“The Church Needs Deliverance!” (Part III)

“…when I arrive, I will call attention to what he is doing, his boiling over and casting malicious reflections upon us with insinuating language. And not satisfied with that, he refuses to receive and welcome the [missionary] brethren himself, and also interferes with and forbids those who would welcome them, and tries to expel (excommunicate) them from the church.” {3 John 1:9-10 Amp}

Now, I thought Diotrephes did enough damage in verse 9, but that’s nothing compared to his Destructive Behavior in verse 10! “…his boiling over and casting malicious reflections…with insinuating language. And not satisfied with that, he refuses to receive and welcome the [missionary] brethren himself, and also interferes with and forbids those who would welcome them, and tries to expel (excommunicate) them from the church.”

You ever see somebody go so far wrong that you’re not sure if they’ll ever be right again?! Well, unfortunately, we’re back in detention with “Diotrephes”! And what has he done this time? Like many of us, he allowed his mouthpiece to get him into trouble!

The Bible says: “…his boiling over and casting malicious reflections…with insinuating language…” (AMP). However, so that we get a clearer picture of his runaway train of a mouth, let’s look at this verse in a few translations:

“…he has been attacking us with GOSSIP…” (CEV);

“…EVIL ACCUSATIONS he is making against us…” (NLT) – which is double wicked in itself since the Bible says that SATAN is the ACCUSER of the brethren!;

“…TALKING WICKED NONSENSE against us…” (ESV);

“…HE LIES AND SAYS EVIL THINGS about us…” (NCV);

“…SPREADING VICIOUS RUMORS about us…” (MSG);

“…UNJUSTLY ACCUSING us with WICKED WORDS…” (NASB);

“…GOSSIPING MALICIOUSLY about us…” (NIV);

“…SLANDERING us with MALICIOUS WORDS…” (HCSB);

“…PRATING (TALKING FOOLISHLY) against us with MALICIOUS WORDS…” (NKJV).

Now, if I didn’t know any better, I would think we were talking about the DEVIL INSTEAD OF A CHURCH LEADER! Ever experience that? “…ATTACKED WITH GOSSIP; ENDURING EVIL ACCUSATIONS; HEARING WICKED NONSENSE AGAINST YOU; LIES AND VICIOUS RUMORS ABOUT YOU; BEING UNJUSTLY ACCUSED; SLANDERED AND PRATED ABOUT?” AND ALL OF IT COMING FROM “CHURCH FOLKS!” WORST THAN THAT, A “CHURCH LEADER!” UNFORTUNATELY, THE “SPIRIT OF DIOTREPHES” IS MOST EASILY DETECTED BY THE MOUTHS OF LEADERS! Which should never be since the Bible is clear about our speech! Ephesians 4:29-32, “Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift. Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for Himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted. Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” (MSG)

Therefore, Leaders, bear in mind:

“GOOD LEADERS ABHOR WRONGDOING OF ALL KINDS; SOUND LEADERSHIP HAS A MORAL FOUNDATION. GOOD LEADERS CULTIVATE HONEST SPEECH…” (Proverbs 16:12-13 MSG);

“GOOD LEADERSHIP IS A CHANNEL OF WATER CONTROLLED BY GOD; HE DIRECTS IT TO WHATEVER ENDS HE CHOOSES. WE JUSTIFY OUR ACTIONS BY APPEARANCES; GOD EXAMINES OUR MOTIVES. CLEAN LIVING BEFORE GOD AND JUSTICE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS MEAN FAR MORE TO GOD THAN RELIGIOUS PERFORMANCE” (Proverbs 21:1-3 MSG);

“LIKE THE HORIZONS FOR BREADTH AND THE OCEAN FOR DEPTH, THE UNDERSTANDING OF A GOOD LEADER IS BROAD AND DEEP. REMOVE IMPURITIES FROM THE SILVER AND THE SILVERSMITH CAN CRAFT A FINE CHALICE; REMOVE THE WICKED FROM LEADERSHIP AND AUTHORITY WILL BE CREDIBLE AND GOD-HONORING” (Proverbs 23:3-5 MSG).

SINCE EVERYTHING FROM ORDER TO ACCOUNTABILITY, FROM RESPONSIBILITY TO DISCIPLINE ALL START WITH LEADERSHIP…LEADERS, LET NOT THE “SPIRIT OF DIOTREPHES” BE FOUND AMONG YOU ANY LONGER!  “…IF GOD HAS GIVEN YOU LEADERSHIP ABILITY, TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY SERIOUSLY…” (Romans 12:7-9 NLT). FROM YOUR SPEECH TO YOUR ACTIONS; FROM YOUR MOTIVES AND INTENTIONS TO YOUR ATTITUDE AND EVEN INCLUDING YOUR FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND BODY LANGUAGE, LEARN TO LEAD MORE EFFECTIVELY!

A dear covenant sister of mine, Minister Donna, taught a workshop seminar on “Developing Heart” and there was one statement that she made that I’ve learned to hold dear even after all of these years, and I find it quite befitting right here, she said: “We have a tendency to misquote Proverbs 18:21, we’re under the impression that life and death are in the power of the tongue, when in reality the Scripture reads: “DEATH and LIFE are in the power of the tongue…” Therefore, we are more inclined to KILL WITH OUR WORDS FIRST THAN WE ARE TO SPEAK LIFE…” Even when you view this Scripture in various translations, at least 90 % of them all state “DEATH AND LIFE…”

SADLY, THAT HAS BECOME TOO TRUE, TOO OFTEN, IN THE LIVES OF CHURCH LEADERSHIP! WE USE OUR WORDS TO DELIVER DEATH, AS A FIRST OPTION!

But TODAY WE’RE GOING TO BE MORE LIKE SOLOMON THAN DIOTREPHES,“THE RIGHT WORD AT THE RIGHT TIME IS LIKE A CUSTOM-MADE PIECE OF JEWELRY, AND A WISE FRIEND’S TIMELY REPRIMAND IS LIKE A GOLD RING SLIPPED ON YOUR FINGER” (Proverbs 25:11 MSG). WORDS CAN BRING WHOLENESS OR WOUNDS, THE CHOICE IS YOURS! But be mindful: “…ON THE JUDGMENT DAY PEOPLE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY CARELESS THING THEY HAVE SAID. THE WORDS YOU HAVE SAID WILL BE USED TO JUDGE YOU. SOME OF YOUR WORDS WILL PROVE YOU RIGHT, BUT SOME OF YOUR WORDS WILL PROVE YOU GUILTY.” (Matthew 12:35-37 NCV).

It may sound a little old fashion, but WATCH YOUR MOUTH!

Believe it or not, even after doing all of that, Diotrephes, according to the Word of God was: “…not satisfied with that…” So what else does he do? “…he refuses to receive and welcome the [missionary] brethren himself, and also interferes with and forbids those who would welcome them, and tries to expel (excommunicate) them from the church.” I really had to pause for a moment to see if one “Church Leader” could really be this bad?! Unfortunately, Diotrephes was! He refused to receive and welcome, of all people, the missionaries! People who are on assignment to make things better, to aid, to help, to minister to the needs of those less fortunate! He refused to receive and welcome them that feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give water to the thirsty and shelter to the homeless! Maybe he didn’t hear when Jesus said: “…to…the ones on his left…’Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—I was hungry and you gave me no meal, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was homeless and you gave me no bed, I was shivering and you gave me no clothes, Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’ Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’ “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’ “Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.” (Matthew 25:41-46 MSG).

 The “Spirit of Diotrephes” is easy to recognize, because it will be found amongst them that refuse to receive and welcome them that want to make things better, to aid, to help and to minister. This spirit is also in full operation when new members join the church! Or, elevation takes place for one considered to be the “least” of them.

The Scripture says: “…he refuses to receive and welcome the [missionary] brethren himself…” which lets us know it was Customary and His Responsibility to do so as a “Church Leader”! Therefore, what kind of example was he setting as a leader, for others to follow?! Again, LEADERS, be careful! The Bible says: “Now it’s up to you. Be on your toes—both for yourselves AND YOUR CONGREGATION OF SHEEP. THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS PUT YOU IN CHARGE OF THESE PEOPLE—GOD’S PEOPLE THEY ARE—TO GUARD AND PROTECT THEM. GOD HIMSELF THOUGHT THEY WERE WORTH DYING FOR.” (Acts 20:28 MSG). AND USUALLY IF SOMETHING IS WORTH DYING FOR, IT’S WORTH KILLING FOR! I WOULD HATE FOR YOUR DAYS TO BE CUT SHORT BECAUSE YOU HANDLED GOD’S SHEEP HAPHAZARDLY! Listen: “DOOM TO THE SHEPHERD-LEADERS WHO BUTCHER AND SCATTER MY SHEEP!” GOD’S DECREE. SO HERE IS WHAT I, GOD, ISRAEL’S GOD, SAY TO THE SHEPHERD-LEADERS WHO MISLED MY PEOPLE: ‘YOU’VE SCATTERED MY SHEEP. YOU’VE DRIVEN THEM OFF. YOU HAVEN’T KEPT YOUR EYE ON THEM. WELL, LET ME TELL YOU, I’M KEEPING MY EYE ON YOU, KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. I’LL TAKE OVER AND GATHER WHAT’S LEFT OF MY SHEEP, GATHER THEM IN FROM ALL THE LANDS WHERE I’VE DRIVEN THEM. I’LL BRING THEM BACK WHERE THEY BELONG, AND THEY’LL RECOVER AND FLOURISH. I’LL SET SHEPHERD-LEADERS OVER THEM WHO WILL TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM. THEY WON’T LIVE IN FEAR OR PANIC ANYMORE. ALL THE LOST SHEEP ROUNDED UP! ‘ GOD’S DECREE” (Jeremiah 23:1-4 MSG). APPARENTLY GOD TAKES THE CARE OF HIS SHEEP PERSONALLY AND SERIOUSLY! LEADERS, CHECK YOURSELF!

But not only does Diotrephes refuse to receive and welcome the missionaries himself, but he further has the audacity to: “…interfere with and forbid those who would welcome them, and tries to expel (excommunicate) them from the church.” The “Spirit of Diotrephes” will have you acting just as crazy as Nebuchadnezzar! The Bible says: “You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.’ “That same hour the judgment was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws. “After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. MY SANITY RETURNED, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever…” (Daniel 4:32-34 NLT). God doesn’t have to make a fool out of you, BUT HE WILL! Likewise, the “Spirit of Diotrephes” WILL MAKE A FOOL OUT OF YOU TOO! Since no sane person would believe that as a “Church Leader’ you can bad mouth God’s Children, refuse God’s Missionaries, and kick folks out of God’s Church WITH NO REPERCUSSIONS! “…YOU CAN BE SURE I’LL HOLD HIM TO ACCOUNT…” (3 John 1:10 MSG).

Saints, if I were you, I would get delivered from the “Spirit of Diotrephes” because likewise, “…you can be sure GOD WILL HOLD US TO ACCOUNT…”

REMEMBER: “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and HE IS THE ONE TO WHOM WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE.” (Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT).

In closing: “…but Diotrephes…” {3 John 1:9 NIV} I’m sure you’ll agree, that it’s indeed been a pretty rough few days for the “Spirit of Diotrephes”! But I must say, Overcomers, you have made my heart exceedingly glad! To say the least, I was completely floored by a lot of your responses! I knew this spirit was running rampant in the church, but I wouldn’t dare have imagined that it was as prevalent as I found out this week. With that said, I appreciate all of you Leaders in particular, who didn’t point your finger at other folks churches or their pastors. In fact, you didn’t even point your finger at your Own Churches! But the countless emails that I’ve received from those of you, particularly in Leadership roles, pointed your Own finger at your Own self! To tell you the truth, when I knew the direction for this devotional series, I started praying immediately against the emails I would receive from people slandering their own churches and pastors, or that of others. Yet, I can say with gladness, that out of all the emails I’ve received, and during this series there have been hundreds, I didn’t receive one single response in the negative about someone else! Instead, there was ministry gifts emailing repentance and conviction on their own behalf! Responses on being challenged to change! Responses on how to recover and redeem the lost time that was given to the “Spirit of Diotrephes”! Responses from clergy that didn’t realize that not only was the “Spirit of Diotrephes” prevalent in their churches, but that it was prevalent in themselves! With that, I can’t but appreciate your testimonies, your honesty, candidness, sincerity, your transparency was heartfelt! I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to really express my feelings during this series. I mean so many of you just took off your masks, stripped out of your pretensions and just got real and said with Isaiah, “…Woe is ME! For I am undone and ruined, because I am a man…unclean…” (6:5 AMP). Like Isaiah, you simply said “…me…and…I”!  There was no blaming your past, spouse, job, church, addictions, habits, friends, family, circumstances, not even your enemies! But simply, “…me…and…I”!  That alone is greatly commendable in my book!

Dealing with the “Spirit of Diotrephes” was a lot to deal with! Because we had to put ourselves in the very vulnerable position of standing in bold, bright lights, naked before a mirror and seeing what’s the naked truth about who we really are, especially as leaders! But keep in mind: Exposure is difficult to endure, but necessary to soar! You see, an eagle is an eagle whether it’s sitting on a tree or flying through the sky! But in order for it to soar, it has to go up high, and be made visible and exposed for all to see! It has to open it’s wings and expose what is normally kept hidden and covered up! That’s if it wants to soar! Likewise, if you’re going to soar in God, you’ve got to accept that nakedness is a necessity! Note: No one comes up to an eagle and opens its wings, the eagle has to do that on its own, if it wants to soar! Yes it’s still an eagle whether it sits in a tree, or fly’s through the air, but no eagle can soar and sit at the same time! You have to be high up, visible for all to see in order to soar! Exposed before everything and everyone is your essential!  

That’s why I appreciate Leaders in particular, because if this spirit is going to be delivered from our churches, the deliverance service has to start within! And as hard as it is, be encouraged to know that exposure is always tied to elevation! And I’m not talking about gaining new titles and positions. But every time you crucify your flesh, your spirit resurrects! Something new and more powerful always follows exposure! Every time imaginations are pulled down, new visions come up! See, “Elevation”, despite what we’ve made it out to be in the church, is merely, “a height above a given level”. So every time you endure exposure, you elevate to another level in your relationship with God, not another level in the church! When you said no to fornication, you received elevation! When you said no to adultery, you received elevation! When you said no to gossip, you received elevation! When you said no to vengeance, you received elevation! You’ll always go to another level in God, when you bring light to your own darkness! Exposure brings you to a new level in your relationship with God. The more you put out, the more He puts in!

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God…” (Matthew 5:8 MSG).

“…pursue…consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 AMP).

“So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.” (James 4:7-10 MSG).

“You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair. I’ve been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life. Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean, scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life…set these once-broken bones to dancing…give me a clean bill of health. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life. Don’t throw me out with the trash, or fail to breathe holiness in me…” (Psalm 51:6-11 MSG).

“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.” (John 15:5-8 MSG).

Isn’t it absolutely amazing what God will do in and through us when we realign our lives to live as He desires? He wants to live in us, dwell with us, clean us, have intimate fellowship with us, bless us, and all we have to do is live right!

“…didn’t you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you see that you can’t live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 MSG).

Understand that because of who you are, Whose you are, and Who lives in you, it is Vital that you receive deliverance from the “Spirit of Diotrephes”! You have too much at Eternal Stake to keep straddling the fence!

As a recap and in a nutshell: Don’t allow the “Spirit of Diotrephes” to cause ‘gaps’ in your relationships; don’t allow it to bring disunity or discord of any kind to the Body of Christ; rid yourself of arrogance and out-of-control egos; remember the greatest among you is a servant, and there is no greatness without servitude; anyone unwilling to serve is unqualified to lead; clothe yourselves in humility that you are subject to those who have rule and authority over you; always be open and receptive to change, new ideas and unheard of suggestions; learn to listen; remember that you are not the only planet in the solar system or the only anointed vessel in God’s cabinet; there is never a time when there is only one star in the sky, they all shine together, therefore you are only one member, appropriately connected to others, in one Body, so you all shine together or don’t shine at all; set a full-time guard over your mouth; don’t be made up of height only, but develop some depth; you are Not irreplaceable; you are Not the only gift given by the Holy Ghost; beware of the company you keep; understand that what you Don’t Know, Can Hurt You; change your tune before the last trumpet sounds; you are Not Blind, so when you See the “Spirit of Diotrephes” with Your Own Eyes, in Your Own House, open Your Own Mouth, Correct and Repent; never refuse the help, aid or ministry gifting’s of others; and most important, You Will be held Accountable for Everything Before God!

Once again, I thank all of you for all that you’ve shared, and more-so for all that you’re committed to changing about your Own life! Please re-read the series over and over again (I know I will)! In addition, continue sending in your feedback, we are nurturers one to another. Iron Still Sharpens Iron! And I’m growing and maturing as much from you as you are from me!

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #ShareTheWord

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“The Church Needs Deliverance!” (Part I)

3 John 1:9, “I have written briefly to the church; BUT DIOTREPHES, WHO LIKES TO TAKE THE LEAD AMONG THEM AND PUT HIMSELF FIRST, does not acknowledge my authority and refuses to accept my suggestions or to listen to me.”{AMP}

In the movie ‘Rocky’, boxer Rocky Balboa describes his relationship with his girlfriend Adrienne like this: “I’ve got gaps. She’s got gaps. But together we’ve got no gaps.” That may sound comical, but truth be told, it doesn’t matter how gifted we are—we’ve all allowed gaps to form in our lives and in the church! But then what is a “Gap”? Well, it’s defined as, “a break or hole in an object or between two objects.” And the last thing Believers need in these end times, is a Gap, Break or Hole Between Them! Why? Because the Word of God informs us in Ephesians 4:27: “LEAVE NO [SUCH] ROOM OR FOOTHOLD FOR THE DEVIL [GIVE NO OPPORTUNITY TO HIM]” (AMP). THE DEVIL LOVES CRACKS, BREAKS, HOLES, AND GAPS, IT’S ALL THE SPACE HE NEEDS TO BRING FORTH DIVISION IN THE ENTIRE BODY OF CHRIST! And last I checked, the Word of God still declares that one of the things the Lord Hates is: “… HE WHO SOWS DISCORD AMONG HIS BRETHREN” (Proverbs 6:16-19 AMP). Church, stop allowing the “Spirit of Diotrephes” to cause GAPS in your relationship with other believers, you are destroying the Body of Christ!

The Body of Christ Was Not Designed For Disunity, But UNITY! Ephesians 2:21, “In Him THE WHOLE STRUCTURE IS JOINED (BOUND, WELDED) TOGETHER HARMONIOUSLY, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].” (AMP). Then, Ephesians 4:16 says, “For because of Him THE WHOLE BODY (THE CHURCH, IN ALL ITS VARIOUS PARTS), CLOSELY JOINED AND FIRMLY KNIT TOGETHER by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, WHEN EACH PART [WITH POWER ADAPTED TO ITS NEED] IS WORKING PROPERLY [IN ALL ITS FUNCTIONS], GROWS TO FULL MATURITY, BUILDING ITSELF UP IN LOVE” (AMP).

Now, maybe it’s just me, but the Word of God sure sounds like the Church needs to be Delivered Quickly From the Spirit of Diotrephes! Why? Because it goes against the very Word our God has spoken to His Church! Understand this, according to what we read in Ephesians 2:21 and Ephesians 4:16, any spirit that brings disunity to the Body of Christ, BREAKS OUR HARMONY, HINDERS OUR GROWTH AND INCREASE, DESECRATES OUR HOLINESS, DEDICATION, CONSECRATION AND THE SACRED PRESENCE OF THE LORD! IT SEPARATES US DEEP DOWN TO JOINTS AND LIGAMENTS, IT DEPLETES OUR POWER, STOPS US FROM WORKING PROPERLY IN ALL OUR FUNCTIONS, STUNTS OUR GROWTH OF FULL MATURITY AND TEARS DOWN THE LOVE WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BUILD UP! We need to grasp and fully understand the Danger of the “Spirit of Diotrephes” that’s running rampant in our churches! For it’s not the attacks of the world that’s destroying the church, it’s the disunity of the church destroying itself! We, the Church, are COMMANDED by God to Stay Connected! Which is why the last thing we want to do is to DISOBEY a direct COMMAND from God! Why? Listen to what happened to Adam when he DISOBEYED a direct COMMAND from God: The Bible reads, “He told the Man: “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree THAT I COMMANDED YOU NOT TO EAT FROM…The very ground is cursed because of you; getting food from the ground Will be as painful as having babies is for your wife; you’ll be working in pain all your life long. The ground will sprout thorns and weeds, you’ll get your food the hard way, Planting and tilling and harvesting, sweating in the fields from dawn to dusk, Until you return to that ground yourself, dead and buried; you started out as dirt, you’ll end up dirt.” (Genesis 3:17-19 MSG). I’m sure if Adam could say two words to the church today it would be: “Get Delivered!”

So what’s the best way to close the “Gaps” we’ve created in the church? BY WORKING WITH OTHERS WHO HAVE STRENGTHS IN OUR AREAS OF WEAKNESS! The New Testament Christians did it; and as a result, “THE WHOLE CONGREGATION of believers was UNITED AS ONE—ONE HEART, ONE MIND! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” THEY SHARED EVERYTHING. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and GRACE WAS ON ALL OF THEM” (Acts 4:32-33 MSG).

Following the advice of Acts we’ll likewise continue following the advice of Ephesians 4:32: “MAKE A CLEAN BREAK WITH ALL CUTTING, BACKBITING, PROFANE TALK, BE GENTLE WITH ONE ANOTHER, SENSITIVE. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.” (MSG). The early church left us good examples to follow, they did all of this, so what’s the problem with the church today?! Why don’t we work together anymore? I’ll tell you why, it’s because of the “Diotrephes Spirit”: 3 John 1:9-10 says, “…but Diotrephes, Who Loves to Be the Leader, Refuses to Have Anything to Do With Us. When I come, I will report some of the things he is doing and the evil accusations he is making against us. Not only does he refuse to welcome the traveling teachers, He Also Tells Others Not to Help Them. And When They Do Help, He Puts Them Out of the Church.” (NLT). Outside of sowing discord, what else is Diotrephes’ problem? HE LOVES CONTROL! He wasn’t service-driven, HE WAS EGO-DRIVEN!  And, ‘an ego has a voracious appetite, the more you feed it, the hungrier it gets.’ (Nathaniel Bronner, Jr.) Diotrephes was afraid to have anyone challenge him! With him it was “my way or the highway.” And, “Anytime there is a struggle between doing what is actually right and doing what seems right, then your ego is interfering with your decision.” (Darren L. Johnson). Like many church folks, he didn’t want a team, just a supporting cast! But ask anyone in Hollywood, just as fast as a “star” rises, oftentimes it falls even faster! Church, this is about US working Collectively, not Individually!

And please note that Diotrephes is easy to recognize, because he’s EXTREMELY INSECURE; which is why he holds the reins so tightly! But the trouble is, people who are afraid to trust others end up not being trusted themselves! There’s a level of success they never get beyond because they can’t work with anybody else! And why is that such a problem? Well, in actuality, I wouldn’t just call it a problem, but I’d call it down right dangerous! Because, when “Leave Me To Myself Diotrephes” stumbles and falls, as we all do, no one is there to help him back up! Which is why Ecclesiastes 4:12 warns us, “A PERSON STANDING ALONE CAN BE ATTACKED AND DEFEATED, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” (NLT). Leaders like Diotrephes stay weak in certain areas; because they’re too prideful and arrogant to reach for the strength that others are already extending to them! Understand, that you’ll get further with the help of others than you’ll get without it! Church, like it or not, WE need each other! There’s a motivational piece of artwork that hangs in my office that I keep myself mindful of whether in my home, on my job or in my church, it reads: “Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishment toward organizational objectives, it is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” People of God, today is the day of deliverance from the Spirit of Diotrephes! No more sowing discord, no more arrogant, out of control egos (which are running rampant amongst Leadership), no more my way or the highway, no more me-ism, no more I lead and you follow! NO! Today’s church needs to travel back to the church of yesterday, before we utterly destroy the church of tomorrow!  

3 John 1:9, “I have written briefly to the church; BUT DIOTREPHES, WHO LIKES TO TAKE THE LEAD AMONG THEM AND PUT HIMSELF FIRST, does not acknowledge my authority and refuses to accept my suggestions or to listen to me.”{ AMP}

According to our text, DIOTREPHES: “…LIKES TO TAKE THE LEAD…AND PUT HIMSELF FIRST…” So, to those who are battling with this spirit, might I inform you that the Bible says, “So those who [now] are last WILL BE FIRST [THEN], and those who [now] are first WILL BE LAST [THEN]…” (Matthew 20:16 AMP) Therefore, you might want to be careful about rushing to be FIRST…NOW…since you’ll only be LAST…THEN…when it counts most! You see, the problem is, everyone wants to be a great leader, without serving, when in truth, there is no greatness apart from serving! Luke 22:24-26, “Within minutes they were bickering over who of them would end up the greatest. BUT JESUS INTERVENED: “Kings like to throw their weight around and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles. IT’S NOT GOING TO BE THAT WAY WITH YOU. LET THE SENIOR AMONG YOU BECOME LIKE THE JUNIOR; LET THE LEADER ACT THE PART OF THE SERVANT” (MSG). Saints, Until You Meet the Requirements of Serving, You’re Unqualified To Lead! ‘He that cannot obey, cannot command.’ (Benjamin Franklin) Until you learn how to bring “YOU” under subjection, your leadership will always face objections and rejections! Why? Because William Penn said it best: “No man is fit to command another that cannot command himself.” If you want to know the steps to proper and effective leadership, follow the blueprint of Proverbs 18:12, “Pride leads to destruction; humility leads to honor.” (CEV). Both play a lead role, but the type of character exemplified is up to you! “I admire men of character, and I judge character not by how men deal with their superiors, but mostly how they deal with their subordinates, and that, to me, is where you find out what the character of a man is.” (General H. Norman Schwartzkopf)

Next we find that “DIOTREPHES” “…DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE…AUTHORITY…” {3 John 1:9 AMP} One of the worst individuals you can work with in the church is them that do not Acknowledge Authority! Is that dangerous, you ask? Let’s see what Hebrews 13:17 has to say about it: “Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them [CONTINUALLY [RECOGNIZING THEIR AUTHORITY OVER YOU], for they are CONSTANTLY KEEPING WATCH OVER YOUR SOULS AND GUARDING YOUR SPIRITUAL WELFARE, as men who will have to render an account [of their trust]. [Do your part to] let them do this with gladness and not with sighing and groaning, FOR THAT WOULD NOT BE PROFITABLE TO YOU [EITHER]” (AMP). WARNING: When you don’t Acknowledge Authority, you in essence tell your Spiritual Leaders to close their eyes from watching over your soul, and to lay their weaponry down from guarding your spiritual welfare! Not to mention you become a Liability to the Kingdom, instead of an Asset, since you’re no longer Profitable! With that said, not Acknowledging Authority is dangerous indeed! Selah…

People who do not Acknowledge Authority fall in the category that the Israelites found themselves in over and over again! REBELLION! And “Rebellion” is defined as, “an act of rebelling against an ESTABLISHED GOVERNMENT OR RULER; defiance of authority or control.” When you don’t Acknowledge Authority, it’s deeper than you think: I’ll Prove It: “…JESUS came to them and SAID, “ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME” (Matthew 28:18 NIV). So, when you think you’re just ignoring the authority of earthly rulers, you are in fact IGNORING THE AUTHORITY OF THE ONLY ONE WITH TOTAL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND EARTH! IGNORING EARTHLY AUTHORITY, IS EQUAL TO IGNORING JESUS’ AUTHORITY! And maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think you want that to be the description of your lifestyle as a believer! The Bible says: “…rebellion is as the sin of WITCHCRAFT…” (1 Samuel 15:23 AMP). And what does that same Bible say about witchcraft? “But I will tell you what will happen to cowards and to everyone who is unfaithful or dirty-minded or who murders or is sexually immoral OR USES WITCHCRAFT or worships idols or tells lies. THEY WILL BE THROWN INTO THAT LAKE OF FIRE AND BURNING SULFUR…” (Revelation 21:8 CEV). Again, maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think you want that to be the closing chapter of your life’s story!

Amazingly, “Diotrephes” STILL MANAGES TO GET WORSE! He is also known as one who: “…REFUSES TO ACCEPT…SUGGESTIONS…” {3 John 1:9 AMP} Another individual type that is difficult to work with is the one that “…REFUSES TO ACCEPT…SUGGESTIONS…”! I know this may be a severe shock to some folks systems…but…YOU DON’T KNOW EVERYTHING! Want proof? Just ask some folks for their suggestions on any given topic! You’ll be amazed at how much you didn’t know, that you didn’t know! It doesn’t even matter if something is running smoothly, suggestions should always be welcomed, no matter what! Listen, a “suggestion” is merely: “an idea or plan put forward for CONSIDERATION.” That’s it! No need to panic! No one is attempting to turn your whole world upside down! It just means your thoughts are as important as mine. And you’ll be amazed at how much that means to people (Leaders, Give it a Shot)! Oftentimes, people don’t even want to change something, they just want you to hear their ideas about change! “Many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request.” (Phillip Stanhope) The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” (Proverbs 29:18). Another version puts it like this: “If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; but when they attend what he reveals, they are most blessed.” (MSG). Take time to see the revelations from God that He has granted unto OTHERS, you just may stop stumbling all over YOURSELF!

Believe it or not, “Diotrephes”, HAS YET ANOTHER FLAW, he: “…REFUSES…TO LISTEN…” {3 John 1:9 AMP} The Word of God has given us clear instructions on this matter: “Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [A READY LISTENER], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.” (James 1:19 AMP) Now for some Wisdom concerning LISTENING the Bible says this: “…LISTEN for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go…” (Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG); “…pay close attention to…my wisdom; LISTEN very closely to the way I see it. Then you’ll acquire a taste for good sense; what I tell you will keep you out of trouble.” (Proverbs 5:1 MSG); “…LISTEN closely; don’t treat my words casually…” (Proverbs 5:7 MSG); “…LISTEN to me, take these words of mine most seriously…” (Proverbs 7:24 MSG). And my personal favorite: “Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling? Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice? She’s taken her stand at First and Main, at the busiest intersection. Right in the city square where the traffic is thickest, she shouts, “You—I’m talking to all of you, everyone out here on the streets! LISTEN, you idiots—learn good sense! You blockheads—shape up! Don’t miss a word of this—I’m telling you how to live well, I’m telling you how to live at your best. My mouth chews and savors and relishes truth—I can’t stand the taste of evil! You’ll only hear true and right words from my mouth; not one syllable will be twisted or skewed.” (Proverbs 8:1-3 MSG). People of God, learn how to LISTEN, especially for WISDOM, it will aid you in making wise decisions! If you are around the people, never forget the people have a VOICE that needs to be heard, JUST LIKE YOURS! REMEMBER: “Big egos have little ears.” (Robert Schuller). SO UNTIL YOU’VE LEARNED HOW TO LISTEN MUCH, YOU DON’T HAVE MUCH TO SAY WORTH LISTENING TO! 

It is my hearts desire that the Church receives deliverance, immediately, from the Spirit of Diotrephes! The healing that would take place in the Body of Christ would restore to perfect health our ability to lead effectively, properly acknowledge authority, clear up impaired vision from lack of accepting suggestions, and heal the hearts cry of the unheard!

I’ll leave you with a scripture that I believe to be quite befitting: “When the city came into view, He wept over it. “If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. ALL THIS BECAUSE YOU DIDN’T RECOGNIZE AND WELCOME GOD’S PERSONAL VISIT” (Luke 19:43-45 MSG).

Church, God is personally visiting us today through this devotional and warning us to recognize the Spirit of Diotrephes that’s dwelling in our midst. It’s time for the church to improve its’ leadership and its’ followship! Remember, the world is watching US! Therefore, the Spirit of Diotrephes Must Die!

Check in Tomorrow for Part II!

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #ShareTheWord

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“I Refuse to Shut-Up!”

Acts 4:15-17, “They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: “What can we do with these men? By now it’s known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn’t go any further, LET’S SILENCE THEM with threats so they won’t dare to use Jesus’ name ever again with anyone.” (MSG)

Now, I’m no fan of flying, however my friend Jeff is. And if it’s one thing you can just about guarantee about Jeff is the fact that his sons are almost always with him in his travels. Particularly during the summer months and when the kids are out of school around the holidays. In a nutshell, when Jeff goes up in the air, his boys go right along with him. So, needless to say, Jeff has no fears or issues with flying. However, he did have at least one occasion of fear that he remembers vividly. You see, one of his more anxious moments related to air travel, actually had nothing to do with an airplane. It had to do with his two sons, who at the time were pretty young. They were going through the security checkpoint on the way to their gate, and all of a sudden his sons started joking about the one word you don’t mention at airport security.

Yeah, they started joking about bombs. Now, that word isn’t allowed around airport people, so Jeff quickly quieted down his boys informing them, “Guys, that is one word you do not say at the airport, ever!” Naturally, as most parents do, Jeff began to look around real quick to see if anybody had heard his boys use the one word no one uses at the airport. In a big relief for him, thank goodness they hadn’t. Jeff made me laugh when he said, “if you’ve been to an airport, you know there are signs all over the place saying stuff like, ‘any joking about hijacking, or bombs, or explosives will be punished by sharpshooters immediately!” – or at least something along those lines, he remarked. In other words, you simply do not, under any circumstances mention that word or any of those words, no matter what! Why? Because those words represent Something that can destroy Everything!

Which brings us to our text today in Acts chapter 4. We’re reading about a confrontation between the early apostles and the Sanhedrin, the religious ruling group of that day. Here’s what they said to the apostles, “They sent them out of the room so they could work out a plan. They talked it over: “What can we do with these men? By now it’s known all over town that a miracle has occurred, and that they are behind it. There is no way we can refute that. But so that it doesn’t go any further, let’s silence them with threats so they won’t dare to use Jesus’ name ever again with anyone.” (Acts 4:15-17 MSG)

I was talking about airline personnel earlier, and you know that people at an airport don’t want to hear the word “bomb” because a bomb has the power to destroy everything in its path. Well, believe it or not, but the Devil has a word he doesn’t want to hear used either, and it’s, “JESUS”, because of the power of that Name to destroy all his plans! So, for over two thousand years, the Devil has tried to make the Name of Jesus the issue; the dividing point. It was over two thousand years ago when the Sanhedrin said in essence, “You can talk about God, you can talk about religion, you can do anything spiritual, just don’t mention that Name!”

And sadly, that’s still the issue today, isn’t it? Truth is, people don’t mind if you talk about religion, or even God, or the Bible, or morality and spirituality, or family values, or your church, but don’t mention the Name Jesus. And all too often we fall right into the Devil’s trap to censor the name of Jesus in our conversations. We don’t want to be offensive; we don’t want to turn anyone off; we don’t want to sound super-religious. And there’s this little voice that says, “Well, just talk about God. You know, most everybody would accept that.” So, we talk about God in our lives, but we avoid the name of Jesus. Christian musicians will write songs that talk vaguely about HIM with a capitol H, but too often they avoid the Name Jesus, so their music can cross over to the secular world. We no longer sing Gospel music about the salvation, the blood, the cross, the crown of thorns, the nails, the piercing, the death, the resurrection, and the name of Jesus. No, today the church has become quite “inspirational.” If you listen to the music, the prayers or even the lessons and sermons, it’s hard to know exactly who the church is talking, teaching, preaching about, or praying to!

Even Christian leaders try to avoid conflict by watering down the Name of Jesus and instead making statements like: “In His name we pray.” But HIS who? HIM who? Say the Name JESUS!

But Acts 4:11-12 says, “This JESUS is the stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].” (AMP). Salvation is ONLY in the Name of JESUS! Power is ONLY in the Name of JESUS! The Devil knows the power in that Name that’s why he works so hard to muzzle your mouth! People of God, don’t you dare let him do it! The Scripture tells us, “…THERE IS SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE; FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME…” It then goes on to say, “…FOR GOD HAS PROVIDED THE WORLD NO ALTERNATIVE FOR SALVATION…” That word “alternative” is defined as “of one or more things available as another possibility; expressing a choice; offering of options; something that can be chosen instead of something else.” But, when it concerns salvation, there is nothing else available, no other possibility, no other choice or option, and absolutely nothing and no one else you can use instead of, ONLY JESUS! There are no alternatives! So, how can we possibility be silent about the Only Name that brings Salvation, the Name JESUS!

Romans 1:16 says, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation [from His wrath and punishment] to everyone who believes [in CHRIST AS SAVIOR], to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (AMP)

Church, this is where your boldness kicks into high gear! You have nothing to be ashamed of when talking about the Name of JESUS CHRIST! It is your (and everyone else’s) only means of Salvation from eternal death, damnation, condemnation, and hell! So, don’t murmur it, don’t whisper it, don’t utilize politically correct names for Him, His Name is JESUS! And so you have a heads up before December 25^th rolls around, I will not wish anyone a ‘seasons greeting or happy holidays’, it’s MERRY CHRIST-MAS, Whether You Like It or Not! Never Compromise Your Christ for the Acceptable Culture of this World!

I’ve even been with people while witnessing during outreach, and listening to them talk about Jesus, without ever mentioning His Name! How is that even possible? You have to say the Name, because there is no other Name whereby they can be saved, except the Name JESUS! How can you as a believer possibly be ashamed to say the Name JESUS?! After all, it is by the Name JESUS where YOU received salvation, healing, wholeness, peace, joy, unconditional love, restoration, renewal, redemption, justification, righteousness, revival, forgiveness…HOW CAN YOU NOT SAY THE NAME JESUS?!

It is the Name JESUS that kept your marriage together; that brought your children back to their senses; that saved your household; that healed your mother; that delivered your father; that got you that job; that carried you through school…HOW CAN YOU NOT SAY THE NAME JESUS?! When that’s the name that preserved your life even as you slept in the very image of death just on last night. It is the name of Jesus that keeps you breathing and of a sound mind. It is the name of Jesus that took the pills out of your left hand, and the gun out of your right hand. It is the name of Jesus that removed all of the hate, anger, bitterness, resentment, revenge and unforgiveness from your heart when the very ones closest to you betrayed you. It is the name of Jesus that kept the rumors, lies and gossip from ruining your character, reputation and life. How can you be silent about the Name of Jesus when it’s the Only Name that did all of that just for YOU?!

But you see, that’s the 2,000-year-old editor from hell saying, “Edit out Jesus. How dare you mention that Name.” But how did Peter and John feel about that? Let’s see: Acts 4:18-20, “They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. AS FOR US, THERE’S NO QUESTION—WE CAN’T KEEP QUIET ABOUT WHAT WE’VE SEEN AND HEARD.” (MSG)

And truthfully family, neither can we! I mean as you look back over the course of your life, and see what JESUS has brought you through, can you honestly be quiet?! The addictions; the habits; the bad friendships, relationships, marriages; choices; consequences; health challenges; family troubles; financial disasters; loss of employment; repetitive failures…can you look at all of that and still be quiet about the name of Jesus? After all you’ve seen JESUS do for you and your loved ones, after all the praise reports you’ve heard about what He’s done for others, can you really remain quiet about the Name of JESUS?!

Now Peter and John were facing some seriously life or death decisions in mentioning or not mentioning the Name of JESUS. After all, listen to the Bible: “…The religious leaders renewed their threats…” So, their attackers weren’t about to let up on this. They came back at them and renewed their threats. They didn’t come at Peter and John once or twice, but like the subscription to a magazine, they renewed their threat issue before they ever expired! They came at them hard and harsh. They were going to do whatever it took to silence these boys, however, let’s read some more…

The Bible reads, “…but then they released them. They couldn’t come up with a charge that would stick, that would keep them in jail. The people wouldn’t have stood for it—they were all praising God over what had happened. The man who had been miraculously healed was over forty years old.”

Listen church, what you do and what you don’t do, effects more than just you. The people were standing around, they also saw and heard what Peter and John had saw, heard and done. And likewise, people are watching you, listening to you and imitating you. Do you really want to set the example of being a coward for Christ? Your wives are watching and listening; your sons and daughters are watching and listening; your ministries and churches are watching and listening; your schools, jobs, businesses and communities and even the government and your enemies are all watching and listening. And if that’s not enough, the unsaved and even the devil is watching and listening! Don’t Destroy Your Witness By Playing Games With the Name of JESUS! He gave you His blood to wash you clean, don’t insult Him by watering down His name!

Acts 19:13-16, “Some itinerant Jewish exorcists who happened to be in town at the time tried their hand at what they assumed to be Paul’s “game.” They pronounced the name of the Master Jesus over victims of evil spirits, saying, “I command you by the Jesus preached by Paul!” The seven sons of a certain Sceva, a Jewish high priest, were trying to do this on a man when the evil spirit talked back: “I know Jesus and I’ve heard of Paul, but who are you?” Then the possessed man went berserk—jumped the exorcists, beat them up, and tore off their clothes. Naked and bloody, they got away as best they could.” (MSG)

That text opens up with “…Some itinerant Jewish exorcists…” Church, I know we have many itinerant preachers, but please know that the devil also has many itinerant demons! The word ‘itinerant’ is simply defined as ‘to travel from place to place.’ Which is why we have to all the more be sure we’re speaking the name of Jesus and not just about it! Everywhere you travel to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, there’s a demon there with an assignment to fulfill too! He has an itinerary from hell that may be longer than yours, and with a further reach!

Listen to Matthew 12:43-45, “Now when the unclean spirit has gone out of a man, it roams through waterless (dry, arid) places in search of rest, but it does not find it.  Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it arrives, it finds the place unoccupied, swept, and put in order.  Then it goes and brings with it SEVEN OTHER SPIRITS MORE WICKED THAN ITSELF, and they go in and make their home there. And the last condition of that man becomes worse than the first. So will it also be with this wicked generation.” (MSG)

I told you, the devil and his demons have an itinerary too! And it’s to leave people worse than they were before. And the only thing that will make the difference is the Name of Jesus! So you can’t afford to let the devil muzzle your mouth, especially since you need to speak the name of Jesus so those demons will be cast out before they multiply in people’s lives leaving them worse than before!

In addition, you need to make sure you make your own election sure! Don’t play games with the Name of Jesus, even the devil knows that Name and knows His Followers! The real ones! Don’t let the devil embarrass you! Make sure your name comes up on his radar when the Name of Jesus is mentioned! That demon knew Paul’s name just as well as he knew Jesus Name, question is, does he know your name like that? Let the devil know, you know the Name and aren’t afraid to use it either! Don’t let him muzzle your mouth by mumbling some “in His name”, prayer. No, open your mouth and declare “IN JESUS NAME!”

John 14:13-14, “And I will do whatever you ask IN MY NAME [as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son. If you ask Me anything IN MY NAME [as My representative], I will do it.” (AMP)

With a promise like that, how can you possibly be silent about the Name of JESUS?! When IN HIS NAME, if you ask for healing, HE WILL DO IT; IN HIS NAME, if you ask for deliverance, HE WILL DO IT; IN HIS NAME, if you ask for salvation, HE WILL DO IT! IN HIS NAME, if you ask for a blessing, a miracle, a way out, over or through, HE WILL DO IT! IN HIS NAME, if you ask Him for protection, provision, increase, HE WILL DO IT! And what’s the key to access all of this? THE NAME OF JESUS! With a promise like that at your disposal, what will you dare to ask for today, IN THE NAME OF JESUS?!

Remember, there are certain words you don’t say at places like an airport, because those words represent destruction. Well, so does the Name of Jesus in the ears of the Devil! Which is why you need to say His Name Loud and Often! When fear, unbelief, doubt, worry, panic, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, old habits and addictions, rear their ugly head, get right in the devil’s ear and tell them to be cast out IN THE NAME OF JESUS! AND WATCH HIM DO IT!

Now, you would think after dealing with all of that Peter and John might rethink this whole mentioning the Name Jesus thing, but nope that wasn’t the case at all! Listen to the remainder of the chapter:

“As soon as Peter and John were let go, they went to their friends and told them what the high priests and religious leaders had said. Hearing the report, they lifted their voices in a wonderful harmony in prayer: “Strong God, you made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. By the Holy Spirit you spoke through the mouth of your servant and our father, David: Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples? Earth’s leaders push for position, Potentates meet for summit talks, The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers! “For in fact they did meet—Herod and Pontius Pilate with nations and peoples, even Israel itself!—met in this very city to plot against your holy Son Jesus, the One you made Messiah, to carry out the plans you long ago set in motion. “And now they’re at it again! Take care of their threats and give your servants fearless confidence in preaching your Message, as you stretch out your hand to us in healings and miracles and wonders done in the name of your holy servant Jesus.” While they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God’s Word with fearless confidence. The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them. And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person’s need. Joseph, called by the apostles “Barnabas” (which means “Son of Comfort”), a Levite born in Cyprus, sold a field that he owned, brought the money, and made an offering of it to the apostles.” (vss. 23-37 MSG)

Isn’t it amazing what God does through His servants that aren’t afraid to publicly serve Him?! Not only did Peter and John continue to preach in the Name of Jesus, but they were all endowed with power from the Holy Ghost, the other believers joined them in prayer, praise and worship and the furtherance of the Message of Jesus Christ! Even the church grew and there wasn’t a selfish bone in the Body of Christ, for they all met the needs of the entire church! Two men decided to stand by the Name of Jesus, and to mention it out loud! The results was they were blessed, and all the people, and all the church.

People of God, Peter and John have since passed away. However, you are still here! Will you dare to continue their discipleship work and say and share the Name of JESUS?! Or, will you let the devil have the final say as he muzzles your mouth? In the end, the choice is always Yours!

My Choice is That I Refuse to Shut Up About the Name of Jesus Christ! I Will Not Keep Silent! How About You?

“To holy people the very name of Jesus is a name to feed upon, a name to transport. His name can raise the dead and transfigure and beautify the living.” (John Henry Newman)

“There is power in simply speaking the name of Jesus.” (Lysa TerKeurst)

“The secret to doing all things in Jesus’ name is realizing I can no longer do them in mine.”

“Do you realize just how much power is in the name of Jesus? When you speak it, demons have to flee! You have that access! Use it!” (Isaac Pittman)

“Calling on the name of Jesus shouldn’t be our last resort. It should be our first response.” (Lysa Terkeurst)

“Begging in the Name of Jesus is an insult to His Name. Use His Name as a king, with boldness!” (Chris Oyakhilome)

“How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear. It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear.” (John Newton)

“Hope is in the Name of God, the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hope is when you compare your suffering to the infinite, immeasurable love and grace of God.” (Nick Vujicic)

“Grace is a Person. And His Name is Jesus.” (Judah Smith)

“What a beautiful Name. I love to watch how it falls off the lips of those who love Him. I shudder as it falls off the lips of those who don’t. Jesus.” (Beth Moore)

“I am not going to apologize for speaking the Name of Jesus, I am not going to justify my faith to them, and I am not going to hide the light that God has put in me. If I have to sacrifice everything…I will.” (Rachel Scott)

“The Blood of Jesus Washes Away Our Past and the Name of Jesus Opens Up Our Future.” (Jesse Duplantis)

“One thing is clear, demons know they must submit to the Superior Authority in the Name of Jesus Christ.”

“So many roads. So many detours. So many choices. But only one way, JESUS.” (Daystar)

“I can think of no other time in history where the Name of Jesus has been so frequently mentioned and the content of His life and teaching so thoroughly ignored.” (Brennan Manning)

“Our power is not our talent, it’s not our ability, it’s not our words, it’s not our music, it’s not our singing, it’s not our buildings; the power behind us is that we have a revelation of the Name of Jesus.” (Jack Cunningham)

“Sickness, Chains, and Bondage Don’t Stand a Chance in the Face of the Name of Jesus!” (Raymond Woodward)

“Demons don’t move because we complain. They move because we speak the Name of Jesus.” (Mike Bickle)

“Nothing hurts the devil more than a lost soul that suddenly becomes saved in the Name of Jesus.” (Lee Stoneking)

“Prayer is repeating the Victor’s Name, Jesus, into the ears of Satan and insisting on his retreat.” (S.D. Gordon)

“When you say the Name of Jesus you’ve said it all! In Him is the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily.” (Terry Shock)

“We have a responsibility to share the Name of Jesus with the whole world.” (Wayne Huntley)

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #ShareTheWord

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“THE DANGER OF LEADING WHILE SLEEPING”

 “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up…” (1 Peter 5:8 MSG). 

In the newspaper, the following story was shared: “The power was out this morning when some of our neighbors woke up. In fact, several hundred customers were without electricity. Now, it wasn’t the power company’s fault. It was the fault of a driver who ran his car into an electricity pole. Oh, not on purpose, of course. See it was a grandfather returning from an all-night hunting expedition with his grandson. Unfortunately, his body didn’t want to wait until it got home to fall asleep. So, the driver fell asleep at the wheel. And what were the results of this dangerous nap? He was injured, his grandson was hurt, the car was totaled, and lots of folks had no power.”              

It’s never good for the person who’s driving, to fall asleep at the wheel, whether it’s someone driving a car, a family, a business, an organization, a ministry or church. When you’re supposed to be driving and you’re sleeping instead, people can get hurt, damage can be done, and lives can be disrupted and destroyed! We often talk about the definition of a Great Leader, well today we’ll look at the definition of a Poor Leader. The word “Leader” in its simplest form means “a person that leads.” The word “Poor” in its simplest form means “deficient of desirable ingredients and qualities, such as lack of skill, ability, or training.” If you combine the two you get something like this: “A Poor Leader is a person in a leadership role that lacks the essential ingredients and qualities of skill, ability, and training which are vital to producing overall greatness in both themselves as leaders and their following.” In a nutshell, a poor leader is the equivalent to a pastor driving the church van, fully loaded with his congregation, while fast asleep! The only greatness he’ll produce is great hurt, great damage and lives greatly destroyed!              

Whether you realize it or not, you may very well be in the driver’s seat. You certainly are responsible for the wheel if you have children, a spouse, employees, or people looking to you in a church leadership position, or if you’re in a place of responsibility or influence in business. Therefore, you can’t afford to fall asleep at the wheel!  

“When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.” (Matthew 26:40 MSG). Apparently, Jesus didn’t care much for sleepy leadership either! You see one of the dangers of sleeping leadership is that they’re not alert to the need for prayer, especially in times of crisis.

Leaders, you can’t sleep when your intercession is needed in the hospital; with the sick and shut in; in the homeless shelter; at the soup kitchen; in the nursing home; in hospice; on the operating table; in the emergency room; behind prison walls; during chemo, radiation and dialysis treatments; in rehab; in the crack house; in the bar; with that person who’s ready to commit suicide any minute now; or with that man sleeping under the bridge or that woman riding the train with her children because she has nowhere else to go.

Leaders, you can’t sleep when your congregation is depending on you to make petitions to God on their behalf. Someone’s children are at stake; someone’s marriage is at stake; someone’s job is at stake; someone’s health is at stake; someone’s mortgage is at stake.

Leaders, you can’t sleep when your family is expecting you to make supplications that will send cancer into remission; dry up cysts and tumors; that will destroy generational curses; that will change diagnosis; regulate blood pressure and blood glucose levels.

Leaders, you can’t lead while sleeping and expect all those following you to make it safely to their destination in God! And what’s worse is that Peter and the crew couldn’t even sit up in prayer for one single hour. Sounds a lot like today’s prayer night in church! It’s hard to get just a handful of folks in prayer for one single hour, yet on Sunday morning when it’s time for their titles, positions, pulpit performance and glowing white robes to shine, they are every present! The text says they were “…sound asleep…” meaning they were knocked out! Even in a time of crisis, their spiritual radar detected nothing! And Jesus even lets them know that the whole purpose is so they don’t encounter temptation with its dangers. Prayer is designed to protect us, but how can you receive a protection you don’t even have sense enough to pray for?!

Leaders, I cannot stress this enough, you need to be alert to the necessity of prayer! It will save your life and those attached to you! But you can’t pray while you’re simultaneously sound asleep! 

In Ezekiel 34, beginning in verse 2, God reveals how He feels about those who have leadership, but who are neglecting the people they should be caring for. The “driver” in this case is described as a “shepherd” – those who should have been leading God’s people. What God says about them all too often applies to some of us who should be shepherding the lives that He’s entrusted to us.              

Here’s what God says, “God’s Message came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherd-leaders of Israel. Yes, prophesy! Tell those shepherds, ‘God, the Master, says: Doom to you shepherds of Israel, feeding your own mouths! Aren’t shepherds supposed to feed sheep? You drink the milk, you make clothes from the wool, you roast the lambs, but you don’t feed the sheep. You don’t build up the weak ones, don’t heal the sick, don’t doctor the injured, don’t go after the strays, don’t look for the lost. You bully and badger them. And now they’re scattered every which way because there was no shepherd—scattered and easy pickings for wolves and coyotes. Scattered—My Sheep! – exposed and vulnerable across mountains and hills. My Sheep scattered all over the world, and no one out looking for them!” (Ezekiel 34:1-6 MSG). 

I think it’s pretty fair for us to assume from this that God is watching how you’re caring for the people that He’s entrusted to you likewise! His great love for His Sheep THEN, is the same for His sheep NOW! “…the Father…does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV). If the shepherd-leaders were rebuked then by the Great Shepherd for how they damaged the sheep, the same will transpire today because: “…He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8 CEV).

Therefore, you should lead in a manner that will cause you to hear “well done”, not “woe”!               

These shepherd-leaders were rebuked because they were Leading While Sleeping! Their followers were hungry, naked, weak, sick, injured, straying, lost, bullied, badgered, scattered and made into dinner for their enemies! If a survey was done of your congregation, how many of these traits would be found amongst your sheep?  

In addition, too many shepherd-leaders are far too busy! It’s easy to be off conquering the world somewhere, totally oblivious to the tragedy of everything falling apart back at home base! I am indeed an advocate for evangelism and outreach, but anyone who invites people over to their home should first make sure that the house is clean and in order, positioned to be found acceptable to receive guests! I mean there’s simply no point to catching new fish, when the ones you’ve already caught are at home, unclean, unprepared and stinking up the house! You can be so immersed in the pursuit of your agenda and your goals (maybe even noble ones) that you can entirely miss or entirely ignore what’s happening to the people that you’re supposed to be giving direction to! Until one day there’s an explosion, a disaster, a breakdown, or it just runs into an electricity pole! The car hits a wall, you’re injured, there’s damage, or the lights are going out for some people who really need you! One of the most difficult tasks to any overseer is to govern others homes while still guarding your own! Yes, you’re keeping wolves out of the congregation of other churches, but you’re so exhausted, your eyes can no longer see the wolves in sheep clothing in your own flock!              

Whether you are leading your family, company, ministry or church, you need to follow the leadership advice of the Word of God: “Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.” (1 Corinthians 16:13 MSG); “Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up…” (1 Peter 5:8 MSG).              

The book of Proverbs says that “a king must give constant attention to those who are under him for the crown is not forever“, it goes on to say, “do not forget to give attention to your herds.” That could be a family; that can be people you minister to. It is people over whom you have influence or leadership and it’s so important that you stay alert to their needs on the way to that goal that you’re headed for. It’s time to wake up to the needs that you’ve been neglecting, to the silent or maybe not-so-silent cries of the people who need you. You’ve got to wake up before there’s a crash!  Why? In the opening story, the driver fell asleep and hit a pole, and power was lost to many! Shepherd-Leaders, when you fall asleep behind the wheel and crash, people with you are damaged, some beyond repair, and others who were simply around you, lose power (and often it takes a long time to restore the power)! Maybe healing and deliverance has not been seen in your house because you’ve fallen asleep, crashed and the people have lost power; maybe children are straying and marriages are failing in your house because you’ve fallen asleep, crashed and the people have lost power; maybe hope is fading and faith is wavering in your house because you’ve fallen asleep, crashed and the people have lost power; maybe the prayers have lost their fervency and the praise has been put on pause in your house because you’ve fallen asleep, crashed and the people have lost power; maybe the preaching has become performing and the teaching tedious in your house because you’ve fallen asleep, crashed and the people have lost power!   

When you Lead While Sleeping, it’s the equivalent to cutting the claws off an animal! You take away their ability to defend themselves against enemy attack! Wake Up! Those you’re leading are losing power! And in this day and time, the last thing the church needs to lose is power!

Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. The Amplified Bible says it like this: “Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.” (AMP)  

The Church is Powerful, But NOT When “…The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you NAPPING…” (1 Peter 5:8 MSG).

Think about it, the term ‘power down’ is defined as, ‘to shut down (ex: a computer system) in a methodical way, concluding by switching the power off. A term that describes the act of closing all of the applications that are running, and then cutting power along with all other devices connected to it.’ As leaders, when we’re caught sleeping while leading, we have powered-down, we’ve switched off our power, ceased all that keeps running and we’ve not only cut our own power but that of all those connected to us! We cannot afford to lose power when lives, souls and eternity is at stake! We have to be fully alert; awake; sharp; and engaged in warfare if we’re to win! Wake up church, the devil is playing for keeps, so keep your eyes open! 

Ephesians 6:13-18, “Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.” (MSG)    

Church, we can’t sleep now, especially since we know not the hour in which our Savior will return!

Matthew 24:30-36, “Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he’ll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God’s chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole. “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer’s just around the corner. So it is with you: When you see all these things, you’ll know he’s at the door. Don’t take this lightly. I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out. “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.” (MSG)

No More Leading While Sleeping, Souls Depending On Us Church to Be Fully Alert and Engaged in the Preparation for the Return of Our King! If We’re Sleeping, Many Will Open Their Eyes in Hell and it Will Be Our Fault for Sleeping On the Job! These are the End Times; These are the Last Days; Therefore, Let’s Watch As Well As Pray!

Luke 21:34-36, “But be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it’s going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. SO, WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T GO TO SLEEP AT THE SWITCH. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that’s coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man.” (MSG) 

SAINTS, DON’T GO TO SLEEP AT THE SWITCH! 

Matthew 24:39-44, “The Son of Man’s Arrival will be like that: Two men will be working in the field—one will be taken, one left behind; two women will be grinding at the mill—one will be taken, one left behind. SO STAY AWAKE, ALERT. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up.” (MSG) 

It’s vital that we as leaders are awake, alert, engaged and empowered, but don’t forget, every believer is a leader! You lead in your home, your church, your business, your school, your community etc…so ALL of US are admonished to KEEP OUR EYES OPEN AND OUR POWER ON!              

“Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ. WAKE UP FROM YOUR SLEEP, Climb out of your coffins; Christ will show you the light! So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!” (Ephesians 5:11 MSG).

Church, it’s time we realized that we’re living in desperate times! There are those who have heard the gospel, received it and fallen back to their old lives. They are depending on us to help them make it back in time back to the side of righteousness and holiness. We can’t fall asleep now. Many are depending on us to hold our ground so we can help them to get back on their feet. There are those who have never heard the gospel and therefore, they need us awake and alert to share the good news about the gospel of our Living Lord Jesus Christ, before He returns!  There are those who have heard but they’re struggling with straddling the fence between unbelief and faith, they’re depending on us for clarity, character and consistency. Their souls are at stake, we can’t sleep now! 

Remember, Satan is waiting for the church to take a nap, so as a hungry lion ready to pounce and devour, he can destroy us. Church, we have too much power to allow that to happen. Remember Jesus told His disciples that we’ve all been given power and authority over all the power and authority of Satan, now, let’s act like we know what we possess! 

“But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. SO LET’S NOT SLEEPWALK THROUGH LIFE LIKE THOSE OTHERS. LET’S KEEP OUR EYES OPEN AND BE SMART. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. BUT NOT US! Since we’re creatures of Day, LET’S ACT LIKE IT. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4 MSG). 

Church, this is our wake-up call! No more leading while sleeping, crashing and causing the church to lose power! Remember, power is the gift the Holy Spirit granted to each of us! Acts 1:8, “But you will receive POWER AND ABILITY when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.” (AMP)  

We have received power and ability and it’s to share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with as many people as we can from the four corners of this earth! But that’s impossible to do while sleeping! So, I charge and challenge you today, as a leader and as a laity, as long as you’re a believer, WAKE UP AND STAY ALERT, His return is sure and soon…don’t sleep and miss it! And don’t let the devil catch you napping, it will give him his desired foot-hole to devour you and all attached to you! 

In these perilous times, we the church, cannot afford to be without power!

2 Timothy 3:1-5, “But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear].  For people will be lovers of self [narcissistic, self-focused], lovers of money [impelled by greed], boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane,  [and they will be] unloving [devoid of natural human affection, calloused and inhumane], irreconcilable, malicious gossips, devoid of self-control [intemperate, immoral], brutal, haters of good,  traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of [sensual] pleasure rather than lovers of God, HOLDING TO A FORM OF [OUTWARD] GODLINESS (RELIGION), ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE DENIED ITS POWER [FOR THEIR CONDUCT NULLIFIES THEIR CLAIM OF FAITH]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.” (AMP) 

CHURCH, THIS IS DESCRIPTIVE OF THE TIMES, BUT LET IT NOT BE DESCRIPTIVE OF THE CHURCH! LET US NOT DENY THE POWER OF GOD BY OUR CONDUCT! LET’S BE EXAMPLES OF THE POWER OF GOD BY OUR CONDUCT!  

“The church should be setting the pace. The church should be taking its proper place of leadership in the nation. God help the church to wake up!” (Billy Graham)

“If John the Baptist came back today, he would not be a voice crying in the Wilderness, but a voice crying in the Church!” (Ravenhill)

“Wake up Church! Toleration is Compromise; Ignorance is Complicity; and Inaction is Approval!” (Author Unknown)

“A lukewarm message may draw many people to your entertainment driven church, but never to the uncompromised Christ.” (Author Unknown)

“We live in a time where Satan doesn’t even hide anymore, and the Church still doesn’t see him” (Author Unknown)

“The modern Church is asleep in sin and nothing but a loud voice of persecution will awaken her.” (Author Unknown)

“It is the devil’s desire that the Lord’s priesthood stay asleep.” (Ezra Taft Benson)

“The Church of Jesus Christ is largely sleeping, like a great bedroom and you have all the Christians in bed and they’re all sleeping and they’re saying ‘please, don’t wake me up.’” (Ian Paisley)

“Another thing I liked about my dad at church; he did his sleeping at home. He never used the church as an adult nursery.” (Vance Havner)

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #ShareTheWord

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“Leadership Must Be TESTED, Not Just TITLED!”

“TEST ME, O Lord…Examine my heart and my mind.” (Psalm 26:2)               

Tests are Designed to Reveal and Validate What You’ve Learned. Therefore, Until You’ve Been Tested, You Really Don’t Know What You Know—and More Importantly, WHAT YOU DON’T! Tests are Opportunities to Prove Your Growth, Maturity, Obedience, Discipline, Faithfulness and Potential!

So remember the following in times of TESTING: 

1…YOU’LL EXPERIENCE TESTS AT EACH STAGE OF YOUR GROWTH: Just like children in school, they don’t get to take an ELEMENTARY EXAM, pass, go to JUNIOR HIGH and say, “I took a test in 6th grade, I don’t need to take this one!” NO! AT EACH STAGE A TEST, THAT FITS THAT STAGE AND PREPARES YOU FOR THE NEXT, HAS TO BE TAKEN AND PASSED, IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE PROMOTED AND ELEVATED…DESERVINGLY! In a Nutshell: You Can’t Prepare For College, Based Off a 6th Grade Exam, Even If You Passed it at the Top of Your Class! It Still Doesn’t Count! Likewise the Test You Passed as a Minister Doesn’t Qualify You for Eldership. Nor does the Test You Passed as an Elder Qualify You For Pastoralship! Neither Does Your Physical, Mental, Emotional, Financial, Psychological, Social or Spiritual Tests That You Passed In 1999 Mean Anything in 2019! So, Stop Whining and Crying, and Instead Buckle Down and Prepare to Pass Your Test Knowing that Tests Are Only Given When There’s Potential Proof that You’ve Outgrown Your Current Placement!

2…YOUR GOAL SHOULD ALWAYS BE TO PASS THE TEST, OTHERWISE, YOU GET TO TAKE IT REPETITIVELY UNTIL YOU DO: You Do Not Get the Opportunity to Fail Your Test and Pass On to the Next Level Anyhow…(Despite What You See In Our Public School Systems and Church Leadership Today)! Now, if You Fail It’s Alright, Because if the Truth Be Told, We Have ALL Failed on One Test or Another! HOWEVER, As Soon As You Fail, At Least Be Smart Enough to HIT THE BOOKS AGAIN (the Word of God), MEET WITH YOUR TUTOR (the Holy Spirit), STUDY (2 Timothy 2:15), and then Reschedule to Take Your Test AGAIN! You may Fall Down, but Each Time You Get Back Up, POINTS ARE ADDED TO YOUR GRADE! YES, YOU GET BONUS POINTS FOR GETTING BACK UP! Extra Work Earns Extra Credit! Bottom line, You Don’t Get to Go to the Next Level, Without Passing What You’ve Failed! And if you are in the UNFORTUNATE position of being under a LEADER who will pass you anyway (based on how you treat them, your attendance, your gifts, charisma, tithes and offering etc…), HAVE ENOUGH SENSE TO NOT ALLOW IT! IN THE END, YOU WILL ONLY SET YOURSELF UP FOR A FOOLISH AND FATAL HARD FALL! Think about it: Would you allow someone to pass you to Advanced Algebra WHILE YOU’RE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE TIME TABLE CHART IN THE BACK OF YOUR COMPOSITION NOTEBOOK!? NO! WHY? BECAUSE YOU’LL ONLY FAIL, AND LOOK FOOLISH WHILE DOING IT! LIKEWISE, MAKE SURE YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT GRADE, TAKING AND PASSING THE RIGHT TESTS, AT THE RIGHT TIME! DON’T BE QUICK TO MOVE UNTIL YOU’RE QUALIFIED!

3…TESTING ALWAYS PRECEDES PROMOTION: Actually, it PREPARES You For It and PROVES You’re Ready to Handle It! If You Cheat, or Try to Copy Somebody Else’s Answers, You May Temporarily Seem to Succeed. But Eventually Time and Circumstances Will Reveal You For What You Are—Which Is Someone Who Can’t Handle What They Manipulated Their Way Into Getting! Here’s Biblical Proof: “Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but Who Are You?” Then the man with the evil spirit Leaped On Them, Overpowered Them, and Attacked Them With Such Violence that They Fled From the House, Naked and Battered.” (Acts 19:14-16 NLT). People of God, Pass Your Test Before Attempting to Pass Out Ministry Cards! If Not, You’ll Quickly Find Yourself Being the “Eighth Son of Sceva!”

4…SELF-PROMOTION CAN NEVER REPLACE DIVINE PROMOTION: So, Don’t Attempt to Rush Ahead of God’s Plans; Wait and Allow Him to Open the Door In the Right Season! Look at it this way: Even after a child passes their exam, all their paperwork has to be Looked Over, Graded and Accounted For! What They’ve Done Throughout the Year Has to Be Reviewed. What were All of Their Test Scores? How did they handle Their Projects? Were they Late? How many times were they Absent? How well did they work with their classmates? Likewise, God Will Examine and Evaluate Your FULL FILE, to Determine Whether or Not You’re Ready for the Next Level. And just because you passed ‘A’ Test, Don’t Mean You’re Ready to Pass the ‘GRADE’! “But God hasn’t moved to the mountains; his holy address hasn’t changed. He’s in charge, as always, his eyes taking everything in, his eyelids Unblinking, Examining Adam’s Unruly Brood Inside and Out, Not Missing a Thing. He Tests the Good and the Bad Alike; If Anyone Cheats, God’s Outraged. Fail the Test and You’re Out, Out in a Hail of Firestones, Drinking From a Canteen Filled With Hot Desert Wind.” (Psalm 11:4-6 MSG). Saints, God Will Exam You Inside and Out, Test You, Watch If You Cheat and Give You the Boot if You Fail!  You May Impress People, But God On The Other Hand Is Not Impressed At All! Therefore, Don’t Get Caught Up In the “Laying On of MAN’S Hands”! It Means Nothing Compared to the Laying On of GOD’S HANDS AND HIS COMMISSIONING!

5…A PRODUCT CANNOT BE SAFELY AND PROFITABLY USED, UNTIL IT’S BEEN THOROUGHLY TESTED, AND NEITHER CAN YOU! God’s Not a Hard-Hearted Parent Who Enjoys Seeing His Children Struggle Through Life’s Tests. If He were to visit you in person, He’d probably say: “I don’t enjoy making you go through this, but it’s the only way to prove you’re ready for what’s ahead. Before I can use you greatly—I must test you thoroughly!” Here’s a tip for your next test – Generally, God’s Tests for Elevation are Based On Your CHARACTER! And like any Good Actor in a stage play, Your Job is to “STAY IN CHARACTER!” Regardless of what anyone else does, FOLLOW GOD’S SCRIPT FOR YOUR LIFE! I understand everybody’s becoming a Pastor, Bishop, Apostle, Overseer, Prophet, etc…OVERNIGHT WITHOUT QUALIFICATION, CREDENTIALS, CALLING OR CHARACTER…HOWEVER, DON’T YOU DO IT! “…These were Asher’s sons, all of them Responsible, Excellent in CHARACTER, and Brave in Battle—Good Leaders…” (1 Chronicles 7:33-40 MSG); “Be Wary of False Preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t Be Impressed With Charisma; Look For CHARACTER. Who Preachers Are Is The Main Thing, Not What They Say. A Genuine Leader Will Never Exploit Your Emotions or Your Pocketbook. These Diseased Trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.” (Matthew 7:15-20 MSG); “There was a Man by the Name of Joseph, a member of the Jewish High Council, a Man of Good Heart and Good CHARACTER…” (Luke 23:50 MSG); “So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with Good CHARACTER, Spiritual Understanding, Alert Discipline, Passionate Patience, Reverent Wonder, Warm Friendliness, and Generous Love, Each Dimension Fitting Into and Developing the Others. With these Qualities Active and Growing In Your Lives, No Grass Will Grow Under Your Feet, No Day Will Pass Without Its Reward As You Mature In Your Experience of Our Master Jesus. Without These Qualities You Can’t See What’s Right Before You, Oblivious That Your Old Sinful Life Has Been Wiped Off The Books.” (2 Peter 1:5-9 MSG). People of God, You Will Never Be Used Greatly, Until You’ve Been Tested Thoroughly! And Your Testing Will Be Largely On the Maintenance of Your CHARACTER! Therefore, Possess Good Character, and You Won’t Have To Pray God Grades On A Curve!

If You’re On the Verge of Elevation, then You should be Real Uncomfortable Right About Now! You should feel the Squeezing and the Pressures of Preparing for and Taking God’s Exam! Truth Is: Growth and Maturity Means there’s some Stretching and Expanding! In other words, things are Getting Bigger! Just like in the natural your feet and hands get larger, you get taller, your body develops those things that were once hidden, and brings them to the surface. Likewise, in the Spirit, when You’re Growing and Maturing, Your Faith is Stretched, Your Humility is Increased, Your Accountability is More Severe, Your Responsibility is Expanded, Your Prayers are More Fervent, Your Fasting Becomes More Frequent, Your Studies Become More In Depth. Growth, Maturity and Elevation Are Some Great, Big Blessings, However, They Do Not Come Easily or Comfortably! So, if You’re on the Verge of Elevation and the Weight is becoming Heavier, that’s a Pretty Good Sign that You’re on your way to an A+ On Your Test! On the Other Hand, if You’re on the Verge of Elevation, and All is Smooth Sailing, I’m No Guidance Counselor, but I’d Advise You to Keep All Your Books From this Current Grade! Why? Because I Got a Feeling You’re Going to Need ’em…Again!

“TEST ME, O Lord…Examine my heart and my mind.” (Psalm 26:2)

                 Let’s look at some of the TESTS God Uses to DEVELOP Us: 

1…THE TEST OF SMALL THINGS: This TEST comes when we’re asked to do something We Consider to be BENEATH OUR ABILITY AND POTENTIAL. It Proves how Faithful we are to Our Commitments. It also Reveals whether or not we’re Ready for Greater Responsibilities. Jesus said, “Whoever can be Trusted with VERY LITTLE can also be Trusted with VERY MUCH” (Luke 16:10). You Don’t get to Oversee Much Until You’re Willing to Undertake Little! In other words, if you can be an Elder and still clean the church bathroom, you can be trusted with More! If you can be the Women’s Ministry Director, and serve food at a women’s shelter, you can be trusted with More! If you can be the Chairman Deacon and still mop up a spill in the vestibule, you can be trusted with More! If you can be the Minister of Music, and play no different in front of 2 people than you would 2,000, you can be trusted with More! If you can be the Dean of the Christian Education Ministry and not get an attitude when asked to teach 3 four year olds a Sunday School lesson, you can be trusted with More! Are You Starting to Get the Picture? Can You See It Clearly? You Don’t Get Anything Big Until You Can Be Faithful Over the Small You’ve Already Been Given! If your Pastor was asked if you qualify for More, based off this little summary, would he/she give you a yes or a no? An A+ or an F-?

2…THE MOTIVE TEST: This TEST comes to us when we’re doing all the right things—BUT NOT NECESSARILY FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS! For example, it’s right to Pray. YET Jesus Warned: “When you Pray, DO NOT BE LIKE THE HYPOCRITES, FOR THEY LOVE…TO BE SEEN BY MEN” (Matthew 6:5) That’s why we need the mirror of God’s Word: “For the Word of God is…able to JUDGE THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTIONS OF THE HEART.” (Hebrews 4:12) When you stand before Christ to be evaluated and rewarded, the question will Not only be, ‘WHAT did you do,’ but also, ‘WHY did you do it?’ A good question that Pastors should ask of their leaders a little more often than most do.

3…THE STEWARDSHIP TEST: Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you.” (Luke 6:38). Only when your Empty Hand is Open, can you Receive More From God. The Practice of Giving on a Regular Basis Prevents You from Being Owned By What You Own! Money is called Currency because it’s supposed to Flow Through You Into the Lives of Others! Abraham Was Blessed For the Sole Purpose To Be a Blessing! So Are You! When you Withhold out of Fear or Greed, you Limit what God Wants to Give You. So become a River (one that flows), Not a Reservoir (one that withholds)!

4…THE WILDERNESS TEST: This test comes when we feel Spiritually Dry and our joy level is Low. It Reveals Our Ability to Adapt to Adversity and Change, and as a Result, Enter a New level of Growth! It Proves We’re Able to Perform Even When Life and Ministry Aren’t Fun. “He led you through the vast and dreadful desert…To…TEST You So…In the End it Might Go Well With You.” (Deuteronomy 8:15-16). Remember: Short-term pain, Long-term gain! You Don’t Get to Inherit the Wealthy Place Until You Can Endure the Wilderness!

5…THE CREDIBILITY TEST: Nothing matters more than your Confidence Before God—and Your Credibility Before People! When Lot tried to rescue his sons-in-law from the destruction of Sodom: The Bible says, “He seemed as one that mocked.” (Genesis 19:14) As a result he Lost Credibility When it Mattered Most! Make Sure You Don’t! The Last thing You want is to tell people in a Burning Building where the Exit is, But They Don’t Believe You, So They Don’t Listen to You or Follow You! When You Lose Credibility, You Lose Lives!

6…THE AUTHORITY TEST: Before Paul took the Gospel to the Gentiles he First went to Jerusalem and Submitted His Plan to the Apostles, Asking For Their Blessing. There wasn’t a “Nobody is going to tell me what to do” Attitude! When You Fail to Submit, You Forfeit Your Opportunity to Pass On to the Next Level! Look at it this way: God placed David under a Flawed Leader named Saul that wanted to Kill Him! Proving you can Learn As Much From the Mistakes of a Failure As You Can From the Achievement of a Success! Because David Submitted, He Qualified to Sit on Saul’s Throne! An Effective Follower Becomes an Effective Leader!

7…THE OFFENCE TEST: Jesus said, “Offences Will Come.” (Luke 17:1) So Be Ready! Those who Lead Always Take the Brunt of It! The Front Line is No Place for the Weak-Willed or Weak-Kneed! So, When Offences come are you going to: Get Mad and Get Nowhere; Get Even and Get in Trouble; Or Get Over It By Forgiving? “If you hold anything against anyone, Forgive Him, So…Your Father In Heaven May Forgive…Your Sins.” (Mark 11:25). If You Can’t Handle Offence You Can’t Handle the Opportunity of More!

8…THE WARFARE TEST: This test is for those who Claim to be Strong in Faith, but Prove to be Weak in Fight! “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, Though that was Shorter. For God said, ‘If They Face War, They Might Change Their Minds and Return to Egypt.’” (Exodus 13:17). Now, you Haven’t been called to be Insensitive and Abrasive, But if Your Destiny Is Worth Pursuing—It’s Worth Fighting For! So, Toughen Up! It’s a Battlefield, Not a Bed of Roses! You must Engage the Enemy Daily Using Every Spiritual Weapon at Your Disposal! If Not, He’ll Steal, Kill and Destroy You! This test Demonstrates Your Ability to Continue in Your Vision, Even While Experiencing Disappointment and Opposition! So remember, the Level of Attack is the Best Indicator as to the Level of Blessing that Awaits You, Beyond It! Your Wealthy Place Is Just On The Other Side Of Your Warfare! Don’t Fail This Test! It Will Cost You Too Much!

9…THE TEST OF TIME: This test has Two Dimensions. One Reveals the Strength of Your Life’s Impact, the other Reveals the Length of It! Each Calls For Your Signature of Excellence On All that You Do. Listen: The electric light still burns even though Edison has left the building! The needy are still being cared for even though General Booth is in Heaven. Now, even if your Legacy Doesn’t Reach Those Heights, Your Influence Can Still Outlive You! The test of Time has a second dimension—An Eternal One. How You Live Your Life Today, Determines Your Rewards In Heaven. “Eventually there is going to be an Inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out.” (1 Corinthians 3:12-13). Therefore, Live a Life and Lifestyle that Others Will Deem Worthy of Continuing as a Legacy, Far After Your Earthly Life Is Over!

10…THE LORDSHIP TEST: Simon Peter passed this test by Obeying a Command that Seemed to Make No Sense At All: Jesus said to him, “Pull out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But Because You Say So, I Will Let Down the Nets.’ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.” (Luke 5:4-6). First, Peter tried fishing Alone and Failed. Next, He Tried it With Jesus and Succeeded. Same Fisherman. Same Fish. Same Boat. Same Nets. What changed? He Was Willing to Do it God’s Way! If You want to Succeed, Talk to God, Listen to God—and Do What God Says! 

With 10 points per test, what does your grade look like so far? Note: If you’re going to Be Helped, you have to First Be Honest. So if you haven’t made 100% yet, you still have the Opportunity to do so. Just hit the books (Your Bible), meet daily with your tutor (The Holy Spirit), study diligently (2 Timothy 2:15), and retake the test! There’s a 100% Within Your Reach….Grasp It!

Church, don’t just walk around with Titles that have never been Tested! Make sure you’re proven and qualified. Don’t just go with the latest fad of adding on more Initials yet making no Impact. Maturity, Responsibility and Growth have to take place on your Current Level of Leadership before you attempt Skipping Steps that will eventually lead you to Demotion! Leadership is not an Entitlement, nor is it a Competition. Respect God’s Process of Testing, Time and Choice. It’s not about your Platform, but His Plan. Follow it to the letter, do not deviate! God does not need your help, and knows exactly what’s best for you! Trust Him to do what’s Right, so you won’t have to suffer being Left Back!

2 Timothy 2:15

“Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [TESTED by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.” (AMP)

“Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (TESTED by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.” (AMPC)

“Work hard so God can say to you, “Well done.” Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed WHEN GOD EXAMINES YOUR WORK. Know what his Word says and means.” (TLB)

“People who are given whatever they want soon develop a sense of entitlement and rapidly lose their sense of proportion.” (Sarah Churchwell)

“What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.” (Brene Brown)

“Gratitude begins where my sense of entitlement ends.” (Steven Furtick)

“Entitlement is a delusion built on self-centeredness and laziness.” (Pinterest)

“Teach your children gratefulness. Do all you can to deliver them from our culture’s poisonous entitlement mentality.” (Randy Alcorn)

“Don’t feel entitled to anything you didn’t sweat and struggle for.” (Marian Wright Edelman)

“Service and gratitude will fuel your relationship; entitlement and expectation will poison it.” (Steve Maraboli)

“One of the consequences of such notions as ‘entitlements’ is that people who have contributed nothing to society feel that society owes them something, apparently just for being nice enough to grace us with their presence.” (Thomas Sowell)

“Having a sense of entitlement is upheld by the belief that WE are the center of the universe.” (Aletheia Luna)

“The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind him people of conviction who will carry on.” (Walter J. Lippmann)

“Leadership is less about your credentials, creativity or charisma; and more about your credibility, compassion and character.” (Alex Ihama)

“God never uses anyone greatly until He tests them deeply.” (Aiden Wilson Tozer)

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #ShareTheWord

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“No More Shallow Living For You!”

I have quite a few social media sites. With that said, unfortunately, it gives people the misconception that I’m Ms. Technology, when that couldn’t be further from the truth! For instance, as much as I use my cellphone, I know very little about how it really functions, or how to use it to its full capacity. And the reason why? Because outside of making a call, receiving a call, or sending a text, I really don’t care to know much else! However, I’ve come to find out that is to my own loss. You see, there are so many buttons and gadgets that I really don’t want to take the time to figure out. I look at them and ignore them. And what makes matters worse is that my phone wasn’t just handed to me. It came in a box with a Manual for Maximum Usage! Have I read the manual? Absolutely not!

Finally, I got tired of everybody telling me how awesome my phone is and all the great things it’s capable of doing. So I enlisted the help of one of my IT guys to pick his brain. And to my amazement, I could not believe all the things I was able to do, that I wasn’t doing, only because I didn’t know I could! I was so comfortable with what I knew, that I didn’t want to put in the work to find out what I really needed to know. And that was that my comfort was crippling my capability!

However, now, at the click of one button I can access all of my schedules (and finally avoid so many scheduling conflicts because who knew my phone could organize my dates in priority without my help?). With one button I can check all of my email accounts. With one button I could have all of my social media sites on one page. I could even control what goes on in my house, while I’m away, by my phone! And all of this was at my fingertips, but I was too complacent to grab a hold of its full capability!

Now, let’s see what the Bible has to say about this.

Matthew 14:25-29, “And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.  When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!” Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water.”  He said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” (AMP).

All the other disciples were just trying to ride out the storm. But Peter suddenly got a glimpse of the power of his Master and of something supernatural he could do if he risked everything on Jesus. And suddenly Peter was doing what people don’t do. He was walking on water!

The fact is that Jesus may be preparing you to step up to something far more supernatural than you’ve ever been or you’ve ever done before. In fact, if you’re anything like me, He’s made your heart restless for more so you would get out of the boat and start walking toward Him in an exciting new way. Truth is, there are quite a few endeavors that I’ve had my heart set on for quite a while. And fear and nervousness about stepping into something new, uncomfortable, and unfamiliar is honestly terrifying! BUT I don’t want to miss a moment because of a minute of insecurity.

Peter found out that day that if Jesus wants you to do it – no matter how beyond your capability it may be – He will give you whatever it takes to do it.

A lot of our Christian lives are like my multi-faceted cellphone. We’re settling for a level that is far below where we could be living. We’re looking at all those spiritual buttons. Maybe we know some other people who have tapped into those capabilities, but we’re settling for a powerless life when Christ in us wants to make our life really powerful. We’re settling for the mediocre when we’re wired for the miraculous.

Look at it like this: Who knows what will happen if you finally decide to get out the boat and apply for the mortgage, the business, student or car loan? Who knows what will happen if you finally decide to get out the boat and head that ministry or start a new one? Who knows what will happen if you finally decide to get out the boat and try that, or go there? Truth is, being inside the boat, especially during a storm, seems like the safest, best and most comfortable, and sensible place to be. But if Jesus isn’t in the boat, do you really think it’s the best place to be? If He’s outside the boat, even in the storm, don’t you think it’s better to be where Christ is than where your cushion is?

You have the Holy Spirit of the Almighty God living in you. You have backing you up the authority that Jesus has over everything in this universe. You have Jesus’ resurrection power in your life. Question is: So why aren’t you living like it?

Are you settling for only pushing a couple of God’s buttons when there are so many more that could open up a whole new frontier for you?

You need to be reading the Manual. You know that’s the Bible, and you need to be reading it every single day. Not just for theology, not just for a lesson to teach or a Word to preach. But looking for the keys to powerful faith and then using them to unlock your bound-up greatness. Tell the Lord, Lord, I want the “something more” you’ve made my heart hungry for. Then surrender yourself in a new, fresh way to Him. With all the things that are going on in your life now, update that old surrender. Let go of those areas that you’ve insisted on controlling. Get out of that safe little boat and dare to walk where you’ve never walked before!

In a nutshell: You will never get THERE staying HERE! Yes, this requires chance, risks, the probability that it won’t work, even failure. And yet I challenge you to try it anyway!

Think about it: Can you imagine how David’s story would’ve turned out if he stayed in the field with the sheep because he’d become comfortable in what he’s used to doing? What if Abraham decided not to leave his people and country? What if Noah decided he didn’t want to chance looking silly building an ark? What if Moses’ stutter held him captive? What if Esther thought that she wasn’t good enough since she was an orphan? What if Deborah said ‘no thanks, I’ll just stay in the back since men go in the front’? What if Paul thought his past was too bad for him to have a better future? What if Peter thought his denial would lead to the Lord’s ultimate denial? What if Hannah decided to accept her barrenness as this is just the cards I’ve been dealt? What if Joshua and Caleb agreed that the majority is always right? What if Rahab thought my profession will hinder me from protection? What if Mary said the public scandal would be too much for me to bear, kindly use someone else?

Can you imagine the tragedy of having their stories re-written with the pen of fear?

Listen to what your manual is telling you:

Matthew 19:26, “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With people [as far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but with God ALL things are possible.” (AMP);

Matthew 17:20, “… for I assure you and most solemnly say to you, if you have [living] faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and [if it is God’s will] it will move; and NOTHING will be impossible for you.” (AMP); (Question: Do you know how silly it sounds that you can have enough faith to move a mountain, and yet you allow a little fear to keep you immobile?) Selah…

Mark 11:23, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!’ and does not doubt in his heart [in God’s UNLIMITED POWER], but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him [in accordance with God’s will].” (AMP);

Philippians 4:13, “I CAN DO ALL THINGS [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]” (AMP)

Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,” (AMP).

Like my cellphone, when you read the manual, you’ll be amazed at all you’re capable of doing!

So stop allowing your comfort to cripple your capability!

The word “cripple” is defined as “unable to walk or move properly through disability or injury; to make someone unable to move or walk properly; to cause severe and disabling damage to something”. And that’s exactly what your comfort is doing! It’s crippling your spiritual walk! When something or someone is cripple, their walk is unsteady and unstable. Reminds me of James 1:8, “being a double-minded man, unstable and restless in all his ways [in everything he thinks, feels, or decides]” (AMP). Which is why you never want fear and comfort to cause you to be unstable, because that will cause you to think ‘I can’t do this’; to feel like ‘I’m not strong enough to accomplish this’; and then to make poor decisions like ‘let someone else who is more qualified attempt this.’

However, that’s not how your story is going to end! Today is the day you find your courage, your strength and your faith. Today is the day you deliberately decide I’m not staying in this comfort zone any longer. I may fall, I may fail, I may get it wrong, but I won’t get stuck in this place of mediocre any longer. Today, I’m getting out of the boat! Yes, I know no one has ever done it before; yes, I know it’s safer in the boat during the storm; yes, I know I’m taking a big risk and chance; yes, I know those who are in the boat are probably talking about me making the dumb decision to do something new, uncomfortable, unfamiliar, and different; yes, I know they’re sitting in the boat thinking I’m crazy for even trying this; yes, I know they’re waiting for me to sink so they can say I told you so; yes, I know getting out of the boat to walk on water is strange, nuts, odd, and even dangerous. AND YES, I’M STILL GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY!

For a minute, just think of all the inventors and inventions. Can you imagine if they allowed the ridiculousness of doing something different to stop them from trying? We wouldn’t have lights, trains, planes, cars, computers, medicine, washing machines, or cellphones! People on transplant lists would just have to die because who’s crazy enough to try and replace a heart or kidney?

Saints, it’s a new day, a new month and a new year! Don’t you want better this year than last year? Well then, do something better! Do something different! Do something new!

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” (Albert Einstein)

Therefore, for the remainder of this year, stretch yourself; challenge yourself; dare yourself; compete with yourself; push yourself; encourage yourself; motivate yourself!

Remember this: There Is No GROWTH In Comfort Zones; Only Stagnation!

Ronald E. Osborn said, “Undertake something difficult; it will do you good. Unless you try something beyond what you have already mastered, you’ll never grow.”

In closing, let’s look briefly at Luke 5:4:

“…Now GO out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” (NLT); “…PUSH out into deep water, and lower your nets for a catch.” (ISV)

The word “Go” in its simplest form means “To Move To Or From a Place” And that’s what you need to do if you are going to get what you’ve never gotten before! You’re going to have to Move From Where You Are and Move Towards Where You Need To Be! You Can’t Get It Standing Still or Staying Where You Are! Your Destiny Is Not On The Shore, It’s Out In The Deep, So Get Up Off Your Hind Parts and GO! Move Out Into the Deep!

The word “Push” in its simplest form means “To Exert Force So As To Move From and Move To” Listen, You Are Not Going to Get This Passively! You are going to have to Exert Force! Which is why Comfort Zones are so Dangerous! They make you Complacent! And worse yet, they make you Stagnant! The word “Complacent” means “Smug and uncritically satisfied with oneself or one’s achievements” Which is why so many miss out on greater blessings because they’ve become so satisfied with where they are currently and what they’ve achieved and attained thus far! It’s Latin Origin “Complacere” means “To Please”. And that’s all they did, was reach a certain goal, and sit back pleased with the 3^rd place ribbon in their hands and never getting back in the next race to try for the number one slot!  Don’t Do It! Don’t Become Complacent! There Is Far MORE For You To Attain, But You’ve Got to Believe You Can and Then Exert Force to Attain It!

The word “Stagnant” means “Motionless and often having an unpleasant smell as a consequence”. Don’t Let This Happen To You! Stagnant Water Stinks because it goes No Where! So animals in particular, go to the bathroom in Stagnant Water! And any waste just lying around gets stuck in Stagnant Water furthering its Awful Smell! Warning: Gossip Garbage Is Dumped In the Lives of Stagnant People! After All, They’re Going No Where and Doing Nothing and So Everyone with Everything and Anything Just Dumps and Deposits! On the other hand, When You’re Moving You Have No Time For Mess! So Don’t Just Stand There…MOVE….AND LAUNCH OUT INTO THE DEEP!

You’ve been HERE too long, today we’re moving over THERE!

The word “shallow” is defined as “of little depth; not going far; small distance; having little extension inward or backward; to be superficial; surface-focused.” Do you really want that to be descriptive of you, your life and dreams? That there’s little depth; you’re not going far, only small distances, you have little in you or behind you, your superficial and only focused on the simple, small, things that are easily attained. Surely you want more for yourself than that! Peter walked on the ocean, not the shallow end of the pool, and it’s time you did the same! If you are to attain depth, you have to go out into the deep! No more shallow living for you!

TODAY, WE DARE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT, NEW AND EVEN UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNFAMILIAR, SO THAT WE CAN FINALLY WAKE UP AND LIVE OUR DREAMS!

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” (Author Unknown)

“Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” (Brian Tracey)

“If you want something you’ve never had, you must be willing to do something you’ve never done.” (Thomas Jefferson)

“If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.” (Thomas Edison)

“God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, He will increase our capability.” (Neal A. Maxwell)

“Don’t limit yourself to someone else’s opinion of your capabilities. Be you. Dream, plan, execute!” (Dr. Steve Maraboli)

“The only permission, the only validation, and the only opinion that matters in our quest for greatness is our own.” (Dr. Steve Maraboli)

“Don’t you dare shrink yourself for someone else’s comfort – Do not become small for people who refuse to grow.” (Dr. Steve Maraboli)

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #BeAWaterWalker
Feel free to also join us at: http://www.selfcarewithdrshermaine.blogspot.com Today’s Lesson: “Do’s and Don’ts of Essential Oils”

“Leaders On Fire!”

Romans 12:11, “Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic – BE ON FIRE IN THE SPIRIT as you serve the Lord!” (CEB)

When a motivational products company interviewed Tim Dumler by phone for a sales job, he told them his goal was to become their number one employee. After meeting him in person they were shocked to discover he was legally blind. But he promised he’d buy a machine that magnifies letters. So despite serious misgivings, they hired him. And it’s a good thing they did. He came in early, worked late, and within six years became their top producer. His clients loved him, because when you’re blind you become a great listener. And his associates loved him because of his caring, positive attitude. He said, “It’s unfortunate that I’m visually impaired, but adversity made me a better person. I have a lot more than I don’t have.”

Tim has what’s known as the 212-Degree Attitude! I believe Sasha Azevedo had a person like Tim in mind when she stated: “I do believe that when we face challenges in life that are far beyond our own power, it’s an opportunity to build on our faith, inner strength, and courage. I’ve learned that how we face challenges plays a big role in the outcome of them.”

Now, I’m certain many of you are asking, ‘what’s a 212-Degree Attitude?’ Well, motivational speaker Mack Anderson explains it like this: “At 211 degrees water is hot. At 212 degrees it boils. With boiling water comes steam. And steam can power a locomotive. One extra degree makes all the difference in business and in life; it separates the good from the great.”

Jimmy Dean said it right: “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.”

So no matter what challenges you are currently facing as a leader, it is your responsibility to push past 211 and attain 212 degrees! Be Bold enough to Boil! And stop laying blame on people, places and things! Hold yourself accountable for your own assignments, those you’ve fulfilled and those you’ve left forgotten by the wayside! Stop using adversity as an excuse, it’s an advantage! Without it, you just may reach 211, but instead of grabbing a hold of 212, you’ll only start reverting backwards to more cool, comfortable and compromising numbers!

At the time in which you should be at 212 degrees, everyone, but you, will be wondering ‘when is he/she finally going to at least reach 112?!’ And surely you don’t want to go down in history as a “Hebrews 5:12 Leader?!”: “I have a lot more to say about this, but it is hard to get it across to you since you’ve picked up this bad habit of not listening. By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics on God again, starting from square one—baby’s milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago! Milk is for beginners, inexperienced in God’s ways; solid food is for the mature, who have some practice in telling right from wrong.” (MSG). OUCH!

Here’s some straight talk for leadership slackers, those with no ambition, and those who see no purpose or value in ministry or life: “Servants, respectfully obey your earthly masters but always with an eye to obeying the real master, Christ. Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master…” (Ephesians 6:7-8 MSG).  Never forget who your Ultimate Employer is and you’ll always push to reach 212 degree leadership and servitude!

Our text demands that we be: “…fervent in spirit…” Romans 12:11, “Do not be slothful in zeal, BE FERVENT IN SPIRIT, serve the Lord.” (ESV). Note: this word “fervent” means “bubbling or boiling.” In other words, Leaders, we need to always possess a 212-Degree Attitude! Bubble, Boil, Get On Fire and Fulfill Your Assignments!

I doubt you want to know this, but I’m going to let you in on a little secret I discovered: Far too often Leaders are literally just one simple step away from greatness! One step, or should I say DEGREE, from DESTINY! One degree from becoming exactly who God called you to be! Personally, I could take it better if Leaders were years and miles away from true greatness and destiny! But sadly, it’s usually only one degree!

Look at it this way: People will eat ‘warm’ food, but there’s something altogether different about the sight, scent and taste of food that’s steaming hot! Which reminds me of a warning in the Bible: “I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.” (Revelation 3:15-17 MSG). I don’t know about you, but I most definitely don’t want that to be my Leadership Description!

Leaders, 211 degrees is not good nor hot enough! Press In Harder and Higher! And by no means think that I’ve got it all together either! I just simply agree with the Apostle Paul: “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us…we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it. Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I’ve warned you of them many times; sadly, I’m having to do it again…” (Philippians 3:12-19 MSG).

Leaders, let this be your final wake up call, your final warning, stop settling and this time stay the course! Remember: “Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.” (Author Unknown).

Leaders, I’m not asking you to accomplish it all overnight, but I assure you, you’ll never make your mountain, mumbling and stumbling over molehills!

Know This: God has not called you for nothing! He has not endowed you with power, yoke destroying anointing, Spirit-filled gifts, and kingdom authority to sit around the House of God and be satisfied just to be saved! Luke 10:19, “Listen carefully: I have given you authority [that you now possess] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and [the ability to exercise authority] over all the power of the enemy (Satan); and nothing will [in any way] harm you.” (AMP) You have power and authority, now get your fire back and get to work in the Kingdom of your God!

God has already declared, “…I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD…to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11) God has already informed you that He has great thoughts and great plans for you. So why are you sitting around and settling?! If He’s called you to teach, daily you ought to be planning out series of lessons. If He’s called you to Pastor, begin writing the vision, mission and purpose statements! If nothing else, at least know the name of your church and its possible location! If He’s called you to sing, practice every day. And never turn down the opportunity to exercise your gift. If He’s called you to be an Intercessor, you ought to be found in prayer every chance you get! Simply put: Do What He’s Called You To Do, And Become Who He’s Called You To Be! Never forget, you will have to give God an account! 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities].” (AMP) I reiterate, WE WILL ALL HAVE TO GIVE GOD AN ACCOUNT! Selah…

Think about it: If you were one step or one degree from a million dollars what would you do?! How would you act? Well, as much as a million dollars is, it can’t compare to you fulfilling the Will of God for your life! It can’t compare to your gifting’s being in full manifested use! It can’t compare to your destiny being reached! It can’t compare to the fulfillment of the prophecies over your life! Listen, I don’t want you to simply receive prophecies, but it is my desire that you live in the manifestation of those prophecies being fulfilled! I’m excited to be prophesied to about my house, but that can’t compare to the excitement of finally living in it! No one cares how many times you’re prophesied to Pastor, if you never Pastor! Therefore, whatever you would do for the million dollars that’s within your reach, you ought to do that and more for your destiny to be attained, that you may say with Paul when it’s time to pass the baton to the next Legacy of Leaders, “You take over. I’m about to die, my life an offering on God’s altar. This is the only race worth running. I’ve run hard right to the finish, believed all the way. All that’s left now is the shouting-God’s applause!…”(2 Timothy 4:6-8 MSG).

Note to Leaders, it’s easy to pass the baton when you’ve reached your Boiling point and Become what God Said You Would! Those who can’t pass it, are the ones who allowed their Slackness to cause them to miss their Season! Warning! Do what you’re supposed to do in the Winter, because the Spring is coming, and it will not wait or rearrange the seasons to give you more time to finally get it together! Discover your Purpose and become Passionate about bringing it to Pass! There’s a host of followers waiting on a leader to say, “PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah).” (1 Corinthians 11:1 AMP).

Leaders, it’s time to take it to the next level! And if the truth be told, many are already at 211 degrees! Do you really want to be the Leader who stands before God attempting to explain how you missed Destiny over one Degree?! I didn’t think so…

Leaders, Find your Fervency! Remember how you felt when you first started, when the excitement filled your day, when your agenda was full of plans and to-do-lists to bring your dream, vision and goals to pass. Remember how you felt when God called you and told you what you would do and become. Find that passion again! We have enough lackluster leaders as it is! By the way, that word ‘lackluster’ is defined as, ‘lacking in vitality, force or conviction; not shining; dull.’ And isn’t that the very opposite of what God called us to be? Matthew 5:14-16, “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be LIGHT, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you LIGHT-BEARERS, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a LIGHT STAND. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a LIGHT STAND—SHINE! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” (MSG)

You were not called to be DULL, you were called to SHINE! So why aren’t you?!

Leaders, people should see our praise on fire, our worship on fire, our prayers on fire, our gifts on fire! They should see just how excited we are to be privileged to serve! We have to remember that we’ve always been a church on fire from the very beginning! Acts 2:1-4, “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place, and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared to them tongues RESEMBLING FIRE, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit]. And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].” (MSG) I love that word, ‘diffuse’, it’s defined as, ‘to spread over a wide area.’ Its Latin origin, ‘diffundere’ literally means, ‘to pour out.’ Leaders, what’s pouring out of you?! Is it fire, or just ashes?! In Acts, they were diffused throughout their being with the fire of the Holy Spirit, it ‘spread over a wide area’! So wide in fact that it compelled 3,000 souls in a day! Acts 2:41, “So then, those who accepted his message were baptized; and on that day about 3,000 souls were added [to the body of believers].” (MSG)

I wonder if our churches would stop emptying out if the fire of the Holy Spirit started pouring back in?!

Maybe if we found our fire again, we wouldn’t have so many empty, cold pews!

Leaders, let’s get our spark back! Why does that responsibility fall on us? Because we’re LEADERS! We set the pace for the fire to fill the entire house! If we’re on fire, those who follow us will be on fire! Why? Because fire is contagious! And the word ‘contagious’ is defined as, ‘to spread by direct or indirect contact between people or organisms; likely to spread to and affect others.’ When we’re on fire, that fire will spread and both directly and indirectly we’ll set the house on fire! Be the contagious leader where no one can come in your presence and not feel the fire of God!

Job 23:10, “But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it]. When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].” (AMP) And that word ‘luminous’ is defined as, ‘bright or shining, especially in the dark.’ You see leaders, we can’t even blame trials, suffering, hardship, bad times, dark times, problems, hurt or struggles for dulling our shine. God so designed us that we shine our best, ‘especially in the dark!’ So, we can make no excuses for ourselves! Because truthfully, someone is sitting in chemotherapy and still sharing the good news of the Gospel; someone is receiving radiation, and their trust in God is still radiant; someone is dealing with dialysis and yet they share their testimony of deliverance to help someone else get through! Someone is enduring a divorce; wayward children; financial distress; lack of employment; health crisis, and guess what? They haven’t lost their fire for God! So who are we to do so?!

This year leaders, we’re going to spend the entirety of 2019 at the 212 boiling point in all that we do, especially that which we do for God and the service of His House and His People! We will not be dull, unenthused and lacking in passion when it comes to our Father’s business!

2 Timothy 1:6, “That is why I remind you to FAN INTO FLAME THE GRACIOUS GIFT OF GOD, [THAT INNER FIRE – THE SPECIAL ENDOWMENT] which is in you through the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].” (AMP)

“Everyone has a fire inside. Leadership’s role is throwing gas on it.”

“Figure out what lights your fire, then chase the match.”

“The most powerful weapon on Earth is the human soul on fire.” (Ferddinand Foch)

“Each of us has a fire in our hearts for something. It’s our goal in life to find it and keep it lit.” (Mary Lou Retton)

“A person must pay dearly for the divine gift of creative fire.” (Carl Jung)

“Managers light a fire under people. Leaders light a fire in people.” (Kathy Austin)

“You get the best efforts from others not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building afire within.” (Bob Nelson)

“Be enthusiastic as a leader. You can’t light a fire with a wet match.”

“The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.” (Plutarch)

“Leadership is no longer about your position. It’s more about your passion for excellence and making a difference. You can lead without a title.” (Robin Sharma)

“I survived because the fire inside me burned brighter than the fire around me.”

“The support you receive from others throughout life is essential. It is like the right amount of oxygen to keep the embers of a fire glowing.” (A. Bentley)

“Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.” (Stephen Covey)

“Purpose is the reason you journey, passion is the fire that lights the way.”

“Never lose the sparkle in your eye, the fire in your belly and the steel in your character.” (Robin Sharma)

“Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish.” (Jean de la Fontaine)

“We cannot hold a torch to light anothers’ path without brightening our own.” (Ben Sweetland)

“In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.” (Albert Schweitzer)

“The finest steel has to go through the hottest fire.” (Richard M. Nixon)

“Everyone has a fire inside. When you see it, fuel it. Channel it. Don’t quench it.”

“What spark will you ignite today?” (Sean P. Stone)

“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.” (Ken Blanchard)

“Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.” (Rumi)

“Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” (Golda Meir)

“Use your frustration as fuel to the fire of your dedication to making a difference.” (Jeff Davis)

“Catch fire, do something, get excited by finding your purpose in life.” (Steve Harvey)

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #BeFervent
Feel free to also join us at: http://www.selfcarewithdrshermaine.blogspot.com Today’s Lesson: “How to Put Tech to Use for Your Health?”

 

“You’re a Valuable Original, Not a Cheap Copy!”

Galatians 5:26 ‘…we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an ORIGINAL.’ (MSG)

God is the creator of all things. He creates and His very nature is creative! “God spoke: “Light!” And light appeared” (Genesis 1:3 MSG). Therefore, if He made us in His image and likeness, then that means that we are Creators as well! (Genesis 1:26, “Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.” AMP) We Have Creative, Authoritative Power Over the Entire Earth! If Only Our Faith Would Act Like It!

We are NOT here to clone others, but we should be innovative, creative, and ORIGINAL in our callings and gifts that God gave to us. He never intended to create a bunch of people that model their lives after other people. But many times we are so focused on what people around us are doing, that we feel what we are doing is not as good or our calling is not as great. Which reminds us of the Israelites: 1 Samuel 8:1-9, “When Samuel got to be an old man, he set his sons up as judges in Israel. His firstborn son was named Joel, the name of his second, Abijah. They were assigned duty in Beersheba. But his sons didn’t take after him; they were out for what they could get for themselves, taking bribes, corrupting justice. Fed up, all the elders of Israel got together and confronted Samuel at Ramah. They presented their case: “Look, you’re an old man, and your sons aren’t following in your footsteps. Here’s what we want you to do: APPOINT A KING TO RULE US, JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.” When Samuel heard their demand—“Give us a king to rule us!”—he was crushed. How awful! Samuel prayed to God. God answered Samuel, “Go ahead and do what they’re asking. They are not rejecting you. THEY’VE REJECTED ME AS THEIR KING. From the day I brought them out of Egypt until this very day they’ve been behaving like this, leaving me for other gods. And now they’re doing it to you. So let them have their own way. But warn them of what they’re in for. Tell them the way kings operate, just what they’re likely to get from a king.” (MSG) Not only did Israel want a king, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, but with this request came a REJECTION OF GOD! Saints, when you want WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS, you are REJECTING WHAT INDIVIDUALLY, ORIGINALLY GAVE TO YOU! Do You Really Want to Allow Coveting and Copying to Reject and Insult Your God?! Selah…

You see, God has not called us to clone, copy, crave and covet others, He’s called us to be ORIGINAL!

Did you know that when you crave what God gives to others you are coveting?

God specifically states in his commandments that we are not to covet what other people have. “Thou shalt NOT COVET thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt NOT COVET thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s” (Exodus 20:17). Or better yet, The Message Bible states: “…Don’t set your heart on anything that is your neighbor’s”. The word ‘covet’ is defined as, ‘to yearn to possess (something belonging to someone else).’ Its Old French origin ‘cuveitier’, from Latin ‘cupiditas’ means ‘cupidity.’ And ‘cupidity’ is defined as, ‘greed for money or possessions.’ Its Latin origin ‘cupiditas’, from ‘cupidus’ means, ‘desirous.’ And far too many of us today covet what other people have, such as their money and possessions, and we’ve desired them to the point of dissolving our dignity. You see, when we desire what belongs to someone else, we’re essentially telling God that He has no idea what He’s doing with our lives. Because if He did, He would’ve given us what He gave them. But God is a loving and intelligent Father, He knows better than His children what’s best for them. Believe it or not, but that job you desire that  she has, has destroyed her marriage, her participation in the activities of her children’s lives, distanced her from her family and friends and has taken its toll on her health. That spouse that you desire that he has, makes him feel like less than a man behind closed doors. Be careful of desiring the romantic spotlight of other people’s lives, because you have absolutely no idea of the horror story that plays out behind the scenes!

We also cannot try to Impersonate or become someone that we’re not! You see, the word “impersonate” means “to pretend to be (another person) for entertainment or fraud” And “fraud” is defined as, “wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain; a person intending or thing intended to deceive; it’s Old French Origin “fraude”, from Latin “fraus” means “deceit and injury”. When you attempt to be something or someone you’re NOT you are committing fraud and fraud is a deceit that causes injury! And last I checked fraud is a crime, both in the Earth and in the Kingdom!

Mark 7:6-8, “Jesus answered, “Isaiah was right about FRAUDS like you, hit the bull’s-eye in fact: These people make a BIG SHOW of saying the right thing, but their heart isn’t in it. They act like they are worshiping me, but they don’t mean it. They just use me as a cover for teaching whatever suits their fancy, Ditching God’s command and taking up the latest fads.” (MSG)

Matthew 24:23-25, “If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, ‘Here’s the Messiah!’ or points, ‘There he is!’ don’t fall for it. FAKE Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their IMPRESSIVE CREDENTIALS AND DAZZLING PERFORMANCES will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. But I’ve given you fair warning.” (MSG)

Proverbs 21:3, “Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to God than RELIGIOUS PERFORMANCE.” (MSG)

God is Looking for Those With Spiritual Fruit, Not Those Who are Just Religious Nuts!

Luke 13:6-9, “…Then he told them a story: “A man had an apple tree planted in his front yard. He came to it expecting to find apples, but there weren’t any. He said to his gardener, ‘What’s going on here? For three years now I’ve come to this tree expecting apples and not one apple have I found. Chop it down! Why waste good ground with it any longer?’ “The gardener said, ‘Let’s give it another year. I’ll dig around it and fertilize, and maybe it will produce next year; if it doesn’t, then chop it down.’” (MSG) How quickly would you stop a phony religious performance if God treated your spiritual authenticity like that apple tree with no fruit? Produce something real by this time next year, or you’re out here! Maybe we’d do good to keep that in mind the next time we think to copy, imitate, perform, pretend, and clone! In essence, you keep saying, ‘I’m an apple tree.’ However, where’s your apples? Listen, if God said you’re a pear tree, be the best producing pear tree around! You can still be a pear tree, and the apple of God’s eye at the same time! Never Compromise Your Authenticity! Whatever God Has Called You to Be, YOU, Be That and Pretend to Be Nothing Else!

Don’t live a life that is a fraud and fake, don’t put on a big show, don’t throw around your impressive credentials and dazzling, religious performances! God wants the real you, not the masked you!

Jesus said, “…I am the Way and the TRUTH and the Life…” (John 14:6 AMP). Therefore, your fraud, impersonations and falsehood are a direct insult and injury to Who He Is and What Our Faith Decrees We Are To Believe! It goes beyond mere entertainment, it actually Reveals Your True Identity: “You are of YOUR FATHER, THE DEVIL, and it is your will to practice the lusts and gratify the desires [which are characteristic] of YOUR FATHER. He was a murderer from the beginning and DOES NOT STAND IN THE TRUTH, BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRUTH IN HIM. WHEN HE SPEAKS A FALSEHOOD, HE SPEAKS WHAT IS NATURAL TO HIM, FOR HE IS A LIAR [HIMSELF] AND THE FATHER OF LIES OF ALL THAT IS FALSE” (John 8:44 AMP).

Are you starting to understand how dangerous and damaging Impersonations, Fraud, Falsehood and Coveting really are to you?!

Listen: We have to be Unique and properly represent the Creator by staying True to His creation! Sure we should mark the steps of a good man or good woman and follow after the good works of others. But we should never attempt to model or pattern our lives after anyone but Jesus and the examples and precepts He has set!  This is what the Apostle did and what we should do also. “PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], AS I IMITATE AND FOLLOW CHRIST (THE MESSIAH).” (1 Corinthians 11:1 AMP). Paul said he “imitates” Christ. And “imitate” means to: “follow as a model; copy (a person’s speech or mannerisms); reproduce; or simulate.” It’s Latin Origin “imitari” related to “imago” literally means “image”. And what does the Word say about us from the very book of beginnings?  “…Let Us [Father, Son, and Holy Spirit] make mankind in Our IMAGE…” (Genesis 1:26 AMP). Paul imitated the Image of Christ, and we are made in the Image of the Godhead! Therefore, the only Persons You Should Be IMITATING is the GODHEAD AND NO ONE ELSE! Remember: YOU ARE A VALUABLE ORIGINAL – SO STOP IMPERSONATING A CHEAP COPY!

Listen, people that covet are insecure in themselves! They are not sure of who they are, or they may just feel that who God made them is not sufficient. “And Moses said to God, Who am I…” (Exodus 3:11 AMP). Even the great deliverer Moses felt that he was insufficient. But that is an all-time Demonic Deception, because the word “insufficient” literally means “not enough”. But God’s Word, which surpasses anything the devil told you, declares: “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am SELF-SUFFICIENT IN CHRIST’S SUFFICIENCY]” (Philippians 4:13 AMP). Therefore, stop comparing yourself and coveting what others have, and what others do! Just as you are, You Are Sufficient (which is defined as, ‘ENOUGH!’)

Look at it this way: When you go to the bank and you attempt to use your ATM card to take out money, you can only get out what you’ve put in! So if you attempt to pull out $100 when all you’ve put in is $10, you are going to definitely receive a special note from the machine saying “Insufficient Funds”. So when you need to accomplish a task, and according to Philippians 4:13, “God has given you strength; He has empowered you; you’re ready and equal to anything; He’s infused you with inner strength; and you are declared self-sufficient in His sufficiency”, why on earth would you speak insufficiency over yourself when God has declared you All Sufficient?!

In other words, you can go to the ATM with full confidence and not just pull out $100, but pull out everything in there and still have more, because your sufficiency doesn’t come from others, it comes from God! When He supplies you with everything you need, for everything you must do, and everything you must become, You Lack Nothing, No Matter Who Has What! That alone is cause for celebration! You are More Than Enough All By Yourself, You Don’t Need To Be Like Anybody Else! An ATM can only give you what you’ve deposited. But God gives you everything HE’S deposited! Therefore, you will never be Insufficient! In fact, you will always have More Than Enough! Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power THAT IS AT WORK WITHIN US, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]” (AMPC)

Remember: You Are a Valuable Original – So Stop Impersonating a Cheap Copy!

When people walk around feeling they must covet because they are insufficient in who and what God made them and gave them, they are deceived by the devil because what God made was perfect, but their perception of who they are is what’s warped! The word “warp” means “to distort” and “distort” means “to give a misleading account of”. The devil is trying to distort the facts of who and what you really are in the Kingdom of God! Don’t let him mislead you! Just because you’ve failed, doesn’t make you a failure! It simply means you haven’t discovered the success in you yet! Don’t allow the devil to play mind games with you! The truth is, the devil fights to keep a person’s perception of who God made them warped, because the devil knows that if they ever begin to walk in their God given assignment, they will damage his kingdom! So, the enemy keeps them feeling like who they are is not good enough just to keep them powerless. Because when you are not operating in your true identity, you are powerless and no real threat to the devil. This is why we must find out who we are and what OUR assignment is from God.

1 Corinthians 12:14-18, “I want you to think about how all this makes YOU MORE SIGNIFICANT, NOT LESS. A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, “I’m not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don’t belong to this body,” would that make it so? If Ear said, “I’m not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don’t deserve a place on the head,” would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, WE SEE THAT GOD HAS CAREFULLY PLACED EACH PART OF THE BODY RIGHT WHERE HE WANTED IT.” (MSG) Wherever you’re placed at in the Body of Christ, know that it is significant! You were strategically placed where you are, by God Himself! What an injustice it would be to Him to want to be anywhere else! You’ve been assigned by God to operate right where you are, now do so, because just as God is watching you not fulfill your assignment, the devil is watching too, and he’s glad about it!

Your assignment has power and the devil knows this! You are a perfect creation and your calling is powerful. God raised you up to do damage to the devils kingdom, not to covet what someone else has. When you waste time coveting, you are missing your assignment! And while you are missing your assignment, the devil causes you to feel worthless, like a failure, or like life is passing you by and you are not accomplishing anything. That’s why so many Christians today suffer from low self-esteem and insecurity. Because they do not operate in their God given assignment (too busy desiring others). But your assignment has your joy and your meaning of life. So why sit around coveting and wishing you were someone else?!

The negative perception you have of yourself is a misery being nourished by YOU. But what God made is a creative, innovative, unique individual that could save many for the Kingdom of God. My brothers and sisters, stop looking at what other people are doing and do what God purposed for YOU to do and YOU will damage the kingdom of darkness and strengthen the Kingdom of God! And most importantly you will hear: “…Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys” (Matthew 25:21 AMP).

Today, be encouraged to know that who you are, and what you have, is enough! You don’t need to pretend to be anyone else, but the valuable original YOU that God created and loves. You are not missing anything. You are not insufficient. You are not less than. You are not in competition. You are a Valuable Original, Not a Cheap Copy, Now Act Like It!

“God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature So they can be responsible for the fish of the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle, And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth.” God created them godlike, Reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. God blessed them: “Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth” (Genesis 1:26-28 MSG)

“What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field, The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Lord, how excellent (majestic and glorious) is Your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:4-9 AMP).

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5 AMP).

“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God – you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration – what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day” (Psalm 139:13-16 MSG).

Maybe it’s just me, but God sure does sound like He Loves Flawed Originals!

“We are all born originals – why is it so many of us die copies?” (Edward Young)

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else”

“If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise”

“Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you?”

“Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself”

“He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away”

“Freedom lies in being yourself”

“I was once afraid of people saying, ‘Who does she think she is?’ Now I have the courage to stand and say, ‘This is who I am”

“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.”

Reflection Questions:

1. If you had to list 5 things about yourself that you love and that you hate, which list would be easiest and quickest to write? Why?
2. Do you struggle with comparing yourself to others?
3. Do you have a healthy or unhealthy self-esteem level? What will you do to maintain or improve it?
4. Have you been caught coveting? What lessons did you learn?
5. If you were asked “What does God think of you” what would be your response?
6. If you were asked “What has God said about you” what would be your response?
7. What does it mean to you to be “comfortable in your own skin?” And are you?
8. What are 3 unique things about yourself that you will never change?
9. What are 3 unique things about yourself that you have tried to change?
10. Do you find yourself wearing “masks” depending on who you’re around or where you are? What has been the good and the bad results of those masks?
11. I taught my daughters to look in the mirror every morning and out loud compliment something about yourself. If you were to do the same thing tomorrow morning, what would be your first compliment to yourself?
12. Have you been living stuck in someone else’s shadow? If so, what will you do to finally come out of hiding and shine?
13. Do you think you are insufficient or not enough? Why? Or Why not?
14. Who are some of the people in your life that have aided you with your self-esteem and confidence?
15. If your older self could tell your younger self something about insecurity, what would it be?

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #BeValuableOriginalYou
Feel free to also join us at: http://www.selfcarewithdrshermaine.blogspot.com Today’s Lesson: “15 Healthy Indulgences Under $15”

 

“The Secrets of a Rock Badger!”

Proverbs 30:26, “…The Conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the Rocks…”  The New King James Version says it like this: “The Rock Badgers are a feeble folk, Yet they make their homes in the crags” 

Today we’re going to do some parable teaching, hope you enjoy!

“The Conies or the Rock Badgers”, “make their houses in the Rocks”. You see, the conies are afraid of foxes, and dogs, and cruel men who hunt and kill them. They are considered poor, weak things, and are not strong enough to fight and take care of themselves. So what do they do? They make their holes among stones and rocks whenever they can! They go where men can’t dig them out. They go where dogs and foxes can’t follow them in. And then, when they see men, or dogs, or foxes coming – they run into those rock holes, and are found safe! 

Now, truth be told, the wolf can run much faster than the Rock Badger, for it has much longer legs. And the deer is much bigger than the Rock Badger, and has good antlers. However, the wolf and the deer have no rock holes to run into! They lie out on the open fields. And so when men come to hunt them with dogs and guns, they are soon caught and killed. But the little “feeble” Cony, that Radical Rock Badger, has a hiding place to run to, therefore, he often escapes!  

Listen: The problem isn’t your fears or the attacks of the enemy, the problem is you don’t know how to Respond Like a Rock Badger! You see, a Coney, or Rock Badger, looks like a rabbit, but he can’t run like one. He resembles a mole but he can’t dig deep like one. Therefore, since he can’t run like a rabbit, or dig like a mole, he uses what he got to his advantage! If I was preaching this, I’d tell you to tell your neighbor, use what you got! You see, Rock Badgers move to higher ground and positions himself in rocks, which is a place of strength. And what’s the word for you today? Reposition Yourself! Rock Badgers know how to Reposition Themselves In a Place of Strength! In the Place of the Rocks! Fear doesn’t stop them, being feeble doesn’t hinder them, because they know how to Reposition Themselves in a place of Strength! Do you?

Rock Badgers, says the Bible, are a “Feeble Folk”. And the word “feeble” means “lacking physical or mental strength.” It comes from a Latin Origin which means to “lament, weep or cry.” And that’s the problem with some of us, when it comes to attaining our purpose in God. We focus on what we lack, to the extent, it leads to depression, and low self-esteem, which causes us to lament, weep and cry. What we need to do is follow the example of the Rock Badgers. They don’t cry, become depressed or self-loathing, because their considered feeble. No, they refuse to stay in a weak environment, instead they reposition themselves, and go up higher into the rocks, to a place of strength! In order for you to overcome your fears and attain your purpose in God, you’ve got to reach a point where you stop comparing yourself and cutting yourself down. Stop allowing your limitations to limit you, because they don’t limit God. Use what you got and make it work for you! Think about it, Even Rock Badgers have enough sense to know that if where I’m at has me weak and vulnerable, then I need to Reposition Myself and go up higher into a place of strength! Why stay the same way, and keep doing the same thing? Which reminds me of a quote I live by, “Insanity is doing the same thing but expecting different results.” Saints, stop acting like a lunatic that has lost his/her mind, the Bible says He has given you a Sound Mind, so stop acting Insane! Reposition yourself in a place of strength! Think about it: If you hire a man to do a job and you pay him to it, if he stops doing the job, do you continue to pay him? Of course not, that would be foolish. Well, likewise, stop paying all of your attention, energy and strength to doing the same thing that hasn’t worked in the past, ain’t working in the present and won’t work in the future either! Reposition Yourself In a Place of Strength!

Now don’t miss this part, because even though Rock Badgers are considered “feeble folk”, who lack physical and mental strength, they yet have enough physical and mental strength to build houses in rocks! You see they supposedly lack the ability to do anything. When you look at them physically or mentally, they shouldn’t be able to accomplish much. And yet, not only do they take themselves to a higher place of strength, but in their weakness, they have the audacity to build houses there!

See, when you take a piece of property and build a house on it, you have no intentions on leaving! You are pretty much letting folks know, I’m moving in and staying right here! The Rock Badgers built houses in a place of strength. That’s why you need to let folks know with my weak, feeble self, I still possess the ability to build, and I have enough nerve to do it in a place of strength! Cross your eyes, talk about me, laugh behind my back, but know this, I’m staying right here! No education, no money, alcohol and drug addicted, past of prostitution and yet you keep watching me, before you know it, I’ll be singing on the choir, preaching in the pulpit, and witnessing in the streets! Folks would have you believe, that you don’t have the ability to accomplish a thing. But the devil is a liar! She ain’t never led no song, he never directed a choir, she’s never been a women’s ministry overseer, he don’t know how to plan no retreat, she’s never conducted a meeting, he’s not qualified to hold that position. And what should you say to this? So what! Why? Because it don’t even matter! As long as I learn how to wait on God, He’ll do “exceeding abundantly above all that I ask or think” every single time. Learn how to Wait on God, Reposition Yourself in a Place of Strength, and Realize your limitations don’t limit God. That’s a Rock Badgers Rationale! 

I love Rock Badgers, because it’s something about the Rocks they build and establish themselves in that encourages me! Which means I had to study the Rock Badgers and Rocks to find out what is it about the Rocks that keep a Rock Badger Fearless! Well, as the parable preacher that I am, let me share with you some insights about Rocks that will help you to Overcome Your Fears! 

1…The enemy will not mess with a Rock Badger because even though he’s the accuser of the brethren, the Bible says, he that is without sin, cast the first STONE! Don’t miss it! STONES, or ROCKS shut down all those who would attempt to point out your sins and transgressions and attempt to shame and guilt you into not fulfilling your purpose. The enemy attempts to use your past, your pain, your mistakes, and your missteps against you so that the fear of folks finding out about your mess will send you into silence! But the Bible says he that is without sin cast the first STONE! Now, you can look your attackers in the face and tell em ‘unless your sinless, remain stoneless!’ Why fear your past, or fear the people who know about it, when they have no ammunition to use against you! The ROCKS are on your side!  

2…Furthermore, ROCKS were heaped over the DEAD! Therefore, your accuser can’t use anything from your past! Because like a dead body, your past is over, it’s dead and ROCKS have been laid over what is dead! When you become confident in God you realize that no matter how many bones are in your closet, when it’s dead, it’s dead! No where in the Bible did God cause a resurrection for someone’s past, a resurrection was because there was more to yet accomplish. And your past my friend has nothing else to accomplish! So even if they want to poke through your closet and pick at your bones, you can confidently tell them, ‘you can connect the thigh bone to the hip bone, the hip bone to the leg bone, the leg bone to the knee bone, the knee bone to the ankle bone, the ankle bone to the foot bone, and still My Past Will Not Walk Into My Future!’ Whisper to yourself: ‘that was for me!’ 

3…You have no need to fear the enemy because as a Rock Badger, ROCKS are a sign of WORSHIP. ALTARS for WORSHIP were made out of ROCKS. Jesus was tempted by Satan, but the last straw was when the devil attempted to mess with His WORSHIP. Then Jesus declared “Satan get thee behind me”, In essence get out of my face! How dare you attempt to mess with my WORSHIP! You need to understand the power of your WORSHIP! The enemy can’t affect your WORSHIP for John 4:24 declares you must WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH, but if you journey a few more chapters over into, John 8:44 it says ‘the devil is a liar and the father of such for there is NO TRUTH IN HIM.’ Therefore, when you enter WORSHIP, you enter TRUTH and that LYING TRUTH can’t handle TRUTH, so he can’t handle your WORSHIP! Remember ALTARS of WORSHIP were made from ROCKS! And Rock Badgers LIVED in ROCKS, therefore the next time fear rears its ugly head, just bow down in WORSHIP! The reason why the devil can’t mess with a WORSHIPER is because the Bible says the Father is looking for TRUE WORSHIPERS, and the enemy knows that to mess with you, while your ministering in WORSHIP will provoke the Father to come see about you!  

4…The devil won’t mess with a Rock Badger because according to Judges 6:20-21 ROCKS are the place where you place your OFFERING and when you place your OFFERING on the ROCK a FIRE is provoked and consumes everything! The devil knows that FIRE represents the PRESENCE OF GOD, FIRE represents the POWER OF GOD, FIRE represents the DEMONSTRATION OF GOD! The enemy is not going to mess with you because where ROCKS are, an OFFERING is close, and the FIRE OF GOD’S PRESENCE, POWER AND DEMONSTRATION are even closer! 

5…The devil don’t mess with a Rock Badger because according to Judges 13:19-20, ROCKS aren’t just the place of offering, or the place of fire, but it’s the place where the ANGELS show up and do wondrous works! You have nothing to fear, with the mindset of a Rock Badger, because ANGELS are ready to arrive when you enter the ROCK!  

6…The devil won’t mess with a Rock Badger because a Rock Badger has BACK-UP in the ROCKS! Jeremiah 49:16 declares that EAGLES reside in the ROCKS! Song of Solomon 2:14 declares that DOVES reside in the ROCKS! Job 39:1 declares that WILD GOATS reside in the ROCKS! And what’s so special about those BACK-UPS? Well, the EAGLES are symbolic of the STRONG; DOVES are symbolic of the HOLY GHOST and WILD GOATS are symbolic of FIGHTERS! Therefore, you have no need to fear the enemy because the devil knows your BACK-UP is a STRONG HOLY GHOST WHO KNOWS HOW TO FIGHT! On top of that, Rock Badgers are known for HUDDLING TOGETHER, they’ll lie on top of one another to the point they are three to four layers deep! You need to surround yourself with some strong folks and let the devil know to be careful in messing with you because you’ve Got BACK-UP! 

7…The enemy won’t mess with a Rock Badger because they have a HIND CLAW that is specially designed for GROOMING, therefore Rock Badgers are EXTREMELY CLEAN. Saints,f Just Stay Clean! The enemy likes to mess with dirty folks, that’s why you have to go out of your way to maintain a LEVEL and LIFESTYLE of HOLINESS, because it deters the dirty hands of the enemy!

8…The enemy won’t mess with a Rock Badger because the enemy knows that ROCKS are the place of MIRACLES. In Exodus 17:6 and Numbers 20:11 WATER was brought forth from the ROCK; In Judges 6:21 FIRE arose up out the ROCKS; In 1 Kings 19:11 the WIND broke the ROCKS; and In Matthew 27:51 the EARTH quaked and Rent the ROCKS! So what does all that mean? Well, it takes me back to my childhood to a little cartoon called the Fantastic Four. They represented Water, Fire, Wind and Earth! The Four most powerful elements in the world and still, when it comes to a Rock Badger even the Four most powerful elements have to bow down! How can you walk in fear when you have power even over the elements over your environment?! 

9…The enemy won’t mess with a Rock Badger because according to Acts 27:29 when the fishermen were at sea, and saw the ROCKS, fear griped them and they let down FOUR ANCHORS! The enemy won’t mess with you when you’re in the ROCKS because as soon as fear arises, he’ll see you let down your ANCHORS! Which is a sign that I shall not be moved! I’m grounded, I’m rooted, I’m planted! People of God, when fear comes, ANCHOR YOURSELF! ANCHOR in the Word, ANCHOR in Prayer, ANCHOR in Praise, ANCHOR in Worship! 

10…The enemy won’t mess with a Rock Badger because Exodus 33:22 says that’s where Moses hid in the cleft of the ROCK and GOD’S GLORY passed by! Saints, when fear arises, just hide in the ROCK, the devil won’t mess with you because he can’t face GOD’S GLORY! 

11…The enemy won’t mess with a Rock Badger because Deuteronomy 32:13 declares HONEY AND OIL come out of the ROCK! Job 29:6 says the ROCK poured me out rivers of OIL! HONEY represents VALUE and OIL represents the ANOINTING. Therefore, when fear arises, place yourself in the ROCK! Because the Rock represents a VALUABLE ANOINTING! And the devil knows that the ANOINTING Destroys the Yoke! Not bends it, not breaks it, but utterly destroys it! The enemy uses fear to distract you so you forget the VALUE of your ANOINTING! The enemy knows that if you dare tap into your ANOINTING you will Utterly Destroy Every Yoke the Enemy has tried to Bind You With! 

12…The enemy won’t mess with a Rock Badger because Exodus 33:21 declares God saying THERE IS A PLACE BY ME, and thou shalt STAND upon a ROCK! The enemy will try various scare tactics to trip you up, but he knows he has not a chance when you get to the ROCK because that’s the place where you’re STANDING SIDE-BY-SIDE with God! The place where you shall STAND! And having done all to STAND you will STAND therefore! Don’t allow fears to shift you, your FOOTING is sure because you STAND on the SURE FOUNDATION OF JESUS CHRIST!  That’s why the enemy gets frustrated, because he’s used to sending fears your way and watching you cower down on your knees groveling and crying and complaining. But he’s not use to you STANDING tall because you’ve found your place SIDE-BY-SIDE with the King of kings and Lord of lords! He’s not use to you STANDING strong! The Psalmist declared, “…he shall set me up upon a ROCK…and establish my goings” (Psalms 27:5; Psalms 40:2). The reason you should never fear the enemy is because no matter where you go, your every STEP is established by the Lord! The enemy can’t catch you off guard!  Even the Psalmist said, “my FOOT almost slipped” the reason it didn’t was because my FOOTING is established by the One who said “Now unto Him who is able to KEEP YOU FROM FALLING”!  

13…The enemy won’t mess with a Rock Badger because Numbers 23:9 declares from the top of the ROCKS I SEE HIM! The enemy won’t mess with a Rock Badger because a Rock Badger has VISION! A Rock Badger has KEEN EYESIGHT. And if it’s one person the enemy will not mess with it’s a person with VISION! A Rock Badger can detect movement up to a mile away! You see, Rock Badgers are so high up in the ROCKS, they’re close to the SUN, which causes them to be an easy target for predators. But what the predators don’t know is that the Rock Badger is equipped with a special membrane which filters the rays of the sun! The Rock Badger can look directly at the sun with no adverse effects! The enemy won’t mess with a Rock Badger because they’re close to the Sun and can easily spot their attackers! Likewise, when you possess Rock Badger Characteristics you learn how to go high up and KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE SON, He will expose your attacks and attackers and you will escape the Hand of the Enemy! 

14…The reason the enemy won’t mess with a Rock Badger is because when a Rock Badger is about to be attacked by a predator, the Rock Badger OPENS HIS MOUTH AND LETS OUT A LOUD BARK! You can’t be a Rock Badger and be Silent! PRAISE is your weapon! Adult Rock Badgers use at least 21 DIFFERENT VOCAL SIGNALS! So whether you hit every key or none of the keys, JUST OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND GO FORTH IN PRAISE! The Rock Badgers use their VOICE TO DENOTE DANGER that a predator is near! Likewise, you need to OPEN YOUR MOUTH and let your VOICE CRY OUT when the enemy is at hand! Why? Because God is drawn and attracted to PRAISE! The Bible says PRAISE is ‘Comely’ for the Believer, or it’s just plain Natural for a believer to OPEN THEIR MOUTH IN PRAISE! You need to SOUND FORTH A SIGNAL to the heavenlies that danger is at hand and watch God come to see who’s messing with His PRAISE and His PRAISER! 

15…The enemy won’t mess with a Rock Badger because a Rock Badger has RESOURCES in the Rocks! Revelation 6:15 declares “And the KINGS of the earth, and the GREAT MEN, and the RICH MEN, and the CHIEF CAPTAINS, and the MIGHTY MEN, and every BONDMAN, and every FREE MAN, hid themselves in the dens and in the ROCKS of the mountains” The reason the enemy won’t mess with you is because of your RESOURCES in the ROCKS! Why walk in fear when your RESOURCES are KINGS, GREAT MEN, RICH MEN, CHIEF CAPTAINS, MIGHTY MEN, BONDMEN, AND FREE MEN? Your RESOURCES in the ROCKS are those of AUTHORITY and POWER! You Have Nothing to Fear! 

16…The enemy won’t mess with a Rock Badger because Matthew 7:24-25 declares “Therefore whosoever hearth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his HOUSE UPON A ROCK: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that HOUSE; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a ROCK”. Stop fearing for your HOUSEHOLD for the Word declares that the HOUSE built and founded upon a ROCK shall not fall even though rains descends, floods come and winds blow, your HOUSE will still remain standing! Don’t let the enemy cause you to be fearful for your FAMILY! Just build them in the ROCKS and he doesn’t stand a chance! 

17…The enemy won’t mess with the CHURCH of a Rock Badger (Pastors) because according to Matthew 16:18, “…upon this ROCK I will build my CHURCH; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” Don’t let the enemy throw fears your way concerning your CHURCH, he doesn’t have a prayer! The promise is that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it! 

18…The enemy can’t intimidate the Rock Badger with being compared to others, because a Rock Badger is UNIQUE and RARE! You see, they’re FEATURES are a mixture of other animals! It has the incisors of a RODENT; the molars of a RHINO; the vascular system of a WHALE; and the feet of an ELEPHANT! It’s the only animal that’s that DIVERSE. You see, Rock Badgers refuse to be boxed in and stuck in a Status Quo! So what you’re DIFFERENT! Take advantage of it! It’s a blessing, not a curse! That’s why the enemy should never under-estimate a Rock Badger! Because as small and “feeble” as they are, they yet have the FEATURES of 3 of the LARGEST  and most POWERFUL animals in the Animal Kingdom! Don’t worry if people judge you by your LOOKS or SIZE! Just let them know, ‘I’m BIGGER, BETTER and BADDER than you think!’

19…The enemy won’t mess with a Rock Badger because a Rock Badger can EAT AND DIGEST LARGE SUMS OF FOOD! Rock Badgers don’t settle for the Milk of the Word; Rock Badgers EAT and DIGEST the MEAT OF THE WORD, and does it in LARGE SUMS! The enemy knows not to mess with a Rock Badger because they’re FILLED WITH TOO MUCH MEAT! As a Rock Badger, FILLED WITH THE MEAT OF THE WORD, what or who have you ever got to fear?! 

20…The enemy won’t mess with a Rock Badger because HE CAN’T REACH HIM Psalm 61:2 says, “When my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the ROCK that is HIGHER than I”. The enemy is a SNAKE and SNAKES can’t handle HIGH ALTITUDES! So if you’re fearful of the enemy, YOU’RE LIVING TOO LOW! 

Lastly, Leviticus 11:5 in the God’s Word Translation reads: “You must never eat Rock Badgers…”  People of God, have no fear, you can’t be DEVOURED! Rock Badgers in the Old Testament were considered unclean because they chew the cud and have a split hoof. Therefore, a Rock Badger couldn’t be eaten because of WHAT IT ATE AND THE WAY IT WALKED! Likewise with you, the enemy cannot DEVOUR you Because of WHAT YOU EAT AND THE WAY YOU WALK! When you FEED on the MEAT of God’s Word, it will cause you to WALK in the Way of God’s Word, and because of What You EAT and the Way You WALK, You Cannot Be DEVOURED! 

According to the Word of God, He is the ROCK of His people; He is the ROCK of Strength; He is the ROCK of Defense; He is the Rock of a FORTRESS; He is the ROCK Refuge; He is the ROCK of Salvation; He is the ROCK in a Weary Land! And as a Rock Badger that Lives in the ROCK, What or Whom Shall You Ever Fear?! Answer: NOTHING AND NO ONE!

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged
Feel free to also join us at: http://www.selfcarewithdrshermaine.blogspot.com Today’s Lesson: “Is the 80/20 Diet for You?”

“Leadership Lessons From Nehemiah!”

Nehemiah carried a deep passion for God, his people, and his homeland. When he heard of the condition of the wall in Jerusalem, his grief overwhelmed him and exploded into a passion to see it restored. As cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, he asked permission from the king to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall of his city. Nehemiah recognized a problem and took the necessary action to influence his countrymen to restore and rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. With God on his side and after much prayer and careful consideration, he planned, contributed, inspired, and overcame obstacles until the walls were supernaturally completed in just fifty-two days!

DID YOU KNOW? City walls seem insignificant in our modern era, but in Nehemiah’s day, they were as vital to life as electricity and running water are to us today. Strong walls provided security and served as protection against outside enemies. When we read that Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of the city in fifty-two days, the reconstruction sounds like it was a walk in the park, right? But the truth is that it was a miraculous achievement. In order to adequately secure the ninety acres of the city, the wall had to be eight feet thick at the base, twenty to thirty feet high, and almost two miles long! The west and north walls were repairable, but the other walls had to be Completely Rebuilt From Scratch! It’s no wonder Nehemiah looked to God First in Prayer BEFORE he ever took action!

LEADERSHIP LESSON #1: START WITH PRAYER! “Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and PRAY [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) PRAYER of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]” (James 5:16 AMP). After Nehemiah received the difficult news that Jerusalem’s holy city walls were still in shambles, He Immediately Turned to Prayer! It wasn’t a quick Prayer either, but instead it included fasting that lasted for days. He considered God’s promises and believed that he himself was a part of the answer – a part of God’s plans. Therefore, he honored God and recognized Him as the Only One who could help him and his people. So he repented for his countrymen and asked God for favor with the king to grant him permission to go and rebuild. Nehemiah was a man of action, BUT he took time to prepare his heart, allowing God room to work according to His Will. Leaders of God, do you allow your passion to motivate you to pour your heart out to God in Prayer before beginning Projects? Remember this: Effective Leadership goes a step further to hear and to do the Will of God, before listening or doing anything else. It’s wonderful to get to work, but more important to get to prayer, BEFORE getting to work!

“Leadership requires vision, and whence will vision come except from hours spent in the presence of God in humble and fervent prayer?” (Aiden Wilson Tozer); “The spiritual leader should outpace the rest of the church, above all, in prayer.” (J. Oswald Sanders); “Prayer-leadership preserves the spirituality of the Church, just as prayerless leaders make for unspiritual conditions.” (Edward McKendree Bounds); Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything is depending on you.” (Saint Augustine); “Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them.” (Rabindranath Tagore); “God is looking for people to use, and if you can get usable, He will wear you out. The most dangerous prayer you can pray is: ‘Lord, Use Me.’”

LEADERSHIP LESSON #2: ASK FOR DIRECTION! “O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere and fear Your name (Your nature and attributes); and prosper, I pray You, Your servant this day and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was cupbearer to the king” (Nehemiah 1:11 AMP). Nehemiah wasn’t afraid to ask for help! He desperately prayed for direction, eagerly listening for God’s response as he plotted a solution for Jerusalem. When the king noticed his anxiety, he inquired about Nehemiah’s heaviness of heart. It alarmed Nehemiah because it was dangerous to demonstrate sorrow while in the presence of the king. But God brought peace to his heart and gave him the courage to ask the king for permission to go to Jerusalem. Life is so busy that it’s difficult to hear God sometimes. But when we live our lives with a consistently open heart and prayerful attitude, we can receive direction from God as life’s circumstances unfold before us. Leaders of God, never be so proud that you can’t ask for help! And the first person you should seek help from is not the people, but God! Ask Him for direction and guidance! After all His Word admonishes us: “Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 AMP.

“Leadership is the ability to guide others without force into a direction or decision that leaves them still feeling empowered and accomplished.” (Lisa Cash Hanson); “Rowing harder doesn’t help if the boat is headed in the wrong direction.” (Kenichi Ohmae); “Direction is so much more important than speed. Many are going nowhere fast.”; “A leader is responsible for his or her personal direction, growth, and development.” (Glenn C. Stewart)

LEADERSHIP LESSON #3: TAKE OWNERSHIP! “Hanani, one of my kinsmen, came with certain men from Judah, and I asked them about the surviving Jews who had escaped exile, and about Jerusalem. And they said to me, The remnant there in the province who escaped exile are in great trouble and reproach; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its [fortified] gates are destroyed by fire. When I heard this, I sat down and wept and mourned for days and fasted and prayed [constantly] before the God of heaven,” (Nehemiah 1:2-4 AMP). Nehemiah had a prominent role in society as the king’s cupbearer. Often in the presence of the king, he had opportunity to speak to him, perhaps sometimes even influencing his decisions. In other words, He could have allowed his cushy job to keep him from feeling responsible for Jerusalem, convincing himself that it was someone else’s responsibility to restore the city. Instead, he allowed himself to be overcome with a passionate ambition to tackle it himself. He felt the pain of his holy city and looked to God for consolation and direction. Even though Nehemiah didn’t live in Jerusalem, he Took Ownership of his city – God’s City. Leaders of God, True Leaders are Willing to Take Responsibility and Personal Accountability instead of Waiting for Someone Else to Act. With that said, is there something God wants you to do? Then what are you waiting for? Ask Him about it and get to it, Today! Stop Waiting And Wasting Time That You Cannot Get Back! Don’t Miss Your Moment To Be A Part Of Something Great! It’s Time to Take Responsibility for Taking the City!

“Leadership involves the heavy burden of responsibility, and the fear of getting it wrong can paralyze a leader.” (John C. Maxwell); “Follow up and follow through until the task is completed, the prize won.” (Brian Tracy); “Leadership is not rank, privileges, title or money. It is responsibility.” (Peter Drucker); “Leadership is about taking responsibility, not making excuses.” (Mitt Romney); “The price of leadership is responsibility…and part of that responsibility is to stay positive whether you feel like it or not.” (Lou Holtz); “Leadership is a responsibility to do more, not an excuse to do less.” (Scott Schroeder); “Leadership is about vision and responsibility, not power.” (Seth Berkley); “Rank does not confer privilege or give power. It imposes responsibility.” (Peter Drucker); “Leadership starts with understanding responsibility, not ability. Leadership is a stewardship, not a show.” (Rick Warren); “Real leadership is not about prestige, power, or status. It is about responsibility.” (Robert L. Joss)

LEADERSHIP LESSON #4: HOLD OTHERS ACCOUNTABLE! “And came to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah in preparing him [an adversary] a chamber in the courts of the house of God! And it grieved me exceedingly, and I threw all the house furnishings of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the cereal offerings and the frankincense. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who did the work [forced by necessity] had each fled to his field. Then I contented with the officials and said, Why is the house of God neglected and forsaken? I gathered the Levites and singers and set them in their stations.” (Nehemiah 13:7-11 AMP). Nehemiah returned to Babylon after twelve years in Jerusalem. Though he was only gone for a short time, he found when he returned to Jerusalem that the Jews had seriously defied God’s Law. Allowing marriages between foreigners and Jews was the very thing that brought the curse of captivity upon them, and Nehemiah called the people to be Accountable. He cleaned house and set the foreigners outside the city, shutting the city gates so people would be unable to work on the Sabbath day. He restored the temple and the priest to their rightful places. Nehemiah restored order by doing some things that the Leadership of the city didn’t necessarily like, but it was Important that he hold them Accountable. Leaders of God, doing what is right isn’t always easy or popular, but Leadership Requires Accountability in our Personal Lives and in the lives of those we lead. After all, the Word of God Admonishes Us: “Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (KJV); “Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust]” (1 Corinthians 4:2 AMP). You Cannot Acquire Respect Until You’ve Acknowledged Accountability!

“Leadership is stewardship, it’s temporary and you’re accountable.” (Andy Stanley); “The best leader brings out the best in those he has stewardship over.” (J. Richard Clarke); “Leadership is neither showmanship nor dictatorship. Leadership is a stewardship and partnership.” (Rick Warren); “Hold yourselves accountable before you are held accountable.”; “Championship teams are built on being prepared, playing unselfishly and being held accountable.” (Jason Kidd); “It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.” (Molier)

LEADERSHIP LESSON #5: OPPOSE THE OPPOSITION! “Also I said to the king, If it pleases the king, let letters be given me for the governors beyond the [Euphrates] River, that they may let me pass through to Judah, And a letter to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest or park, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple and for the city wall and for the house that I shall occupy. And the king granted what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me. When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard this, it distressed them exceedingly that a man had come to inquire for and require the good and prosperity of the Israelites.” (Nehemiah 2:7-8, 10 AMP). Opposition to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem had been gaining strength for Ninety Years, spurred on by those who had settled on the Jews’ land after they were taken into captivity. That Opposition quickly greeted Nehemiah when he arrived on the scene. Leaders from the outskirts of Jerusalem did not take kindly to this not-so-ordinary exile. But Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer and adviser. He arrived with letters from the king giving him the power and authority to rebuild the walls and fortify the city, and he would not be turned away! Leaders of God, when God has given you an assignment, it’s Vital that you Remain Determined to Succeed No Matter What! Nehemiah worked hard and remained dedicated to rebuilding the city in the face of ridicule! Are You That Determined In The Face of Opposition Not To Abort Your Assignment?

“Great leadership isn’t shaped in the absence of opposition but in the presence of it.” (Charles M. Blow); “Great leadership is not the visit of an unexpected fate but rather a flame which is kept burning in spite of the winds of risk and opposition.” (Mary Anne Radmacher); “Greatness is not measured by what a man or woman accomplishes, but by the opposition he or she has overcome to reach his goals.” (Dorothy Height); “No true greatness was ever achieved without significant opposition.”; “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” (Albert Einstein); “You face your greatest opposition when your closest to your biggest miracle.” (Bishop T.D. Jakes); “Nobody progresses without opposition.” (Mahatma Gandhi); “When the winds of adversity come, remember one thing – kites fly the very highest against the wind. Kites don’t fly in spite of opposition, kites fly high because of opposition. In fact, they couldn’t fly without opposition.”; “The breakfast of champions is not cereal, it’s the opposition.” (Nick Seitz)

LEADERSHIP LESSON #6: BE A SPIRITUAL ANCHOR! “Then all the people gathered together as one man in the broad place before the Water Gate; and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all of them, This day is holy to the Lord your God; mourn not nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Law” (Nehemiah 8:1, 9 AMP). Nehemiah was not Jerusalem’s religious leader. Although he served as governor, Ezra was the scribe and religious teacher in Nehemiah’s day. Nehemiah was just so moved by his personal relationship with God that he dedicated each day of his life to doing God’s Will. Nehemiah lived the conviction he believed, and working with Ezra, Nehemiah pointed his people back to God. As the Law of Moses was read, the people grieved when they began to understand just how far they had moved beyond what God had instructed them to do. Leaders of God, we need Strong Leaders to help Shape Our World. Nehemiah shaped his city for God and led the people By Example to do the right thing According to God’s Word. He lived his life as a Spiritual Anchor for others that they could draw strength from in times of spiritual unrest. Are You a Nehemiah Leader? One Who Causes the People You Lead to Repent and Return to God from Their Rebellion? Do People Seek You Out to Help Them Get Back Into Right Standing With God, Even if That Includes Correction; Rebuke and Reprove? Do People Seek to Live Better Because of Your Example Before Them?

“The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own personal example.” (John Wooden); “Example is leadership.” (Albert Schweitzer); “Leadership is not a position or a title, it is action and example.”; “People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.” (John C. Maxwell); “The best example of leadership is leadership by example.” (Jerry McClain); “A leader leads by example not by force.” (Sun Tzu); “Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.” (Albert Schweitzer); “Leadership means setting an example. When you find yourself in a position of leadership, people follow your every move.” (Lee Iacocca); “If a leader shows strong discipline, others will see it and cooperate with the expectations placed on them. At this point, leadership by example is crucial.” (J. Oswald Sanders); “Leadership is an active, living process. It is rooted in character, forged by experience, and communicated by example.” (John Baldoni); “A godly leaders finds strength by realizing his weakness; finds authority by being under authority; finds direction by laying down his plans; finds vision by seeing the needs of others; finds credibility by being an example; finds loyalty by expressing compassion; finds honor by being faithful; finds greatness by being a servant.” (Roy Lessin)

LEADERSHIP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Most things in life worth having – even a strong relationship with God – require overcoming opposition. What things have you had to fight for, or even stand your ground for, in pursuit of building your relationship with God?
2. Nehemiah’s opposition tried to get him to compromise after they saw he would not be stopped. What things have you been tempted to compromise in your walk with God?
3. Nehemiah held fast to the truths of God’s Word for himself and his people. What are some of your favorite Scriptures that you hold fast to for your life, especially in hard and challenging times?
4. Are you known to go to God in prayer before attempting an assignment for God?
5. Are you known to seek God’s direction, or man’s?
6. Do you take ownership for the thing that goes Wrong in the church, in the business or in your home?
7. Are you a proven leader who can hold others accountable, because you hold yourself accountable?
8. How do you handle opposition?
9. Would those you lead (be it in business, church or your home) consider you a spiritual anchor? Why or why not?
10. How Will Nehemiah’s Lessons On Leadership Provoke You To Be Better?

Let today be the day you learn great lessons set by Nehemiah’s example of godly leadership!

Much Love, Dr. Shermaine #EnjoyTheRead #BeInspired #BeEncouraged #BeEmpowered #BeChallenged #BeAnExample
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