* Success will not get to your head when you remember what you went through to get it.

* Jim Collins defines the Level 5 leader - those who arrive at the intersection of professional will and personal humility.

* Vs 12-15 - Peter shows us this.

* Look at what Jesus did to prepare Peter so he could handle all this success.

* Imagine all the people clamoring over Peter, only for him to remember what he had done just months before.

* When his popularity soared, he was able to handle it because of two things that were true in his preparation:

* 1) PAIN - he never forgot how he denied the Lord.

* Pain is the best tool for preparation - it shapes you into the person who can handle the popularity.

* Swindoll - “Before God uses you greatly He often hurts you deeply.”

* Pain naturally leads to…

* 2) POWER - upon repentance, Pete walked in power!

* The more power he displayed the more popular he got.

* But he never forgot the source of his power!

* God will do the same with you - He puts you through pain to prepare you for power so you can handle popularity.

* EX: after our wall fell, God spoke 12 things to me.