What level of authority have you achieved? (78-4)~Barry Werner

What level of authority have you achieved? (78-4)

July 16th, 2009 in Authority, Character, Judges, Leadership Development, Leadership Principles, Mentor, Old Testament, Personal Development | leave a response

Yesterday’s devotional looked at the respect generated by Deborah’s character and actions. With respect comes authority. Read Judges 4.

In general leaders exercise authority on five levels:

• Positional authority - this is the lowest level of leadership and comes from titles and job descriptions. People follow because they think they have to. Deborah had positional authority as a prophetess but we never see her use it. During my time in the Marine Corp, I saw every office use positional authority from time to time but only those officers that were inept used it consistently over a long period of time.
• Personal authority - as a leader’s team learns to trust them, they begin to follow because they want to. In Judges 4 people sought out Deborah’s influence. Even though personal authority is a step above positional authority, positive relationships alone cannot create lasting leadership.
• Success generated authority – at this level, influence grows and respect increases because of what the leader and their team has accomplished together. The team begins to follow because of the contagious momentum of accomplishment. Deborah’s success as a judge benefited her when she called for an army to attack the Canaanite King Jabin. Many leaders find a comfort zone at this level of authority because so many of the goals are being accomplished and the team is generally in unity and easy to work with. Success generated authority, however, does not generate life-changing impact on the team and lasting success.
• The mentor’s authority - this is the authority a leader experiences when they help their team to reach their potential. Deborah helped Barak to reach his God-given purpose. Leaders who move to this level change their focus from inspiring and leading followers to developing and leading others.
• Character inspired authority - leaders who spend their lives developing individuals and organizations make such an incredible impact for so long that people follow because of who the leader is. Deborah is described as “mother of Israel.” I saw this level of authority in a personal way during my 18 years with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Dr. Graham, Cliff Barrows (Dr. Graham’s right-hand man), Dr. John Corts (President of the BGEA during most of my years with the organization) and Joel Aarsvold (Chief Financial Officer) were all men who had character that inspired my total devotion. This level of leadership only comes from consistent character development over a long period of time and God’s grace.

Identify the level of authority you have achieved in your quest to be an effective godly leader. Write a single paragraph with action steps that you are willing to pray about and commit to the Lord and that you are willing to do rather than talk about so that you can move to the next level.

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Tags: Authority, Character, Mentor, Success

« What actions are you taking to ever increase the respect of your team? (78-3)

Do you freely give recognition to your team? (78-5

Identifying Insecurity~Charles Stanley

Aug. 5, 2009
Identifying Insecurity

Psalm 139:13-16

Let me ask you to do what may be an uncomfortable exercise. We are going to examine statements that insecure people often make about themselves. As you read each one, ask yourself, Do I think similarly?

Insecure people make comments like:

• Why bother trying? I’ll never get it right.
• Everyone is looking at me, just waiting for me to make a fool of myself.
• I’m a failure.
• I am ugly and awful to look at.
• I can never win. I’m just a loser.
• No matter how hard I work, I never get any recognition.
• I am incompetent at everything.
• Nobody could ever speak well about me.
• I have failed before; once a failure, always a failure.
• I don’t see how anyone could ever like, respect, or accept me.
• I don’t deserve to be treated well.
• I don’t fit here or anywhere else.
• Everyone else looks so “together.” I feel “out of it” compared to them.
• I am an incomplete person, and nothing can change that.
• Why would anyone care to hear what I have to say?
• No one cares about what I think or feel.
• People are nice to me only when they want something from me.

Did any of the above statements ring true for you? Prayerfully consider the ones that got your attention. Then, take those specific fears to the Lord, and allow Him to show you His truth in each area. God wants to set you free from anything hindering your spiritual development.

God's Promises and God's Rest~Bob Hoekstra

God's Promises and God's Rest

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest. (Hebrews 4:1-3)

Through the promises of God, all who believe can experience spiritual rest. Initially, those who believe enjoy rest from the guilt and condemnation of sin. Additionally, those whose faith embraces other promises from God can enjoy rest from carnal striving and worldly indulgence.

When the children of Israel were delivered from Egypt, they had rest from the bondage they had known there. This pictures our rest from sin and guilt. Yet, the Lord had more rest to share with His people. He wanted to give them rest from the futile wilderness striving they experienced between Egypt and the Promised Land, the land flowing with milk and honey. This pictures how we can rest from the fleshly striving of doubt and disobedience by drawing upon the riches that are ours in Christ.

The Israelites wandered through the wilderness in hardness of heart for forty years. All of that generation (except Joshua and Caleb) missed the additional rest that God wanted them to experience. "Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.' So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest'" (Hebrews 3:10-11). They were out of Egypt, but they would not enter into the Promised Land.

Are we entering into the additional rest that God has for us?"Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it." The Promised Land is a picture of the abundant spiritual life (not a picture of heaven—no battles or failures in heaven). This additional rest is what Jesus offers to all who believe in Him. "I have come that they may have life [eternal life, forgiveness of sin], and that they may have it more abundantly[richness of life, growing in practical righteousness]" (John 10:10). This abundant life is enjoyed as we believe in the word of God, as it describes the riches that are ours in Christ. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). Will we take the Lord at His word and believe that we might enter in?"For we who have believed do enter that rest." Israel did not believe, so they did not enter in. "The word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it."

Dear Lord, I thank You for giving me rest from sin and guilt, simply by trusting in Your promises. Now, I ask for new measures of additional rest from barrenness and striving, simply by trusting in Your promises of abundant life, in Jesus' name, Amen.

A message from Jon~Jon Courson

Greetings Gang, Ah, the beauty of our Fathers creative wonders . . . it's overwhelming and awe-inspiring! Even now, Tammy and I are drinking in of such as we are up in the San Juan Islands of Northern Washington, teaching a wonderful group of folks from Applegate who are camping out here for the week. Now as awesome and inspiring is the beauty of this place, it really can't hold a candle to what this world is going to be one day not too far away when the Lord Jesus returns and makes this old worn-out, sin-fallen world anew! We will see a restoration of an Eden-like environment where beauty shall abound and peace shall prevail. Even the lion and lamb shall dwell together in harmony. "How could that be?", one may respond skeptically. Well, I think from time-to-time the Lord gives us a sort of "sneak preview of coming attractions." And that's just what happened for Tammy and me as we came back from Church a few Sunday afternoons ago and found our ten month old Newfoundland puppy named Pawdre (pictured with me above) on our porch with his new "best friend" Rocky. So click the link given below, and watch a 40 second video of what we saw that indeed previews how it will one day be with all of creation . . . O Happy Day that will truly be! So take heart gang, for He told us "it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the Kingdom!" Even so, Come Quickly Jesus . . . Amen! Maranatha, Jon Click here for the Pawdre and Rocky Video

Growing Problem~Dry Bones

Here are your Dry Bones blog updates

• Growing Problem
• More Recent Articles

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Growing Problem

Growing Problem

The story:

"When First Lady Michelle Obama planted an organic vegetable garden on the White House lawn in March 2009, she hoped to both set an example of healthy eating and to grow tasty edibles for her daughters and husband. But Michelle's organic dream has been dashed by a nasty toxic legacy lurking in the soils of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It turns out that a previous Presidential gardening team had used sewage sludge for fertilizer." -more

The cartoon:
I haven't done a six-panel Dry Bones cartoon in years ...but the length of the script forced me to use the format again ...and I'm pleased with the result.

The title of the cartoon:
"Growing Problem" has a double meaning. The second, subtle one, is a recognition that on many fronts, things seem to be going wrong for the current administration ...and at an increasingly rapid rate ...and that this is indeed a growing problem for Obama.

Or is it just me?

-Dry Bones- Israel's Political Comic Strip Since 1973

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Are You? ~Mark Balmer

Are You?

Posted:

Based on “Under His Influence – The Design” by Pastor Mark Balmer; 8/1-2/09,
Message #MB383;

Daily Devotional #2 - “Are You?”

Preparing the Soil (Introduction): Under His Influence. Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, 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. (John 5:19) You may say, “Well that was Jesus. How are we supposed to know what God is doing all the time?”

That is a good question, how do we know?

Well today God reveals His will for us (what He is doing) through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church. Our daily quiet time with the Lord is immensely important for knowing and doing God's will. God speaks to us through our relationship with Him. Jesus was under the influence of His Father. He would pray and seek the Father's will. (Luke 6:12)

He knew that it is through their relationship that God spoke.

We need to be in the Bible, praying and listening to know His will. If we do not spend time with Him, there will be a huge problem in the relationship department. If we do not seek His will, we will not find it. (James 4:1-3, Matthew 7:7-8)

Planting and Watering the Seed (Growth): When we seek Him, He will reveal Himself to us. Then when we are following the leading of God the Holy Spirit, we are completely dependent upon Him. We need His guidance, His wisdom, and His strength. As we are under His influence He will guide us into places where we cannot accomplish anything apart from Him.

Remember what Jesus said, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

You see, He will get the credit, if what He does through us is something we cannot accomplish on our own. Then we will see what our great and awesome God can do through us when we are under His influence. On our own we can accomplish nothing of eternal value, but with God working in and through us nothing is impossible.

Harvesting the Crop (Action/Response): Take a few moments today and think about who God is. Think about what He has done in the past, the miracles that are recorded in the Bible.

Then think about how that very same God is living in you today.

He has not and will not change. Nothing was impossible for Him in the past. Nothing is impossible for Him today. Give Him the reins of your life today and let Him guide your actions. Believe, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)

You see, God wants to affect those with whom you come into contact. Pray and ask God to reveal to you what He is doing, so you can join Him in His work. What is He doing? It will be the same as it has been in the past. He will be making Himself known to men and women in order to have a relationship with them.

"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them." (John 17:25-26) Let God be visible in your life!

Cultivating (Additional Reading): Ephesians 3:14-21, Acts 2:42-47
wm

If you're feeling down about life, please be encouraged today~Mike MacIntosh

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39

If you're feeling down about life, please be encouraged today. God doesn't have any average children. As believers in Christ Jesus, He's made us His sons and daughters (2 Corinthians 6:18). You're an adopted heir to the throne of God through His Son, Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:5). You are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). You are royalty! You're not average or below average. Everything that is His has been given to you through the work of Jesus Christ. Romans 8:39 says that "There is no height, no width, no length, no depth, no breadth that can separate you from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ." That is not average! You have to start realizing that: "My God shall supply all of your needs according to his riches and glory in Jesus Christ" (Philippians 4:19).

This is a time in history when millions of us have got to stand up for God, His glory, and His righteousness. Stop thinking that you're mediocre or below average. You're so special. You were bought for eternity, not with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of the only begotten Son of God (1 Peter 1:18-19). Now that is not average; that is off the charts! If God would go to that effort to save your soul, why in the world would you want to be average? Why would you not want to live your life to the fullest, with everything that God has for you?

Let God fully get into your life, and let Him fill you with all of the blessings and riches that are in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:27). You see, He has taken you out of the ordinary category! Get into the Word of God, study it, and let it soak into your soul. Let your heart come alive as you read this amazing revelation of God. And the more you do, the more you will continue to see that we are more than conquerors--not average--through Jesus Christ.

Followers of Jesus should care and be willing to sacrifice for those that do not know Jesus as their Savior.~David McGee

Romans 9:1-3

"I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,"
NKJV

Life Lesson

Followers of Jesus should care and be willing to sacrifice for those that do not know Jesus as their Savior.

The Apostle Paul's legacy endures as a challenge for us to re-think our obligation toward others. He was willing to make a sacrifice of his own life so that others could know Jesus. Are you willing? Whether we want to admit it or not, Christians place conditions on compliance. We draw lines of feasibility. I will do this or that as long as it falls within certain parameters. What conditions did Jesus place on His love and His willingness to sacrifice?

Here's a common situation... the homeless man asking for a little cash... how do you react? "If I give that homeless man a few dollars, he will go and buy alcohol. I don't want to be an 'enabler'." Yeah, maybe he will buy alcohol, but what if you share Jesus and pray for him? Jesus died for that man just as he died for you. God took the action for you to claim the opportunity. Friend, be an enabler... enable others with the choice - Jesus... yes or no?

What about sharing with that long time friend, family member or passing acquaintance? How will they react? If your friend or family member were drowning would you be considering their reaction before throwing a life line to them? Of course not! I say let's hang up the excuses and get beyond 'comfortable'. There is no inappropriate time to share Jesus.

Dear Father,
Thank You for saving me. Please soften my heart towards others and give me a deep caring for them. Open up opportunities for me to share and help me to be faithful to do so. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
reachthetriad.com
twitter.com/ccot

Walk in newness of life.~Daily Light

August 5
MORNING

Walk in newness of life.

Just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.--I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.--Neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them.--Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. . . . But that is not the way you learned Christ!--assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus. . . . Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Rom. 6:4; Rom. 6:19; Rom. 12:1, 2; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15, 16; Eph. 4:17, 20, 21, 24

EVENING

"Your will be done."

I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.--"Not as I will, but as you will."--But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.

We do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

"You do not know what you are asking."--He gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them.--Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

I want you to be free from anxieties.--You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Matt. 26:42; Jer. 10:23; Matt. 26:39; Ps. 131:2; Rom. 8:26, 27; Matt. 20:22; Ps. 106:15; 1 Cor. 10:6; 1 Cor. 7:32; Isa. 26:3

Alone With God ~Dimitri

Alone With God

"But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly" (Matthew 6:6).

Dear ,
The best way to get to know a person intimately is to spend time alone together. This is true of all our earthly relationships, and is also true in our relationship with God our Father. But where can you and I go to be alone with God? Fortunately, the Bible has the answer: In your room! In Matthew 6:6, Jesus says: "Go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place."

In this verse, Jesus shows us how we can turn our common bedrooms and living rooms into holy sanctuaries where we may meet one-on-one with God. To achieve this, there are three things we must do: 1. Go into your room. 2. Shut the door. 3. Pray to your Father.

Go Into Your Room: Every Christian ought to have a "secret place" where he can meet daily with God. In Bible times, most Jewish homes had a small upper room that was used for this purpose. Although our homes are not designed this way today, any solitary place will do, even outdoors. Jesus "Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed" (Luke 5:16).

Shut The Door: When God spoke to Elijah at Mount Horeb, He spoke in a still small voice. To hear God clearly you and I need to shut out those things that compete for our attention. This can include dealing with distracting thoughts. One way you can do this is by reading scripture. (I find it helpful to commence times of prayer by reading and meditating on the psalms).

Pray To The Father: As you go to prayer, let your heart rest in the fact that God is a loving Father. He longs to hear your voice, and desires to make Himself known to you. Open up your heart before Him, and bask in the warmth of His love. Thank Him for inviting you into His presence and begin to worship Him: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name..." (Matt 6:9).

When you begin to pray this way, you may feel a little awkward at first, and that's okay. Learning to pray is like learning to drive a motor car - the more you do it, the more comfortable you will feel and the more you will enjoy it. So don't be hasty; give yourself time, and always rely on the Holy Spirit to help you. With His help, you will reap the rich rewards of time alone with God.

In His strong love,
Demitri

Ezra 1:1-2:70 ~ 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 ~ Psalm 27:7-14 ~ Proverbs 20:22-23

Ezra 1:1-2:70 ~ 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5 ~ Psalm 27:7-14 ~ Proverbs 20:22-23
~ Listen to today's Scripture on DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) or OneYearAudioBible.org ~

Old Testament - Today we begin the book of the priest & scribe Ezra!

Author: Ezra
Date: Fifth century B.C.
Content: The book of Ezra deals with the return of the Israelites to the land of Palestine after their captivity in Babylon. After describing first the return and how the work on the Temple was begun, the author tells us the problems that arose. After a great deal of trouble and early failure, the Temple was finally finished and rededicated to the glory of God. The ministry of Ezra is described in some detail, stressing the intercession that he made to God for the wayward people of the restored community.
Theme: When the people of Israel returned home they saw this as the fulfillment of the promise of God. God had said he would never abandon his people, and although they were judged for their sin, God never stopped loving them. That God should care for the world to this degree is the deepest of mysteries. God desires our worship in return for his love, however. This may be seen in that he sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to speed the rebuilding of the Temple after the people, in discouragement, had ceased to work upon it. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” p. 8) More commentary on Ezra is at this link: http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=900

New Testament - Today in First Corinthians 1 verse 18 we read – “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” What does this verse say to you? Does it speak to you in any way? What is the message of the cross? What does the message of the cross mean to you personally? Is it foolishness? Or, is it the power of God? I don’t know what it is about this verse, but it really is so powerful for me. I think that it brings the Gospel message back to the central point in time in history – Jesus on the cross. And what Jesus did on the cross changed everything. Jesus changed history. The power of the cross is such that Jesus continues to change things this very moment. He is changing you. He is changing me. To us who are being saved, is the message of the cross literally the power of God? Do you meditate upon the cross regularly and meditate upon what the message of the cross truly is? Are you sharing the message of the cross with others in your life?

Below are two wonderful images for verses 27 and 30 & 31 courtesty of hearlight.org (link on the menu to the left):

Psalms - I love verse 11 today - "Teach me how to live, O LORD. Lead me along the path of honesty." Teach me how to live... what a beautiful prayer! God - Teach us how to live! Lead us along the path of honesty! Teach us how to live... And Psalm 27 verse 14 today is wonderful for us to meditate upon: "Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD." Is there an area of your life where you feel like you are waiting for the Lord to show up? Do you believe that the Lord will show up? I pray that this Psalm will encourage within you the virtue of patience. The Lord will show up. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Proverbs - Proverbs 20 verse 22 today teaches us: "Don’t say, "I will get even for this wrong." Wait for the Lord to handle the matter." This is a great reminder that Justice is not for us to carry out. Justice is the Lord's!

Worship God: Today's readings in First Corinthians 1:18 reminds me of the song "The Wonderful Cross," performed here live by Matt Redman & Chris Tomlin:

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

Comments from You & Questions of the Day: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

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the most important thing the church should be~Greg Laurie

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus."

— Acts 17:6–7

Some today are telling us that the most important thing the church should be focusing on is global warming. That is the priority we are to have, they say. But there is another kind of warming the church should focus on preventing, and that is people spending eternity separated from God in hell.

The church of the first century made its impact on the world through prayer and through preaching. It was said of the early church that they turned the world upside down. And that, by the way, was offered as a criticism, not as a compliment (see Acts 17:6).

May God give us more "criticisms" like this, because it seems today the opposite is happening in the church. We have double standards and moral compromise and little to no power. G. Campbell Morgan said, "Organized Christianity which fails to make a disturbance is dead."

What concerns me is that we are not making a disturbance anymore. We are so worried about fitting in. We are so worried about relating. We are so worried about being cool that we have forgotten what it is to make a stand for what is true. My fear is that instead of the church turning the world upside down, the world is turning the church upside down.

Vance Havner said, "We are not going to move this world by criticism of it nor conformity to it, but by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God." That is why we need to get back to what the early church experienced as given on the day of Pentecost, because they turned their world upside down. And in this crazy, topsy-turvy world where wrong is right and right is wrong, we need to do the same.