Solomonic Success

By Dag Heward-Mills

* * * * *

Copyright 1999 Dag Heward-Mills

Published By Dag Heward-Mills on Smashwords

Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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Find out more about Dag Heward-Mills at:

http://www.daghewardmills.org/

http://www.daghewardmills.org/lci/

http://www.daghewardmills.org/healingjesuscrusade/

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Contents

Chapter 1- Total Success

Chapter 2-Obey Your Father’s Instruction

Chapter 3-The Secret of Building the Temple of God

Chapter 4.-The Secret of Seeking after Righteousness

Chapter 5-The Secret of Building Your Own House

Chapter 6-The Secret of Using Your Mind

Chapter 1

Total Success

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Psalm 84:11

The Bible says that the Lord is a sun and a shield. This means that the same God who gives you sunshine, gives you shade. All that God is trying to tell us is that He is everything to us. Getting to know the Lord will bring us into a totally successful life.

The Lord will give grace and glory. That means that God will give you undeserved help. When the Lord gives you glory, it means you will become more beautiful. He will make you a nice and blessed person.

Success is not success unless it is total success. If you have only spiritual blessings but you do not have any physical breakthroughs, then you are not really successful. If you have many physical blessings but you do not have spiritual blessings, you are not enjoying true success.

The Bible says that God is a sun and a shield. That means God can be everything to us. One of the great truths of all time is that we can learn from those ahead of us. We can learn the ministry from those who are ahead in the ministry. Learn success from successful people.

One person who I believe was very successful was Solomon. We need to study Solomon's secrets of success. Solomon attained the greatest wisdom ever known to mankind. He also became a world-famous leader. He was so rich that he made history. Solomon's wisdom and riches combined to make him totally successful. Let us go through some of the cardinal features of Solomon's success.

FOOD

Firstly, notice what his household ate on a daily basis.

And Solomon's provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour, and threescore measures of meal, TEN FAT OXEN and TWENTY OXEN out of the pastures and an HUNDRED SHEEP, beside harts, and roebucks, and fallowdeer, and fatted fowl.

1 Kings 4:22

Many of us in Ghana struggle to put meat on our plates. Yet, Solomon killed thirty oxen and a hundred sheep everyday. Remember that there were no refrigerators in those days so they had to eat everything! Solomon must have had many mouths to feed. There are many people in Ghana who, not by choice, eat their food without meat or fish. When Solomonic success enters your life, you will have enough meat for your stew. I see you having Solomonic success!

SAFETY

For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and HE HAD PEACE ON ALL SIDES round about him.

1 Kings 4:24

Under Solomon's leadership, there was peace on every side. Not only did Solomon have enough to eat but he also had peace. That is true success! So many people want both happiness and peace. Some people live in colossal-sized mansions and have loads of money, but do not have peace. They drive in the most luxurious cars but they don't have peace. They jet-set all over the world but still they do not have any peace.

And Judah and Israel DWELT SAFELY, EVERY MAN UNDER HIS VINE and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-Sheba, all the days of Solomon.

1 Kings 4:25

Another feature of Solomonic success was that everyone lived in security. Everyone was able to dwell under his own fig tree in security. Under Solomon's reign, there was no fear that someone would arrest and confiscate your fig tree. There was no Confiscating Assets Committee. There were no arbitrary seizures of cars and properties. The Bible says that they dwelt safely in the days of Solomon.

Security Attracts Investment

The reason why the western world invests only "peanuts" in some countries is that they know that their investments (vines and fig trees) are not safe from arbitrary takeovers and confiscation. Little investment occurs in regions where legal agreements are not respected. Under the reign of Solomon, the rule of law was established. People built houses and established themselves securely without fear of persecution.

There are some countries where it is virtually a crime to be successful or wealthy. You are hated and intimidated, just because you have planted a fig tree. This was not the case in Solomon's day. True success goes hand-in-hand with security and the rule of law. In the days of King Solomon, soldiers did not go around looting shops and harassing wealthy people. They did not strip women naked and cheat the public. The Bible says that they dwelt safely under their fig and vine trees and nobody was afraid of anything.

Look at most African countries. Who can dwell there in safety? Who can invest there and be sure of his investment? It is no wonder that the wealth of this planet gravitates towards places where people can dwell in safety under their vine trees.

Freedom and Justice?

It is interesting to note that the motto for Ghana's independence is "Freedom and Justice". But do we really have freedom and justice? Everyone knows that successful people can only flourish in a country where freedom and justice is present.

I remember many years ago when armed officers surrounded my father in his office. They had been sent to apprehend him. Can you believe that these people were arresting a civilian over a matter concerning an electricity bill? The matter was unresolved and still being debated in the Courts.

Commands had come from "invisible" powers to arrest him. He was humiliated and thrown into a prison cell like a common criminal. The power, that did not respect the law, had set aside legitimate court proceedings and had taken the law into its own hand. My father was humiliated and disgraced because there was no safety in the land. The courts were subject to the whims and fancies of powerful dictators who did not respect the law.

When I saw my father lying on the floor of a jail amongst criminals, I marvelled at the lack of safety for anyone. These same powers, which were in control of the media, continued to embarrass my father by filming him in jail and bringing it on national news. After that, they took a photograph of him combing his hair in the police cells and published it in the national daily newspaper.

What was his crime? Why was the government intentionally embarrassing one of the nation's honourable and wealthy citizens? Is it a crime to be wealthy? Is it safe to dwell in your own country? The law meant nothing to the "invisible" powers of the day. The courts and their decisions were set aside as one would set aside a dead dog. It is no wonder that my father fell ill and died shortly after this!

True success involves the peace and safety of a nation and all its citizens. When people break the law, the right thing to do is to prosecute them. However, in nations where politicians control the law, you cannot expect justice to prevail unless you are on the "right side of the fence". Democracy is not only the vote of the majority, but also the protection of the minorities.

Those of us who live in developing countries must pray that Solomonic peace and safety will one day be part of our nations.

I sometimes wonder at the appeals of certain government officials for businessmen to invest in the country. If there can be an announcement one day that, "All those who have two million cedis and above should report to the nearest police station for interrogation," who will bring his money into the country?

And Judah and Israel DWELT SAFELY, EVERY MAN UNDER HIS VINE and UNDER HIS FIG TREE…

1 Kings 4:25

Our church once signed a contract with a government agency. We were led to invest a lot of money into a property, thinking that the agreement was safe.

However, we were awoken to the rude shock of our walls being broken down by an "invisible" power. This same invisible power was at work again. The laws were set aside and the agreements were shoved away. This is not safety and peace.

Let's have Solomonic success! Solomonic success means that we will plant our fig trees and dwell under them in safety.

Cars

And Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen: and he had a thousand and four hundred chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed in the cities for chariots, and with the king at Jerusalem.

1 Kings 10:26

Solomon had one thousand four hundred cars. In some countries, if you have a car, a special branch will hunt you down. Nevertheless, hear me today - God wants to give you many cars! He wants you to drive to church. Do not set yourself against nice and prosperous things. If you don't have something, don't fight it! There are many people who have had to swallow their words because of things they said in their times of poverty.

Some nations have killed their leaders at various times for owning a house and more than two cars. Today, those who killed others for driving nice cars are flying gliders, riding horses, driving new cars, walking on thick American carpets and jet-setting all over the world.

There is nothing wrong with walking on a nice carpet. But if you persecuted people years ago for their success, it becomes difficult for you to enjoy prosperity in the day of your success.

If you want to be successful one day, applaud and encourage success. One day, you will also be successful. Solomon had many chariots. I see God blessing you with many cars! There is an eternal law of sowing and reaping. The law of the harvest cannot be broken.

Crabology

When a man works hard, he must be rewarded for his labour. If he works so hard and was so wise that he had a thousand cars, why are you so angry with him? Don't be a crab! Only crabs try to pull others down.

Musical Chairs

When I was going to get married, my father told me that I would have to work very hard to get to where he was. He told me how he had no chairs in his home when he initially got married. There were only two chairs in their sitting room. Whenever there was a visitor, he and my mother would play "musical chairs". Each time one came around, the other would get up and pretend to be doing something else.

You see, because there was only two chairs, three people couldn't sit down at a time. Many people who have some things today have struggled for years to acquire them.

Do not fight rich people! If Ghana is to be rich, then we cannot drive away wealth and success. We should not frighten away affluent people. We should encourage them by being law-abiding and agreement-respecting governments.

Do you think Solomon ate thirty oxen and a hundred sheep on his own? Of course not! Many people were eating the oxen and the sheep with him. Remember that they had no refrigerators in those days. Everything had to be eaten on the same day!

One rich person creates jobs and blessings for many people. Allow people to be blessed. Allow them to go as high as they can. You must accept the reality that some people will be excessively rich like Solomon and others will not be so rich. The presence of one wealthy person creates wealth for many others. People are different! Some have the ability to make money against all odds. People must be allowed to be themselves!

Wisdom and Strategies

Let's talk about wisdom.

And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. And Solomon's wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt.

1 Kings 4:29-30

Solomon was endowed with supernatural wisdom from above. It was recorded that he was wiser than all men. In addition to all of his financial blessings, he had the wisdom of God. The Bible states that he spoke three thousand proverbs.

And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

1 Kings 4:32

A Good Income

Notice how much gold Solomon acquired each year. Solomon had a very good salary. His yearly income was about nineteen million three hundred and seventy thousand US dollars. This income is more than some of the largest gold mines in the world today!

Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents of gold.

1 Kings 10:14

Solomon’s Decor

And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps: there was not the like made in any kingdom. And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.

1 Kings 10:20,21

The Bible records that there were twelve lions that stood on either side of his steps. Everything in Solomon's house was made out of gold. Even his plates and cups were gold. Under Solomonic success, silver was not regarded as precious - it was too common!

Solomon’s Pets

For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram: once in three years came the navy of Tharshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and APES, AND PEACOCKS.

1 Kings 10:22

Solomon did not bother to play with dogs; that was too ordinary! He had peacocks strutting all over his garden. The Bible tells us that Solomon exceeded all the kings in the earth for riches and for wisdom. The whole earth gathered at Solomon's feet to hear the wisdom that he had.

As people gathered, they brought him gifts and riches. Is it not paradoxical? A rich man was being given more gifts. When you make yourself a poor person, you drive away gifts and blessings.

So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and garments, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.

1 Kings 10:23-25

And the king made silver to be in Jerusalem as stones, and cedars made he to be as the sycamore trees that are in the vale, for abundance.

1 Kings 10:27

King Solomon was so successful that he made silver to become like stones and cedars to become like sycamore trees. All of these blessings came from God. They did not come from the devil. Do not believe the lie that wealth is evil. Wealth is neutral! It can either be used for good things or bad things. I believe God can give you Solomonic success today! From now, you will never be poor anymore! From now, you will rise up in wisdom, wealth and in success!

Join me as we discover what principles Solomon used to take him to these heights of success.

Chapter 2

Obey Your Father’s Instruction

It is easy to blame someone else for your situation. Human beings commonly point their fingers at the nearest scapegoat in sight. Adam said it was the woman who caused him to sin. Eve said the serpent was to blame for the problem.

Many Black people say that it is White people who are to blame for their condition. Third world countries blame Europe for colonizing them. They claim that colonization is the cause of all of Africa's problems. I think the best approach is to blame ourselves for our situation.

When we take responsibility for our situation, we are better able to help ourselves. Let us take responsibility for our own successes or failures. You must believe that you are the cause of your own successes and failures.

Look at what other successful people did. Follow them and you will be successful! If you were to work a bit harder, perhaps things would get better. If you stop blaming your relatives in the village, witches in your hometown and the curses in your family, you will progress. Perhaps if you were to adopt the strategies of Solomon, you may experience his type of success.

One of Solomon's secrets was to obey his father's instructions. King David, Solomon's father left him several important instructions as he lay dying on his bed. Solomon obeyed all of them!

Children, OBEY YOUR PARENTS in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Ephesians 6:1-3

If you obey your father, it will be well with you. If you do not obey your father and mother, it will not be well with you! It is as simple as that! Solomon's kingship was established because he took his father's words seriously and obeyed each instruction to the letter. Solomon would never have become what he became if he had ignored his father's instructions.

Different Types of Fathers

God gives every human being a few fathers. You can have a father after the flesh, which is your biological father. You can also have a father-in-law, your spouse's father. Your father-in-law can be a blessing to you if he is a good person. Moses was blessed tremendously by Jethro, his father-in-law.

You can have a spiritual father; someone who brought you to Christ and established you in the Lord. Another important type of father is a father-in-ministry. That is someone who brings you up and helps you to be established in the ministry. All these types of fathers are important to us.

It is important to understand the principle of honouring fathers and mothers. Many church leaders have walked out into a spiritual abyss by violating these simple principles. Some ministers disappear into oblivion by dishonouring fathers that have been set in the land.

Before King David died, he called his son Solomon to his bedside and gave him some instructions. As Solomon looked upon his dying father, perhaps some thoughts ran through his mind. The man lying on the bed was someone who had made many mistakes in his life. He had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had disgraced the nation. He had murdered one of his own soldiers. David's children had been involved in the rape and murder of each other.

In his latter days, David had not been able to keep his family together. It was this same ailing father, who was giving instructions to Solomon. Solomon obeyed his father! Because of that obedience, Solomon prospered to the point where silver became like stones to him.

A Father's Instructions

The first instruction that was given to Solomon was to be strong and to behave like a man.

I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;

1 Kings 2:2

Because I am a leader, I understand the importance of that instruction. Without strength, you cannot be a good leader. A church needs a strong leader to move it forward. Democracy and committees are not helpful when you need strong leadership.

Solomon went ahead and eliminated his brother Adonijah, who had earlier tried to take the throne from him. The first act of strength that Solomon performed was to eliminate all possible traitors and wicked elements in his midst.

Some of you are too weak to get rid of that bad man in your life. You must get rid of that bad girl. She shouldn't be there. As long as certain people are a part of your life, you will not prosper. Temptations come through people. They do not fly in a vacuum. If you do not get rid of certain people in your life, you will have countless problems.

You need strength to obey the voice of the Lord. When God told me to be a pastor, it took a lot of strength to forge ahead into God's will. No one supported or helped me. When I started out in ministry, I found myself surrounded by people who didn't believe in me. I had to get rid of the scoffers in my life and I did just that!

I remember telling one gentleman, "From today, you are no longer part of this church." I continued, "Do not come to the church anymore. Your services are not needed!"

This brother was taken aback; he wanted to stay on in the church. He wanted to continue betraying me. I knew he was disloyal to me so I decided to get rid of him. It was not an easy decision to tell a friend, "Go away and stay away!" But it was a very necessary step for my own survival. No one can prosper if disloyal scorners surround him. You need an environment of encouragement and peace.

Another instruction Solomon had from his father was to deal with Joab. Joab was someone who had disobeyed David on several occasions. David asked Solomon eliminate Joab.

…let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace.

1 Kings 2:6

When the opportunity presented itself, Solomon executed Joab. David also asked Solomon to deal with Shimei.

…thou hast with thee Shimei…hold him not guiltless

1 Kings 2:8, 9

Shimei cursed King David when he was running away from Absalom, his son. Solomon dealt with him as well. Life is too short not to learn from your fathers. You need to believe what they are telling you. Solomon did not waste his life discovering what evil would come to him through Joab and Shimei. He just believed what his father said and executed them.

You will notice that after Solomon fulfilled his father's instructions the kingdom of Israel became established under his rule.

And THE KINGDOM WAS ESTABLISHED in the hand of Solomon.

1 Kings 2:46

Although Solomon thought that he was just obeying his father's instructions, he was actually stabilizing the nation without even knowing it! Obey your father's instructions, even when you don't understand them. You will unknowingly bring a blessing upon your life.

A sweet spiritual blessing follows a man who honours a father. It cannot be explained logically. It is a spiritual law that has been set in place for thousands of years. Take this secret and apply it to your life. Don't fight it because you cannot! Flow with it and you will come into Solomonic success!

Chapter 3

The Secret of Building the Temple of God

The next important secret in Solomon's life was the building of the temple. Up until today, you still hear the phrase "Solomon's temple". Solomon was the one who built a beautiful temple for Jehovah. There was no temple like the one he built. His father David could not build the temple because of the many wars he was fighting. It is not possible to build anything unless you have peace and stability.

Notice the countries in the so-called developed world. Do you think that you would ever hear on the news, that the Prime Minister of Britain, Mr. Tony Blair has been overthrown in a coup d'état? Do you think that you would ever hear that a corporal has arrested Mr. Tony Blair and put him under house arrest?

Do you think that you would ever hear that President George Bush has been overthrown by an army sergeant and has been placed in prison? It is very unlikely. The stability and peace that western nations enjoy is helping them to build their cities and to develop in prosperity.

Blessed in His Old Age

One of the secrets to prolonging your days on this earth is be involved in the building of the house of God. Some years ago, I noticed a man who was really blessed of God. The man had lived to a ripe old age and had many children and grandchildren. In his old age, he was rich and in good health. Most people at that age would be flat broke! Most of the people I know in that age group depend on their children for survival. But this man did not depend on his children at all. Some of his children rather depended on him.

I asked the Lord, "Why is this man blessed?" The Lord showed me that this man was a person very much involved in the building of the church. He was somebody who had spent a lot of his personal money building the church. The Spirit of God whispered to me, "The people who involve themselves in building the church, whether spiritually or physically have a special grace upon their lives."

Do you remember the Centurion who needed a miracle for his servant? The people told Jesus the man deserved a miracle because he had built them a synagogue.

And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That HE WAS WORTHY for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and HE HATH BUILT US A SYNAGOGUE.

Luke 7:4, 5

They said, "This man is worthy because he built us a synagogue."

Good things from Jesus were about to flow into this man's life because he had built a church.

Years ago, I heard a great man of God ministering at the sod-cutting ceremony of a church in my city. This man of God made a statement that I will never forget. He told the congregation, "Build God's house, and God will build a house for you." I have never forgotten those words. Build a house of stability and safety for God's people and God will make your dwelling secure.

They Locked the Doors

When a church does not have a building, it is greatly limited in ministry. You will reap security for your life if you provide stability for the church. When our church used to meet in a canteen, we had no end of harassment from the authorities. Sometimes, immediately after the service, I would receive a letter saying, "You are to meet the authorities of the Ghana Medical School on Monday morning at eight a.m. prompt."

Once we arrived at church and the security officer decided to lock the doors and keep us out of the building. We had to have our church service outside the canteen. We were at the mercy of wicked and unreasonable people. When you provide God's church with security, stability and safety, God will become your refuge.

God will build a house for you and give you security. I have noticed that those who participate in building the temple of God are blessed. I am always grateful for the people that God gave me to help build the Lighthouse Cathedral. We would probably have disappeared into obscurity by now if we didn't have our church building. By now, we would have been hidden away in a classroom somewhere.

I have watched people give their lives' savings and their entire salaries to the work of God. I have also lived to see God blessing each and every one of these people. Today, some people would only give a few coins towards a church project. They don't know what they are missing. Those who have helped prolong the church's life will have their own lives prolonged. Those who cause a church to be wealthy will reap wealth in their lives.

In Bible times, people gave up lands and properties for the building of the church and they were blessed for doing so. This is one of Solomon's keys to success. He built a house for the Lord. Glue yourself to your church and see the church building become completed and paid for. Support the project until it is fully paid for! Attach yourself and invest in the church spiritually. Help to build a larger church. God will reward you as you build His house.

The day is coming, saith the Lord, when you will no longer share a room with six other people. You will live in your own house. The day is coming, saith the Lord, when you will no longer use the toilet with fourteen strange people who you do not know. The day is coming, saith the Lord, when I will put a roof over your head and you will know no lack or want.

For I the Lord will perform it. All things shall be added because you have sought to build my kingdom.

Chapter 4

The Secret of Seeking after Righteousness

I want you to notice something in Solomon's prayer. Solomon was having a prayer time and asked the Lord to give him an understanding heart to discern between good and bad.

In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

1 Kings 3:5,9

The Bible teaches us that his prayer pleased God. The Bible tells us that God said, "Because you didn't ask for riches or long life, but have asked for understanding, I'm going to give you wisdom. In addition, I'm going to bless you with fantastic riches which you didn't ask for."

Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a WISE AND AN UNDERSTANDING HEART…And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both RICHES, AND HONOUR…

1 Kings 3:12, 13

Solomon had the chance of a lifetime. He asked God for what he wanted. The Lord was impressed by Solomon's desire to seek for wisdom in order to be able to rule well. Let's face it! How many of us really seek for righteousness and wisdom from God? The Bible says in Matthew 6:33, "But Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

There are lay people who look at me and say, "Oh, it's okay for you to be in full-time ministry; you come from a rich family."

"You don't have to lose anything," they say. "Even if you don't work, your father will give you money."

I often smile and say nothing. I realize that these people do not even believe that I genuinely chose between secular riches and God's work. I know in my heart, that that was the choice I made. I decided to build God's house instead of my own life. If God has blessed me because of that, I do not apologize for the blessings of God. I give Him the glory.

I challenge you to seek after righteousness as Solomon did. It may seem to be the most direct route to prosperity and riches. But that is the route that God has set. You cannot be wiser than God. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness!

Decide to live a holy life. Pay the price and live for God. As you take up your cross to follow him, the angels of Heaven will take note. The kingdom of Heaven will acknowledge that you are on the right road. You will be rewarded with the things that all men are seeking for. The will be added to your life. You will experience prosperity without chasing after it!

Chapter 5

Secret of Building Your Own House

One of the secrets of success in this life is to decide to build your own house. Many people think that it is only fantastically rich people who build houses. That is not true! Solomon built a house for himself and I know that it greatly contributed to his success. I advise people who want to prosper to build houses. If you want to be a millionaire, I will say to you, "Build a house." If you already have a home, I will advise you to build another home.

I have many prospective millionaires in my church. The first instruction I give them is: build a house and never stop having building projects for the rest of your life.

But Solomon WAS BUILDING HIS OWN HOUSE THIRTEEN YEARS, and he finished all his house.

1 Kings 7:1

Solomon was a very wise man. One of the things wisdom made him do was to build his own house. A builder is a wise man.

There are two types of people. Those that accumulate wealth and those that spend their wealth. Which one of these will you be? Both of these people receive an inflow of money and riches.

One group accumulates this wealth wisely by building houses and investing in real estate. This group is often not outwardly impressive. The other group spends the wealth, generally having a good time. Such people impress everyone by flying all over the world, driving expensive cars and wearing designer clothing.

When all is said and done, the home builders often end up genuinely wealthy and capable of giving effortlessly to any worthy project. On the other hand, the "non-builders" who were not prepared to sacrifice to build often end up broke.

Do not forget this little secret. Be like Solomon and build something for yourself. A building or property is a type of saving. It appreciates in value every day. It represents the accumulation of all your wealth.

It took Solomon thirteen years to build his own house. Many people are in a hurry to arrive at a place of success. Solomon was a determined man. He eventually completed his own house after thirteen long years.

I believe that money is not the essential element to building a house. I believe the key to building a house is wisdom.

THROUGH WISDOM IS AN HOUSE BUILDED; and by understanding it is established:

Proverbs 24:3

Don't let the devil deceive you into thinking that you cannot build a house. Wisdom is something you can ask for from God.

IF ANY OF YOU LACK WISDOM, let him ASK OF GOD, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 1:5

Two Types of People

There are two types of people in the world, builders and users. Builders erect and construct things in their lifetime. Users simply enjoy the facilities that have been created by others.

There are two types of governments: building governments and using governments. In Ghana, my limited knowledge tells me that the government of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, built many things. He built the Akosombo Dam, which created the world's largest man-made lake. He built schools, universities, roads, harbours, etc. Some governments built nothing. They just use what others have built.

There are two types of pastors: "building pastors" and "user pastors". "Building pastors" build church buildings, schools, hospitals, etc. "User pastors" just preach to their congregations without building any chapels for the ministry.

Archbishop Benson Idahosa was someone I had admired because he built so many structures for the kingdom. Decide to be a builder! Being a builder makes you a more substantial person. Instead of using all of your money to impress people with new cars, build a house. When you die your clothes and your cars may be outmoded but your buildings will not!

I remember, when my father died, we assembled in Court to hear the reading of his will. The important aspects of his will related to the buildings that he had built whilst he was alive. There are people who build apartments in their stomachs. They buy all the expensive clothes from the best shops. They have so many pairs of shoes that there is no space anywhere to keep them.

I am not against nice clothes or nice cars. I have many nice things. I am trying to help you to become truly wealthy in the process of time. I want you to be an accumulator of true wealth through buildings. Let your mind mature. Become wiser about the realities of life. Life is more than eating, drinking and making merry - for you may not die tomorrow! You may live for many years and need the accumulated wealth of your better years!

A wise person sacrifices to build something! What is the use of a hundred suits, a hundred dresses and a hundred pairs of shoes? I usually have one pair of shoes that I wear until they are worn out.

I have discovered that an individual either chooses to be a builder or a user in his lifetime. Because I know that buildings make a person or ministry more substantial, our church has invested in many church buildings and properties. That is one of the secrets that has moved us forward.

I have decided to be someone who builds. It is not easy to build. It takes sacrifice and commitment. That is why many people do not build or own anything, although they could afford to. There are many people who earn a lot of money but don't do anything. A lot of money passes through their hands. One day they will say, "What did I use all that money for?"

Solomon built both the temple and his house. Decide against being a tenant forever. Let your first project be a house or an apartment. Many people who have taken my advice on this subject have thanked me profusely after completing their buildings. Look around and you will notice that those who are wealthy and established in later life have all built houses!

I see you building a house in your lifetime! Become an accumulator of wealth. I see God lifting you from the oppression of different landlords! I see you rising from a user to a builder! Walk on, prosper and enjoy Solomonic success!

Chapter 6

The Secret of Using Your Mind

Did you know that the difference between human beings and most animals is the size of their brains? It is the size of the brain and the use of the mind that distinguishes human beings from animals. Those who have a mind can think, reason and rule. Those who use their minds rule over those who don't. A person who does not use his mind is no different from a person who does not have one!

When God created us, He blessed us with the ability to think and to reason. When you become born-again, it does not mean that you should not use your mind anymore. A common mistake of spiritual Christians is that they stop using their minds! I am a spiritual person, but I believe in using my mind. The fact that I am born-again does not mean that I do not think anymore.

When I was in secondary school, most of the Scripture Union leaders did not pass their exams. It was as though when you became spiritual and prayerful, the mind stopped working. This is a fallacy. There are two types of Christians: those who use their minds and those whose minds are on vacation!

If you are going to cross a major highway, you do not close your eyes and say, "Lord, when I hear your voice, I will begin to cross the road." That is nonsense! God expects you to use your eyes and mind to make the right decision. If you stop using your mind, you are insulting God.

The ability to use our minds is what makes us different from animals. The reason why we can catch lions and put them in cages is because we have a superior mind. The reason why we can trap poisonous snakes and wild tigers is that our mind gives us the upper hand over these animals.

Using your mind fully will give you the upper hand in life. Making full use of your intellectual capabilities will give you the upper hand in this life.

It has been proved that all ethnic groups of the human race, have equally sized and equally capable brains. That means that all human beings are equal in their thinking ability and in intelligence. That is why there are equally capable White and Black heart surgeons. That is why there are equally capable airline pilots and scientists in all nations.

But it is a fact of history that some races have gained superiority over others. Some nations have even captured and dominated others for years. Today, in a very civilized world, many nations are economically enslaved to other nations. The world is made up of rich and wealthy nations which rule and dominate the poor and undeveloped ones.

The Thinker Controls the Non-Thinker

I have found that when a group of people become too emotional and spiritual, they often do not use their minds fully. People who use their minds fully, usually dominate people who don't. You control a person when you think more than he thinks. Have you not noticed that, men are often more calculating and logical than women are? Women are often more emotional than rational. Is it not true that, generally speaking, men rule over women?

Wisdom is Essential

I believe in prayer. I believe in fasting. I believe in the Holy Spirit and I believe in the supernatural. This does not make me shut my mind down. Solomon asked for wisdom. He was planning to use his mind!

The Bible teaches us that wisdom will promote us. The Bible tells us that wisdom will cause us to come to an honorable end. The Bible says with all your getting, get wisdom.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

Proverbs 4:7, 8

People who have used the mind that God gave them are ruling over those who have not used the gift of the mind. Some people use their brain to invent airplanes, cars and ships. Those who invent airplanes are the rich nations. Those who just buy and use these things are not as wealthy. Those who have made the great inventions are ruling the rest of us.

America dominates the world. There is hardly an invention, from cars to computers to spacecraft, that doesn't come from there. Way down in a country like Ghana, the American dollar is used as a financial yardstick for most transactions. On the contrary, the Ghanaian cedi however, is hardly known anywhere in the world.

The Lagoon God Says "No!"

Many times, development and progress in underdeveloped countries are stifled by emotional and spiritual reasons. When a lagoon should be developed into a tourist resort, the people oppose it in the name of spiritual reasons.

The lagoon god does not like to be disturbed. The lagoon god says, "No," and therefore there will be no development. When foreign investors come to develop certain portions of land, the ancestors (the dead) do not like it because their resting place is being disturbed and it will invoke curses.

The gods Say "No!"

I once visited a beautiful lake in Ghana. The people living near this lake used logs, instead of boats, to cross the lake. Apparently, the gods do not like certain types of vessels on the lake!

As I watched my own people paddling on logs, I asked myself whether we were in the Stone Age or in the twentieth century. I chatted with some of the villagers and asked them how they took the sick to the hospital. They described how a pregnant woman is strapped to two logs and paddled across several kilometers of a pitch-black lake. One man looked at me and said, "We have a very hard life here."

I marveled as I realized how far back human beings could be when the mind is not allowed to function in a logical, sagacious, discerning and rational manner. When we allow spiritual and emotional factors to lead at the expense of common sense, we can only expect a hard life. God gave us the gift of the mind. He also gave us emotions and a soul. You are supposed to use all these components of your being.

As you travel around the world you will realize one thing - educated people are in-charge everywhere. Education develops the mind. Those who are educated are those who have developed one of God's greatest gifts to man - the mind.

The human mind is more complicated than any computer. It is a supernatural gift from God. He expects us to think and to reason. God expects us to develop and to use this great gift of the mind! The Bible says that the wise man sees the evil ahead and keeps himself, but the simple passes on and is punished. Simplicity cannot help us in this modern day and age.

Fetish Priest or Science?

I sometimes watch African soccer teams. They carry fetish priests and Juju men to the football fields to ensure that they win the matches. Some goalkeepers place special charms within the goalposts to prevent the ball from entering. During the half-time break, the "Juju" man gives assurances, chants and casts more spells and charms over the players.

Meanwhile, their western and European counterparts are receiving scientifically formulated intravenous infusions in their changing room. They are enhancing their performance by scientific means. Is it a wonder to you that those who use these scientific methods have more consistent and favorable results? How many African teams have even participated in the finals of the World Cup? Which African team has ever won the World Cup, in spite of all the fetish and charms invoked?

Then said I, WISDOM IS BETTER THAN STRENGTH: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

Ecclesiastes 9:16

The Bible teaches that wisdom is better than strength. You may have a lot of brute strength like a lion. However, the one who is using his mind is going to rule over you. The Bible says, "Wisdom is better than strength." When you stop using your mind, you lower yourself. People who are using their minds will rule over you and dominate. No matter how spiritual you are, your mind is a gift from God and you must use it!

The gods Despised High-Rises

I remember when some foreign investors wanted to develop some high-rise buildings in a section of the city. The people of the area had an opportunity to receive a major financial input for progress. However, the gods and ancestors were against the idea of the development because it disturbed their resting-place.

Culture is a good thing! But when it goes against all forms of progress, we must ask ourselves whether that tradition should not be abolished. A country like Japan is said to have over six million gods. However, it seems to me that the gods of Japan have not opposed the sound and rational development in their country. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the gods of Japan encouraged development! I am not against culture and tradition. In fact, I am a strong believer in the rich culture and tradition of Africa. But I am against poverty, backwardness and the lack of education. I'm sure it's the same with you.

If you want to get married, you have to use your mind. You cannot just say that the Spirit is leading you to marry. Of course, you must follow the leading of the Spirit, but you are expected to use your mind. What is the background of your proposed wife? Do you really know her?

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

Proverbs 4:7, 8

Will You Marry the Three of Us?

I remember the story of how three sisters approached a brother who was graduating from a Bible school. Unknown to each other, each of the three ladies had approached the brother and told him that God had spoken to them about getting married to him.

How could the Spirit of God have told three different girls to marry one brother on the same day? We have to use our minds as well as our spiritual faculties. One without the other makes us defective.

The Wisdom of God

The reason why many Charismatic and Pentecostal churches are not respected is because we are so spiritual that we leave our minds out of important decisions. The finances of the church are not managed by using anointing oil. They are administered by using sound financial and accounting principles. A pastor may be highly anointed with miracles but when it comes to matters of land, law, property and finances the mind and education must come into play.

Did you know that Solomon did not have as much military strength as his father David? David was a fighter and was known for winning wars. But look at Solomon. He had more peace than his father did. How did Solomon establish himself in peace and stability? He just made friends with all his neighbours and had many allies. Solomon had far more peace in his day than David his father. Wisdom was once again proving to be better than strength.

And Solomon made affinity with Pharoah king of Egypt...

1 Kings 3:1

And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.

1 Kings 5:12

In the passage below, Solomon used the wisdom of God in ruling the nation. He developed internal stability by using the wisdom of God. The use of his mind was giving him the upper hand. He was becoming more famous than even his father David.

Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king:

for they saw that THE WISDOM OF GOD WAS IN HIM, TO DO JUDGMENT.

1 Kings 3:27,28

The name of the Church is often dragged through the mud. I believe in deliverance. I believe in the power of healing. I believe in miracles. But I also believe in using the wisdom of God.

I believe that pastors must be well educated in order to be sound ministers of the gospel. Wisdom is still the principal thing and we need to use the mind if we are to experience Solomonic success.

Parents, push your children as far as they can go in education. They will one-day thank you because you helped them to develop their minds. They will experience Solomonic success because they will have used their minds just as Solomon did.

I believe very strongly in the power of the Holy Spirit. I believe in the anointing. If you were to visit any of our miracle services, you would see the power of God at work. We have a flow of the Spirit of God and we experience all kinds of manifestations. People fall under the power, people laugh in the Holy Ghost and people cry.

Many people shake and tremble under the anointing and power of the Spirit. Sometimes entire sections of the congregation are slain in the Spirit as the power of God moves like a wave through them. I speak in tongues more than I speak in English. I spend hours waiting on the Lord in prayer and fasting. However, none of these have made me send my mind away on a holiday. My mind was given to me by God and I intend to use it.

My mind needs to be alert in order for me to take important decisions that concern the administration and smooth running of my ministry. I have heard the Holy Spirit speaking to me in my heart many times. I believe in what He tells me and I obey Him. But my mind is still alert and active. I try to understand and reason out every commandment that the Lord gives me.

Most Christians are either so emotional or spiritual that they have no use of their minds. Others are so logical and rational that the Spirit of God cannot move in their lives and churches. The key here is to balance the Spirit with wisdom.

That is the will of God. Every Christian leader must learn to achieve a balance between the power and the wisdom.

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, CHRIST the POWER of God, and the WISDOM of God.

1 Corinthians 1:24

I have highlighted the words: Christ, Power and Wisdom. That is what I want you to get as you read this book. Christ Jesus is not only power to us. He is power and wisdom.

When you are able to effectively combine the power and the wisdom, you will begin to experience Solomonic Success. Remember, one without the other is not enough.

If you are a pastor, do not rely solely on spiritual direction; remember that pastors are supposed to use their minds as well. If you use your mind, God will lift you up in ministry.

I recently noticed a church which was meeting in somebody's house in an exclusive and quiet residential neighborhood. Although I was about one hundred meters away, I could hear everything that was being said in the service. The prayer, the worship and the praise was so loud and offensive that no one on the entire street could concentrate as long as they were shouting through their microphones. Although there were just a few people there, they were using a public address system meant for large halls and hundreds of people. I thought to myself, "Very soon this church will be shut down by the neighbors or the police."

I remembered what Jesus said, "Be wise as serpents." What is the wisdom of a serpent? The wisdom of a serpent is the ability to function without unduly attracting the enemy's attention. Snakes are everywhere. All of us would kill the next snake we see! Such is the enmity between human beings and serpents! Yet snakes flourish and are abounding all round us. How do they do this? By wisdom!

I believe in that church and its pastor. But a little application of wisdom, would certainly help that church. On the other hand, there are churches which are so focused on the intellect that the Spirit of God is cut off.

Dear Christian friend, it is time for you to rise into prominence and success. Success is not reserved for unbelievers. It is your portion. Apply these principles and God will bless you!

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Other Best-Selling Books by Dag Heward-Mills:

*Loyalty and Disloyalty

Leaders and Loyalty

Transform Your Pastoral Ministry

The Art of Leadership

Model Marriage

Church Planting

*The Mega Church

*Lay People and the Ministry

*These titles are also available in Spanish and French. Information about other foreign translations of some of the titles above may be obtained by writing to our email address.

Table of Contents

Total Success

Obey Your Father’s Instruction

The Secret of Building the Temple of God

The Secret of Seeking after Righteousness

Secret of Building Your Own House

The Secret of Using Your Mind