IS YOUR LEADERSHIP VISION CONSISTENT WITH GOD PURPOSE?

Jesus a visionary Leader-In-The-Wilderness-Ivan-Kramskoy

Few things are more important to effective leadership than a VISION.  Godly leaders foresee something out there, vague as it might appear from the distance that others do not see.  Godly leaders who are followers of Christ must first have a VISION of who God is and the future he holds for them.  They must also have a sense of what God has called them to do.  Once they understand it, then they must take hold of the leadership role that has been given to them and begin to fulfill the role with a godly vision.

What is the focus of your life?  Are you a person of passion for the things of God, or is that passion just a sporadic experience for you?  If you had to describe the compelling treasure as a visionary leader in your life, what would it look like?

It is crucial for a leader to know how to identify and cultivate a personal vision.  However, where does such a visions originate?  When you are in God’s will, understand God’s purpose for your life and are truly ready to follow God’s directions, he will create in you the vision for His will and His purpose for your life.  When the Prophet Habakkuk was attempting to understand God’s purpose, he question God and this is what God told him to do, God said, “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”  (Habakkuk 2:3-4 ESV)

In his book Visionary Leadership, Burt Nanus defines a VISION as “a realistic, credible, attractive future for your organization.  It is your articulation of a destination toward which your organization should aim, a future that is better, more successful, or more desirable for your organization than is the present.”  Nanus contends that the right vision “Is an idea so energizing that it in effect jump-starts the future by calling forth the skills, talents, and resources to make it happen.”

Over the course of his ministry, Jesus consistently cast an energizing vision of the coming kingdom of God.  He repeatedly described the character and conduct that would define
citizens of that kingdom.  The Lord’s vision was so compelling that the twelve disciples left everything to follow his lead.  Thousands of others also took their direction from him.

Yet, in spite of the Lord’s consistent message, the disciples had a hard time grasping the fact that ushering in the kingdom of God would require suffering.  When Jesus clearly explained his impending death, Peter rebuked him for making such an assertion.  He was probably shocked when the Lord abruptly turned the tables and said, “Get behind me, Satan!”  Peter’s problem was that he allowed his personal and self-centered agenda to box in God’s plan.  Ultimately, such self-serving visions are satanically inspired.

Leaders need to be sure their vision is consistent with God’s purpose.  Moreover, when cross currents threaten to sweep the vision into another channel, they must work to keep it heading in the right direction.  They cannot allow self-serving interests—their own or someone else’s—to distort their vision of the future and prevent God’s purposes from being fulfilled.  That is why we must continually ask the question, “IS YOUR LEADERSHIP VISION CONSISTENT WITH GOD PURPOSE?” 

Related articles

• From the gentile king to the King of kings… (cglamboy.wordpress.com)
• Fighting The Good Fight (christianrenewalministries.wordpress.com)
• Formed for the Glory of God (Chapter 1) (theologyforum.wordpress.com)
• Vision (satiseroddy.wordpress.com)
• Leading with Confidence: “Abide In Him” (christlikeministriesnwa.com)
• Leadership – L.i.v.e.d. (leadershipstrikes.wordpress.com)
• Do We Understand the Real Commandment of Jesus Messiah? (aaronhalim.wordpress.com)
• Living in Perilous Time; Spiritually. Be Warned and Live! (aaronhalim.wordpress.com)

OUR NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE BECOME SATINS BATTLEFIELD

DEEP INTO THE FOREST (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

Have you ever stopped to observe what was around you?  For most of us we are so busy trying to earn a living to support our families and life style, it makes it very hard for us to see the forest because we are always looking straight ahead into the trees.  Nevertheless, if we ever took the time to observe what was around us, we would then realize that the battlefield is wherever we are.  It does not matter if we are at our homes, school, job, library, concert hall or church, the battlefield will always be where we are.  Satan is and will always be an enemy of God.  His job is to recruit, recruit and recruit, and believe me; he does his job very well.  Satan does not discriminate on the basics of race, creed, color or national origin.  He is out to destroy God’s kingdom, and that means anyone who is a believer of God is a target of Satan.

Therefore, when we understand our purpose and mission in life, we then know that the enemy we are fighting is a very smart, cunning and truly an elusive devil.  His territory is very large and continues to expand every day.  So finding the battlefield for us should not be very hard as long as we are committed to staying the course and following in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The battlefield for us will always be close by.  Our neighborhoods are filled with gangs, drugs, prostitution and all sorts of petty crimes.  In some major cities, people are prisons in their own homes.  They have still bars on their windows and doors.  Their homes are like a fort.  In order for them to enter in or come out, they have to struggle to unlock the bars they are locked behind.  Some people have even died in their homes from fires because they could not get out from behind the steel bars they had locked themselves behind.

Our schools from all over the country, which are located in almost every neighborhood in America, has become one of the most potent battlefields in America today.  Each day more than 250,000 kids carry some type of weapon into our schools to either defend themselves or threaten someone else with them in order to show how big and bad they themselves really are.  Kids are shooting and killing other kids because the evil that the old devil has been able to penetrate into our perimeter around the battlefield we have established for ourselves.  When we stop and consider for a moment that our children are our futures, we cannot but to conclude that the enemy has brought the fight to us.

This to me is unacceptable in the 21st century. We must not continue to allow evil to dedicate our destiny.  We have a King that roars like a might lion who is our protector.  He does not know or accept defeat.  We must believe that we as a chosen disciple of the one living God has been given the power to change the course of our destiny by changing the way we view the people that are committing the evil crimes within our communities.  We should never forget that evil survives because we choose to let it rule over us.  We must resist it on every hand, using the power that God gives us, and believe me, we do have the power to stand up and take the fight to the enemy.  God has given us that power if we choose to use it.  All we have to do is call on him.  He said that he would never leave us or forsake us.  He will always be right there with us even until the end of time.

Standing up to the enemy may not be the way you would view your mission in this world, but if you don’t, who will?  Sometimes we have to just say no to the enemy, and do what is unpopular at the time even if our life depends on it.  This world is not our home; we are just passing through on our way to our eternal home.  We must be prepared to face the enemy with all our strength and might.  Then and only then will the enemy have a sense of who we are.

The enemy will always feel that he is the biggest and baldest bully in town as long as we allow him to back us down.  There comes a time in our lives when we must say no backing away or running away from a situation that I can no longer tolerate.  This enemy is threaten my family, my community, my way of life, and if I don’t do something about it right now, I will no longer have a family or community to live in, because he is taken it all away.  It is up to me to end this right here and now.  It is time to take the battle to the enemy, no more turning my back and saying it’s not my problem.  I am the child of a King, and the King gave me power over the enemy.  I will take a stand and do my part.  I will do it NOW!  Together, we can bring a change into our Communities.

Related articles

• The World is Not Thy Friend (thechristiangazette.wordpress.com)
• Satan’s Doom – Op-Ed (promisebook.net)
• Dispelling Modern Christian Myths of Manmade “Wisdom” (kylensarah.wordpress.com)
• Your time is up! (itwasusallthedamntime.wordpress.com)
• Overcoming Fear With Your Faith! (todaysfreshmanna.wordpress.com)
• Why Do Many Christians Promote Satan’s Lies? (happy707.wordpress.com)
• Know your Enemy Part 2 (crosbyp12003.wordpress.com)
• Sympathy in Our Weaknesses: Surviving Temptation (bibletim.wordpress.com)

REMOVE THE BALLS AND CHAINS AND BE LIFTED UP ON WINGS OF ASPIRATION

CHILDREN OF GOD know in your hearts, that this day is the very first day of the rest of your life. Yesterday

BALL AND CHAINS KEEP YOU IN BONDAGE…

is gone and tomorrow is not promised, Therefore, I encourage you, to take flight this day and the ball and chain that have been keeping you from receiving your blessings, remove them and lift off on the wings of Aspiration.  For this day, this moment is the only time that matters.  God is calling you, now listen for His voice and do not allow SATAN’S voice to drown out your blessings.  God is still in control. Let your mind take flight today and begin to see the beauty of all that God has to offer.  God is waiting for you right now, to begin your flight, “and fly high on the wings of Aspiration!”

When your mind becomes Calm and you find Peace within yourself, you will begin to discover by taking flight on the wings of aspiration, you can rises from

THE TIME TO BE LIFTED UP ON THE WINGS OF ASPIRATION IS NOW…

earth to heaven, from ignorance to knowledge, from the under darkness to the upper light.

Without it, you will simply remain a groveling animal, earthly, sensual, unenlightened, and uninspired. Aspiration is the longing for heavenly things, for righteousness, compassion, purity, love, as distinguished from desire, which is the longing for earthly things, for selfish possessions, personal dominance, low pleasures, and sensual gratifications.

For one to aspire, means that he or she is dissatisfied with their low estate, and is aiming at a higher condition.  It is a sure sign that you will be roused out of your lethargic sleep of animalist, and you have become conscious of nobler attainments and a fuller life. You are now flying high on the wings of aspiration.  Now think deeply on this, and begin to enjoy the very first day of your brand new life.  God gave it to you, now take advantage of your brand new wings and fulfill your dreams.

Truly, you are the master of your destination, where it leads you is the exact place that has been running around in your thoughts.  Your Mind is the Master over all things.  Keep it Calm, Keep it Clear, and learn to live each day as a brand new day in Peace, no matter what the situation around you may be, lift up your eyes towards the Heavenly things and be lifted up on THE WINGS OF ASPIRATION.  The choice is yours, what are you going to do?

I have ministered this message to you this day from a Spirit filled Mind that God has spoken His Thoughts of Wisdom and Knowledge into, and said, “My Servant, be obedient to the truth of My Word and share it with both the Believers as well as Non Believers.  My Word is like a two edge sword, it cuts both to the right as well as to the left.”  May God’s grace and mercy be yours to enjoy this day.

Related articles

• Are you the Wind or the Wings? (marriedagainwithkids.wordpress.com)
• Aspiration for Heavenly Homes (kathrynwarmstrong.wordpress.com)
• Are You A DREAMER? (lazariamarketing.wordpress.com)
• The Life On Wings (ladykarin.wordpress.com)
• Ngomo – Divine Teachers about Themselves (newecopsychology.wordpress.com)

A BETRAYER AT THE DINNER TABLE (MARK 14:17-20 AMP)

Sitting down at the dinner table with family and friends and eating a well prepared meal as you

A BETRAYER AT THE DINNER TABLE (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

discuss the family problems and current events is suppose to be a very enjoyable moment.  But what happens when one of your family members has been plotting behind your back to kill the head of your family?  In the case of Jesus and His twelve disciples this is exactly what happen.

On that evening (Wednesday or Thursday), Jesus arrived in Jerusalem with the twelve disciples.  The meal was not to be eaten until after sunset and was supposed to be finished by midnight.

However, as Jesus and His Disciples were eating, Jesus spoke the stunning words, that quickly got the attention of everyone sitting around the dinner table that evening.  Jesus said, “One of you will betray me.”  The betrayer was one of his own chosen twelve disciples, a member of his own family, one with whom the meal was being shared.  Jesus words caused quite a stir among the disciples.  They had heard Jesus tell them three different times that he would soon die, but that one of them would actually betray Jesus saddened them greatly.

Although the other disciples were confused by Jesus words, Judas knew what he meant.  Apparently, Judas was not the obvious betrayer.  After all, he was the one the disciples trusted to keep the money.  Therefore, the disciples asked Jesus who the betrayer was; “I’m not the one, am I?” each one asked in turn.  Matthew records that even Judas asked the same question (Matthew 26:25).  Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him, and he also knew that Judas would not repent.

In our studies we find that Luke wrote this about Satan, he said Satan entered into Judas Iscariot before he went to the religious leaders.  However, Satan’s part in the betrayal of Jesus does not remove any of the responsibility from Judas.  In God’s sovereign will and according  to his timetable, he uses sinful men.  But that doesn’t excuse their sin.  All people will be held accountable for their choices and actions.  Whatever Judas thought, Satan assumed that Jesus death would end Jesus mission and thwart God’s plan.  Like Judas, Satan did not know that Jesus death and resurrection were the most important parts of God’s plan all along.

All I can say in conclusion, is that this had to be one hellish feeling in the gut of each family member sitting around the dinner table that night knowing that one of them would betray the head of their family in such an evil way.

Related articles

• Betrayed (sistersofchrist.wordpress.com)
• Holy Wednesday. What happened on this day as Jesus nears His crucifixtion? (pastormikesays.wordpress.com)
• Today’s Gospel Reading (matthew 26:14-25) (prayers4reparation.wordpress.com)
• History Channel’s The Bible: Mission (kimcheel.wordpress.com)
• Jesus Betrayed by Judas and Arrested: Stations of the Cross – Second Station (thecosmiccathedral.wordpress.com)
• From The Friars eLetter: Spy Wednesday (deaconjohnspace.wordpress.com)

THE KING OF THE JEWS

THE WAY TO THE KINGDOM IS THE WAY TO THE CROSS (MARK 15:25-27)

The King of the Jews Crucifixion (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

And it was the third hour (about nine o’clock in the morning) when they crucified Him.  And the inscription of the accusation against Him was written above,

The King of the Jews.

And with Him they crucified two robbers, one on [His] right hand and one on His left.  And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, He was counted among the transgressors.

Jesus was placed on the cross at nine o’clock in the morning.  A signboard stating as a warning.  Because Jesus was never found guilty, the only accusation placed on his sign was the “crime” of calling himself King of the Jews.  This sign was meant to be ironic.  A king, stripped and executed in public view, had obviously lost his kingdom forever.  But Jesus, who turns the world’s wisdom upside down, was just coming into his kingdom.  His death and resurrection would strike the deathblow to Satan’s rule and would establish Christ’s eternal authority over the earth.  Few people reading the sign that bleak day understood its real meaning but the sign was absolutely true.  Jesus is king of the Jews, and the Gentiles, and the whole universe.

When James and John had asked Jesus for the places of honor next to him in his kingdom, Jesus had told them that they did not know what they were asking (Mark 10:35-39).  Here, as Jesus was preparing to inaugurate his kingdom through his death, the places on his right and on his left were taken by two criminals.

A person who wants to be close to Jesus must be prepared to suffer and die as he himself was doing.  The way to the kingdom is the way of the cross.  If we want the glory of the kingdom, we must be willing to be united with the crucified Christ.

We bless this word to each one of you this morning.  Come and worship with us this coming Sunday Morning at 0700, for a very Special Palm Sunday Morning Prayer, Praise and Worship Service.  May your day be filled with Joy, Love and Peace.

Related articles

• Salvation Is Something to Be Envious of! (Romans 11:11-21) (pastorpaulvoss.wordpress.com)
• The King of the Jews (ejaife.wordpress.com)
• Jesus – The Real Life Superman (theworldneedsgod.wordpress.com)
• Mark 15:16-41 (leecjharper.wordpress.com)
• “Who was Pontius Pilate?” (altruistico.wordpress.com)
• Sermon: Mark 11:1-10 – Palm Sunday: Jesus’ Triumphal Entry (firstbaptistscottcity.wordpress.com)
• Crucifixion of Jesus – Luke 23: 33-38 (shalommysticwind.wordpress.com)
• Domodossola (sandystrachan.wordpress.com)

FINDING OUR WAY OUT OF DARKNESS

WRITTEN BY SHIRLEY RHODES

FINDING OUR WAY OUT OF DARKNESS THROUGH THE THICK FOG OF LIFE (PHOTO BY SHIRLEY RHODES)

Finding Our Way out of Darkness is like entering a maze, at every junction you’re apt to encounter a stumbling block in the path but you know that unless you regroup and keep searching for the exit you’re apt to wander about for a mighty long time unless intervention (someone else) becomes part of the process. The same is with our earthly lives as we are about our journey each moment in time as purposed by God. In order to find our way out of darkness we must follow the process and grab hold of the eternal message and promise of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice that is able to set us free.

THE PROCESS:

Hear the message, believe through faith, and accept the invitation to become a part of the intricate weaving of the pattern, by doing so a world of light opens which is the key to finding your way out of darkness. Jesus has given us the key to Finding Our Way out of Darkness, all we have to do is be willing and obedient to his call and follow his light into life.

Many might ask, “How does the process work, especially when we don’t know the way? How do we gain access to the key for finding our way out of darkness?”

The massager sent by God is chosen:  Hear the message, believe, confess and accept the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. God has a plan for all his children and it is not his desire that any should be left out of all he has to offer. God is all strength for his people, ample refuge for his chosen leaders (Psalms 28:8 MGS).

Finding Our Way out of Darkness requires us to humble ourselves in the presence of God and totally surrender those things that hinder a relationship with him. The scriptures gives us this part of the plan; how to make the approach to become whole.

How can people call for help if they don’t know who to trust? How can they know who to trust if they haven’t heard of the One who can be trusted? How can they hear if nobody tells them? How is anyone going to tell them unless someone is sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The word of faith is that; if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart God have raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For the scripture says that whoever believes on him shall not be ashamed, anyone that calls on the Lord shall be saved.

The word of faith is the key given for finding our way out of darkness because the word of faith that saves is near you; as near as the tongue in your mouth; as close as the heart in your chest. The word of God welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us (Romans 10:8-17 KJV/MGS).

Listen to what Isaiah says; “Listen to me, all of you who are serious about right living, look to the rock from which you were cut, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.

Revelations flows from me, my decisions light up the world. I’ll bring justice to the people, my salvation will last forever”(Isaiah 51:1-6).

As we journey through this earthly realm let us be reminded that there is hope even when finding Our Way out of Darkness.

Now let remember, that God is light and in Him there is no Darkness.  Let us learn to live in the light, and always let the light that is in us shine through to the outside, so that those we meet daily will see that bright shinning light all around us.  When we are full of light, the devil will flee from us because he loves Darkness and in all he does, he try’s to keep us in Darkness.  Click on this short video clip and experience God’s marvelous light as it shines daily and lights up the Universe.

May God’s peace and blessings be yours to enjoy this day and throughout your life, in Jesus name, AMEN!

Related articles

• All the Prayers of Paul (christcentred.wordpress.com)
• Patience in Suffering… (fashionedwithpurpose.wordpress.com)
• Walking In The Light (speakwherethebiblespeaks.wordpress.com)
• “The Christian Faith” (emeraldsresource.wordpress.com)
• I Can’t Stop…. (thelcl.wordpress.com)

KNOWING THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE REDEEMER AND PREDATOR

WRITTEN BY SHIRLEY RHODES

SHIRLEY RHODES

Knowing the distinction is how we develop into strong believers of faith in Jesus Christ and his teachings. The predator seeks out his target, devise a plan and then set about to conquer and devour. The Redeemer plucks you from the unsettled state and offers life filled with grace, mercy, joy and hope, and provides all that’s necessary through the Holy Spirit that keeps you safe and grounded. The Predator seeks to kill steal and destroy your hope, to derail you from the purpose God created you with and or for.

It is not a desire to break from the teachings, it’s being able to recognize when we find ourselves in a place that robs us of our hopes and dreams that we seek forgiveness through the Redeemer.

Perfection is a goal we all would like to reach, but as long as these bodies of clay exist we will find ourselves in the presence of the predator. When we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us we know that it is through Christ that redemptive power lives and gives us hope.

God is a living Spirit (a living personal presence) which gives us freedom from those things that holds us in bondage. The scripture reminds us, “let nothing separate us from God’s Love,” when we enter his presence it is to be done so in holy reverence, he beckons us to come.  Those who do not understand the true meaning of God are those looking or going the wrong way while refusing to give thought to what God and his message is all about.  It seems that all they have eyes for is the fashionable god of darkness (the Predator); thinking he can give them what they want, so they rather not bother believing a truth they cannot see.

Jesus has given us the brightness of his message: if we follow the pattern we know it is determined that we must guard our hearts because the Predator never sleeps. Jesus said, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will  deceive many (Matthew 24:4, NIV), he went on to say, the one who stands firm to the end will be saved (13).”

Knowing the distinction between Predator and Redeemer sets God’s chosen apart, for they are chosen by God for the high calling of priestly work, to be a holy people. These are God’s chosen instruments to do his work, to get the message out to others; he takes nothing and makes something, he takes the rejected and makes them accepted (1Peter 2:8-10, MSG).

Let us not think for one moment that we are not within eye-sight of the Predator; after all, he’s been around since creation and to this day as in the days of Job. As scripture revels, One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan, the Designated Accuser, came along with them, God singled out Satan and said,” What have you been up to?” Satan answered God, “Going here and there, checking things out on earth.”(Job 1:6-7, MGS) This very moment in time he is still “checking things out on earth” the predator.

What a God we serve! Our Redeemer lives, Christ suffered because of other’s sins, Righteous for unrighteous; he went through death–then was made alive–to bring us to God. Through his sacrifice we are given a chance to choose and make decisions in order to become a part of who he really is, the choice is ours.

Related articles

• Satan’s Temptation Was Designed to Destroy Jesus (vineandbranchworldministries.com)
• A Personal Letter to the devil – I’m Redeemed (darrellcreswell.wordpress.com)
• All Spiritual Blessings! (aviesplace.wordpress.com)
• Christ Our Friend (pttyann2.wordpress.com)
• Satanus Victor: Atonement As Ransom to Satan (withalliamgod.wordpress.com)
• Jesus Christ: Follower of the Spirit (tily22.wordpress.com)

SATAN‘S TEMPTATION WAS DESIGNED TO DESTROY JESUS

“GOD WILL TEST YOU FOR GOOD BUT NEVER TEMP YOU FOR EVIL.”

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES ARE FROM:  JOHN 10:10, JAMES 1:13, 1 CORINTHIANS 10:13   

Pastor Davis teaches on Temptation

Good Morning to all our brothers and sisters in Christ; readers, fellow-bloggers, and our many Disciples around the world, I am so excited this morning for the message God has given me to share with you.  It is a powerful message about Satan’s temptation of Jesus.

Now let’s begin by understanding this one truth, and that is, God is a God of love, his love for all his children transcends all evil.  When you experience temptation of any kind, know that it is not from God.  However, Satan is always waiting in the wing, waiting to destroy you and all that God is providing for you.  God wants you to live an abundant life, he wants to bless you, provide you with a life of love, joy and happiness, a life to be envied above all others.

Now, if you listen to Satan, and allow him to temp you to do evil things, things that are displeasing to God, Satan will take you straight to hell. Make no mistake about that.  Listen to what John tells us that Satan will do, and how if you listen to Jesus, you will never experience temptation beyond that which you can bear, but instead he will provide you with and abundant life.  This is how John describes the two situations.  He says, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy.”  I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till itoverflows). (John 10:10 AMP).  The choice is yours, who do you follow?  Pause for a moment and watch this short video of how Satan worked to destroy Jesus and God’s Kingdom.

Now listen to what James tells us about this subject matter.  He says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one.”  (James 1:13 AMP).

We must obtain a correct view of God in order to persevere during times of trial specifically; we need to understand God’s view of our temptations.  Trials and temptations always present us with choices.  God wants us to make good choices, not evil ones.

Hardships can produce spiritual maturity and lead to eternal benefits if endured in faith.  But tests

English: The Temptation of Jesus on the Mountain (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

can also be failed.  We can give in to temptation.  And when we fail, we often use all kinds of excuses and reasons for our actions.  The most dangerous of these is to say, “God is tempting me.”  It is crucial for us to remember that God tests people for good; he does not tempt people for evil.  Even during temptation we can see God’s sovereignty in permitting Satan to tempt us in order to refine our faith and help us grow in our dependence on Christ.

Instead of persevering, we may give in or give up in the face of trial.   We might even rationalize that God is at fault for sending such a trying experience, and thus blame God for our failure.  From the beginning it has been a natural human response to make excuses and blame others for sin.  A person who makes excuses is trying to shift blame to something or someone else.

A Christian, on the other hand, accepts responsibility for his or her wrongs, confesses them, and asks God for forgiveness.  Because God is never tempted to do wrong, he cannot be the author of temptation.  James is arguing against the pagan view of the gods where good and evil coexisted.  God does not wish evil on people; he does not cause evil; he does not try to trip people up, and he never tempts anyone.

PASTOR DAVIS SPEAKS BEFORE THE THRONE OF GRACE…

At this point in our conversation I can image you asking me this question, Pastor Davis, “If God really loves us so much, why doesn’t he protect us from temptation?”  My response to you would be simply this, “A God who kept us from temptation would be a God unwilling to allow us to grow.”  In order for a test to be an effective tool for growth, it must be capable of being failed.  God actually proves his love by protecting us in temptation instead of protecting us from temptation.

In Paul’s first letter to the Church in Corinth, Paul wrote these words, “For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.” (1 Corinthians 10:13 AMP).

Know that God is able, and you must learn to trust him without doubt of any sort in your heart, and when you are able to do this you will begin to see supernatural things happen in your life. In order to be purified and cleansed of all unholy and unrighteous things, you must go through something, leaning and depending on God.  When you believe, you will achieve that which you are seeking. Know this for certain, and that is, “GOD WILL TEST YOU FOR GOOD BUT NEVER TEMP YOU FOR EVIL.”  Now let us close out this message today by listening to the Mississippi Mass Choir as they sing, “God’s Mercy and Grace!”

We hope that today’s message has been a blessing to your soul, if it has share it with someone so they too can receive their blessings. Leave us a message in our comment section, click the like button or send me an email to: davismbyarsjr@gmail.com  May God bless each one of you abundantly as you grow in His grace and mercy.

Related articles

• Temtation (yvonneabletobelieve.wordpress.com)
• Friday, January 8, 2013 (thepracticalchristian.wordpress.com)
• The Weapon Of The Word (pastorht.wordpress.com)
• Trials, Temptations and the Overcoming Thereof. (journeyofpeace.wordpress.com)
• Satan’s Power Is Limited (pastorht.wordpress.com)

A FAMILY DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF IS DESTINED TO FAILURE

THE BYARS FAMILY CREATED BY GOD (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

We have entered a brand new year, the old, we have left behind.  All things new lie ahead, and therefore present us with our greatest challenges of all time.  The question then becomes, “how do we solve our family problems in this new year that divided our family in the old year?”  This is a very important question that must be placed at the head of our list of problems to be resolved in 2013, but resolve them we must, because, “A FAMILY DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF IS DESTINED TO FAILURE!”

Satan is our greatest enemy, and he is continuing his work of divide and conquers.  He knows that families, a church are a business that is divided against its self eventually destroys itself from within.  Therefore, every opportunity he gets, he pushes our hot buttons to make us war against each other.

The time has come for us to learn to lean and depend on the one who has already defeated Satan, to show

LADY WISDOM TRUTH-BE ENCOURAGED (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

us the way of bringing cohesiveness into our families that will triumph over the evilspirits that have divided us in the past.  We are victories, because God has given us the victory to lead our families to victory in 2013.  No weapon formed against us shall prosper.  That means no matter what Satan attempts to do with his limited powers by pitting one member of the family against another member, if we are leaning, depending and trusting in God, Satan is doomed and we can return our families to greatness by knowing the truth.  The bible teaches us in John 8:32 this simple message, “Know the truth and the truth will set you FREE.”

Leaders within the families must stand strong, processing a strong moral character and not comprise their moral integrity for the evil that Satan will present to them.  The Pharisees were a perfect example of presenting division within the family, and Jesus was the perfect example of a leader who presented a strong moral character and showed us the standards by which we must stand on to be a great leader for our families.  Jesus said to them, “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. Wealth is treacherous, and the arrogant are never at rest. They open their mouths as wide as the grave, and like death, they are never satisfied. In their greed they have gathered up many nations and swallowed many peoples.  (Habakkuk 2:4-5 NLT)

BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED LEADERS IN THE FAMILY

As a leader in our families, our job is to be a servant leader.  Follow the example of Jesus and become a humble servant and serve all humanity.  Family members will present you with some of the greatest challenges you will ever encounter.  But you must know how to overcome the feuding by following the example of Jesus.  Jesus knew Satan’s strategies and just how he would apply them to bring about division within the family.  Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. (Matthew 12:25-26 NLT)

Your strong moral character must be the example in which the family in 2013 will rally around and find their moral compass to move towards the purpose and destination that God has already laid out for them.  Remember, just as a good tree bears good fruit and a diseased tree bears inedible fruit, so the fruits of a person’s life will show the quality of his or her character.  Fruit is a comprehensive word, referring to teaching, character, and action.  Our character is revealed by our conduct.

We have ministered this word to you today from a position of PEACE, PURPOSE, POWER and PROSPERITY.  We encourage you to think globally as you work locally to bring about a change within the family in 2013.  Making it stronger, more cohesive and less divisively.  Empowering it with love, growing it with a purpose, as God blesses you, moles you and shapes you into a powerful, yet humble servant that is capable of moving the family into the realm of possibilities and bringing about the prosperity that is desired for the family in 2013.  I remain your brother in CHRIST JESUS, PASTOR DAVIS/MASTER TEACHER!

Remember, “A FAMILY DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF IS DESTINED TO FAILURE”  Therefore, the time to bring about a change in family unity is now.

THIS IS YOUR YEAR TO ACHIEVE THE VICTORY

PASTOR DAVIS MASTER TEACHER, TEACHES BIBLE STUDY LESSONS ON ACHIEVING THE VICTORY

Let me begin this discussion by assuring you that nothing is beyond your reach.  All that you have not achieved in this past year is waiting for you in this New Year.  Stay focus on the prize, you have set very high and achievable goals for this brand new year.  Now we will teach you how to achieve them.

The very first thing you must know, and that is, “you are the master of your destination.”  Whatever your mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.  Therefore, we ask you to clear out all negative thinking, and fill your mind with beautiful thoughts of the possibilities that lie ahead.

Remember, just as a good tree bears good fruit and a diseased tree bears inedible fruit, so the fruits of a person’s life will show the quality of his or her character.

THE GRAPEVINE

Fruit is a comprehensive word, referring to teaching, character, and action.  Our character is revealed by our conduct.  Our thoughts become that which we choose to be.

The journey will not be easy, but as we stated in the beginning, “it is achievable.”  Every step you take, the devil will be waiting to take you down.   He will be walking about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, and if you are not careful in your walk with God you will be his next victim.  You must learn to grow in God’s grace.  Why, Because God has already provided the victory just for you.  Placing your faith in God and not in the world is the beginning of all knowledge that will transform your life and put you on the right track to achieving your desired goals.  Know that a believer’s growth sometimes may be hindered or halted by three distinct enemies: the Devil, the world, and the flesh.

We are warned how the Devil walks or roams about like a lion.  When lions hunt, they look for weak, young,

The Lion of the tribe of Judah ((Photo by Pastor Davis)

isolated, unguarded animals.  They are the ones marked for attack.  The Devil’s ultimate agenda is to destroy us, not merely to hurt, maim, or discourage, but to devour and destroy us.  He does that when he gets us to bow to circumstances, pressures, or forces of his evil design, hoping thereby to make us yield to him.  To overcome this evil spirit we must adopt a reverse strategy: I will call this strategy, “B.O.W. TO JESUS,” the One you BELIEVE, OBEY and WORSHIP.  He overcame, refusing to bow to Satan’s devices (Matt. 4:8-10), and our growth in Him will bring the same ability to resist or stand against the Devil (1 Peter 5:9). We must be clothed in the full armor of God: be armed with the Word of God (Eph. 6:10-14), believe Him (Heb. 11:6), obey Him (1 John 3:24), and worship Him (John 4:23).  Receive Christ’s overcoming victory!

When our minds are filled with the word, our strategies for achieving our desired goals are assured.  Nothing can stop us now, although the devil will continue to lay stumbling blocks in our path way, however, because our minds are centered on God and we are filled with the word, these stumbling blocks are opportunities to continue to move forward at great speed.

The first step in this process is to “WRITE THE VISION,”  (we will present this strategy in complete details in our next lesson.)   Now I encourage you to study this step very carefully and comply with its instructions.

The next step in the process is for you to study your written plan and focus all your attention on it like a laser beam.  Know that all that you do is part of the process; each step you take is placing you in the flow towards achieving the greatest victory that you have ever imaged.  The process will never be easy, but it is achievable.

Now listen up, to the word of God as spoken by Peter in the book of (1 Peter 5:5-8).  Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elder.  Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  Be sober; be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

RIVER OF LIFE (Photo by Pastor Davis)

Therefore, remain in the flow where all streams will lead you towards the lake, from there the flow of the lake will lead you into deeper and wider streams of fishing called the rivers of life.  As you navigate from the river, the flow will take you into the ocean where you shall conquer your greatest victory of all.  Stay with us and we will help to get you there.  Remember, keep your eyes focus on Jesus, because he is your navigator, we are just the instrument that he has placed in your hands to help you day by day.

Today, we have ministered to you from a position of PEACE, PURPOSE, POWER and PROSPERITY.  Always think globally as you work locally to achieve your dreams, because they are truly only a thought away.  I remain your brother in JESUS CHRIST, PASTOR DAVIS/MASTER TEACHER!

Related articles

• All Fallen Angels Are Devils: in Christ You Have the Victory (raptureimminent.wordpress.com)
• And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan… 123112 (carrlanebaptist1988.wordpress.com)
• Lesson 10 – Facing Problems And Dangers – Lesson (christiansareus.wordpress.com)
• Too Much Credit??? (hasarla.wordpress.com)
• Sneaky lion (kswptim.wordpress.com)
• Forget The Past And Embrace The Future (aviesplace.wordpress.com)

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON

CHRISTMAS THE SIGN OF PEACE (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

On this Christmas Eve Weekend, let us humble ourselves in prayer and lift up the name Jesus, and seek His blessings over the families in Newtown, Connecticut as they continue to bury their children that were so vicariously murdered last weekend.  We encourage them to remain strong as they mourn their lost and suffer in their grief.  Be guided by the promises of God when He says to you, that He will never leave you are forsake you.  Be encouraged, that this too shall past.

We as a Nation are facing some very strong head winds from all the gun violence that is taking the lives of so many of our children throughout the entire country.  No city are state is immune from this type of violence.  But we must now prepare ourselves and come together as one people and fight against this type of evil, otherwise it will consume us all.

Satan, the old devil himself is on the prowl, and is attempting to devour the Children of God.  His evil forces struck another deadly blow with powerful semi-automatic weapons, however, this time it was in the hearts of the people of Newtown, Connecticut in an elementary school where some 20 young innocent children and their teachers, were just preparing to begin their day at school. It was truly a devastating blow to the parents who had just hugged and kissed their young children and sent them out into the world not knowing that the hug they gave to them would be their last.

The Cabbage Patch Kids (Photo by Pastor Davis) This is a symbol of the little angels that God shares with us. We must love, encourage and protect.

Jesus had warned us that Satan is a liar and a thief, and his mission is to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10)  So this past weekend Satan was true to his mission, as he attempted to kill as many of God’s children as he possible could.

However, we want the people of Newtown, Connecticut to know that we here at Vine and Branch World Ministries, with our army of Disciples, readers and fellow bloggers, alone with all the people of this nation, are standing shoulder to shoulder with you, to fight against evil where ever it may exist.

Therefore, we say to you, “BE ENCOURAGED CHILDREN OF GOD,” “For God did not give you a spirit of fear, but he gave you a spirit of power, and a Spirit of love, and a Spirit of Self-Control.  (2 Timothy 6:7)

In addition, God wants you as well as all of us as a Nation, to rise up, do not be overcome by fears of the devil, but embrace each other with love, and ENCOURAGE each other in the LORD, and this is how He challenges us to do it, He says, “Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of his might.

Put on the whole ARMOR OF GOD that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10-20 ESP).

Now to all of God’s people, this is the WORD of our Lord, as He has spoken it plainly to you.  We have ministered it to you from a position of PEACE, PURPOSE, POWER and PROSPERITY, and finally, we say to you, “BE ENCOURAGED CHILDREN OF GOD!”  I remain your brother in CHRIST JESUS, Pastor Davis/Master Teacher!

Related articles

• Connecticut Shootings: Where Is God? (wjaniese.wordpress.com)
• ATTRIBUTES OF SATAN (part 4) (coyfeetalksitup.wordpress.com)
• Holy Ghost Congress 2012 Signs and Wonders. Sermon And Prayer Points By Daddy G O Pastor E A Adeboye (bummyla.wordpress.com)
• Encouragement for the Day by Pastor John Pope Shared by Ann Sweat (momsfirstscreenn.wordpress.com)
• Lesson 10 – Facing Problems And Dangers – Lesson (christiansareus.wordpress.com)

HOW JESUS DEFEATED SATAN IN OPEN COMBAT

We all will face temptation of some sort in our lives.  How we deal with it will be a test of our faith and determination to always be obedient to the word of God.  In today’s market place with so many people facing poverty, and their faith being tested by the devil daily from lack of the basic necessities of life, such as not enough food to eat, unable to pay their mortgages and car notes, not being able to find a job, the prices of everything continues to rise and the income of so many people remain unchanged.

TEMPTATION (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

In our quest to rise from the jaws of defeat and grow in God’s grace by living a righteous life and not subsuming to Satan’s temptation, we will do well to learn how Jesus took Satin on in open combat and defeated him.  After Jesus baptism, he left the Jordan River to go out into the wilderness.  Jesus then took the offensive against his enemy, the Devil, by going into the wilderness to face temptation.  Now I ask you, would you put yourself in the same situation, knowing today how cunning the Devil is?

Now let us be under no false elusion concerning the Devil.  He is a real being, a created yet rebellious fallen angel, and not a symbol or an idea.  He constantly fights against God and those who follow and obey God.  Satan is not omnipresent, nor is he all powerful.   Through the evil spirits under his dominion, Satan works everywhere attempting to draw people away from God and into his own darkness.

It was the Holy Spirit that compelled Jesus into the wilderness where God put Jesusto the test not to

THE BEAUTY OF BEING AND EXISTENCE IN THE WILDERNESS (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

see if Jesus was ready, but to show that he was ready for his mission.  Satan, however, had other plans; he hoped to thwart Jesus mission by tempting him to do evil.  Why was it necessary for Jesus to be tempted?  Temptation is part of the human experience.  For Jesus to be fully human, he had to face temptation.  Jesus had to undo Adam’s work.  Adam, though created perfect, gave in to temptation and passed sin on to the whole human race.  Jesus, by contrast, resisted Satan.  His victory offers salvation to Adam’s descendants.

We can assume from our studies that during those forty days, Jesus ate nothing; therefore at the end he was very hungry.  Jesus status as God’s Son did not make this fast any easier; his physical body suffered the severe hunger and pain of going without sustenance.  The three temptations recorded in the scriptures which we will now discuss here was at his most a physically weakened state.

Now let us look at the first temptation, what was said and how Jesus handled it.  The Devil, playing on his hunger, gave the first test: “Since you’re God’s Son, command this stone to turn into a loaf of bread. “Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to really live.”  (Luke 4:3-4 AMP)  On the surface, this might seem to be a fairly harmless act, even a compassionate suggestion.  Jesus was very hungry, so why not use the resources at his command and change a stone into a loaf of bread?  In this case, however, the sin was not in the act but in the reason behind it.  The Devil was trying to get Jesus to take a shortcut, to solve his immediate problem at the expense of his long range goals, to seek comfort at the sacrifice of his discipline.  Satan often works that way—persuading people to take action, even right action, for the wrong reason or at the wrong time.  The fact that something is not wrong in itself does not mean that it is good for someone at a given time.  Many people sin by attempting to fulfill legitimate desires outside of God’s will or ahead of his timetable.

As we stated in the beginning of this lesson, “we will all face some sort of temptation at some point in our lives, how we deal with them at the moment we are confronted with it will be the test of whether we fail are if we endure to fight another day.  Jesus understood that obedience to the Father’s mission was more important than food.  Making himself bread would have shown that he had not quite set aside all his powers, had not humbled himself, and had not identified completely with the human race.  But Jesus refuse, showing that he would use his powers only in submission to God’s plan.

GOD’S VAST RESOURCES (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

For the second test he led him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once. Then the Devil said, “They’re yours in their entire splendor to serve your pleasure. I’m in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish. Worship me and they’re yours, the whole works.”  (Luke 4:5-7 AMP).  Now the Devil truly does have his game face on, and by offering Jesus all the kingdoms of the earth, he figures he has him right where he wants him and Jesus seeing that the Devil can offer him the world that was once his, Jesus will more than jump for this grand offer.

The Devil’s grand plan was to succeed in his rebellion against God by diverting Jesus from his mission and winning his worship.  Satan tempted Jesus to take the world as an earthly Kingdom right hen, without carrying out the plan to save the world from sin.  For Jesus, that meant obtaining his promised dominion over the world without experiencing the suffering and death of the cross.  Satan offered a painless shortcut.  But Satan didn’t understand that suffering, and death were a part of God’s plan that Jesus had chosen to obey.

The fact that Jesus could see all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time supports the view that this experience was visionary.  The focus is not on the mountain, but on those kingdoms that were (and are) under Satan’s dominion (John 12:3).  Satan offered to give dominion over the world to Jesus.  This challenged Jesus obedience to God’s timing and will.  Satan’s temptation was, in essence, “Why wait?  I can give this to you now!”  Of course, the offer had a catch:  “If you will bow down and worship me.”

We know Jesus was not about to do this, so what was he to do?  Jesus once again following scripture, backed  his refusal with Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.”  For Jesus to gain rule over the world by worshiping Satan would not only be a contradiction (Satan would still be in control), but it would also break the first commandment, “You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him: (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, 13).  To accomplish his mission of bringing salvation to the world, Jesus would take the path of submission to God.

Now as we come into the home stretch of Satan trying to out for nest the master, scripture says this,

Upon this Rock Satan commands Jesus to Jump (Photo by Pastor Davis)

“For the third test the Devil took him to Jerusalem and put him on top of the Temple. He said, “If you are God’s Son, jump. It’s written, isn’t it, that ‘he has placed you in the care of angels to protect you; they will catch you; you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone’?”  (Luke 4:9-11 AMP).

Whether the Devil physically took Jesus to Jerusalem, or whether this occurred in a vision is unclear.  In any case, Satan was setting the stage for his next temptation.  Jesus had quoted Scripture in response to ‘Satan’s other temptations.  Here Satan tried the same tactic with Jesus: he used Scripture to try to convince Jesus to sin!  Satan was quoting from Psalm 91:11-12 to support his request.  The psalm describes God’s protection for those who trust him.  Obviously Satan was misinterpreting Scripture, making it sound as though God protests even through sin, removing the natural consequences of sinful acts. Jumping from the roof in order to test God’s protection for those who, while being in his will and serving him, find themselves in danger.  It does not promise protection for artificially created crises in which Christians call to God in order to test his love and care.

An artificially created crisis is what we as the people of America and the world find ourselves in today with our government leaders.  This is causing hardship on many people, providing Satan with powers to set us up for destruction and disobedient of God’s will, but Jesus would have none of this and we as faithful servant’s should study Jesus mode of face to face combat with this powerful enemy, and perhaps we could learn a thing or two in how we can face Satin down when he attacks us.

Remember, the Bible clearly teaches us, to study in order that we may gain the knowledge to activate the powers God has already provided to us in order that we may fight Satin with the same tools as Jesus did.

Wide-margin Study Bible (Photo credit: agent_mikejohnson)

Now this is how Jesus handles Satan’s third and final attach at this time.  He said, “ [The Scripture] says, You shall not tempt (try,test exceedingly) the Lord your God. (Luke 4:12 AMP).  Jesus used the Scripture with an understanding of the true meaning.  The facts were that while God promises to protect his people, he also requires that they not test him.  In the passage in Deuteronomy 6:16, Moses was referring to an incident during Israel’s wilderness wanderings, recorded in Exodus 17:1-7.  The people were thirsty and ready to commit mutiny against Moses and return to Egypt if he did not provide them with water.  Jesus knew that for him to jump from the pinnacle of the Temple, would have been a ridiculous test of God’s power, and it would have been out of God’s will.  Jesus knew that his Father could protect him; he also understood that all his actions were to be focused on fulfilling his Father’s mission.

Jesus remains to this day obedient to his Father’s will and not to Satin’s temptation.  Now my question is to each one of you again, how would you have handled Satin’s attempts to provide you with money, fame and power over the world in light of your present situation?

We encourage you, to be obedient to God, and do not allow Satin to take you out of God’s will.  It is the only will that can provide you with eternal life.  So please stop taking it for granted.  The choice is clearly yours to make.  No one forces you to do wrong.  So chose this day, whom you will serve.  We minister to you from a position of peace, purpose, power and prosperity.  I remain your brother in CHRIST, PASTOR DAVIS/MASTER TEACHER!

Related articles

• A CUP of Peace for you! Phil 4:8-9 God’s peace be with you (deweymoede.wordpress.com)
• The Struggle with Satan: part one (ptl2010.com)
• My Holy Land Experience, Part 4. (youthpastorscircle.wordpress.com)

IS YOUR LEADERSHIP VISION CONSISTENT WITH GOD’S PURPOSE

Jesus a visionary Leader-In-The-Wilderness-Ivan-Kramskoy

Few things are more important to effective leadership than a VISION.  Godly leaders foresee something out there, vague as it might appear from the distance that others do not see.  Godly leaders who are followers of Christ must first have a VISION of who God is and the future he holds for them.  They must also have a sense of what God has called them to do.  Once they understand it, then they must take hold of the leadership role that has been given to them and begin to fulfill the role with a godly vision.  Are you a leader with a godly vision? Pause for a moment and watch this important video clip and we will meet on the other side.

What is the focus of your life?  Are you a person of passion for the things of God, or is that passion just a sporadic experience for you?  If you had to describe the compelling treasure as a visionary leader in your life, what would it look like?

It is crucial for a leader to know how to identify and cultivate a personal vision.  However, where does such a visions originate?  When you are in God’s will, understand God’s purpose for your life and are truly ready to follow God’s directions, he will create in you the vision for His will and His purpose for your life.  When the Prophet Habakkuk was attempting to understand God’s purpose, he question God and this is what God told him to do, God said, “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”  (Habakkuk 2:3-4 ESV)

In his book Visionary Leadership, Burt Nanus defines a VISION as “a realistic, credible, attractive future for your organization.  It is your articulation of a destination toward which your organization should aim, a future that is better, more successful, or more desirable for your organization than is the present.”  Nanus contends that the right vision “Is an idea so energizing that it in effect jump-starts the future by calling forth the skills, talents, and resources to make it happen.”

Over the course of his ministry, Jesus consistently cast an energizing vision of the coming kingdom of God.  He repeatedly described the character and conduct that would define
citizens of that kingdom.  The Lord’s vision was so compelling that the twelve disciples left everything to follow his lead.  Thousands of others also took their direction from him.

Yet, in spite of the Lord’s consistent message, the disciples had a hard time grasping the fact that ushering in the kingdom of God would require suffering.  When Jesus clearly explained his impending death, Peter rebuked him for making such an assertion.  He was probably shocked when the Lord abruptly turned the tables and said, “Get behind me, Satan!”  Peter’s problem was that he allowed his personal and self-centered agenda to box in God’s plan.  Ultimately, such self-serving visions are satanically inspired.

Leaders need to be sure their vision is consistent with God’s purpose.  Moreover, when cross currents threaten to sweep the vision into another channel, they must work to keep it heading in the right direction.  They cannot allow self-serving interests—their own or someone else’s—to distort their vision of the future and prevent God’s purposes from being fulfilled.  That is why we must continually ask the question, “IS YOUR LEADERSHIP VISION CONSISTENT WITH GOD PURPOSE?” 

Related articles

• Casting Vision to our Children (dailybibleplan.com)
• V – vision (livingforvision.wordpress.com)
• Heaven On Earth- Are You IN? (jeanniescrossroad.wordpress.com)
• The Shameful Social Gospel (pilgrimpassing.com)
• As God Fearing Christians We Are Not Suppose To Blend In With The Worldly Social Culture (dailyaspects.wordpress.com)
• It Is Finished (pilgrimpassing.com)
• Jesus First (rachelself12.wordpress.com)
• Thursday (November 1): ” Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.” (shechina.wordpress.com)
• And then, you doubt… (khrystleraineduste.wordpress.com)
• The only purpose (thislifeiowe.wordpress.com)

BELIEVERS MUST PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THE CALL OF GOD

THE CROSS IS THE HEART OF THE GOSPEL (Photo by Pastor Davis)

When it comes to serving in the ministry as one of God’s Disciples you are never to young, are too old because God prepares us all in his own way, but all of us will not accept the call to serve.    The one true important fact we all need to know is this, we are a chosen people, chosen by God to worship and serve him.  When God thinks we are ready he will call us to come unto him.  The first thing you will say when the call comes upon you is, “but God,” I am not ready.  I am just a little child or I am too old. I have a lot of living to do, and God will say to you, my son, I have heard those same words many times before, and when I heard them I told each person the same thing.  Listen to what happen when God called Jeremiah to be a prophet.  He was only thirteen at the time, but God knew he was ready when he sent out the call.  This is what God told Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in your Mother’s womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”  “Ah, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am only a child.

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, I am only a child.”  You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.  Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “Now, I have put my words in your mouth.    See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”  (Jeremiah 1:5-10).

You see God never makes a mistake.  When God called Jeremiah, he commissioned him to be a prophet to a nation.  God knew Jeremiah would face many obstacles and would have to confront some powerful people along the way.  But God assured Jeremiah that he would be up to the task.  Don’t worry about small things, because I am here to fight your battles for you.  All I want you to do is to be ready to stand up and be a strong moral leader with an unshakable conviction to lead my people in the manner I have given you.

When you are young or old and you hear the voice of God calling you, don’t be afraid to follow God, because God will have your back.  When in the time of trouble, your best friend may desert you.  But you can rest assured that God will always be there for you.  Learn to depend on God, because he is someone you can trust in the heat of battle.  God wants you to walk with him and become a good role model and set examples for your peers to learn to live by, although you will face some tough going and be ridiculed by your peers.  God says not to worry because he will be with you even until the end of times.

God is saying to you right now, to understand his word and write them on your heart, because when trouble comes and you know it is going to come, the words of the Lord is like having a sword in your hand and it is guaranteed to cut both ways, to the right and to the left.  It is your shield of armor that will always protect you.

Therefore, I encourage each one of you, the young and the old to think on the things of God and not on the things of this world.  God is calling you now to be a soldier in his army.  Turn away from the evil of Satan, and prepare yourself to except the challenge of serving in the ministry of God.  Remember, it is never too late, and you must never, “say never,” or I can’t do this.  Just know that when God calls you, he knows you are ready, he knows you better than you know yourself.

Today, I encourage you to open your mind and think boldly on what God can do, and be ready to go onto the battlefield.  I have ministered to you this day from a position of PEACE, PURPOSE, POWER and PROSPERITY.  I remain your brother in JESUS CHRIST, PASTOR DAVIS/MASTER TEACHER!

Related articles

• Stand Firm and Hold Fast to the Teachings We Passed on to You (smritidisaac.wordpress.com)
• Righteous in their own eyes (shilohrestoration.org)
• As for me, here I am, in your hand (throughchrist.wordpress.com)

TODAY’S PRAYER FOR HEALTH AND HEALING

JESUS PRAYS FOR OUR HEALTH (PHOTO BY PASTOR DAVIS)

Heavenly Father, we as your children enter into your present this day, seeking your blessings over our weakening and decaying physical bodies.  In the past few years Heavenly Father, we have allowed Satan to enter into our minds and turn our thoughts away from you and our natural state of wellness, which you created in us from the beginning of time.  We along with our children have begun to eat unhealthy, live our lives in an unhealthy manner, and practice unhealthy habits; as consequences the cells in our bodies have begun to break down.  Now our physical bodies are fill with stress, worries and anxieties and this is causing us to suffer with cancers, diabetes, high blood pressures and the list of illness just go on and on.  We realize Heavenly Father that this is not the manner in which you meant for us to age day to day.  We came into the knowledge that Jesus taught us more about health and healing than anything else while He was on earth with us.  Now Father, we have allowed Satan to enter into our minds and still our joy, our peace, our understanding of how we are to live our lives in wellness and prosperity. Heavenly Father, recreate in our minds a new Spirit of Health and Healing.  Help us to turn away from the unhealthy life style that has encroached upon us and caused us to fail and become an obese people lacking with enough energy to get up from our position of weakness and begin the process of training our bodies, and minds for the long run of aging gracefully.  You told us in your word, that we have not, because we ask not.  Today Heavenly Father, we are asking in the name of Jesus, for strength in overcoming our weakness, self-control in our ability to not sub-come to the evil spirits and temptations of the devil to control our thoughts, calmness in our minds not to become over anxious of where we are in our present health condition and where you are going to take us by maintaining our faith and walk with Jesus. We realize Heavenly Father that in order for us to continue our growth process and to live out our natural life on this earth and age gracefully, we must change our old ways of doing things, and begin to study and meditate on the teaching of Health and Healing that your Son Jesus gave to us.  We declare this day Heavenly Father, that we will begin the process of turning our lives and aging conditions around by being obedient to your word, living in complete faith and letting our lives be an example to the world community that by abiding in you and you abiding in us, our lives can and will be lived out in wellness.  In Jesus name, AMEN!

Related articles

• Prayer for Reawakening (johndwmacdonald.com)
• Do I know what Jesus is doing? (mww1954.wordpress.com)
• Jesus Came To Reveal To Us The Heavenly Father (pttyann2.wordpress.com)
• Conference Weekend (elderackerman.wordpress.com)
• Why? Boggles my Mind! (dmarienthee.wordpress.com)
• He is Big Enough (carolynrice.wordpress.com)

FLYING HIGH ON THE WINGS OF ASPIRATION

Arise Shine and Praise God your Wings of Aspiration

Children of God know in your hearts, that this day is the very first day of the rest of your life. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not promised, Therefore, I encourage you, to take flight this day and the ball and chain that have been keeping you from receiving your blessings, remove them and lift off on the wings of Aspiration.  For this day, this moment is the only time that matters.  God is calling you, now listen for His voice and do not allow Satan’s voice to drown out your blessings.  God is still in control. Let your mind take flight today and begin to see the beauty of all that God has to offer.  God is waiting for you right now, to begin your flight, “and fly high on the wings of Aspiration!”

When your mind becomes Calm and you find Peace within yourself, you will begin to discover by taking flight on the wings of aspiration, you can rises from earth to heaven, from ignorance to knowledge, from the under darkness to the upper light.  Without it, you will simply remain a groveling animal, earthly, sensual, unenlightened, and uninspired. Aspiration is the longing for heavenly things, for righteousness, compassion, purity, love, as distinguished from desire, which is the longing for earthly things, for selfish possessions, personal dominance, low pleasures, and sensual gratifications.  For one to aspire, means that he or she is dissatisfied with their low estate, and is aiming at a higher condition.  It is a sure sign that you will be roused out of your lethargic sleep of animalist, and you have become conscious of nobler attainments and a fuller life. You are now flying high on the wings of aspiration.  Now think deeply on this, and begin to enjoy the very first day of your brand new life.  God gave it to you, now take advantage of your wings and fulfill your dreams.

THE INFLUENCE OF UNGODLY PEOPLE OVER YOUR LIFE

God’s Marvelous Light (Photo by Pastor Davis)  Godly living must spring from an inward love and reverence for our awesome God. 

Children of God, in the past few weeks we have been speaking to you about Godliness and what it means in all of our lives.  Today, we are continuing that discussion because we are living in very dangerous times. The world is changing, people are changing, and nothing remains the same.  We are faced with many obstacles and difficulties ahead.  Satan, the old devil is roaming the neighborhoods, seeking out the weak among us in a vain attempt to take control of God’s Kingdom.

His evil band of angles are entering and dividing our families, our churches, our communities and our government.  We are becoming passive and submitting ourselves unto him by allowing the type of gun violence that recently destroyed the lives of so many in Colorado and Wisconsin.  I tell you this one truth, and that is this, “we must stop allowing ourselves to become so influenced by ungodly people, that we put our own godliness in jeopardy.”

At this very moment in time, let there be no mistake of the importance of how godliness ought to govern

Living Godly Lives In A Sin-Filled World

our lives and our relationship to others, and that include our churches, communities and especially our government and our government leaders.  There is a real sense in which godliness should and will dictate whom you hang out with.  Godliness will determine whom you enter into a covenant with.  It will determine your fellowship.  This is by no means an exhortation to remove you from the realities of life.  Godliness is a commentary on whom you let into your life, whom you trust, and whom you allow to influence your life.

When we study Paul’s teaching on this in (2 Timothy 3) we discover a serious conversation that Paul was having with his young son Timothy, who was pasturing the church at Ephesus at the time.  Paul felt very strongly that his son Timothy needed to be aware of the times and the signs of the times in which he lived.  In fact Paul began Chapter 3 by saying, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.”  This was a warning to the young, struggling Timothy.  He needed to be watchful, for these were dangerous times.  He drew Timothy a spiritual map complete with landmarks, signposts, and pitfalls.  He said there were specific things that would characterize the culture in the last days.

Now listen to how Paul described this culture to his son Timothy, he said, “Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.” (2 Timothy 3:1-5 MSG)

Godly Living in an Ungodly World

As I read and studied this lesson, my question was to Paul, why are you so concern about this time being the last days?  Why specifically highlight these moments when there was violence, persecution, and evil before the last days.  There were unthankful, unholy men before this point in history.  In the Old Testament Scripture it is replete with examples of heady, high minded, boastful, covetous pleasure seeking men who loved many things more than they loved God.  What is it that separates these last days from every other time in history?  Sin was nothing new in Paul’s day.  Wickedness was then, as it is now, a fact of life.  Why then are these times so dangerous that Paul must warn Timothy and us about them?

What always amazes me by studying scripture is this, no matter what question you may have, if you look deeply and study with an open mind, always seeking God’s guidance’s for truth,  the answer to the questions you are seeking is always right there in front of you.  Paul answered the question quite actually for me when he showed me that it was not the tendency of the culture that concerned him, but it was the target, and that target was the Church.  We know this because in Paul’s exhortation he said the ungodly, unrighteous, unholy people of the last days will come “having a form of godliness.”  They will look like the Church.  As long as the world looked like the world and Church looked like the Church, we were okay.  But Paul said in the last days, look out, because the world is putting on their Sunday best and raising hands and singing praises in an effort to infiltrate the house of God.

For those of you who are saved, sanctified, and filled with the precious Holy Ghost, you ought to know that there is an outward change that should have taken place subsequent to your salvation experience.  Folks will both look at your life and know that you are God’s child, or they’ll look at your life and know that you are not.  What I am saying to you here is, “godliness does have a certain look.”

Rand & Ron Paul (Photo credit: Gage Skidmore)

Paul said it will be difficult to spot the holy imposters because they will be clothed in the external expression of godliness.  They will appear to be godly.  They’ll look just like Sister So-and-So who serves communion every first Sunday.  They’ll look just like Brother Whoever from the elder deacon board, or Sister what’s-Her-Name who does a hallelujah dance every time the choir sings.  All these people look godly on the outside.  The Greek word for form here is morphosis, which means “a form or outward shape of.”  The emphasis is on the outside.  In other words, if you observe them, everything you see will appear godly.  But that is assuming you are observing only with your physical eyes and not with your spiritual ones.

Now let me tell you this, Paul is truly speaking truth to power.  When we take a close look at the people in our churches today and listen carefully to their speech we quickly come away with a sense of how ungodly the people have become, and how Satan has perverted the House of God by putting on his Sunday’s best.  Paul further said that Spiritual frauds will look godly, but you’ll spot them as phony if you look for something that human eyes cannot see.  He said they will have the form of godliness but “denying its power.”  In other words, they look godly, but their lives deny the very power that characterizes true godliness.

Related articles

• Finding a Church in These Times (endtimeebooklibrary.com)
• Speaking Out Against False Teachers (raptureimminent.wordpress.com)
• Psalm 1 :: Blessed is he who walks … (thepauls.wordpress.com)
• FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Godliness Is Next To Godliness (waverider1.wordpress.com)
• Godly Leadership & Power: A study of the Timothys (radiqx.com)
• “Having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8 (trinityspeaks.wordpress.com)

BE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE OF GOD

We the People are God Sunflower (Photo by Pastor Davis)

Today the people of Aurora, Colorado as well as our nation are facing some very strong head winds.  Satan is on the prowl, and is attempting to devour the children of God.  His evil forces struck a deadly blow in the hearts of the people of Aurora, Colorado by shooting and killing innocence people as they came to a movie theatre for an evening of fun and relaxation with their families, friends and love ones.  Jesus had warned us that Satan is a liar and a thief, and his mission is to steal, kill and destroy.  (John 10:10)  So this weekend Satan was true to his mission, as he attempted to kill as many of God’s children as he possible could.

However, we want the people of Aurora, Colorado to know that we here at Vine and Branch World Ministries, with our army of Disciples alone with all the people of this nation, are standing shoulder to shoulder with you, to fight against evil where ever it may exist.  Therefore, we say to you, “BE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE OF GOD,” “For God did not did not give you a spirit of fear, but he gave you a spirit of power, and a Spirit of love, and a Spirit of Self-Control.  (2 Timothy 6:7)

Therefore, God wants you as well as all of us as a Nation, to rise up, do not be overcome by fears of the devil, but embrace each other with love, and ENCOURAGE each other in the LORD, and this is how He challenges us to do it, He says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:10-20 ESP).

Now to all of God’s people, this is the WORD of our Lord, as He has spoken it plainly to you.  We have ministered it to you from a position of PEACE, PURPOSE, POWER and PROSPERITY, and finally, we say to you, “BE ENCOURAGED PEOPLE OF GOD!”  I remain your brother in CHRIST JESUS, Pastor Davis/Master Teacher!

Related articles

• Aurora Colorado Tragedy (jdsmithonline.com)
• Learn How To Help Aurora, Colorado And The Victims Of The Shooting (moviesblog.mtv.com)
• Armor of God Prayer (theendfocus.com)
• The Armor! (aviesplace.wordpress.com)

Satan Is Real (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

THE DEVIL IS A REAL BEING

The devil is a real being and this is an undisputed fact.  He tempted Jesus and why would we not believe that he would not do the same to us.  A better question might be this, “why are we always accusing God of allowing the devil to temp us into doing wrong? In order words allowing us to get caught up in a sea of sin, the story of Jesus’ temptation is an important demonstration of his power and sinlessness.  He faced temptation and did not give in.  We as His followers should trust in him as we too face temptations that will test our faithfulness to God.  In the end, will we give into the devil’s temptation and suffer the agony of living in sin, whaling in it like hogs whaling in a pig pin.

The word “devil” in Greek means “accuser;” in Hebrew, the word “Satan” means the same.  The Devil, who tempted Adam and Eve in the garden, also tempted Jesus in the wilderness.  The Devil is a real being, a created yet rebellious fallen angel, and not a symbol or an idea.  He constantly fights against God and those who follow and obey God.  Satan is not omnipresent, nor is he all-powerful.  Through the evil spirits under his dominion, Satan works everywhere attempting to draw people away from God and into his own darkness.

Since you now know that the devil and Satan are one and the same, and when you are always been accused of doing wrong, and you are speaking truth, you now know that it is Satan working his magic as the accuser attempting to destroy you with his lies.  The devil is a liar, know this as truth.  He is also known as the angel of light. The most beautiful angel God had ever created, and as such he is able to make himself as beautiful as need be in order to have his way with you. However, you must always resist the devil as the true liar that he really is, and always tell him to get the behind you.

Now when God compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, this would become his greatest challenge.  God was putting Jesus to the test, not to see if Jesus was ready, but to show that he was ready for his mission.  Satin, however, had other plans, he hoped to thwart Jesus’ mission by tempting him to do evil. This is the same thing that Satan does to us, when God sends us on a mission.  Why was it necessary for Jesus to be tempted?  Because temptation is part of the human experience, For Jesus to be fully human, he had to face temptation.  Jesus had to undo Adam’s work.  Adam, though created perfect, gave in to temptation and passed sin on to the whole human race.  Jesus, by contrast, resisted Satan.  His victory offers salvation to Adam’s descendants.  We are those descendants and as such, we have victory over Satan. The choice is always ours.

Now listen to how the devil begin to execute his plan of attack upon Jesus, at the very moment when he thought Jesus was at his weakest point, which is the same thing that he does to us, as he seeks to find the weak spots in our armor. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.” (Luke 4:3-4 ESV).  Instead of Jesus giving in to Satan temptation, Jesus turns the table on him, and use the word of God to push Satan back away from him. Although at this very moment Jesus was very hungry, and Jesus being God himself could have used his awesome power to turn those stones into bread.

On the surface, this might seem to be a fairly harmless act, even a compassionate suggestion, so why not use the resources that he had at his command and change a stone into a loaf of bread?

In this case, however, the sin was not in the act but in the reason behind it.  The Devil was trying to get Jesus to take a shortcut, to solve his immediate problem at the expense of his long range goals, to seek comfort at the sacrifice of his discipline.  Satan often works that way, persuading people to take action, even right action, for the wrong reason or at the wrong time.  The fact that something is not wrong in itself does not mean that it is good for someone at a given time.  Many people sin by attempting to fulfill legitimate desires outside of God’s will or ahead of his time table.

Jesus understood that obedience to the Father’s mission was more important than food.  Making himself bread would have shown that he had not quite set aside all his powers, had not humbled himself, and had not identified completely with the human race.  But Jesus refused, showing that he would use his powers only in submission to God’s plan.

The Devil is always prowling around, seeking to turn us around and become just like him, but the bible commands us to, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9 ESV).

In closing, just remember, “THE DEVIL IS A REAL BEING, and the father of lies, as such he is seeking to destroy you and tear down God’s Kingdom. Will you become his next victim?

Related articles

• Abide in Jesus (cupofblessing.wordpress.com)
• Temptation (goldenbible.wordpress.com)
• Running to God (goldenbible.wordpress.com)
• Here’s Your Victory Over Discouragement! (todaysfreshmanna.wordpress.com)
• How to Resist Temptation Like Jesus (ptl2010.com)
• Jesus, satan, and what love does (theycallmekeeks.com)
• Our adversary (rodneyhunt.wordpress.com)
• 3 Types of Spiritual Strongholds (slideshare.net)
• Letters to the 7 *churches – Revelation 2:1-3:22 (brakeman1.com)

IS YOUR LEADERSHIP VISION CONSISTENT WITH GOD PURPOSE

Jesus a visionary Leader-In-The-Wilderness-Ivan-Kramskoy

Few things are more important to effective leadership than a VISION.  Godly leaders foresee something out there, vague as it might appear from the distance that others do not see.  Godly leaders who are followers of Christ must first have a VISION of who God is and the future he holds for them.  They must also have a sense of what God has called them to do.  Once they understand it, then they must take hold of the leadership role that has been given to them and begin to fulfill the role with a godly vision.

What is the focus of your life?  Are you a person of passion for the things of God, or is that passion just a sporadic experience for you?  If you had to describe the compelling treasure as a visionary leader in your life, what would it look like?

It is crucial for a leader to know how to identify and cultivate a personal vision.  However, where does such a visions originate?  When you are in God’s will, understand God’s purpose for your life and are truly ready to follow God’s directions, he will create in you the vision for His will and His purpose for your life.  When the Prophet Habakkuk was attempting to understand God’s purpose, he question God and this is what God told him to do, God said, “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”  (Habakkuk 2:3-4 ESV)

In his book Visionary Leadership, Burt Nanus defines a VISION as “a realistic, credible, attractive future for your organization.  It is your articulation of a destination toward which your organization should aim, a future that is better, more successful, or more desirable for your organization than is the present.”  Nanus contends that the right vision “Is an idea so energizing that it in effect jump-starts the future by calling forth the skills, talents, and resources to make it happen.”

Over the course of his ministry, Jesus consistently cast an energizing vision of the coming kingdom of God.  He repeatedly described the character and conduct that would define
citizens of that kingdom.  The Lord’s vision was so compelling that the twelve disciples left everything to follow his lead.  Thousands of others also took their direction from him.

Yet, in spite of the Lord’s consistent message, the disciples had a hard time grasping the fact that ushering in the kingdom of God would require suffering.  When Jesus clearly explained his impending death, Peter rebuked him for making such an assertion.  He was probably shocked when the Lord abruptly turned the tables and said, “Get behind me, Satan!”  Peter’s problem was that he allowed his personal and self-centered agenda to box in God’s plan.  Ultimately, such self-serving visions are satanically inspired.

Leaders need to be sure their vision is consistent with God’s purpose.  Moreover, when cross currents threaten to sweep the vision into another channel, they must work to keep it heading in the right direction.  They cannot allow self-serving interests—their own or someone else’s—to distort their vision of the future and prevent God’s purposes from being fulfilled.  That is why we must continually ask the question, “IS YOUR LEADERSHIP VISION CONSISTENT WITH GOD PURPOSE?” 

Related articles

• Casting Vision to our Children (dailybibleplan.com)
• V – vision (livingforvision.wordpress.com)
• Heaven On Earth- Are You IN? (jeanniescrossroad.wordpress.com)
• The Shameful Social Gospel (pilgrimpassing.com)
• As God Fearing Christians We Are Not Suppose To Blend In With The Worldly Social Culture (dailyaspects.wordpress.com)
• It Is Finished (pilgrimpassing.com)