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Jonathan Keating Reflects On The Importance Of Godly Men In Young People’s Lives

by Le-Jovale Vallejo
written by Le-Jovale Vallejo

While worshiping in a church service, Jonathan Keating couldn’t help but reflect on how important godly men are in the ministry.

Godly Men and Women

Role models are important for a person’s growth. Positive role models drive us to strive for the standards they have established and have an impact on our behavior, often by mirroring what they’re doing.

Role models are important for this reason. A positive role model can sometimes have a greater impact on a kid or young person than their own parents.

That is why godly men and women are needed in the church. The kids and the younger generations look at them and see if God is truly reflected in their lives. Now more than ever, Jesus’ example should be exemplified through the lives of godly men and women. So that children will not look for it anywhere else, like on social media or from other influences.

Godly Men Follow Jesus’s Example

A few of the verses that command Christians to be like Christ are:

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2, NLT).

READ ALSO: WOMAN SHARES DETAILED ENCOUNTERS FROM HEAVEN AND HELL

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10, NLT).

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God” (Ephesians 5:1-2, NLT).

Jonathan Keating’s Reflection

As reflectors of Jesus, Christians ought to follow the verses mentioned above and more. With this in mind, Jonathan Keating couldn’t help but think about how crucial godly men are in the ministry while worshiping in a church service.

In an Instagram caption, he wrote:

“During worship, I watched as a male leader worshiped with his eyes closed and hands lifted high, completely immersed. As I watched, I noticed a group of young boys around him, watching intently as he poured out his heart to God. In that moment each boy in his own timing began to enter into worship following the example set before them.

“At that moment, I was moved. It was a powerful reminder of the impact that men make in the lives of young boys. Godly Men, fathers, and grandfathers, are the role models our young boys need on their journey of faith.

“In a world where role models are often limited to pop stars and social media influencers, it’s more important than ever to show our children what it looks like to love Jesus!”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jonathan Keating (@jonny_keating)

Reference: Instagram | jonny_keating

Header image: Photo by DAVID NIETO on Unsplash

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Articles

8 Bands You Didn’t Know Have Deep Christian Roots

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

These days there are many Christian bands and worship groups who have infiltrated into mainstream music despite their label as a Christian music group. However, there are many bands and musical artists who have also used their Christian faith to have a deep impact on society despite not being labeled as a Christian group.

Many of these bands will probably surprise you as they did for us! Keep reading below for eight different bands that you may not have realized were Christian.

#1: Lenny Kravitz

A devout Christian, Lenny Kravitz’ faith has not only impacted his personal life, but his music as well. The American rock singer-songwriter wrote the song “Are you Gonna Go My Way” about Jesus with the lyrics of “I was born long ago. I am the chosen, I’m the one. I have come to save the day and I won’t leave until I’m done.”

#2: U2

The Irish rock band U2 led by Bono has never been quiet about their faith in God. In fact for awhile many questioned whether U2 would be able to pull off the combination of being both Christian and a rock band in the secular world. However, since the band first formed in 1972, the group has not only maintained their strong faith, but also continued to create powerful music with spiritual aspects.

#3: Switchfoot

Though the five members of the band Switchfoot are all Christ-followers, they insist that they do not fall into the Christian faith genre. Despite their denial of the Christian label, the band has played at Christian music festivals, with their music playing on Christian radio stations and appearing on Christian music charts.

#4: Underoath

Completely opposite of Switchfoot, the heavy metal band Underoath is not as widely known in the Christian music world. However, despite this, the members of the band have been open about their faith since the beginning, sharing it not only in their music but also through talking to fans at concerts.

#5: Kings of Leon

Along with their cousin Matthew, the three Followill brothers Caleb, Nathan, and Jared are all sons of a United Pentecostal Church preacher. In 1999 they formed the band Kings of Leon with a secular label, but their faith is very evident in most of their music with the theme of redemption covered as a topic in many of their songs.

#6: P.O.D.

The band P.O.D., which stands for Payable on Death, have proclaimed their faith and shared their testimonies both in their music and also while on tour at their concerts. Frontman Sonny Sandoval leads the Whosoevers ministry which works to spread the Gospel and Christ’s message of love to youth around the world.

#7: Evanescence

When Ben Moody and Amy Lee first founded the band Evanescence in 1995 they started out primarily in the Christian rock world with song lyrics that focused on religious themes. During this time their music was more easily found in Christian music shops. It wasn’t until later that the band hit success in the secular world.

#8: Lifehouse

Before Jason Wade became the lead vocalist of the rock band Lifehouse, he and another band member played worship music at their church and were a part of the youth group. Many Lifehouse songs are filled with lyrics that speak about the impact that Jesus can have on your life and the full love of God.

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Understanding Your Authority
FaithFeatured

Understanding Your Authority

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

In John 13, we learn this about Jesus. It says, “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God. So he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” You’re probably familiar with this story. This is Jesus at the Last Supper. And something really caught my attention as I read this one day and it was this, it says that Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power that He had come from God to earth, and He was returning back to the Father.

He knew His authority, and this is what He did: He served. If you want to look like Jesus today, if that is the cry of your heart, you can do one thing, one very easy thing: serve somebody. When you serve someone, you step into the nature of Christ, because He did not come to be served. It says He came to serve. And so the very nature of Jesus on the earth, and even now as He intercedes for us in heaven, is to serve humanity. And when you get the Spirit of God in you, service should be the overflow of that relationship. When you understand your authority, you will serve.

When you see people who are serving, they normally understand their authority. And I want to encourage you with this. We do not serve to get approval. We serve because we’ve been approved. We do not serve to get, we serve because of what we’ve got. And so today I want to encourage you. One, understand that as a Christian, you have authority, and two, with authority, you serve. We don’t lord things over people. We’re not dictators. We actually come underneath and we lift each other up. This is the call of the body of Christ.

And I believe that if you step into that and you walk in that, that you will become a change agent in the world around you, whether you’re a single mom, whether you work at a high-rise in a city, whether you’re a janitor at a high school, whatever it is you find yourself doing. If you purpose to serve others all the time, everywhere to out serve everybody, you will gain influence, and your authority will be recognized and heaven will move through you.

So I just want to pray for you, that you would understand your authority today and that a serving revolution would happen through you. So Lord Jesus, I invite your Holy Spirit to just rest upon the people viewing this video. And I thank you for a revelation for the authority that we carry as Christians. And I asked you for an urgency to enter into our hearts, that we would serve our brothers and sisters, and that we would become known in the world as the people that serve. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Read more on the GOD TV blog here

Watch GOD TV here

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the power of the cross
Faith

The Power Of Everlasting Life Flows Through You

by John Mathai
written by John Mathai

When Jesus said He who believes in me receives eternal life, He meant just that. Eternal life has no beginning and no end. He is able to give eternal life because He is eternal life. He can only give what He has. No man can give you eternal life. His word is eternal in nature and therefore has the power to give eternal life. This is why His word has power that is endless. Imagine what this means. Eternal life flooding my being as I receive His word by faith and dwell in it. His life permeates every fibre of my being body, soul and spirit. This is how God redeems us from death to life.

His Spirit In Us

His Spirit in us quickens our body. His Holy Spirit in us is a person and lives forever. His life in us can strengthen our body. Eternal life flowing through us from our spirit to our body. This is why we can depend on the source of life in us for all our needs. He is a person and can personally minister to us to manifest Himself. This is why we can believe in healing and miracles. God desires to manifest Himself through us. The sole purpose Jesus came was to manifest Himself in our midst. Now we can have a personal relationship with Him. He is no more a impersonal God in a distance but a personal God who lives in us. We are the temple of the living God.

Endless Power

This awareness of His eternal presence within us must provoke us to desire more of His life to manifest through us. Once we come to this place of habitation we become of great value to His Kingdom. All His resources are available to us. We don’t have to do things in our own strength but His. What a transformation this is! God for many generations lived with people. Now He dwells in us. This shift makes us more powerful than an atom bomb. We can be in places and operate beyond time and space to execute His plans. It is like cyber warfare where we can be an influence through spiritual air waves to overcome satanic forces. We live to bring life to dead places. This is the good news of Jesus Christ.

Dr. John Mathai

_________
Read more on the GOD TV blog here

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Praying Mom
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The Mighty Influence Of A Praying Mom

by Christel Berns
written by Christel Berns

A praying mom influences the younger generation – she led to her children becoming anointed Christian filmmakers who are the creators of “Fireproof,” “Courageous,” and “War Room.”

The Praying Mom

Rhonwyn Kendrick is a praying mom and grandmother. And because prayer is a big part of her daily life, her children were greatly influenced by it. Whatever she does, before making major decisions, she and her husband always pray. As a result, her children saw how as a family they moved in power and prayer. Thus, they saw God’s faithfulness through answered prayers over the years.

YouTube | Revive Our Hearts

Power Of Prayer

The mother of the well-known Kendrick Brothers discovered the power of prayer at a very young age in a dramatic way. It happened when she was still six years old, in 1948 when a tornado came and hit their property. She remembers how her mom put them under the kitchen table and cried out to God, asking the Lord to protect them.

A few minutes later, the sound died down, and they walked outside their home. Then they saw the devastation all around them. The tornado destroyed the house next to them. Two giant oak trees in front of their house had fallen. And a church across the street was rocked out of its foundation. But their home was left intact and preserved.

“Our house was not touched,” Rhonwyn recalled. That’s when she realized how near God is, and that prayer is indeed very powerful.

Praying Mom

YouTube | Revive Our Hearts

The Kendricks’ prayed over their children before they were born.

“I prayed over them. That the Lord would have His will, His way with them,” she said.

The Kendrick Brothers

Today, her three sons, Alex, Stephen, and Shannon have been producing life-changing Christian movies, including “Fireproof,” “Courageous,” and “War Room.” And prayer has been a crucial part in creating their films, trusting God in every step. They also have prayer warriors because they believe that “when we fight our battles in prayer first, the Lord is faithful to answer.”

“War Room,” a story centered around the power of prayer, hit No.1 in the box office. It was more successful than the other films, and its impact has reached far and wide across the globe.

“The timing was perfect for a call to prayer to the church,” Stephen said.

Further, Stephen shared how grateful he is that he has a praying mom. Who would have thought that a mom who values fervent prayer would have a lasting impact on future generations!

The Mighty Influence of a Praying Mom: Rhonwyn Kendrick’s Story

YouTube | Revive Our Hearts

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Articles

Sowing Seed

by Dr Michael Layne
written by Dr Michael Layne

Matthew 13:8 says,   “Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

My grandmother always enjoyed planting a garden every Spring.  I remember the last year she put out a garden, a friend gave her some seeds that had been purchased at a seed store. Her friend placed a small amount in a brown envelope with the type of seed handwritten on it.

One of the things she wanted to do that year was to plant cucumbers so she could can pickles. All sorts of pickles: dill, sweet and make some relish.

I remember that year very well, as I do every Spring, when the weather warms enough to plant a garden.  She had the garden area plowed and disked.  The soil was rich and easy to work.  She began the task of laying out the garden and made sure I was planting everything just as she had taught me.

We ended up with four rows of sweet corn, four rows of green beans, four rows of potatoes, four rows of tomatoes and some shorter rows of carrots, green onions, radishes, and leaf lettuce.  Then we planted four rows of cucumbers and 52 cabbages.  Wow!

A Different Outcome

Everything came up so well, and the cucumbers came on with nice vines and then they blossomed.  Oh, she was so ready for the harvest of cucumbers.  She had plenty of glass jars and lids.  Then an amazing thing happened, the vines began to produce the fruit and the entire four rows of what was tagged as cucumbers turned out to be musk melons.

I must tell you that I had a great Summer of eating melons but, my grandmother was very disappointed and a bit upset with the place where her friend got the seeds.

We had a great harvest and there was plenty to keep us busy as we sold a lot of produce and had garden salads every day.  And yes, a lot of melon.

We have a couple of Maple trees on our property, and every Spring they produced what we call, “whirlybirds”.  Inside these little “whirlybirds” you will find a seed embedded.  As I was driving my van, I noticed that some of the “whirlybirds” had fallen onto the vehicle and as I drove I wondered where some of those seeds would end up and, whether they mature to become another Maple tree?

What are you sowing?

We had to have a Maple tree taken down a few years ago and the following year I noticed a small sapling was growing near an outbuilding.  I dug it up and transplanted it where we had removed the previous tree and now, it is doing wonderfully.

This is a lesson for all of us to think about.  What kind of seeds are we sowing?  Are they seeds of joy, happiness, encouragement, success, or seeds of despair, depravity, negativity?

For the Christian, we are called to sow seeds of righteousness and life in Jesus Christ. Read Matthew 13:1-8 for the story which Jesus tells about the sower of seeds.  It is a wonderful parable which gives us a pattern for sowing the seed which every Christian has available to them.

Sow the seed of His grace and help with the harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God.

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Articles

Tim Tebow’s Mom, Pam Shares How To Be Influential As You Create “Ripple Effects”

by Jared Laskey
written by Jared Laskey

Don’t settle for less than what you were created for! Be encouraged in maximizing your God-given opportunities for influence. And watch how far the ripples spread. This is the premise of a new book, Ripple Effects by Pam Tebow, the mother of sporting legend, Tim.

Pam serves as a missionary in the Philippines along with her husband Bob. They run an orphanage there while leading the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association. Ripple Effects she says “encourages people to use their God-given influence to eternally impact the world.”

Writing the foreword for Ripple Effects, Tim Tebow says “As you read this, you’ll be encouraged that God can use you, no matter what season you’re in, to affect those around you.” He tweeted:

Ripple Effects

In Ripple Effects, Pam shares how she never expected her family name to become known around the world as she has quietly and lovingly served the Lord Jesus as a missionary. However, “her consistent, everyday choices to follow God started creating unexpected ripples of influence throughout her family, community and world.”

In this book, Pam explains how she intentionally taught her kids to develop strong character. She also shares how to walk in unconditional love, while highlighting some of her most challenging moments in life and how she held on to her faith no matter the circumstances. Tim says that his mom is the key behind his success.

 

You can read the first chapter for free and pre-order Ripple Effects at PamTebow.com

 

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Articles

Who Do You Influence? God Wants Us To Be Fruitful For His Kingdom

by Adeline Asante-Antwi
written by Adeline Asante-Antwi

I was reading an article about the current speed with which the Transgender Movement has advanced. The article was an explosive inside scoop on the top people who have been funding it.

They showed how they have funded and opened hospital wings for children who say they are transgender, to give them medication to transition. They showed how they fund political parties and decision-makers to push the agenda. Those mentioned were billionaires, individuals and families. Billionaires. One of them is transgender and gives millions!

John 21:15-17 says, “When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ Peter said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ He said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’

“Jesus said to Peter the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to Him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ and he said to him, ‘Lord, You know everything; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’”

His Vineyard

When Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” three times, Peter’s answer was not enough.

Jesus gave him the action, the real love language of Jesus. He said if you love Me – feed my sheep. For Jesus, it’s not about you singing “I love you”, praying, “I love you.” He is saying to you today, “the way to show you love Me is to feed My sheep.”

You can have wall hangings in your home that say JESUS, I LOVE YOU, posters, stickers on cars, all this is not what He requires. He wants you to work in His vineyard. To make Kingdom expansion a priority. To win souls and build up believers.

John 15:4-8 says, Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

“If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples.”

Fruitful

Jesus expects us to be fruitful. How are you being fruitful? Are you always expecting the Lord to show His love to you? But you never show Him love? The Father is glorified when you are fruitful. Have you been busy at church? At work? Have you been praying for colleagues and business partners? Think of those pushing their own agendas

How are you pushing the Christian agenda? Christ-centered agendas that can influence generations. I invite you, to position your heart to be fruitful to tend to the Lord’s sheep and show Jesus your love
Ask the Lord, to give you the grace to be fruitful.

If you were encouraged reading this, get more from my book.

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Articles

3 ways To Sharpen Your Leadership Influence

by Ronnie Floyd
written by Ronnie Floyd

Someone once told me, “The sharper the ax, the bigger the blow!” Therefore, sharpening our leadership can increase the influence we have in the lives of other people.

Each of us can grow in our leadership. Some would say that you have it or you don’t. I disagree. Each person has the capacity to be a leader and to grow in their leadership influence.

A Major Mistake

One of the major mistakes a leader can make is overestimating their influence. If a leader only listens to and communicates with people who think like them and personally connect with them, they are greatly limiting their leadership. Oftentimes, social media amplifies this problem.

Here is what I have found in my life and leadership. The more expansive my leadership role is in life, the more it demands me to interact and relate to people who are not like me. This motivates me to become a better leader.

In other words, it sharpens my leadership.

3 Ways to Sharpen Your Leadership Influence 

1. Determine to make the biggest difference you can make in your life.

This may or may not have anything to do with a position you hold in leadership. Quite honestly, many positionally-based leaders forfeit their leadership influence on the altar of self-worship. They are more impressed with the leadership position they hold than using this entrustment as a stewardship given to them by God.

Sharpening your leadership influence begins when you determine to make the biggest difference you can make with the leadership you have been given in your life. Regardless of your leadership position, seize where you are and the opportunities extended to you. Every great leader makes the most of wherever they are at the time.

2. Expand your leadership influence across generational lines.

I am convinced that many people limit their leadership because they are more focused on doing what comes naturally to them: Relating and leading people in their own generation. This usually requires little to no stretch or change on their part.

Leadership influence demands more than this from you. In what way?

Learn to lead cross-generationally. Leading cross-generationally occurs when you are able to lead people in your own generation, the generation that came before you, and the generation that comes behind you. This is cross-generational leadership.

We all need to lead cross-generationally. When you only influence your own generation, you are limiting your leadership influence and quite honestly, your longevity in leadership.

3. Follow the Biblical model for leadership influence.

Jesus, Abraham, David, Moses, Paul, and Nehemiah each provide a biblical model for leadership influence. Think about each of them.

  • They led spiritually
  • They led purposefully
  • They led cross-generationally
  • They led past their lifetimes and still do today

Sharpening your leadership influence is up to you.

You have one shot in your life and leadership; therefore, make it count wherever you are.

Now is the Time to Lead.

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Articles

Be a Person of Influence: Be Unpopular

by Charlotte Ibanez
written by Charlotte Ibanez

Our convictions may seem opposite to the common view. Don’t compromise and stand firm. Be the influential person that God created and developed you to be.

Most people want to be safe or popular, and no one wishes to be unpopular. We don’t want our views to be challenged by others because, as humans, we crave affirmation, we want approval instead of rejection.

We want to be valued by others

Yet, if we go the opposite way, that’s not going to be cool. It’s true that we need to learn to accept with grace that our opinions may not always be accepted and that’s fine.

People have different training, different backgrounds, different experiences, and different learning curves. We don’t all fit into one mold because we were not created that way. We are diverse. Of course, there will be times that our approach to things and the way we think may be quite different from other people and we can live with that. However, if it boils down to convictions, we need to be spot on.

We need to stand firm.

We live in an age where “popular opinion counts” and “followers” are just numbers. In business, we often look at “what’s trending?”, “who is hitting the charts?”, “who is dominating the market?”, “who has reached a million followers or likes?”. Then, we tailor-fit our strategies and consider the popular view of our customers or clientele. We believe that’s the way to succeed.

In our personal lives, we do the same. We “chicken out” if the opinion we have contradicts the opinion of people dear to us. We would rather keep it to ourselves than be criticized, or we do not want to be the bearer of bad news because we don’t want to offend them. We just ignore the truth and sadly at times, we compromise.

As Christians, if we aim to be persons of influence, we need to live a life that balances the act of grace with our conviction. We need to delineate which views we can forego from those that we cannot compromise.

There will be an occasion that we need to muster all the courage to stand behind our convictions.  It may sometimes be painful, but it will be rewarding in the end.  In 2 Thessalonians 2:15, we are reminded to remain headstrong, “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by a letter from us.”

Are you compromising? Are you afraid of going against the tide? Do we strive so much to be liked?

Do not allow the opinion of others weaken your position. Stand your ground!

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