Charles Finney in his book "How To Succeed In The Christian Life" discusses the dynamics of success in the Christian life. He states "There are two classes of people who start out in the Christian life: those who make a complete or partial failure of it and those who make a complete success of it:" He shares the following seven steps of biblical paths to success as a Christian.
1. BEGIN RIGHT
Receive Christ, take Him as your Savior who died for you. It is in this first step that many make a mistake. They try to mix in their good works as a ground of salvation. They think if they are good God will forgive them because of Christ's death and their goodness.
2.CONFESS CHRIST OPENLY BEFORE MEN
The life of confession is the life of full salvation.(Matthew 10:32, Romans 10:10.)It is when we confess Christ before men that He confesses us before "My Father in Heaven" and that the fullness of His blessing comes.
3.STUDY THE WORD
The Word of God is the soul's food(spiritual food).It is the nourishment of the new life. (1 Peter 2:2)One who neglects the Word cannot make much of a success of the Christian life. All who get on in the Christian life are great feeders on the Word of God. Here many fail. Ask any backslider, "Have you fed on the Word daily?" I never have found one that could say that he had.
4.PRAY WITHOUT CEASING
The one who would succeed in the Christian life must lead a life of prayer.(1 Thess.5:17).The rule of David and Daniel, three times a day, is a good rule.
5.GO TO WORK FOR CHRIST
Those who use what they have will get more, and those who let what they have lie idle will lose even that.(Matt.25:29)
6.GIVE LARGELY
"The liberal soul shall be made fat"(Prov.11:25), He which soweth sparingly; shall reap also sparingly...(2 Corinth. 9:6,8.)
7.KEEP PUSHING ON
Forget that which lies behind; press onto the better things that lie before.(Phill.3:13,14)
