The fastest way to gain leadership is to solve problems in a spirit of submission. You cannot pursue love and power simultaneously. Choose love and you will have the other also.
Mark 1:15
"The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. REPENT, and BELIEVE in the gospel."
Psalm 37:8b, 18-19, 39b-40
Do not fret, it only causes harm.
The Lord knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance will be forever.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
He is their strength in the time of trouble,
And the Lord shall help them and deliver them.
He shall deliver them from the wicked and save them,
Because they trust in Him.
These are the WORDS the Lord has given us,
WORDS OF LIFE, and LIFE ABUNDANTLY.
Year 2009
Mark 1:15
"The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. REPENT, and BELIEVE in the gospel."
Psalm 37:8b, 18-19, 39b-40
Do not fret, it only causes harm.
The Lord knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance will be forever.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
He is their strength in the time of trouble,
And the Lord shall help them and deliver them.
He shall deliver them from the wicked and save them,
Because they trust in Him.
These are the WORDS the Lord has given us,
WORDS OF LIFE, and LIFE ABUNDANTLY.
Year 2009
Year 2008
Psalm 123:3-4
Have mercy on us, O Lord have mercy on us!
For we are exceedingly filled with contempt,
Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorn of those who are at ease,
With the contempt of the proud.
We ushered in the New Year in prayer. Prayer began at 10pm and ended at 1am. It was a wonderful time with the Lord. Visions were abound "it is fasting and prayer that pleases God." 2009 will be a year of prayer and fasting. So consistent with the season a 40 day fast is called from the 1st January to 9th February. Details of the fast is as follows:
- 40 day fast lunch only
- fast and prayer will center on 'priority' and 'process' focusing on the family
- a journal is required to be maintained of the 40 day period of fasting and prayer
Here are some THOUGHTS regarding fasting.
The practice of fasting goes much deeper than the act of simply going without food. God not only delights in His people fasting and praying but also in loosing the bonds of wickedness and undoing heavy burdens of those they have oppressed. Fasting is fine and good but to fast while continuing to harbor destructive thoughts and oppressive attitudes does not reflect godly leadership.
Consider what God expects from the "fasted life" as stated in Isaiah 58.
1. Liberate those who are oppressed (v.6)
2. Share resources with the needy (v. 7)
3. Provide shelter to the homeless (v. 7)
4. Supply clothing to the naked (v.7)
5. Stop accusing and judging others (v.9)
THE POWER TO BELIEVE IS ALSO THE POWER TO REPENT
As we enter into 2009 it would be asked 'what kind of leadership is required?'
Jesus' Leadership of course.
Jesus' Leadership differed from all others.
Jesus doesn't merely reform - Jesus TRANSFORMS.
Jesus knew that if He got our heart and spirit right, the rest would follow.
Jesus had a unwavering commitment to speak the truth.
Jesus came into our lives to EMPOWER us.
In Matthew 2:3-18, Matthew tells us that King Herod and all Jerusalem was 'troubled' when they heard that "A King of the Jews" had been born in the town of Bethlehem. As a king, Herod failed to empower anyone. In fact he drained power from people in a continual grab for power. Herod abused power instead of sharing it. Here are some of the ugly symptoms we see in King Herod's leadership that we should avoid:
1. He felt disturbed and threatened when he learned of a coming king (v.3)
2. He leveraged his power against any possible competitor (v.4)
3. He used people to serve his own purposes (v.7,8)
4. He lied in order to project the right image (v.8)
5. He reacted with fury when he didn't get his way (v.16)
6. He concerned himself only with his own benefit (v.16)
7. He sought to destroy any potential threat to his leadership (v.16-18)
KING HEROD FELT THE THREAT OF COMPETITION AND BECAME INSECURE.
Is your 'personal security' able to stand up to the competition in 2009?
Leaders cannot do anything of significance in the kingdom of God until they 'humble themselves' before God and seek His face.
* Spend time alone with God, remove all distractions
* Be hungry for God, receive what God wants for you
* Allow God to break you and change you
* Be honest with God, stop pretending, let God work in your life
A very blessed new year to one and all. Let me leave you with this question for the year 2009.
What is your; mission, message, motive, manner, method, mind and ministry???????
