a godly person, yet your background or Z#"+)'%*-);%')4&S0$)%S%&'($)$0-)83-((&'S)$0%$)=#.)+-3-%(-()$#/%+.() you. That is why you must know the source and true meaning of your name. When you discover that the name your parents gave you is negative or has a bad meaning, pray unto God to break the curse %'.);%';-3)$0-)'-S%$&U-)&'43"-';-)#5)$0%$)'%*-M)13(#)(--,);#"'(-3&'S) from a prophet of God or a pastor who has the anointing and grace to break curses. If they advise you to change your name, please go ahead and do so without hesitating. Get a new and better name! SOMETIMES SATAN USES YOUR OWN MOTHER’S actions to 4&S0$)Z#"+).-($&'ZM)V)0%U-)0%'.3-.)*%'Z);%(-()#5)2-#23-)/0#(-)#/') mothers were the source of their sufferings in life. There are mothers who are so wicked and practice witchcraft that build a spiritual barrier against their own children’s progress in life. This is hard to believe, but it is what really happens in life! In the case of Jabez, the mother transferred her suffering onto her son by giving him a name that was very negative and induced only sorrow and no joy. I pray that no mother will try to do that again! Another mother who also did what Jabez’s mother did was Rachel. Israel had moved his family from Bethel and was on the way to his father’s house in Hebron. On the way his beloved wife, Rachel who was pregnant, went into labour. According to Bible’s account, she went through a hard labour and got to a point of death. Now it came to pass that when her travailing became worse, she gave birth $#)%)8%8Z)8#Z)^=-'-(&()AD>HG<)HL<)iFck_M

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SHE NAMED HIM BEN-ONI, which literally means, ‘D!)/&):&KE& !)(()2D’, so was very similar to the meaning of Jabez. This means that, that son would have also gone through what Jabez experienced in his life before God changed his destiny and blessed him. As soon as Jacob (Israel) heard that name, he quickly intervened. He was a man with great depth of prophetic insight and knew what the evil name would have done in the life of his son. Jacob reversed the curse of that name by re-naming his son, Benjamin, which means, ‘’son of my right hand.’’ No wonder Benjamin became great and his descendants were great people. Examples of prominent Benjamites in the Bible include King Saul and Apostle Paul. When the curse is reversed and neutralized, you can also become prominent and successful in life! JOSEPH named his two children according to his circumstance in Egypt. Pharaoh had Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, to be his /&5-)%'.)$0-Z)8#+-)$/#)(#'(M)c#(-20)'%*-.)$0-)4&+($8#+'<)[Pb%'%((-0PP) meaning, ‘’it is because God has made me forget all my trouble and my entire father’s household.’’ He also named his second born, ‘’Ephraim’’ meaning, ‘’it is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering’’ (Genesis 41:51). Each of the names was prophetic in meaning. While Manasseh’s *-%'&'S) &*23&-() [%543&;$&#') %'.) ("55-+&'SP) ]20+%&*P() '%*-) &*23&-() ‘deliverance, fruitfulness and blessing.’ That was why Jacob laid his right on Ephraim even thought he was the younger son. That action meant, ‘’now blessings and breakthrough come before deliverance comes.’’ In case your life is in a ditch, I pray that from today, God will intervene and bless you now and deliver you later! Sometimes God has to bless you before he delivers you. That was what the crossing over of Israel’s hands meant. So as you pray for your children, believe that God can bless them before he deals with any generational curses or sins in their lives. God says his mercies can bless your children in spite of how powerful ancestral demons might be in your family.

%@-&<+6E&54&M-.86+:8,R&M86&%@-&#.6-(&54&M.0R&H/0&%@-& Ground Is Barren. JERICHO is one of the oldest and most historic cities in the bible.


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It was the famous and prosperous city that had great walls at the time of Joshua. It was that great city that Joshua and the people of Israel walked around, and on the seventh day and with a seventh shout, its walls came down. Many years later, that city was re-built and once again it became a beautiful city that was well-situated and was pleasant. It produced great people- including prophets- yet it was a barren land (II Kings 2:19). Strange! A great and a beautiful city, yet that same great city lacked glory! Its water was very bad, meaning it produced diseases and was bitter in taste. The soil of the city was not productive and could bear no good fruit. I believe that they had great scientists who had conducted all kinds of experiments and tried many solutions yet the land was still barren. Why was it so? (Joshua 6:26, NKJV). So the mystery is solved here: Joshua, the servant of God had cursed that land. Years after the divine curse had been released one man known as Hiel from Bethel rebuilt the city of Jericho. Indeed, as $0-)(-+U%'$)#5)=#.)2+#'#"';-.<)18&+%*<)9&-3P()4&+($8#+').&-.)/0-') the foundation was laid. As soon as Hiel began to set up the city’s gates, his youngest son, Segub also died ‘’in accordance with the /#+.) #5) $0-) N:XT) (2#,-') 8Z) c#(0"%) (#') #5) i"'PP) ^V) F&'S() HI>AB_M) So as you have observed from the quotation above, the cause of the barrenness of the land, and of Jericho was the curse of Joshua. As long as that curse was at work, nothing productive could come out of the land. So for close to a thousand years Joshua’s curse followed Jericho! To break that curse and release the ‘destiny’ of that city, a person of a higher anointing and authority had to be consulted. Prophet Elisha had just succeeded his spiritual father Elijah so he carried in him the ‘double-portion father’s blessing’. By that higher authority Elisha confronted the root cause of the issue before he could reverse the ancient curse by the great man of God. Prophet Elisha became God’s agent of solution to the people of Jericho (II Kings 2:20-22). BELOVED, some situations can only go after a prophet of God has prayed. In other words, it is not every problem that any other person can deal with. Yes, a pastor may pray and offer encouragement to you, but until you meet a true prophet, your situation may remain the same for a very long time. When a prophet comes on the scene, God opens his eyes into the spiritual realms. God’s Spirit ignites a prophet’s prophetic eyes to scan the atmosphere and the spiritual realms until the root cause of a problem is located. [ 68 ]


PROPHET ELISHA TRACED THE SOURCE of the river and located the cause of the problem. That is what God’s prophet can do in your life. God will use him to locate the source of your problems %'.);#"'(-3)Z#")#')0#/)$#)4&\)&$M):5);#"+(-<)$0-+-)%+-)5%3(-)2+#20-$(f) nevertheless, I can assure you that God’s true prophets far outweigh the fake ones that have not been sent by Jehovah God. Appreciate the ministry of the prophet and seek our help and see what the Lord can do to turn limitations into liberty and turn curses into blessings in your life! Be rest assured that God has many true and great prophets in this nation and in his Church. As Jehoshaphat instructed his people. You too do this:


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CHAPTER 12 PLAN TO MULTIPLY YOUR SUCCESS IN OTHERS

• T^*% ()$&'% ($% <)$/% .&% 3.7'06% /+J)% .&% 2'[+.2'4:% ?04%<)'0%5(%&$/'%*+(+2'%45('%()'%).3)%J$+2(%$*% ).&($21%&.(&%.0%9+43/'0(%$0%'5J)%$*%+&%=%2'J$24.03% <)'()'2% .0%$+2%82.'*% &I50%$*%&'27.J'%<'%*+,-.,,'4% $+2% 2'&I$0&.8.,.(.'&=% $+2% &+JJ'&&% $2% *5.,+2'6% <'% <.,,%8'%/'5&+2'4%81%()'%50&<'2&%$*%$+2%[+'&(.$0&=% <'2'%<'%(2+,1%/'0%$*%J$+253'=%<'2'%<'%(2+,1%/'0% $*% 9+43/'0(=% <'2'% <'% (2+,1% /'0% $*% .0('32.(1N <'2'%<'%(2+,1%/'0%$*%4'4.J5(.$0&YO - PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY

A

GREATLY SUCCESSFUL PERSON IS the one who leaves a great legacy behind him. What is the use if you acquire so much wealth in life and become so famous, but at your death your name and honour go with you and no one remembers you for anything great you did for God or humanity? I believe that one is truly successful when he leaves indelible marks on the stones of history. Living a good legacy depends on the number of people you help or mentor in your lifetime. Indeed, the number of people who will stand on your shoulders to see afar into their future will be the testimony of the type of leader you are. Do you want to be great and celebrated on earth after you are gone to glory? Then plan today what you can do to invest into the lives of others- especially the youth.

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?)&O)6&M-&N(--0E&HG)86&#@.6&7)8&')44-44 Make sure that you will help others to bring their vision into reality. If you want your name to remain and be remembered on earth as a ‘good name,’ try to invest and train other people. Share what you have with them, and that includes your wealth, your knowledge as well as your experience. It is very sad to note that many highly knowledgeable and wealthy people have died ‘heavily loaded’ instead of ‘dying empty.’ You do not have to enrich the cemetery with your untapped and unused talents, gifts and experiences. As a pastor, do all you can to produce far more ‘spiritual children’ than the physical children that come out of your loins! Spiritual babies include those you disciple, mentor and train as well as all the achievements and accomplishments you chalk in your lifetime.

N(-.6&9-.0-(4&'(.=6+=-&%@-&9.2&$:&IKA)2-(K-/6 A truly successful person is a trailblazer, a pace-setter. He leaves a clear evidence of successful people in his trail. A truly successful 3-%.-+) &() %) *%') #5) S+-%$) &'43"-';-) %'.) 0%() *%'Z) 5#33#/-+(M) W#) $0-) next time you meet someone who calls himself a leader and he has nobody following him, then according to Dr. John Maxwell, ‘’he is only taking a walk.’ A good leader is the one who has the capability, experience, competence, character, charisma, anointing and the grace to be a successful mentor. Consider a great man like Prophet Elijah; his name continues to be in the Bible largely because he multiplied himself in his protégé, Prophet Elisha. ELISHA also planned his life and ministry very well. From the very day he inherited his father’s mantle, he began to do ‘greater works.’ He healed the land of Jericho. Because he had inherited the double-portion unction and the mantle of his spiritual father, Elisha performed twice the miracles and supernatural exploits his father Elijah did. The same can happen to you also. As followers of Jesus Christ, he promised us - his disciples- that:

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<>*/$(#//+'%-9)0(@(/#)($*()*+0("%(2"*(I%91%&%/(1,(>%0($"%(2*'7/($"#$( @(-*("%(2199(-*(#9/*5(#,-(4'%#$%'(2*'7/($"#,($"%/%("%(2199(-*0(I%8#+/%(@( 4*($*(>)(P#$"%':;=JOHN 14:12, NKJV Can you imagine that! How would it be possible that the followers of Christ will do ‘greater works’ than he did? Well, it may sound incredible, but with great leaders all things are possible and Christ is the greatest of all leaders! Jesus Christ is the greatest strategists and the Master Planner. By the statement above, this was what he meant: •

He would send the Holy Spirit to dwell in the believers

•

He had already trained, equipped and empowered his .&(;&23-()5#+)A)Z-%+(

•

He was a secure leader and eagerly willing to give his power to his followers

•

He empowered his followers to learn how to reproduce their lives and leadership in others

•

The disciples were empowered by the Holy Spirit to continue what Christ was doing on earth

•

Jesus prepared his disciples to be world-changers.

ACCORDING TO DR. JOHN C. MAXWELL, Jesus mentored and reproduced himself in his disciples. In fact, he goes on to state that the Lord multiplied his leadership in his disciples, including us. According to the leadership expert, Jesus Christ employed the acronym, I.D.E.A in his discipleship process. This according to Dr. Maxwell is termed The Law of Empowerment and it is as follows:

INSTRUCTION: He verbally taught them. He continually used daily routines to instruct them in leadership.

DEMONSTRATION: He molded truth and let his men observed his life. He provided show-and-tell.

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EXPERIENCE: He let the disciples participate and apply the truths themselves. They got to practice.

ASSESSMENT: He debriefed their shared experience. He assessed their growth and gave them direction. You and I can also apply the ‘idea’ to plan our lives, ministries and businesses. Whatever you do, apply this principle of Christ and you will do ‘’greater works’’ in your life. As the Lord’s Second Coming draws closer, he is restoring His Church to an unblemished and radiant status. The Lord is about to do greater, new and mindboggling miracles and healings. Eyes have not seen and ears have not yet heard what God is about to reveal and do with his people as this decade draws to a close! I foresee the rising of a new breed of gospel ministers coming on the scene who can read the hearts of men and provide instant solutions to age-long problems. That will cause many souls to be birthed into God’s Kingdom. I foresee many strange, wonderful and greater supernatural acts are yet to be seen! DO YOU WANT GOD TO USE YOU FOR HIS GLORY? Then begin today to plan for that great tomorrow. Spend time and seek God’s face for your desired future. Sharpen your ability to hear God’s voice and obey promptly whatever he instructs you to do. Pay the price for the prize. Love God’s Word and study it for your personal development, not only because you have to preach or teach others! Seek for godly and highly anointed mentors.

!"B7'21%I2$8,'/%J$0(5.0&%()'%&''4&%$*%.(&%&$,+(.$0:% P*%()'2'%52'%0$%I2$8,'/&6%()'2'%<.,,%8'%0$%&$,+(.$0% 504%I2$32'&&%<.,,%&($I:%M$$4%$+(J$/'&%52'%2$$('4% .0%()'%*'2(.,'%&$.,%$*%($+3)%I2$8,'/&:"" -NORMAN VINCENT PEARLE

CHAPTER 12: PLAN TO MULTIPLY YOUR SUCCESS IN OTHERS

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CONCLUSION • !"#).0H% ,$03'26% ().0H% &/52('26% 504% ().0H% 8.33'2=% 504%1$+",,%I,50%<.&',1:"" %=%DR. ROBERT H. SCHULLER

I

TRUST THAT AS YOU FINISH READING THIS BOOK, I have empowered and equipped you to know what to do with your life from today onwards. Do all you can to live a wellorganized life. Study to show yourself approved. Walk in good knowledge, godly wisdom and in all your getting, get understanding! Do not leave anything to chance. Make it a habit to plan every aspect of your life. Make God’s Word your standard and never compromise to conform to the systems of this world. The Holy Spirit is ever-ready to be your Helper, so seek his direction as you set goals for your life %'.)$%,-)($-2()$#)5"34&33)$0-*M)6+"($)%'.)#8-Z)%'.)=#.)/&33)2"$)%)(*&3-) on your face as He showers his blessings upon you and gives you breakthroughs. CONFRONT YOUR IGNORANCE and build on your strengths. Make it a habit to continually sharpen your study habits and thinking skills. Especially, seek adequate knowledge on how to confront poverty. You can do that by connecting to God’s provisions for your prosperity, which is His Word. As King Jehoshaphat declared, I also add my voice that, I believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established’’ (in His success). Furthermore, believe his prophets and follow their instructions by faith and in obedience, ‘’and you shall prosper’’ (II Chronicles 20:20).

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AS A SERVANT OF GOD, called into the prophetic ministry and operating in rare supernatural and power gifts, I can guarantee that whenever you appreciate yourself as God’s child, walk in his ways and plan in line with His Word, Jehovah Jireh Himself shall order your steps and ‘’delight’’ in your ways. Surely, He ‘’upholds’’ you with [P9&()^*&S0$Z_)0%'.PP)^R(%3*)AG>@B_M Because you are a planner, good success and prosperity shall be your portion! So walk by faith and continue to work diligently. God will honour your efforts! Appreciate what you have and believe that the little in your hands is a seed that can be planted and multiplied into a great harvest. Note that the seed contains the fruit that is harvested. (Genesis 1:29)

H''SI<5H%I&7$3S&N$?QN5PIO&HM595%7&%$&%15O]&HO?& NIOISH%I&5?IH! Anyone who does not appreciate his brain power depreciates fast, too soon! In this 21st Century, brain-power (or mental/intellectual strength) is the currency, not man-power (or brute strength). Your ability to generate new and workable ideas determines your value and wealth. The good news is that, an average person has not less than six hundred abilities. So you are never poor on creative abilities. All you need is to avoid laziness and be diligent. Rise up early and $0&',M) W$&+) "2) Z#"+) ;+-%$&U&$Z) %'.) &'(&S0$(M) V.-%() /&33) 43#/) $0+#"S0) your mind. Begin to work with those ideas and turn them into good activities. Success will smile at you! APPRECIATE YOUR IN-BORN TALENTS AND CAPACITY. Expand and build your mental capacity. Be innovative. Develop both your talents and spiritual gifts until you become a genius in your unique 4&-3.M)Q-(<)Z#"g)K#'$&'"-)$#)-\2%'.)Z#"+)=#.`S&U-');%2%;&$Z)8-;%"(-) no one in history has ever been able to use more than 10% of their brain’s power. So just stretch your mind and use only 12%. Your name will go into the Guinness Book of Records! At all cost, use your talents and special abilities. Always remember the Parable of Talents that Jesus gave in Matthew 25. KNOW THAT NEW TALENTS AND NEW gifts come into the

CONCLUSION

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system every year. God releases new anointing each New Year. W#) ($#2) ,--2&'S) %) $&S0$) 4&($) #') Z-($-+.%ZP() S&5$<) /0&;0) /&33) (##') 8-) outdated. If what God is using his prophets to do today amazes you, then wait until you see the new and strange supernatural exploits that are about to be manifested through people in God’s Church! Stop boasting of yesterday’s anointing and testimonies. Stop seeing yourself as the ‘only star’ in the skies. Know that, every now and then God releases and introduces brand-new men and women who do what has never been done in the generations. IT IS ONE THING TO PLAN and another to put those plans into action. When we were in school, anytime we were close to examination, there was this common axiom that we used to write on the blackboard to encourage each other:

CD#@-/&0-6-(K+/.6+)/&,+-4R&:.+,8(-&=.//)6&0+4K./6,-& 6@-&*,.>&):&48==-44TDD YOU NEED DETERMINATION IN ORDER TO SUCCEED. You must be determined because there is an expiry date for everything under the sun. Every gift God has given you has a time limit. There are tasks you can perform only when you are a youth. There are visions you can pursue only when you are older. No matter what, catch a vision today and write down today, whatever you determined to pursue and achieve tomorrow. Never forget this: your life itself has an expiry date; you will not live forever. Be wise and apply wisdom to your God-given purpose and assignment. I EXHORT YOU ALSO TO DO ALL YOU CAN TO AVOID ‘INFERIORITY COMPLEX.’ This is a negative attitude that kills the anointing faster than anything else. When you feel inferior to others, you are always feeling that you are lower than all others, therefore you esteem others above yourself and that leads to failure more than any other thing. Put value on yourself. If you are in Christ, you are God’s child, a ‘chosen generation’ and a ‘royal priesthood’ (1 Peter 2:4-8). You are special and God’s workmanship’, so never be ashamed of whom you are. Walk as a child of the King and esteem yourself in Christ Jesus, for ‘’in Him is life and life is the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness…’’ (John 1:4).

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FINALLY, walk circumspectly as a wise man, ‘redeeming the times’’ (Ephesians 5:16). Plan your life and walk in wisdom. Take one step at a time, but move forward. Commit all your plans unto the N#+.)%'.)0-)(0%33)-($%83&(0)Z#"+)$0#"S0$()^R+#U-+8()HI>A_M)V$)&()#'3Z) when you make a move that God orders your steps: MAY YESHUA HAMMASHEAH bless you and establish all your plans and give you great success and prosperity in your season of harvesting the seeds you planted yesterday! Amen!

!"^0,1% ()$&'% <)$% )57'% ,'520'4% ()'% I$<'2% $*% &.0J'2'%504%&',-,'&&%J$0(2.8+(.$0%'gI'2.'0J'%,.*'"&% 4''I'&(%9$1G%(2+'%*+,-.,,/'0(:"" Q?S"&HO%1$O7&S$MM5O!

CONCLUSION

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR • REV. ISAAC OPOKU (popularly known as ‘Obotuo’) is the Founder and Head Pastor of In Him is Life Church International, a fast-growing church with many branches and has its headquarters in Accra, Ghana. Rev. Isaac Opoku is a multigifted Minister of the Gospel, an Evangelist, and a seasoned Prophet of God. He is a counselor to many pastors, prophets and leaders. His God-given calling and message centres on: Divine Order, Spiritual Empowerment, Revelational Teachings, Prophetic Ministration, Spiritual Deliverance and Divine Prosperity. He is a gifted Author and Teacher of God’s Word. He is the President of e.&J$7'2%#)'%C.8,'%P0&(.(+(', a training school for pastors and prophets. He has ministered the Word of God in many nations in Africa and Europe, United States of America and Canada, and he features in a number of television stations and radio stations in Ghana and abroad. He resides in Accra, Ghana with his beloved wife, Grace and they %+-)83-((-.)/&$0)4&U-);0&3.+-'>)c%;#8<)c#0'<)V(%&%0<)X"$0)%'.)T-8#+%0M

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Isaac Opoku - Plan Your Life

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