Tag:

leadership

5 Attributes of Biblical Masculinity

by GOD TV May 29, 2022

written by GOD TV

You know, I want to speak to the men right now. Masculinity is something that has been slowly decaying from generation to generation. Society has been de-masculinizing us, and biblical masculinity can really be boiled down to five key points.

Humility before God, being humble as a man, is just such an incredible attribute to defining masculinity. Control of his appetites, not being led or dictated by the things that we desire, but actually having control to know what we’re supposed to pursue and what we’re not supposed to. Protecting his family. Nothing is more critical than being the leader of your home and protecting that family. Making sure that they’re not only safe from danger, but they’re actually being protected to move forward in what they’re called to. Providing for his family. Men need to provide. That doesn’t just mean financially, though. It does encompass that, but it means in every way, you are the source that your family can rely on for provision and that in how you’re leading, they’re seeing God in the midst of it. And they learn how to surrender to Father God for their provision, because they learned it in their home. And lastly is just leading the family. And that doesn’t just mean the people in your home. It means your parents, your grandparents, your brothers, your sisters, your wife, your children, your grandchildren, the neighbors, so that they can see this is what leading a family looks like.

See, every man isn’t just called to these things, he’s fully capable of accomplishing them. Everything that you need has been given to you to fulfill these things, to be a masculine man, to lead in masculinity. And that word can sometimes trigger these weird thoughts that it’s bad, but it’s not. It’s how we were designed. We were designed to be that person, to be that man, and how we focus and what we focus on and how we actually turn our attention is the way we lead.

So I just want to pray for you right now. I want to bless you in this. God, I thank you for every man listening to this and watching this, that there is something that rises up in them and says, I’ve been called to be a masculine man in a biblical sense. That I can be humble, I can lead, I can serve, but I can conquer. I can be who I’ve been designed to be. And I want to bless you to step into the fulfillment of God’s calling on your life, and know that you’re not just called, you’re capable, and everything you need is right there at your fingertips. I just bless you in that in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

________

Leading Yourself Well

by Lauren Koch May 15, 2022

written by Lauren Koch

Your walk with God is not something that passively happens to you. Leading yourself well in the Lord requires taking up personal responsibility, living intentionally in all areas of your life.

Community Keeps us Responsible

You alone possess the authority to live your life purposefully. But, a godly community keeps you accountable to the life you are called to live. Do your friends regularly speak into your life? Have you given them the voice to do so? Open yourself to the gentle correction from a brother that brings strength and resilience. As you do so, you create the bedrock of a healthy community for yourself and those around you.

Leading From the Father’s Voice

While you are responsible for leading yourself well, you are not doing it alone with friends either. God not only guides our steps daily but has given us His word to make wise decisions.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints” (Proverbs 2:6-8)

Leading our lives from the place of the Lord’s wisdom is where we are always meant to rest in. In taking this responsibility, you are not agreeing to stress or striving. Rather, you partner with God’s voice to powerfully steward a life of impact.

Ultimately, Jesus is our Good Shepherd. But don’t become lazy in the leadership of Jesus so that you no longer possess the drive to stay accountable to the life you are called to live. Let yourself be led by the guidance of Holy Spirit and become enamored by the way the love of God flows through you.

May 15, 2022 0 comment

Faith Featured

Designed to Lead

by GOD TV April 24, 2022

written by GOD TV

You know, I want to see men leading the way Christ led. I think that one of the key places that we can find this is in our families. And even if you’re not married, even if you’re single, this still applies to you, because you’re still someone of influence into a family. And men are actually called the lead their families. You know, there’s this idea that it’s an equal partnership in the family, which there is truth to that. But the reality is that men were designed to lead the home and lead their families. And you know, there’s a verse that gets so manipulated in Ephesians and it’s “wives submit to your husbands,” which it should mean something beautiful. It should mean something significant, but really it’s when it’s followed up by “husbands, love your wife as Christ loved the church,” like He did. He sacrificed for them. Everything He did was for their benefit. It was a sacrifice. It wasn’t a controlling, misaligned way of using leadership. It was this: I love you so much that I’m serving you in an aspect of leadership.

True leadership serves, it doesn’t demand. And if we look at the way society has changed and dictated the way that our family structures are set up, men aren’t leading the families the way they should. Men aren’t leading their wives and their kids the way they should. They’re showing up sometimes. And they’re trying to just do what they can. And the reality is that men who abuse the position of leadership and they use it as a form of control or power, they get stuck in their insecurities and they actually don’t model for their families what Christ has modeled for us. But the truth is I know that each one of us has the capacity, the capability, and the driving nature that God has put inside of us to lead the way He designed us. To love the way He loved, to serve the way He served. To be an example of what a true father, a true husband can be.

So men, I just want to challenge you. I want to exhort you to step into the fullness of who you are: the beautiful, powerful, strong servant leaders in your families that you are. So Father, I just thank you for each one of the men listening to this. God, I thank you that we have been designed in your image that we can love the way you love. We can lead the way you lead, and that our wives are fulfilled by our leadership. They’re not controlled. They’re fulfilled by our leadership. They’re exalted as a crown. And God, I pray that our children would actually see what true loving families look like. And they have an example that they can carry on from generation to generation. So I just bless you with that in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

________

Here I Am, Send Me Anyway

by Dr. William M. Wilson April 16, 2022

written by Dr. William M. Wilson

Many Christians today are being called by God to leadership. Some may think the timing is wrong or feel unqualified for the job. But during a time in world history that parallels our world today, the great prophet Isaiah said, “Here am I, send me.” There’s a reason for his answer.

Isaiah grew up in the royal court of King Uzziah. When Isaiah was about 25 years old, Uzziah disobeyed God and died of leprosy, which created a leadership crisis. The nation was already in moral decay. People were resisting God. Plus, Isaiah had a personal struggle. Yet, in the midst of this, Isaiah wrote:

“I saw the Lord high and exalted, seated on a throne, and the train of his robe filled the temple…. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, Here am I, send me” (Isaiah 6:1, 8 KJV).

Today, we see crises in leadership on every level of society. Church leaders have failed morally, relationally and financially. Secular leaders are failing from the U.S. to Europe and from Capitol Hill to Silicon Valley.

Yet, although earthly leaders fail, God never fails. Many Christians called to leadership during a leadership crisis need to realize that just because others fail, it doesn’t mean they will fail.

Isaiah answered God’s call during this leadership crisis, and also while also facing the nation’s moral collapse. God’s law was neglected. Injustice was rampant. Oppression was normalized. Prayer was peripheral. Idolatry and immorality were prevalent.

Our world is in a similar moral decline. Yet God is calling us to be his voice in the middle of ungodliness and to be a light in the middle of darkness.

The Message version translates a warning the Apostle Paul gave his protégé, Timothy, about difficult times ahead. “As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust and allergic to God” (2 Timothy 3:1-5 MSG).

Jesus taught about the last days. “There will be an environment of deception. There will be wars and rumors of war. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom will rise against kingdom. There will be famine. There will be pestilence. There will be natural disasters. All of these are like birth pains in the earth. Persecution will happen to the Church. People will betray those they once loved. There will be spiritual coldness, and an environment where only the committed will endure” (Matthew 24:6-9, my paraphrase).

Then Jesus said that even in this kind of environment, “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 4:24 NKJV).

Even in the middle of a resistant world, Jesus has promised us that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in every nation.

Isaiah was facing a leadership crisis, moral deterioration and significant resistance, yet God told Isaiah to preach to the people even though they were not going to listen to him (Isaiah 6:9-10).

Expect resistance. It’s not easy to be God’s instrument. All the easy jobs in God’s kingdom are gone.

Consider the long legacy of Christians who have endured resistance to answer God’s call. David Brainerd, an orphan, born in 1718, served Native American missions for three years before he left due to tuberculosis. He moved in with Jonathan Edwards, a leader of the First Great Awakening, and died at the age of 29.

Edwards’ biography about Brainerd’s persistence during great resistance inspired a generation of missionaries. One is William Carey, the “father of modern missions.” Influenced by Brainerd’s testimony, Carey, the shoe cobbler, took his family to India. He met great resistance. Carey’s ministry partner quit. His son died. His wife lost her mind. It took Carey 41 years to make just 700 converts.

But in India, Carey translated the Bible into India’s major languages and portions of it into more than 100 dialects. His work paved the way for future missions, and tens of millions of Indian believers are the result.

Isaiah faced a leadership crisis, moral decay and resistance, and he also faced a personal struggle. When he saw the glory of God, he said, “I’m a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5 KJV).

What he meant is unclear. Perhaps he told dirty jokes? Or cursed? Or couldn’t speak straight? What is clear is that Isaiah had a personal struggle and so do all “called” people from the time of the Scriptures to this present day. God calls flawed people.

Paul wrote, “Think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards. Not many were influential. Not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:26-27).

Something happened to Isaiah when he admitted his personal struggle that changed everything. A seraph placed a lump of burning coal from the altar of God on Isaiah’s mouth, signifying that God’s fire was purifying him and getting inside him.

From that moment on, Isaiah was “on fire.” He didn’t care if the world was falling apart. He’d been touched by heaven, and he had to answer God’s call.

Isaiah was looking at the chaos in his world and at his own personal struggles and basically said, “Lord, Here am I, send me anyway.”

God says to you today, “I know the chaos in the world, and I know your flaws and struggles, but I’m calling you anyway.”

If you let him, God will touch your life with fire from heaven. It’s up to you to say, “It may not seem like the right time, and I may not feel like the right person, but here I am. Send me anyway.”

_______

Spirit-Led Leadership Is What Believers Are Called To Model

by Sarah Crockett March 19, 2022

written by Sarah Crockett

Leadership is a complicated subject. There are thousands of books that outline the best leadership styles, trends, and strategies. But there is a better way! Jesus perfectly modeled Kingdom leadership and His leadership is spirit-led.

What does it mean to be Spirit-led?

Spirit-led leading is partnership with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is living on the earth in and through believing believers. It is the Holy Spirit who “leads us into all truth” (John 16:13) and guides us to live lives that bring honor and glory to God.

Being led by the Holy Spirit, or in other words, doing life with the Holy Spirit is Heaven’s design for helping us to experience the abundant life Jesus purchased on the cross. Thus, is critical for effective, Kingdom leadership.

Spirit-Led Leadership

Leaders go first, make decisions, cast vision, and reproduce whoever they are into those that they lead. Spirit-led leadership is more than just the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the leader. It taps into and accesses Heavenly wisdom, revelation, strategies, and visions.

Spirit-led leadership adds a supernatural element to leadership. It opens the door to accessing miracles, signs, and wonders. Leaders that are led by the Holy Spirit can do thing they aren’t capable of on their own. Partnering with the Holy Spirit is a game changer in leadership of any realm – business, finance, church, marriage, sports, anything!

Jesus Is Our Model

If Spirt-led leadership doesn’t sound enticing yet, look at the life of Jesus. He only did and said what His Father was doing and saying – Jesus lived a Spirit-led life.

“Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. Yes, and He will show Him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. ” – John 5:19-20

The best part about following Jesus’ example is that the reason the Holy Spirit wants to partner with us is because He wants to empower us. He wants to lead us into all truth the same way that Jesus partnered with the Father who showed Him all He was doing!

March 19, 2022 0 comment

Articles

How To Cultivate A Personal Relationship With God

by Rhoda Gayle January 4, 2022

written by Rhoda Gayle

How to cultivate a personal relationship with God amidst the busy schedule?

Personal Relationship

In an episode of A Life You Love with host Renée Evans, Lorisa Miller shares how she cultivated her personal relationship with God amidst her busy schedule as a mom and church leader. She also shared that as a church leader, her responsibility is to lead people to God.

“Our role as leaders is always to connect people straight to Him. It’s like you have a telephone, I’m not your telephone but let me show you how to pick your phone up and how to connect with the Lord.”

Leadership

Leadership is like teaching a person to dig up his own well so that he can have his own source of water. And in order to dig up our own well, we should always remember that the Lord wants to be a part of our lives. He wants to be the center of every aspect of our lives.

“We have to first remember that the Lord wants to be in every single part of our lives. He is like in the middle of parenting, my kitchen, my car, my shower like He’s in the middle of all of those things… No matter what state you find yourself in… no matter what I’m dealing with in my life it’s that knowing that the Lord wants to be in the middle of that.”

Worship

May it be parenting, leading a church, working on our careers, we must place God in the middle of it. No matter what we do, let us worship the Lord in spirit and in truth.

“We worship God in spirit and in truth, and so ‘in truth’ means there’s nothing hidden here. So, I’m coming to you with all the things today Lord. Starting with that, starting with just being very real and open with Him.”

How To Cultivate Personal Relationship With God | Lorisa Miller

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Reference: YouTube | GOD TV

January 4, 2022 0 comment

Articles

God Wants His Church To Lead

by Rhoda Gayle October 8, 2021

written by Rhoda Gayle

God wants His Church to lead and exercise our authority given to us by Him.

Leadership & Authority

Dominic Russo shares a powerful message about God wanting us to exercise our leadership and authority. Since the very beginning, God has given us the authority to rule over the earth. He has given us the ability to lead because He wants us to take territories.

“Change your mindset, change your thoughts… cause I need you to take territory,” Dominic said.

The Lord even clearly said in the Bible that He has made us kings and priests. He wants us to be priests who bring people to His presence and also kings to be leaders of nations.

“It [the Bible] says He has made us kings and priests, you know why? Because we are both,” he added. “We both have a priestly function, and that we connect to the Father but we’re both called to reflect heaven on earth and actually take territory.”

Church to lead

God Wants His Church To Lead

Dominic also revealed that the great commission wasn’t given to us just so we could grow as a Church. God also wants us to lead people!

“The great commission wasn’t so the church would simply grow, it’s so that the church would lead. He said go make disciples of nations in other words, the church goes lead the nation, go speak to the nation. If we’re going to disciple nations, then we need to have the strongest voice. If we’re going to disciple nations, then we need to be in positions of influence,” Dominic explained.

As the Church of God, we are not called to be silent and weak, we are called to show His glory to all the nations. We are called to go and make disciples and to lead people! We are called to take territories for the Kingdom of God!

“What an injustice if the Church is weak and quiet and hiding in rooms when God wants to give territory.”

Exercising Authority and Leadership | Dominic Russo

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Grow closer to God daily by getting exclusive video teachings on God Today!

Read God’s Word For You Today directly from your phone. Download the Daily Word app now on Google Play and Appstore

Reference: YouTube | GOD TV

October 8, 2021 0 comment

Articles

Spiritual Formation In The Midst Of Evangelical Scandals

by Joseph Mattera March 16, 2021

written by Joseph Mattera

Many believers are confused over the sex scandals of Ravi Zacharious. They find it hard to comprehend how a person so influential in the world of apologetics could have lived such a double life.

Of course, a public scandal is nothing new in the Church. It has been going on since the first-century church (Acts 5:1-11, 1 Corinthians 5).

The fact that believers can move in all the gifts of the spirit, have faith that moves mountains, and can understand great mysteries while living an ungodly life, is illustrated in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. He told them that though they lacked in no gift, they were immature Christians who were walking in carnality (1 Corinthians 1:7, 1 Corinthians 3:1-4).

So the question arises related to some of the recent leadership scandals: How can this be? Was Ravi always a ruse (a false teacher), or did he fall into sin later on in life?

Only God can fully answer that question. However, in my opinion, Ravi was, at one time, a very sincere, sound Christ-follower, who focused more on the development of loving God with his mind while neglecting his spiritual dimension.

Jesus admonished us to love God with all of the heart, mind, soul, and strength (Matthew 22:37-38). The apostle Paul admonished us to be sanctified in spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Hence, as tripartite beings, it is possible to be strong in one area but not in another.

For example, just because a person is in strong physical condition because they train their human body, doesn’t mean their emotions are healthy. You can see this played out in all the numerous scandals in the sports world. Many professional athletes have succumbed to sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence, etc. Similarly, we can have great intellects like Stephen Hawking, who can be in very poor physical condition. There are many Christ-followers who have strong spiritual lives, but neglect their physical health and as a result die prematurely

According to the Scriptures, the highest calling in a person’s life is to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). Thus, we need to re-evaluate our definition of success in contemporary Christianity. It cannot merely be pivoted on effective ministry. If it doesn’t revolve around spiritual formation to Christ-likeness, disaster will eventually follow.

Today I want to focus on the scandals of three men who represent various genres in the Evangelical church.

Ravi Zacharious represents serving God with the mind.

Ravi Zacharious was the Billy Graham of apologetics. He spoke and wrote with a style that garnered popular appeal. It advanced this discipline of defending the faith like no other over the past several decades. However, the fact he was able to live a double life and still have an amazing ability to speak, defend the faith, and debate at a high level does not mean that he had true spiritual formation.

His predatorial lifestyle of sexual abuse shows us we can be strong in theology, philosophy, and apologetics and still lack a true, deep relationship with the Lord Jesus. The lesson here is that we are called to love the Lord with all of our hearts, not merely our minds.

Bill Hybels shows the best practices in leadership.

Bill Hybels was the leadership guru in the Body of Christ. Along with men like Peter Drucker and John Maxwell, he revolutionized the way pastors approached practical ministry.

The megachurch he founded in 1975, Willow Creek Community Church, became the exemplar of the seeker-sensitive church that was run like a fortune 500 corporation. Bill functioned as the CEO. It launched a huge genre of conferences like the Global Leadership Summit (1995). On such platforms, many non-pastors and even non-Christians are highlighted as keynote speakers because of their success in building a huge organization.

After several allegations of sexual misconduct emerged a few years ago, Bill retired early from W.C.C.C. in October 2018. A six-month independent review found the allegations to be credible, although Bill has denied all charges. The lesson learned here is that we can have leadership skills to build a large church or organization, however, if the primary focus is on best practices instead of spiritual formation, we will be vulnerable to fleshly temptation and eventually lose everything we built.

Todd Bentley demonstrates the Charismatic power gifts.

Todd Bently became famous when his healing services attracted up to 10,000 attendees nightly from April to October 2008. His ministry reached millions of people when the meetings were live-streamed and began airing on GOD TV. In June 2008, ABC’s nightline carried out an investigative report scrutinizing his ministry finances and divine healing claims. Not long after that, allegations emerged related to sexual misconduct.

In 2019, I was part of a panel of national Charismatic leaders who investigated numerous claims of sexual misconduct in Todd’s life. In early January 2020, we released a joint statement calling on Todd to step down from ministry. We felt that Todd was disqualified from ministry for violating the character requirements outlined in Scripture (1 Timothy. 3:1-8).

What is the lesson learned here? Todd’s life illustrates that we cannot build our life upon our ministry, anointing, or spiritual gifts.

No matter who we are, our character must be shaped by giving God consistent space to transform our inner being in Christ-likeness.

What determines our legacy?

Scripture teaches us that one day all of our works will pass through the fire, and only those things that are built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ will remain (1 Corinthians 3:10-15). Consequently, many will find out that a lifetime of work building up an influential ministry will go up in flames if it is not built upon, and for, Jesus Christ.

For more on this subject, purchase Joseph Mattera’s book Poisonous Power here.

March 16, 2021 0 comment

Articles Faith

It’s Time To Execute The Plan: Go To The Other Side

by Vance K Jackson May 11, 2020

written by Vance K Jackson

It’s time to do what God has called you to do. Whatever vision, dream, witty idea or invention that God has placed into your heart — it’s time to execute. The vision that God has placed within the walls of your heart is meant to bless the world. What gifts, talents, treasures, and abilities are you hiding? What skills are you not utilizing? What skills are you under utilizing? It’s time to pour out what God has poured into you. It’s time to execute. Now is the time. Now is the season. You were born for such a time as this.

The Ship Was Tossed With Waves

“But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.” ‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭14:24‬ ‭KJV)‬‬

Matthew 14:22 KJV declares, “And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.” Jesus commanded the disciples to get into a ship and go before him, unto the other side. Matthew‬ ‭14:22‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ puts it this way, “Then He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent away the crowds.” Jesus gave the disciples a couple of orders: 1. Get into the ship. 2. Go to the other side.

Has God given you a command? Has He given you some instructions to follow? The disciples were to obey Jesus’ instructions: First, get into the ship and then go to the other side. There was purpose waiting on the other side. Someone’s breakthrough was waiting on the other side. Someone’s deliverance was waiting on the other side. Someone’s healing was waiting on the other side. It’s time to go. It’s time to execute. Your obedience is critical.

As the disciples were crossing over, Matthew 14:24 KJV declares, that a storm arose and the ship was tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. Notice, the Bible declares that after the disciples obeyed the Voice of Christ — the wind and waves didn’t appeared until they were in the middle of the sea. It wasn’t until the middle of the disciples’ journey when trouble arose.

Maybe you’re in the midst of your journey and you’ve obeyed God’s Instruction — and while you’re in the middle of the sea, all of a sudden the waves of life toss your ship. You’re in the middle of the journey and you can’t turn back. You’re in the middle of the sea and you can’t see the shoreline ahead of you. The waves of life seem to crash into your boat — wave after wave. Circumstance after circumstance. Situation after situation. What do you do? Where do you go? Who do you turn to?

The disciples were in a dire situation. Their boat was being tossed to and fro. It seemed as if they had no way of escape. Water filled their vessel. Matthew‬ ‭14:24‬ ‭AMPC‬‬ declares, “But the boat was by this time out on the sea, many furlongs [a furlong is one-eighth of a mile] distant from the land, beaten and tossed by the waves, for the wind was against them.” They were beaten and tossed by the waves, they were gripped with fear — until something happened in the middle of the night — during the Fourth Watch.

The Fourth Watch

“And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14:25‬ ‭KJV‬‬

According to Matthew 14:25 AMPC, the Fourth Watch is between, 3:00am – 6:00am. Remember, a few verses back, in Matthew 14:23 AMPC, when Jesus had sent the multitudes away, and commanded the disciples to go to the other side — it was evening time. “And after He had dismissed the multitudes, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was still there alone.” Matthew‬ ‭14:23‬ ‭AMPC‬‬. Now here are the disciples in the midst of the sea — in the middle of the night, during the fourth watch.

The disciples obeyed Jesus’ Instructions. They obeyed His Voice. They obeyed His Command to go over to the other side — and now the winds were against them. The waves were crashing against their ship. Just a few hours ago, they were positive that they heard God’s Instruction to get into the ship and to go over to the other side. So what went wrong? Why were the winds and waves against them? Why was it so hard?

It was in the fourth watch where the disciples’ fear and faith collided. ‭‭James‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” There are times when fear and faith collide and it’s up to you to choose who you will serve. Will you choose to move forward in faith? Or will you bow to fear? Will choose to trust in the Word of God? Or will you succumb to the wind and waves of life? You choose. Joshua‬ ‭24:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Maybe, you’re in the middle of the sea, and the waves are crashing against your boat. Maybe, you’ve started well and you’ve obeyed God’s Command to start that business, start that ministry, launch that initiative or to write that book and now it seems as if the winds are contrary to your progress. It seems like the waves of life want to drown your progress. Maybe, like the disciples you’re in the Fourth Watch, your in the middle of the night, and the waves are trying to sink your ship. Be of good cheer — although it was dark and dire during the Fourth Watch it was in the fourth watch where Christ met the disciples out on the water.

In the midst of their turmoil, in the midst of their distress, in the midst of their chaos — Jesus met them. Matthew‬ ‭14:25‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.” God will meet you in the middle of your circumstance — even when it seems like all hope is lost — He will meet you in the Fourth Watch.

The wind did not distract Christ. The height of the waves didn’t matter to God. The storm didn’t move Christ. Matthew‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” Fear will sink your ship. Fear will cause you to forget what God’s Word has declared over your life. Be of good cheer and focus on Christ. When fear tries to grip your heart — focus on His Word. When the waves seem insurmountable — focus on Christ. If God told you to get into the boat and go to the other side — trust in His Word. Trust that He will not let you sink.

Be Of Good Cheer… It Is I

“But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬

As the disciples were frightened. They were full of fear. They were in the middle of turmoil and chaos. The wind and the waves seemed like it was too much to bear. While they were in the midst of the sea — in the middle of their circumstance — Christ came to meet them out on the water. The Great I Am is out on the water. Be of good cheer — Christ wants to comfort you. Be of good cheer — Christ wants to bring you peace. Be of good cheer — God wants to still your storm.

Notice, I stated that Jesus wants to still “your” storm. The storm did not bother Christ. In fact, Christ had dominion and authority over the wind and waves. The wind and waves were no competition for Christ. As they vehemently crashed upon the disciples’ boat — Jesus was walking on water. Notice that in the same environment that the disciples were struggling in — Jesus was thriving. Christ wants you to thrive in the midst of the storm. Don’t let the wind and waves of the world serve as distraction.

It’s time to go to the other side. The winds and waves may be vehemently crashing against your ship — choose to trust that Christ will not let you sink. Be of Good Cheer — Christ wants to meet you on the water. He’s waiting on you.

Maybe, you’re in the midst of a storm and the wind and waves of life seem like they’re more than you can bear — my brother or sister, choose to trust in God’s Word. Choose to trust that the waves and winds of life are not bigger than God. Don’t exalt the storm — choose to exalt Christ. Focus on His Word. Trust in His Promise. Our God will not let you sink.

Prayer:

Father God, in the Name of Jesus, I choose to trust You. Father, I choose to place my hope in Your Word. Lord, Your Word is greater than the problems that I face. Father, Your Word conquers all of my fears.

Father, Your Word crushes every storm and there is nothing that can compete against You. Father, You are greater. Father, You are more powerful. Father, You are Sovereign and I declare that You are Lord over my life. Father, I completely surrender to You now and forever.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

This article was written by Vance Jackson who serves on the leadership team of Word of Life Christian Ministries in Detroit, MI. For more resources, books, blogs and articles from Vance Jackson visit: www.VanceKJackson.com

May 11, 2020 0 comment

Articles

7 Ways to Become a Godly Thought Leader

by Charlotte Ibanez November 13, 2019

written by Charlotte Ibanez

One of the most google-searched terms recently in business is “Thought Leadership”. This is stated to mean that, “as a leader, you provide the best and deepest answers, to your customers’ biggest questions, in the formats your audience likes to consume.”

So as Christians we may ask, how does one become a thought leader? Am I suppose to be a leader? How do we reconcile this contrasting thought?

Living a Joyful Life Through ALL Circumstances

Becoming A Thought Leader

In today’s society, a thought leader is considered to be someone, who through their expertise and perspective, is able inspire and influence others in their industry and community. As Christians, we are supposed to influence the people around us and not the other way around. Therefore, we can establish ourselves as brand ambassadors for Christ. Thus, incorporating godly principles in the corporate world or community we lived in.

7 Steps to Become a Godly Thought Leader

1. Assess Yourself. What is it that you are really good at? What do people around affirm in you that you are an expert in? Look at your background, education, training and experiences to see where God is strategically positioning you to be a blessing to others.

2. Develop Your Voice. Once you identify your expertise or your niche, develop content. How can you communicate this properly to others? Hone in on your key message.

3. Focus on God’s purpose rather than yourself. Contrary to the world’s view, let us not elevate ourselves but rather magnify the lordship of Christ in our life. Let us point the attention to God as His instruments and vessels.

4. Walk the talk. Being consistent is one of the biggest challenge we could ever face. We need the daily working of the Holy Spirit in us to display the grace of God in our life. Impactful thought leaders must demonstrate a life that honors and pleases God.

5. Break down limiting beliefs. Fear and low self-esteem will paralyze us to fulfill God’s purpose in our life. It is important to relinquish every wrong assumptions we about ourselves, about others and the environment we are in. Our confidence and reliance can not be on ourselves or in our abilities. We must rely on Christ.

6. Build a good team. Gather people that understands our godly purpose and contribute to the overall goal. Teams need to have the right purpose, skill set, and character. This helps to develop more leaders who will eventually pass on the baton.

7. Influence others and establish a brand that leaves a mark. As we maintain a humble and teachable posture, we can effectively grow as thought leaders and learn how to influence others. The greatest legacy we can ever make for the generations to come is to point them to Christ.

What now?

In Matthew 5:14-16 it says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

It may take years for us to develop expertise, gain deeper insights and accumulate valuable perspectives. These things will help us to build a positive reputation for helping people. However, we need to start now so that we can cultivate that credibility.

Pray and ask God to start the process in you and connect you to people that can mentor and help you to be a blessing to others.

November 13, 2019 0 comment

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