Proverbs 8:15-16 (ESV Strong's)
By me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just;
by me princes rule,
and nobles, all who govern justly.
Subject: Leadership
You can go to any book store and find hundreds of books on leadership. Each book will outline or emphasize skill-sets leaders should possess, operate by, and/or develop. After reading a number of these manuscripts it would become apparent that few, if any, outline what Solomon just told us in the above proverb. There is no doubt that most leadership gurus would tell you that wisdom is a vital part of leadership. However, few write about it and tell us what Solomon has told us. Solomon is a king and is in the best position to tell us about this aspect of leadership. He was given a leadership position at an early age. When asked by God what he wanted to be able to lead, Solomon didn't ask for any skill-set written by most leadership authors. Instead, he asked for wisdom. That is why in this chapter of Proverbs, where Wisdom is personified a someone calling out to the passer-by of life, wisdom is the principle thing every leader needs. Wisdom comes from the Fear of the Lord. Every leader is established by God and should live in the fear of the Lord. Those that do, have success in their leadership. Those that don't, don't!
Thursday, June 30, 2016
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Subject: Servanthood to God - Psalm 78-80
Psalms 78:70-71 (ESV Strong's)
He chose David his servant
and took him from the sheepfolds;
from following the nursing ewes he brought him
to shepherd Jacob his people,
Israel his inheritance.
Subject: Servanthood
Where does God get his leaders?
1. Abraham - a lone man in a small country - Acts 7:2
2. Moses - a shepherd in front of a burning bush who once was raised by a king's daughter - Exodus 1-4
3. Amos - A shepherd - Amos 1:1
4. Peter, James and John - Fishermen - Matthew 4
5. Paul - A Pharisee - Philippians 3:5
6. Zephaniah - A Kings son - Zephaniah 1:1
7. Samuel - A little boy - 1 Samuel 3
What more could be said of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthath (these four listed in Hebrews 11) and many others. God doesn't need what our corporations, educational institutions or business and industry and trade unions need. God can and dose us and equip those He wants in leadership for His plan.
He chose David his servant
and took him from the sheepfolds;
from following the nursing ewes he brought him
to shepherd Jacob his people,
Israel his inheritance.
Subject: Servanthood
Where does God get his leaders?
1. Abraham - a lone man in a small country - Acts 7:2
2. Moses - a shepherd in front of a burning bush who once was raised by a king's daughter - Exodus 1-4
3. Amos - A shepherd - Amos 1:1
4. Peter, James and John - Fishermen - Matthew 4
5. Paul - A Pharisee - Philippians 3:5
6. Zephaniah - A Kings son - Zephaniah 1:1
7. Samuel - A little boy - 1 Samuel 3
What more could be said of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthath (these four listed in Hebrews 11) and many others. God doesn't need what our corporations, educational institutions or business and industry and trade unions need. God can and dose us and equip those He wants in leadership for His plan.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Subject: Greed and Service - 2 Kings 1-5
2 Kings 5:19b-20(ESV Strong's)
But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
Subject: Greed and Service
Gehazi was a servant of Elisha. Elisha was a prophet of God, who at one time, was a servant of Elijah. When Elijah went to be with God in a miracle accession, Elisha had one request: He wanted a double portion of the Spirit of God, that was resting upon Elijah. His request was granted and as a result the miracles Elisha did were "over-the-top" and out of the norm. The miracles he performs restore the water for some, the stew for others, and, in the case above, heal a man of leprosy, named Naaman. However, unlike Elisha when he was the servant of Elijah, Gehazi was a man who didn't want more of the Spirit of Elisha, he wanted to "get something" from Naaman. After healing Naaman, Elisha had refused his gifts. Gehazi was not as humble. He follows Naaman, makes up a story in order to have his greed feed. He wants "something.". Gehazi is the perfect picture of today's servant who serves to get an easy life and live off the goodness of God's people. He wants to live a life of ease and comfort; at the hand of those God heals and saves. Elisha discovers this and the leprosy that once was Naaman's falls on Gehazi. Rather than rejoice in the power of God, Gehazi wants to "earn" from that power. The same was true of a man in Acts who saw God work His power through Peter. He didn't want the power of God to see God's will done, he wanted the power of God to earn a living and live in comfort (Acts 8:17-24); Greed in the heart of the servant of God is an awful sin. We must protect ourselves in our service that we don't end up like Gehazi and want to "get something" for our service.
But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.”
Subject: Greed and Service
Gehazi was a servant of Elisha. Elisha was a prophet of God, who at one time, was a servant of Elijah. When Elijah went to be with God in a miracle accession, Elisha had one request: He wanted a double portion of the Spirit of God, that was resting upon Elijah. His request was granted and as a result the miracles Elisha did were "over-the-top" and out of the norm. The miracles he performs restore the water for some, the stew for others, and, in the case above, heal a man of leprosy, named Naaman. However, unlike Elisha when he was the servant of Elijah, Gehazi was a man who didn't want more of the Spirit of Elisha, he wanted to "get something" from Naaman. After healing Naaman, Elisha had refused his gifts. Gehazi was not as humble. He follows Naaman, makes up a story in order to have his greed feed. He wants "something.". Gehazi is the perfect picture of today's servant who serves to get an easy life and live off the goodness of God's people. He wants to live a life of ease and comfort; at the hand of those God heals and saves. Elisha discovers this and the leprosy that once was Naaman's falls on Gehazi. Rather than rejoice in the power of God, Gehazi wants to "earn" from that power. The same was true of a man in Acts who saw God work His power through Peter. He didn't want the power of God to see God's will done, he wanted the power of God to earn a living and live in comfort (Acts 8:17-24); Greed in the heart of the servant of God is an awful sin. We must protect ourselves in our service that we don't end up like Gehazi and want to "get something" for our service.
Monday, June 27, 2016
Subject: Sanctification - Leviticaus 10-12
Leviticus 12:6-7 (ESV Strong's)
“And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female.
Subject: Sanctification
In chapter 12 of Leviticus we have a brief chapter with instructions to the nation of Israel about the purification of a mother, after childbirth. In our day, giving birth to a child is as special as their day, but extremely more safe and with less jeopardy. There were no hospitals in this community. The priest and the midwives were to oversee the birth of a child. Because of the loss of blood during the deliver process this was a very dangerous time for mother and for child. This is not, however, the emphasis in this chapter. The focus here is how to bring the mother back into the spiritual community. The discharge of blood separated her from the communion of the worship service. The offering brought her back. The same sacrifice (a lamb and a pigeon or a turtledove) was required for her restoration into worship, weather she gave birth to a boy or a girl. The sacrifice was not for the child, but for the mother. The emphasis here is her restoration. The cycle of life put her in jeopardy of being out of fellowship and the sacrifice brought her back. The lesson here is that God is concerned about our fellowship with Him, even in the most precious time of life: The birth of a child. God does not want anything to separate us from worship and communion with Him. We all know that a new born child gets all the attention. We hover over him/her and see the beauty of new life. But, God wants to make sure the mother is right back in fellowship with Him, despite the excitement of the birth. Our purification physically is important (to prevent death); our purification spiritual is vital (to prevent spiritual death).
“And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female.
Subject: Sanctification
In chapter 12 of Leviticus we have a brief chapter with instructions to the nation of Israel about the purification of a mother, after childbirth. In our day, giving birth to a child is as special as their day, but extremely more safe and with less jeopardy. There were no hospitals in this community. The priest and the midwives were to oversee the birth of a child. Because of the loss of blood during the deliver process this was a very dangerous time for mother and for child. This is not, however, the emphasis in this chapter. The focus here is how to bring the mother back into the spiritual community. The discharge of blood separated her from the communion of the worship service. The offering brought her back. The same sacrifice (a lamb and a pigeon or a turtledove) was required for her restoration into worship, weather she gave birth to a boy or a girl. The sacrifice was not for the child, but for the mother. The emphasis here is her restoration. The cycle of life put her in jeopardy of being out of fellowship and the sacrifice brought her back. The lesson here is that God is concerned about our fellowship with Him, even in the most precious time of life: The birth of a child. God does not want anything to separate us from worship and communion with Him. We all know that a new born child gets all the attention. We hover over him/her and see the beauty of new life. But, God wants to make sure the mother is right back in fellowship with Him, despite the excitement of the birth. Our purification physically is important (to prevent death); our purification spiritual is vital (to prevent spiritual death).
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Subject: Sanctification and Service - Philippians 1-2
Philippians 2:13 (ESV Strong's)
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Subject: Sanctification and Service
God is in the business of saving His children and perfecting them into holiness. It is all a complete work of God in Christ by the Holy Spirit. Our part is faith in Christ's work. Hence the above passage. The verse goes right along with what Paul started in the introduction of this book:
Philippians 1:6 (ESV Strong's)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
God began the work and will complete it. It is He who is working inside us to complete it and to fulfill His good pleasure in us. In the above verse it is stated He is working out His good pleasure in us and not us working out our good pleasure. Sanctification is done by God for God. It produces service done by God and for God. We have to take ourselves out of the equation. We are simply the agents of faith. God is doing a "good" wok in us. We can, at times, look at our lives and wonder, "where is the good." Yet, even when He denies us something we think would be "good" for us, He ultimately has something better, that is good for His kingdom and plan. In Psalm 72:18 we read that God alone does "wondrous" things. He is doing that in our lives, even when we don't know it.
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Subject: Sanctification and Service
God is in the business of saving His children and perfecting them into holiness. It is all a complete work of God in Christ by the Holy Spirit. Our part is faith in Christ's work. Hence the above passage. The verse goes right along with what Paul started in the introduction of this book:
Philippians 1:6 (ESV Strong's)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
God began the work and will complete it. It is He who is working inside us to complete it and to fulfill His good pleasure in us. In the above verse it is stated He is working out His good pleasure in us and not us working out our good pleasure. Sanctification is done by God for God. It produces service done by God and for God. We have to take ourselves out of the equation. We are simply the agents of faith. God is doing a "good" wok in us. We can, at times, look at our lives and wonder, "where is the good." Yet, even when He denies us something we think would be "good" for us, He ultimately has something better, that is good for His kingdom and plan. In Psalm 72:18 we read that God alone does "wondrous" things. He is doing that in our lives, even when we don't know it.
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Subject: Service/Stewardship - Luke 15-16
Luke 16:10 (ESV Strong's)
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
Subject: Service - Stewardship
We all know who we can trust. We can trust those who, when given a job, resources, and/or tasks, fulfill to their best capability their roles and responsibilities. This is a simple way to judge if they would be able to handle more of the same, or even better of the same. This is true in the spiritual realm, as well. Jesus is telling His disciples that they are going to be entrusted with more, but must, first, obey in the little. The above verse is the best description of promoting others. As a soccer coach for over 20 years, I have found this principle is one of the best principles for giving athletes more playing time. If they are responsible for small things (less minutes, less role) they can be entrusted for bigger things (more minutes, larger role). Jesus establishes a principle for us that can be applied in the Kingdom and in the kingdom.
“One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
Subject: Service - Stewardship
We all know who we can trust. We can trust those who, when given a job, resources, and/or tasks, fulfill to their best capability their roles and responsibilities. This is a simple way to judge if they would be able to handle more of the same, or even better of the same. This is true in the spiritual realm, as well. Jesus is telling His disciples that they are going to be entrusted with more, but must, first, obey in the little. The above verse is the best description of promoting others. As a soccer coach for over 20 years, I have found this principle is one of the best principles for giving athletes more playing time. If they are responsible for small things (less minutes, less role) they can be entrusted for bigger things (more minutes, larger role). Jesus establishes a principle for us that can be applied in the Kingdom and in the kingdom.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Subject: False Teachers - Ezekiel 13-18
Ezekiel 13:19 (ESV Strong's)
You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death souls who should not die and keeping alive souls who should not live, by your lying to my people, who listen to lies.
Subject: False Teachers
God, in this chapter of Ezekiel, is condemning the false teachers who are leading the people astray. Throughout the chapter their falsehood is exposed and their doom predicted. God holds all of us accountable for our lives. However, He also holds accountable those who lead others astray. False teaching has two ills: 1) it provides false hope to people, and 2) it causes them to believe in something or someone other than the risen Christ. When we don't discern these false teachers, we are still responsible. However, God will, as in this chapter, condemn, correct and punish false teachers and false teaching.
You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death souls who should not die and keeping alive souls who should not live, by your lying to my people, who listen to lies.
Subject: False Teachers
God, in this chapter of Ezekiel, is condemning the false teachers who are leading the people astray. Throughout the chapter their falsehood is exposed and their doom predicted. God holds all of us accountable for our lives. However, He also holds accountable those who lead others astray. False teaching has two ills: 1) it provides false hope to people, and 2) it causes them to believe in something or someone other than the risen Christ. When we don't discern these false teachers, we are still responsible. However, God will, as in this chapter, condemn, correct and punish false teachers and false teaching.
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