Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
Saying something positive about someone directly to the person is deeply therapeutic
“Change seldom occurs until the pain of staying the same exceeds the pain of change” Author unknown
STATEMENT 1
This statement reflects the heart of the loving Son of God. He eternally declares forgiveness to as many as looks unto him on the cross, where His blood was shed. For without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness.
It is only through the power of the cross that a man can have all sins washed away. The death on the cross proclaims forgiveness in Christ for Past, Present and Future sins.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness(1 John 1:9)
Through the cross and the powerful statement of Christ on forgiveness, Jesus has become our advocate. No matter what sin we have committed, there is room for forgiveness if we genuinely confess our sins to the throne of grace.
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2)
Therefore, it is important we take God by His word about forgiveness, when we genuinely confess and repent of our sins. We should not allow the devil and our mind to deceive us into thinking that we have not been forgiven. FORGIVENESS IS NOT RECEIVED BY FEELING FORGIVEN, IT IS RECEIVED BY FAITH. Indeed when the Lord forgives he completely forgets about it. Not believing and receiving forgiveness is in itself UNBELIEF
This however does not give room for willful sins.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries (Hebrews 10:26-27)
Indeed he that is born of God does not continue to sin. The practice of sin is therefore not our portion, for it is written:
“But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God” (1 John 3:8-10, NLT).
Let us therefore walk in the Light of Christ forgiveness. So just us Christ has forgiven us, let us also learn to forgive one another, no matter the sin or offense against us. Forgiveness means ‘IT HAS NOT HAPPENED’
The Fall Of Man.
At the Garden of Eden were two trees: The tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the Tree of Life.
What caused the fall was that man ate the fruit, which hanged on tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This was the tree that man was barred from eating. Eating of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil produced death in man according to the scriptures. So man’s pain and death all began with the eating of the fruit, which hanged on the tree.
The result of the fall is as follows:
The Hope For Man
However, when the fullness of time had come, life anew also began with the eating of the fruit of life, which hanged on the tree (the cross).
So when any man eats of the Fruit of Life, in Christ Jesus, he or she would be assured of life eternal.
The sure way according to the scriptures is to believe on Him who hanged on the tree, even the son of God, our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
To be continued
2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
DEFINITION: complete change: a complete change, usually into something with an improved appearance or usefulness
FOUNDATION – Faith In Christ
The journey to a gloriously transformed life begins with an encounter with the saving grace of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. He is the foundation to a meaningful and long lasting transformed life.
Ro 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
The scriptures calls on us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
Ac 16:31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.. Household.”
Faith begins with the heart and flows through the mouth and ends with your hands and feet
THE NEW BIRTH EXPERIENCE
John 3:3 … “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”…7 “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’
1Pe 1:23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,
(NKJV)
The new birth begins with the planting of a seed (like natural birth). The seed of new birth is planted in us by the Spirit of God and it is an incorruptible seed, which is planted in the life of the one who believes. This seed ought to be nurtured.
THE NEW CREATION
2Co 5:17
The seed planted in us when properly nurtured brings the newness in us. Everything becomes new
THE SEAL OF THE NEW CREATION
Once you are born again you are sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Eph 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were SEALED with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
2Co 1:21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God… 22 who also has SEALED us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
A seal conveys
MANY WATERS CANNOT QUENCH LOVE 1
Songs of Solomon 8:6-7
Usage of Waters/Floods
1. The enemy
Isa 59:19… When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
Re 12:15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood.
2. The world
Jer 46:8 Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.
Jer 51:55 Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered:
3. Difficulties/Weariness
Jer 12:5…. if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?
Love defined
Love, i.e. affection or benevolence
Love goes beyond feeling, it is a decisive commitment and dedication to having affection or benevolence
Love never fails
1Co 13:7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Key Words: What Love does and why it cannot be quenched
Bears : to roof over, to cover with silence (endure patiently) bear, suffer
Believes :Faith, trust, absence of suspicion
Hopes: to expect or confide:
Endures: to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; figuratively, to undergo,have fortitude, persevere:–abide, endure, (take) patient(-ly), suffer, tarry behind.
DEFINITION OF LEADERSHIP
Leadership is seen as influence. It is being the person others will gladly and confidently follow. It is also getting people to work for you when they are not obligated. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care[i]. Leadership begins with the heart and not with the head. It blossoms with a deep meaningful relationship and not necessarily with multiple of laws.
THE LEADER’S DIVINE CONNECTION
A daily recognition that all strength for ministry comes from the power of the Holy Spirit is key to achieving success in leadership. The blessings of God on a leader is sure to grant him or her effectiveness and success. Like Uzziah as long as we seek the Lord He is sure to give us success in our leadership drive (2Chronicles 26:5).
The power of man is never sufficient to accomplish a God-sized task. Depending on self for leadership power would only shrink a ministry to a level that only human can handle[ii]. It should be noted that programmes don’t work-God works. Leadership abilities should be allowed to be invigorated by the glorious power of the Holy Ghost in the manifested power of the leaders life as well as the life of the believer.
DEFINING THE PURPOSE – POWER OF FOCUS
Ones’ purpose in leadership must be clearly defined and understood. Those leading and the led should all be clear in their minds, the reason for their mutual existence and for their actions. God’s purposes for ministry leadership must be known.
Strong churches are built on purpose. ..Plans, Programmes, and Personalities do not last. But God’s purpose will last….Unless the driving force behind a church is biblical, the health and growth of the church will never be what God intended. Strong churches are not built on programmes, personalities, or gimmicks. They are built on the eternal purposes of God[iii].
Jesus asked us to prove our love for Him by obeying His command (John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments). He then explains what the main commandments are:
Mt 22:36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”. 37 Jesus said to him,” ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the first and great commandment. 39 “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
The two commandments are to love the Lord and to Love your neighbor. Indeed there is only one Lord for us to love. As Christians we also have two main neighbours to love, that is the believing (Christian) neighbour and the Unbelieving (Unbeliever) neighbour. So simply put we exist as Christians to:
Christian leaders should be made to clearly appreciate what we exist for (Purpose) and be motivated to passionately live for them and to stay focused. The purposes would have to be constantly communicated to them and they should be reminded of the importance of knowing them.
GENUINENESS
Leaders should not just be real, to have a following , they should be genuine since people, especially the youth, easily detect leaders who are fake. You are most attractive when you are yourself. You don’t have to be cool you have to be real. The most valuable paintings are originals, not copies of original[iv]. It is said that “students can sniff a fake a mile away and so if we aren’t not genuine we should forget; the game is over. Leaders should not forget they are the ministry before they do ministry” [v].. Their credibility should always be intact to have any meaningful and credible youth following. People would build trust after spending time with the leader and seeing the walk behind his words.
THE BATTLE FOR THE HEART
You can’t move people to action unless you first move them with emotion. The heart comes before the hand. Don’t ever underestimate the importance of building relational bridges between yourself and the people you lead. There is an old saying: To lead yourself use your head; to lead others use your heart. Always touch a person’s heart before you ask him for a hand.
IMPORTANCE OF PEOPLE – THE PEOPLE CENTERED AGENDA.
to be continued
[i] John Maxwell in Josh McDowell’s Youth Ministry Handbook: Making the connection/Compiled by Sean McDowell and Ray Willey. (W Publishing Group, A Division of Thomas Nelson. Inc. USA, 2000). pp 66
[ii] Adema, D., ‘Power of Effective leadership’ in Josh McDowell’s Youth Ministry Handbook. Making the Connection, Compiled by Sean McDowell and Ray Willey (USA; W Publishing Group, A Division of Thomas Nelson. Inc., 2000), p. 68.
[iii]Warren, R., cited by Doug Fields, in Purpose Driven Youth Ministry, 9 Essential Foundations of Healthy Growth, p. 45
[iv] Christie, L., ‘Presenting Great Talks’ in Josh McDowell’s Youth Ministry Handbook. Making the connection. Compiled by Sean McDowell and Ray Willey, p 81.
[v] Webster, D., ‘Authentic Leadership’ in Josh McDowell’s Youth Ministry Handbook. Making the connection, p. 72.73
Raising Champions According to the Pentecostal Pattern
The Case of David
The Champion Goliath
David’s Challenges
How he overcame and became a champion as a youth
It should be noted that he was not relying on past glories but was relying on the God who gave him the past glories
1Sa 17:46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
LESSONS FOR US AS YOUTH BEING RAISED AS CHAMPIONS ACCORDING TO THE PENTECOSTAL PATTERN
Today it is not sword, spear etc but among others:
1Sa 17:46 This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
Faith in God and in his faithfulness Acts 3:16
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