HOW YOU CAN BUILD HEALTHY ALLIANCES AND SUCCEED

Let me begin by relating a story that I read which will help to put this into its proper context.  The story is told about a boy who valiantly, but unsuccessfully, attempted to move a heavy log to clear a pathway to his favorite hideout.  His dad stood quietly nearby, watching his son straining against the load.  Finally, he said, “Son, why aren’t you using all of your strength?”

Confused and a little angry, the boy responded, “Dad, I’m using every last little bit of strength I have!”  “No, son, you’re not,” his dad quietly responded.  “You haven’t asked me to help.”

Effective leaders use all of their strength by recognizing, developing and utilizing the people, around them.  They know how to develop healthy alliances, both with those on their own team and those on other teams.

In addition, effective leaders possess the unique ability to build alliances with people who can help to advance their causes.  What alliances do you now have that are mutually beneficial?  What do you do to foster them and to encourage their growth?  Can you think of any alliances, professional or personal that are having a negative impact on you or on others?

Now think again about the short story at the beginning.  Are there people who are standing quietly by, watching you strain away with your tasks?  Part of your task as leader is to form healthy alliances and to encourage others to step forward and help you.  By doing so, you will accomplish two goals: lightening your own load and helping to develop leadership qualities in others.

As the perfect and eternal community of being, God is the ultimate embodiment of a healthy alliance.  The perfect love that flows between the Father and the Son is manifested as a third eternal Person, the Holy Spirit.  The amazing truth is that God wants us to enter into the depths of this unity.

We as people were created for community.  Even hermits frequently live in colonies!  But alliances with others can be either healthy or toxic, and it is essential that we take this into account when we engage in personal and business partnerships.  We all need allies on whom we can rely and whom we can trust in the tough times.

Perhaps no other American leader is as admired as Abraham Lincoln.  And one of this great leader’s greatest assets was his ability to build healthy alliances-even with difficult people.  In his excellent book, Lincoln on Leadership, Donald T. Phillips points out how Lincoln built such strong alliances.

This is what Donald T. Phillips observed, “Abraham Lincoln gained the trust and strong alliances on both a personal and professional levels.”  Lincoln knew what every skilled leader knows:  Healthy alliances are crucial to making a leader’s vision become a reality.

Solomon’s words encapsulate both the benefits and the dangers of forming alliances, and while those words reflect wisdom, putting them into practice requires skill.  Lincoln was so skilled at and committed to forging strong alliances that, upon occasion, he overcame others negative feelings toward him.  William H. Seward, Lincoln’s secretary of state, initially considered the president unqualified and incompetent to run the administration and lead the country.  Seward’s feelings were so negative that he submitted his resignation before the inauguration.

Because Lincoln considered Seward a strategic leader, he met with him immediately after taking oath and persuaded him to stay by appealing to his patriotism and sense of self-worth.  In the months that followed, their relationship hit a few bumps:  Seward discovered that he could not control the president.

Yet in spite of their differences, Lincoln won Seward’s support and loyalty by reaching out on a personal level.  The president would stop by the secretary’s home for lengthy visits.  The two would take carriage rides together in and around Washington.  Because they shared a deep commitment to the country and a common set of values and ethics, they eventually forged a strong friendship.

While no leader will win every potential ally into his or her camp, following Lincoln’s example might prove helpful.  Phillips summarized Lincoln’s strategy when he wrote, “Simply spending time together and getting to know one’s subordinates can overcome mountains of personal differences and hard feelings.  If followers learn that their leader is firm, resolute, and committed in the daily performance of his duty, respect can be gained and trust will soon follow.  Lincoln’s approach will not work for everyone.  Some employees will not come around.  However, the vast majority the most competent and honest ones will.

BELIEVERS MUST BE THE SALT OF THE EARTH

When Jesus took His disciples into the mountains, he taught them that they must become the salt of the Earth.  He likened His disciples to salt.  They were to the world what salt is in everyday life: salt season’s food; it hinders the spread of corruption; it creates thirst; it brings out the flavor.  Therefore, His followers add piquancy to human society, serve as a preservative, and make others long for the righteousness.

Before we continue this part of the discussion, allow me to give you a brief history of salt, in order that it may add some additional favor to this study.

Salt has been a precious commodity since ancient times.  It was often traded ounce for ounce for gold.  The early Chinese used coins made of salt for currency.  In many areas around the Mediterranean Sea, salt cakes were used as currency.  Several ancient cultures also levied taxes on salt.

The main sources of salt in ancient times were dry coastal areas, particularly those surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.  The earlier trade routes centered on Spain, Italy, Greece, and Egypt, and many of the first roads and caravan routes were established for the purpose of transporting salt.  A number of cities, including Genoa, Pisa, and Venice, developed as centers for the salt trade.

In the 1300’s, people near the coast of the North Sea in northern Europe began trading for salt, which they needed to preserve fish for shipping to inland markets.  Later, salt was obtained by boiling the brine from salt springs, and many cities and towns grew up near such springs throughout Europe.

The process of boiling brine to obtain salt required large supplies of wood for fuel, but this problem was partly solved in the 1700’s after coal began to be widely used.  England became the largest producer of salt in the world at that time, partly because of its abundant supply of coal.

Colonial America received most of its salt from England.  After the Revolutionary War in America (1775-1783), salt works were established along the Atlantic Coast for boiling seawater.  A salt industry also grew up near where the city of Syracuse, N.Y., now stands, after salt springs were discovered there.  The need to transport salt from Syracuse was one of the main reasons for the construction of the Erie Canal, completed in 1825.

Deep-drilling technology was introduced into salt production in the early 1800’s.  Most early wells were drilled to improve the quality of salt springs that were already being used in salt production and to locate new ones.  Production of salt from underground mines began in the mid-1800’s.

Drilling helped revolutionize knowledge of the earth’s layers.  This new knowledge led to increased exploration for salt, potash, and petroleum and salt exploration indirectly gave rise to such industries as the potash industry and the petroleum industry.

Today, the U.S. government is investigating the possibility of storing radioactive wastes in underground salt mines.  Salt mines have several characteristics that make them good sites for radioactive wastes.  For example, they have remained stable and dry for millions of years, and most salt mines occur in areas where earthquakes are extremely rare.  Salt also is capable of absorbing heat from surrounding objects, and it flows to seal up fractures that form in the walls.

This is a principle Jesus clearly understood and He wanted to make sure that His disciples understood it also in order that they too could teach it to the rest of the world.  Jesus told them that if the salt loses its flavor, how can its saltiness be restored.  There is no way to restore the true, natural taste.  Once it has lost its flavor, salt is good for nothing.  As salt preserves and brings out the best flavor of food, so believers should be the salt of the earth and affect others positively.  Jesus told his disciples that if they wanted to make a difference in the world, they would have to be different from the world.  God would hold them accountable to maintain their saltiness (that is, their usefulness).  We must be different if we want to make a difference.  We must be the salt of the earth.

ACCOMPLISH THE IMPOSSIBLE BY YOUR FAITH IN GOD

Mark 11:20-24 (Amplified Bible)

²⁰In the morning, when they were passing along, they noticed that the fig tree was withered [completely] away to its roots.

    ²¹And Peter remembered and said to Him, Master, look! The fig tree which You doomed has withered away!

    ²²And Jesus, replying, said to them, Have faith in God [constantly].

    ²³Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him.

    ²⁴For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will [get it].

Today as we begin our study of this text we have set before us two precepts, (1) absolute faith and (2) doing the absolute impossible.

The precept of the first asks the question of why was the fig tree both cursed and withered.  This passage emphasizes the power of true faith.  Some have suggested that the fig tree represented Israel, which bore no fruit and would soon face the judgment of God.

The second precept illustrates the casting of an enormous mountain into the sea is an extreme example of the absolutely impossible.  Let us understand that Jesus always insistent upon simply believing.  The point here is, having faith in God can accomplish the impossible.

The next morning, Tuesday, Jesus and his disciples passed by the same fig tree they had passed the day before.  Jesus had cursed the tree, saying that no one would ever eat from it.  By the next day, in the morning light, they could see that the tree had withered.

The disciples could not think why that fig-tree should so soon wither away; but all wither who reject Christ; it represented the state of the Jewish church. We should rest in no religion that does not make us fruitful in good works. Our lives are supposed to be the living example of the fruit trees.  If we are truly living for Christ and walking in our faith, we will bare much fruit.

This incident is the Savior’s interpretation of the tumultuous welcome He had just received in Jerusalem.  Fig trees in Bible lands produced an early edible fruit before the leaves appeared.  It was a harbinger of the regular crop, here described as the season for figs.  If no early figs appeared, it was a sign that there would be no regular crop later on.  When Jesus came to the nation of Israel, there were leaves, which speak of profession, but there was no fruit for God.  This reminds me of the farmers saying, “The harvest is ripe, but the labors are few.”  There was promise without fulfillment, profession without reality.  Jesus was hungry for fruit from the nation.  Because there was no early fruit, He knew that there would be no later fruit from that unbelieving people, and so He cursed the fig tree. 

After this incident, Christ taught them from hence to pray in faith. It may be applied to that mighty faith with which all true Christians are endued, and which does wonders in spiritual things. It justifies us, and so removes mountains of guilt, never to rise up in judgment against us. It purifies the heart, and so removes mountains of corruption, and makes them plain before the grace of God. One great errand to the throne of grace is to pray for the pardon of our sins; and care about this ought to be our daily concern. (Mark 11:27-33)

Jesus did not explain why he cursed the fig tree, and we don’t know whether the disciples understood Jesus meaning.  Yet his words to them could mean that despite the coming judgment on spiritual laxity in Israel, they would be safe if they had faith in God.  Their faith should not rest in a kingdom they hoped Jesus would set up, in obeying the Jewish laws, or in their position as Jesus disciples.  Their faith should rest in God alone.  When we think about this, we must ask the question of ourselves, “Where does our faith rest?”

Jesus then moved swiftly in teaching them a lesson about answers to prayer.  Jesus had cursed the fig tree; the fig tree had died; the disciples had expressed surprise.  Then Jesus explained that they could ask anything of God and receive an answer.  This mountain (referring to the Mount of Olives on which they stood) could be sent into the sea (the Dead Sea that could be seen from the Mount).  Jesus point was that in their petitions to God they must believe and not doubt (that is, without wavering in their confidence in God).  Remember, faith and doubt cannot live in the same house at the same time.  The kind of prayer Jesus meant was not the arbitrary wish to move a mountain; instead, he was referring to prayers that the disciples would need to endlessly pray as they faced mountains of opposition to their gospel message in the years to come.  Their prayers for the advancement of God’s Kingdom would always be answered positively in God’s timing.

However, as we look at the straight forward teaching of Jesus concerning the character of God and that God’s character never changes, Jesus told them that there was no guarantee that simply by asking him anything they wanted and believing they could get it.  Now don’t you become discourage in what Jesus is saying to the disciples, but listen how he instructs them on the moral high ground of God.  He says to them, “God does not grant request that violate his own nature or will.  Jesus statement was not a blank check.  To be fulfilled, requests made to God in prayer must be in harmony with the principles of God’s Kingdom.  They must be made in Jesus name.

Now turn with me for a moment in your Bibles to (John 14:13-14).  Listen to what it says, “¹³ And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (NIV). The stronger our faith, the more likely our prayers will be in union with Christ and in line with God’s will; then God would be happy to grant them.  God can accomplish anything, even if it seems humanly impossible.

Impossibility is not a word that should be used in our lexicon.  In understanding this text we should be moved into action.  Know that in our minds we can do anything in the name of Jesus.  There is no mountain to high that we cannot climb, no valley to low that we cannot walk through. 

We should not become like the motions of the ocean.  Always going back and forth, but we should be so rooted and grounded in our faith that no matter what comes after us we will always be able to with stand it.  We are built of strong timber, the timber of Jesus Christ.  When God says that nothing is impossible, we must learn to trust God in his word.  Knowing that God can never tell a lie, if he does he will deny himself.  God never makes a promise that he does not fulfill.  Our faith must be rooted and grounded in the word of God.  Our spirit must be one of can do.  Having a can do spirit will remove the mountains of impossibility from your life.

When the doctors says to you that you only have six months to live, and there is nothing else they can do for you.  Your attitude must be one of faith.  Faith in Jesus, Faith that if Jesus said it, it is a done deal.  Jesus said that if you believe in God without doubt in your mind, nothing is impossible. 

Change your thinking and you will change your life.  Tell the doctor that my God said not until he says it is time for me to go, that I will leave this world.  I can overcome this, I will overcome this because I am leaning and depending on my God.  I am an over comer, I am born in the Spirit of the living God.  For me nothing is impossible.  Today not only do I talk the talk, but I am walking the walk.  I am walking out my faith in the name of Jesus.  I know that my God did not bring me this far to leave me.  He promised me that He would never put on me more than I could bear.  I am standing on that promise, because I know that this check that my God has given to me, I can deposit it into my bank account and it will never bounce.  Faith, Faith, Faith, it is my faith that will always see my through.  Come on now let’s walk it out, talk it out.  Let’s tell the devil, devil get thee behind me, because I am holding onto My God’s unchanging hands. 

Faith, Faith, Faith, there is nothing that is impossible in my world.  Step by step I am moving closer to where My God is trying to take me. It was nothing but Grace that brought me through the tribulations of this life.  It was nothing but God’s grace that brought me up on the rough side of the mountain and planted my feet right here where I am standing today.

Now sing this hymn with me, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!  I once was lost but now I am found, I was blind but now I see.  Taws grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!”

It was God’s grace that gave me the opportunity to change my thinking, It is my faith that has sustained me, it is my faith that has healed me, and I know that it is my faith that will move any mountain in my life, because I believe in the true and living God. What about you?  In Jesus name, Amen.

 

 

By Rev. Davis M. Byars, Jr.

Matthews 21:18-22

 

Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered.

 

And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it; Let no fruit grow on the thee henceforward forever.  And presently the fig tree withered away.

 

And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, how soon is the fig tree withered away!

 

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

 

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

 

You said you could move this mountain, and then what are you waiting on?

 

What stopping you from doing what you said you could do.

 

Why are you just talking about it and not actively doing it

 

The Lord has told you it could be done

 

He said, if you had the faith of a grain of mustard seed, you could command this mountain to be move and it would be done

 

What is the problem?

 

Do you not believe?

 

Touch somebody and ask them, do you not believe

 

Is your faith so weak that you doubt the word?

 

It was by the word that all things came into being

 

In the beginning was the word, the word was with God and the word was God

 

Faith and doubt cannot live in the same house

 

The Bible tells us not to be unevenly yoked

 

How are you going to grow in your faith and then allow Satan to put you in bondage by placing the yoke of doubt around your neck?

 

The Lord has commanded you to move this mountain, now what are you going to do

 

We all have mountains in our lives

 

We all have trails and tribulations

 

We all are faced with difficult decisions that we must make

 

Some of us will make those difficult decisions and move on

 

Others will sit around and procrastate

 

But if the Lord has given you a command to do a thing and assured you it could be done and gave you a promise that he would never put on you more than you can bare.  Has told you that he would never leave you are forsaking you.  Then what are you waiting on?

 

Look at your neighbor and ask them, Neighbor what are you waiting on?

 

Some of you are sitting around wondering, why is God not blessing me with the things I have asked him for?

 

You see, when your mind is stuck in yesterday dreams, and the Lord has commanded you to removed those mountains in your life, and all you have done is to sit around and complain about what you can’t do, and how that is an impossible task.   It takes no genius to figure out why your life is in the shape and condition it is in.

 

Now let me park this thing right here in a no parking zone:

 

Now let’s look at Matthews 21:21. 

 

Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith, and doubt not.

 

You see right here Jesus is telling you faith and doubt cannot live in the same house.

 

Touch your neighbor and say, faith and doubt cannot live in this house

 

In order for you to move those mountains in your life, faith must prevail over doubt.

 

There cannot be a sliver of doubt in your mind about doing the impossible if you want to achieve the possible.

 

The impossible is achieved when your faith is the strongest.

 

If you want to achieve greatness in your life, remove the doubt from your life.

 

Grab whole of the possibilities that are standing and knocking at your door saying let me in.  

 

I want to make you great

 

I want to give you the desires of your heart

 

I want to make you rich

 

I want to make you wealthy

 

I want to make you famous

 

Don’t you know that I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

 

I am Alpha and Omega

 

I am the author and finisher of your faith

 

If I have created you to have faith, I have also finished it in such a way that nothing is impossible unto you.

 

Stop doubting and start believing

 

Now let me stop right here on the other side of town and park my limo in this negative parking zone for a moment.

 

Now look down there at Matthew 21:22

 

Verse 22 says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

 

Listen to what the Lord is telling you right here.

 

Jesus is straight forward; He is bold and confident in what He is saying to you. 

 

He says, “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

 

Jesus didn’t say some things, but instead, he said all things that you may desire to have in your life or have removed from your life; all you need to do is take them to the Lord in prayer.

 

Jesus said; when you come to me in prayer, leave your doubts outside the door.

 

Come boldly before the throne

 

Come with your faith strongly in tack

 

Come believing that whatsoever you are asking me for, you will receive it.

 

Come with a can do spirit

 

Know in your heart that I am a God of possibilities

 

And I will grant you the power to move that mountain

 

No mountain shall be too high for you to climb

 

 

To wide for you to cross over

 

To deep for you to go through

 

Command that mountain to be removed from your life and it shall be done.

 

Stop doubting

 

Stop using the negative

 

Thinking it is going to accent the positive

 

To move these mountains

 

You got to change your thinking

 

You got to get up and move out of your negative community

 

That means changing your friends

 

And in some cases

 

Changing your family members

 

You got to start a new thing

 

Jesus said he was going to do a new thing

 

Will you follow him

 

And start to believe in the impossible

 

Because nothing is impossible for the Lord

 

Nothing is to hard for the Lord

 

Don’t you want to get aboard this train of great possibilities

 

 

 Before it leaves the station.

 

God is able

 

Pick up your cross and follow the one who can do all things but fail

 

Remove the mountain of problems, stagnation, doubt, envy, greed, fear, jealousy, and unforgiving spirit.