Week 30 Day 4

The Daily Take 10

The Gospel of John

Week 30 Day 4

Introduction…It is the responsibility of a leader to set an excellent example for those watching, and since there is always someone observing our actions, we are all responsible leaders. Realize that what we think, say and do matters. Our first priority should be to do the right thing. Next we must do the right thing, the right way. Our actions must be trustworthy and based upon consistent integrity. When we honor the Lord in our words and actions, our lives become one of positive influence. Titus 2:7-8, “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.”

Read John 18:12-14, 19-24 “The company of soldiers and their commander and the officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound him and led him first of all to Annas. He was the father in law of Caiaphas who was High Priest in that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was better that one man should die for the people…The High Priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered him, ‘I spoke openly in the world. I taught at all times in the synagogue and in the precincts of the Temple, where all the Jews assemble and I spoke nothing in secret. Why do you ask me questions? Ask those who heard me what I said to them. See! These know what I have said.’ When he had said these things, one of the officers who was standing by dealt Jesus a blow. ‘Do you answer the High Priest like this?’ he said. Jesus answered, ‘if I have spoken ill, produce evidence about the ill, if I have spoken well, why do you strike me?’ So Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the High Priest.”

Bible Study

• Jesus was a Servant Leader who set an example for us of selfless living. Giving up His rights for a higher calling, a higher good…to obey God, take up the Cross, die for our sins and thereby save us.
• Annas, was self serving leader. He had the position of great influence. He was the power behind the power. Yet his life choice was to purchase power and live for it. History tells us Annas was the High Priest, a position his 4 sons held as well, and now Caiaphas, his son in law, was the High Priest in power.
• Historians documented the notorious corruption, bribes and power behind the choices and direction of Annas and his family.
  • Keeping in line with the Roman government instead of God’s ways.
  • Not leading people by example or towards God and His ways.
  • Overcharging and profiting from the people for payment of sacrifices. Remember that Jesus came against all this when He cleared the Temple.
  • Making merchandise of worship and the things of God for personal gain.
• Jesus, contrary to selfish acts and greed, taught the truth of God’s Word which says, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul,” Matthew 16:26
• So earthly focused and driven by power, money and prestige, were the family of Annas, that the High Priests missed the Messiah, disobeyed God and lost their soul for eternity. What a tragedy!

Application

• We are 1 choice away from changing our life forever. Joshua of old while leading the people of Israel knew he couldn’t chose for them, but said as a leader, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
• Life for us today is what our choices have made it to be. But with the opportunity to choose the right direction starting this very moment, it offers hope for a better tomorrow.
• “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” With God’s strength we can do all things. He gives us the blueprint for living an abundant life, free from the guilt of yesterday’s mistakes. If and when we get it right on the inside of us…Today is the first day of the rest of your life!
• Our prayer could be, “Dear Father, help me to pattern my life after Your example. I want to be a positive influence in the lives of those around me. Give me the courage to walk in Your way. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”

Tags: Take 10

Week 26 Day 1

The Daily Take 10

The Gospel of John

Week 26 Day 1

Introduction…Making a lasting impression has always been so important. We hear speakers say, “if you only remember one thing you heard, let it be this!” What was Jesus’ last message to His disciples that needed special emphasis to be ‘burned into’ their memory? The message was as an object lesson with Jesus as the example. With His death just hours away and their time together slipping away, Jesus taught servanthood. Servant Leadership. Sacrificial love. Humbleness and selfless love that puts others ahead of yourself. The objects Jesus used to teach this life lesson was a basin of water and a towel.

Read John 13:1-17 “Before the Festival of the Passover, Jesus, in the knowledge that his hour had come to leave this world and to go to the Father, although he had always loved his own people in the world, decided to show them what his love was like in a way which went to the ultimate limit. The meal was in progress. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, that he should betray Jesus. Well knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come forth from God and that he was going back to God, Jesus rose from the meal and laid aside his outer robe and took a towel and put it round himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of his disciples and to wipe them with the towel. He came to Simon Peter. Peter said to him: ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet.’ Jesus answered him: ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but you will understand afterwards,’ Peter said to him: ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered him: ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with me.’ Peter said to him: ‘Lord, if that is so, do not wash my feet only, but my hands and my head too.’ Jesus said to him: ‘He who has been bathed has need only to have his feet washed. After that is done he is altogether clean.’ So when he had washed their feet and when he had taken his outer robe again and when he had taken his place at the table, he said to them: ‘Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and you call me ‘Lord.’ And you are quite right to do so, for so I am. If then I, the Teacher and Lord, have washed your feet, so you ought to wash each other’s feet, for I have given you and example, that as I have done to you, you too should do to each other. This is the truth I tell you, the servant is not greater than his master, nor he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things you are blessed if you do them.”

Bible Study

• Jesus knew all things had been given to Him by the Father, yet He laid them all down to come to earth and die for us. See Philippians 2:6-9 “Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God…took upon him the form of a servant…and became obedient unto death.”
• Jesus knew he had come from Father God and would return to be Him. See Matthew 26:53 and 64. “Don’t you know that I can pray to my Father and He will send 12 legions (36,000) of angels…you will see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
• Jesus knew Judas would betray Him, but He washed his feet lovingly. Jesus was Crucified, not by the Jews or by the Romans, but because of our sin. That is what sent Him to the Cross. See Luke 23: 34 While on the Cross Jesus said of those who put Him on the Cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”
• Peter was too proud initially for Jesus to wash his feet, but when Peter realized the significance, he submitted to Jesus’ plan and purposes.
• The ‘washing’ of water baptism is an act of obedience, symbolizing the washing away of sin, our sins being buried in baptism and rising clean in newness of life.

Application

• What are we using and doing to wash others feet?

• Whose feet do we need to wash today?
• How will we serve others today?
• What are the objects or tools we will use to serve others?

Tags: Take 10

Week 22 Day 2

The Daily Take 10

The Gospel of John

Week 22 Day 2

Introduction…A shepherd in Jesus’ day had a certain biosketch. Today’s version of the shepherd with similar traits is the Servant Leader. Why? Because both the shepherd and servant leader are required to give selfless energy and hazard their life for the benefit of who they lead. The Servant Leader’s focus is their people. Without comparison, Jesus is the finest Servant Leader that ever lived. All other leaders of this world require that the their followers be willing to die for them, while on the contrary, Jesus was the only leader who died for those that followed him. That is Servant Leadership. That is our Good Shepherd!

Read John 10:11-15 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. The hireling, who is not a real shepherd and to whom the sheep do not really belong, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away and the wolf seizes them and scatters them. He abandons the sheep because he is a hireling and the sheep are nothing to him. I am the good shepherd and I know my own sheep and my own sheep know me, just as the Father  knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Bible Study

• One would think the difference between true and false would be easy to spot, but not so. When the difference is life or death, between good and evil, God and Satan and our decision requires daily and total commitment we can weaken making the tough choices between right and wrong. The Good Shepherd is always there to lead us home when and if we go astray because God is love.
• Eve and then Adam, in the Garden of Eden, were first deceived by what appeared to be an angel of light…and their decision was indeed life and death. Without fully weighing the consequences they made their choice to not follow God’s way and this resulted in death. See Genesis 2:17 and 3:1-24. But Jesus was coming to forgive and give us new life. See the 1^st prophecy in the Bible Gen. 3:15.
• As Satan deceived Eve, to steal, kill and destroy her life and future with God, so the enemy comes against the true believers enticing them to turn a way from the Good Shepherd.
  • See Matthew 10:16 Jesus warned his disciples to be faithful shepherds of the flocks of people they would lead. Jesus alerted them He was sending them out as sheep amidst wolves. Be alert and faithful caring for people.
  • See Acts 20:29 Paul warned the elders of the church that wolves would try destroy the unity of believers, inspired by evil to hinder the work of God.
• False shepherds do not care about the people, they care about themselves
  • False shepherds are deceptive and lead people astray therefore they must be identified by us since they prey on people. 2 John 7 says, “Many deceivers are entered into the world, who do not confess Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”
  • As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have been given the spirit of discernment by the Holy Spirit who is with us always…guarding and guiding us. Hebrews 5:14 says when we are mature in Christ, we are “exercised to discern both good and evil.” There is a spirit of discernment that is a gift of the Holy Spirit…see 1 Corinthians 12:10.

Application

• See the beautiful words to the old yet prayerful hymn, “Savior Like A Shepherd Lead Us”

“Savior, like a shepherd lead us
Much we need thy tender care
In thy pleasant pastures feed us
For our use thy folds prepare
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
Thou hast bought us, thine we are
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
Thou hast bought us, thine we are

We are thine, who thou befriend us
Be the guardian of our way
Keep thy flock from sin defend us
Seek us when we go astray
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
Hear thy children when we pray
Blessed Jesus, oh blessed Jesus
Hear thy children when we pray

Early let us seek thy favor
Early let us do thy will
Blessed Lord and only Savior
With thy love our bosoms fill
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus
Thou hast loved us, love us still
Blessed Jesus, oh blessed Jesus
Thou hast loved us, love us still
Blessed Jesus, oh blessed Jesus
Thou hast loved us, love us still

Tags: Take 10

March 15, 2010 – Favor, Part 5

We, like Jesus in Luke 2, can grow in favor with God and with man.  Favor with God comes when we obey His word and have faith in His word.  Last week we began talking about growing in favor with man (see last week’s blog).

My parents always taught me, and we all know this is true, if you look at the people you are in relationship with it will show you your future.  Who you are connected to relationally will determine where you go in life.  That applies in school with your friends and the choices that you make in those early years.  That applies in getting a job – its not what you know its often who you know and network with.  That applies on the job – who you connect with and strategically align yourself with.  That applies in life – your friends, who you do life with.  That is why we believe at Elevate relationally connecting in community is so vital to living this Christian life with authenticity and growing in your relationship with God.  God uses people to catapult you into the trajectory he is taking you.  He uses relationships, and opens doors to places and opportunities through the people He brings into your life.  He uses the people we are in relationship with to bring favor into our lives.  Countless times in the Bible we see a life changed by one encounter with someone else.  Favor with just one person changes everything – it’s a game changer.

Col. 3:22 says this, “Obey your earthly masters in everything; And do it, not only when their eye is on you to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.  23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Let me put this in modern day English – he is talking to those who have jobs – you need to win the favor of those who you work for.  Not just when they are looking but even when they are not with the same intensity, with the same integrity.  And to do that work for them as if you are working for the Lord because you should know that you are actually working in that job for the Lord.  He is the one who provided you the health, the skill and the ability to work.  He is the one who has provided the opportunity of that job.  And, the Bible is very clear about this, this is a message in itself, but He is the one who has put your boss in that position over you – every position of authority God has given.  When you work this way Colossians says you will win the favor of God and the favor of man (Prov. 22:29, Prov. 21:1).

Just remember that God uses the people in your life to bring you favor.  Many times that is the person that you are working for.  You are not working for that boss you are working for your master the King of kings and the Lord of lords who is interested in your life and working on your behalf.  In every story of the Bible where God showed someone favor they were working where God had positioned them (see the life of Joseph in Genesis 39).

Work as unto the Lord and you will win favor with man,

Jonathan

Tags: Jonathan Spuler

March 8, 2010 – Favor, Part 4

We have been talking about growing in favor with God and taking a key from what was said of Jesus in Luke 2 we too can grow not only in favor with God but also with man.  Proverbs 3:3-4 says “Never let loyalty and kindness leave you!  Tie them around your neck as a reminder.  Write them deep w/in your heart.  4 Then you will find favor w/ both God & people, & you will earn a good reputation.”  You will find favor, you would win favor another version says both with God and with people.  If God’s favor on your life is such that He looks at you with grace and acceptance, wanting to offer you gifts and blessings, to look at you with pleasantry and beauty – wouldn’t it be wonderful if people you came into contact with would also treat you with favor?

Now here is the problem – we have been taught, maybe not specifically but we have carried the idea in our hearts that if we are going to have favor with God that we can’t have favor with man.  That they are somehow opposite or polarized – that there is no way that you can have favor with God and with people.  Maybe we’ve said it this way if you are going to be pleasing to man you must not be pleasing God or if you are going to be pleasing to God than automatically that means you can’t have the favor of man.  And we have picked up in tradition, or in church or somewhere along our Christian journey that if we have favor with people we must be compromising in our relationship with God.  That just is not true.  If you have favor with God many times that favor is shown to you through the relationships that you have in your life!

As God molds and shapes us and we are obedient to His word and live a life filled of faith we gain his favor but we also become more like Him - He changes us.  And as we change and as His spirit becomes more a part of who we are we do become more attractive.  People are drawn to us – not because it is us but because it is the fruit of His spirit.  What comes out of us as a by product of Him changing us and favor comes along with that.  People will want to know why you are different – they will want what you have and you will have the opportunity to explain to them that it is not I but Christ that lives in me.

Three practical ways to grow in favor with those around you…

First, live a life of humility.  Have you ever noticed that someone who has had some level of success in sports or politics or in any arena and they take the approach of recognizing others around them or it is their self depreciation that it draws you to them?  Jesus  taught His disciples if you want to be great in the Kingdom of God then humble yourself and be a servant to all.  The Bible says humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up in due season

Second, live a trustworthy life.  Be a trustworthy person, be dependable, faithful, let people know they can count on you.  You know who the people are in your life who are always there for you.  I can list off a few friends that if I called them they would be at my door as quick as they can – they are dependable and because I know this of them I would do anything for them.  The parable of the master and his 3 servants is a great example of dependability.  Whatever God has given you He is looking for you to use to be dependable with and produce for Him faithfully.  To produce a return on the investment that He has entrusted to you and when you do you will win favor with Him.  The same is true when we entrust our time, our burdens, our needs to others and they are always there for you – they have your favor.  If you are dependable the same will be true for you and you will win the favor of those around you.

Finally, to win the favor of those around you live for more than yourself.  Jesus grew in favor with God and man.  Why, because His life was not His own, He laid down his life for others.  Any act of kindness toward others generates favor.  It can be a simple handshake or a smile – it can be coming an hour early to church to serve in kids ministry or help set up.  But any way you do it when you give you life away you gain favor.

We can have favor in our lives both with God and with the people around us and it starts with living with humility, living trustworthily and living a life that is more than ourselves.

Lets win favor of those around us this week,

Jonathan

Tags: Jonathan Spuler

Week 19 Day 2

The Daily Take 10

The Gospel of John

Week 19 Day 2

Introduction…No one person or denomination has the corner on God. God can not be put in a neat box, especially one we created for Him. He is sovereign, bigger than our thoughts and will do beyond our imaginations. Our understanding of God cannot divide us from others who have a different view or interpretation of God’s Word. There is so much that should unite us and we must walk humbly before Him while loving others who don’t quite know what we know, especially since we do not know it all.

Read John 7:45-52 “So the officers came to the chief priests and the Pharisees. They said to them: ‘Why did you not bring him here?’ The attendants answered: ‘Never did a man speak as he speaks.’ So the Pharisees answered: ‘Surely you too have not been led astray? Has anyone from the authorities believed in him? Or anyone from the Pharisees? They have not, but the mob which is ignorant of the law and which is accursed believes in him!’ Nicodemus (the man who came to him before) said to them, for he was one of them: ‘Surely our law does not condemn a man unless it first hears a statement of the case from him and has first hand information about what he is doing?’ The answered him: ‘Surely you too are not from Galilee? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Bible Study

• No one ever spoke like Jesus. He was God speaking. Don’t you think it would get your attention? It stunned the officers so much, they could not arrest Him.
• The snobbery of the religious leaders who wanted to control the people and maintain their powerful position caused them to actually and tragically miss the God they were representing even though He was right in front of them. Do you know Him?
  • See Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone that says Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of the Father…”
  • 1 Samuel 16:7 and 2 Corinthians 10:7 teaches, “Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks upon the heart.”
• Jesus was not up to their standard or level. Jesus was a Servant Leader. They were all about title, prestige, position and pedigree.
• All throughout Scripture, God used the humble servant and not the obvious, apparent, strong leader…Why?
  • God has chosen the foolish, simple and weak things to confound the wise so that no person can glory, but God.
  • Moses stammered and could not speak without his brother Aaron speaking for him, yet God used him powerfully to lead His people
  • Gideon was hiding and the least in his family and God called him a mighty man of valor and used him mightily.
  • David was the young shepherd boy who God selected as leader and King
  • 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 tells us, “your calling brethren, how not many wise…not many mighty…not many noble are called, but God has chosen the foolish…and weak things to confound the things that are mighty…”
• Jesus came representing the heart of God, who loved the world, not just the upper crust, but especially those who have need, no hope and want God. To God we are truly all equally loved. After all we are all sinners saved by His grace.
  • Serving God is not about position or prestige, “Pure religion and undefiled before God… is visiting the fatherless and widows and keeping ourselves unspotted from world.” James 1:27

Application

• We cannot follow the crowd. The world is lost and going astray. That is why Jesus still calls us, the true believers, His disciples, to follow Him. We need to listen more to Him and less to our doubts. Sometimes it is a lonely road, but He will never leave or forsake us. To whom else can we go? Only Jesus has the words of life.

Tags: Take 10

February 8, 2010 – Change, Part 2

What if God’s dream for each of us was that we would be different - Not just what our personalities would dictate, what our family origins have influenced to become, what our past experiences have driven us to be - That we could be people that are different – shaped and molded by him – changed by the power of His Spirit.

II Cor. 3:17 says, Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (the freedom we have in Christ is freedom from things for things, to do things differently). 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, (or reflecting his image, what he looks like) transformed (or changed) into the same image from glory to glory (or step by step), just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The Biblical claim that we see all throughout scripture is that we have the ability to change.  That we don’t have to stay the same – that we have the power to be transformed.  When God intersects with a life you are different, you are changed.  The result of this transformation is His spirit animates us and produces fruit in us (Gal. 5:22).

You cant love your enemies or someone who hurts like the Bible instructs you on your own by your own will.  It only can come through God’s spirit, His power must be alive on the inside of you to change you to live like that.  To have joy in the midst of pain is backwards unless God’s spirit and his power comes into your life and in the middle of pain and sorrow the fruit it produces is unspeakable joy.  You cant have peace when your world is crashing in around you unless you allow his spirit to invade your life and change you.  That is being different than the world around us – us being changed

How do we allow God’s Spirit to change us, to mold us, to shape us back into his image.  First, it comes with surrendering.  Surrendering your life to him – your desires, your agenda, your will for your life for his will for your life.  The Bible refers to this as dieing to ourselves, dieing to our sin nature and allowing His Spirit to be more active in your life producing the fruit of His spirit.  You are saying I want your spirit to come and invade my life and change me – I don’t live for me anymore, I live for you – so the first way is surrender.

Second, comes by looking in the mirror of scripture (Js. 1:23).  The Bible says the word of God is sharper than any two edged sword and it rightly divides truth.  Read it, use it, use it as a mirror - Allow God’s spirit to speak to you through it and change you.

Rom. 12:2 Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think,

Jonathan

Tags: Jonathan Spuler

February 1, 2010 – Change, Part 1

Those that witnessed the death and resurrection of Jesus knew that something was different about the world.  That something had changed; something had been put in motion and a seed had been planted for a transformed world.  That in Christ a new form a creation had come and that they were a part of that story (II Cor. 5:17).  And so the story about Jesus being born, dying and rising again is all about change – the old becoming new and we continue to be a part of this story.  Every generation is charged in doing this, in taking up this challenge of being bearers of this changed life experience (Rom. 12:2).

When you talk about change…it isn’t easy…it is a messy undertaking so here are some thoughts – if we are to be bearers of this changed life experience – to help in our change process.

First off, you have to be ok with the fact that change feels un-natural.  Because change is so un-natural, you feel like you are faking it.  You see, if you are going to see change in your marriage, or in your relationships, or in the way you act on the job God is going to lead you down some paths that feel very un-natural to you .  Unless you are ok with that un-natural feeling and navigating through that completely you wont truly change.  Not just in behaviors or habits but even in theological thinking – you have to wrestle with new revelation that God may share with you about himself.  It may be uncomfortable for awhile because it is against the way you were raised or contrary to your thinking and you have to work through it.  Heb. 12:2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, because he is the author and the perfector (or the developer of) our faith.

The second reason change is so hard is that it’s a very deconstructive process.  What do I mean by that – you have to change the way or give up the way you used to act and think in any given scenario.  You have to stop and asses and deconstruct the way you view things.  If you don’t change the way you think about parenting you will parent exactly the way you saw it modeled and have the same relationship with your kids as you had with your parents.  If you don’t change your thinking in your marriage in a few short years you will have drifted away from your partner.  If you don’t change the way you think about food you health will decline in the years to come.  You are going to have to decide to stop, assess that stronghold/that blindspot and deconstruct that stinkin’ thinkin’ to experience change.

How?  The best way I know how is with scripture.  The Bible is referred to as a sword and the scripture says it rightly divides truth.  Read it, memorize it, wrestle with it – it will build your faith and help you change.

Lets get better at change – a change will do you good,

Jonathan

Tags: Jonathan Spuler

January 25, 2010 – Restart, Part 4

John Maxwell, the leadership guru, who has written over 50 books and sold over 13 million copies of those books says:  Why do we miss out on using our “todays” –  We over exaggerate yesterday - We overestimate tomorrow - We underestimate today.  That is what this series and Lam. 3:22 is all about – that we get a fresh start everyday.  In this final installment I want to emphasize today!

Ps. 90:12 Teach me Oh Lord to number my days, That I may gain a heart of wisdom.  David is saying there is wisdom in understanding the value of today.  God has our days numbered and ordered we need to place the same value on them as he does.  Everyday is a gift from him – live it to its fullest and learn to value it like He does.  To keep the correct perspective and for you to live each day as a gift here are some thoughts.

Know that there will be unpredictability (Prov. 27:1).  Sometimes our days have heaven surprises and sometime our days have hell invasions but each one has been given to you for a purpose.

Each day given is equal to all. We all feel that there are not enough hours in a day but the laziest person on the planet and the most productive person all get the same exact resource of 24 hours.  There is wisdom in numbering your days or knowing the value that each one is a gift

Don’t waste the day on what doesn’t matter.  Too many people live in yesterday, too many people live in someday but the only day that you have a hold onto is today so don’t waste it.  Ps. 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Anticipate the value of each day to increase.  Ps. 84:10 One day in the house of the Lord is better than a thousand days in the world.  A single day, 1 day, in God house (or in God’s kingdom) is better than 3 years in your old lifestyle or where you are coming from.  Are you living each day with the thought of increasing that one day?  Are you living each day with the anticipation that God will increase your impact, your reach, your influence in your life for tomorrow?  Are you living each day with the thought of increasing the productivity of getting 1,000 more things done tomorrow?  Are you putting in the time in your studies, in building your businesses, in making those relational connections, in making the sacrifices, in planting that seed that one day the value of your today will be greater in the days to come?  Lifting the value of your day – that the same person, the same hours in the day, the same talent, the same resource but you are increasing your impact for tomorrow.  What a great thought to live by in valuing the gift of today.

You cant add value to each day when you hold onto the failures of yesterday.  You can add value to your today by letting the fear of tomorrow rule the hours you have today.  You cannot increase your tomorrow by wasting time in areas that are not fruitful put them to bed tonight and don’t wake up with them tomorrow.  Live each day as though they are numbered gifts from God.  Live each day with the passion to increase your day to 1000.  This is the day that the Lord has made rejoice in it!!

Cease the day,

Jonathan

Tags: Jonathan Spuler

Week 5 Day 5

The Daily Take 10

The Epistle of James

Week 5 Day 5

Introduction…everything hinges on leadership. We are all leaders since people are watching us and we are all responsible as leaders, at the very least for our own lives. Our own life, marriage, family, church, business, sports teams, government, education…every sphere we can name…all need leadership and the right kind of leadership! The Servant Leadership modeled by Jesus Christ, for over 2000 years, continues to positively influence our world. Since we are His disciples and leaders in our own right, Jesus said to us, “He who is greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself, will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:11-12

Read James 3:13-14 “Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let this person by his noble living show forth his good works with the humility of true wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and contention in your hearts, do not pride yourself on it and thus be in defiance of and false to the truth.”

Bible Study

• Once again, James follows Jesus’ teaching and indicates that the inner man, the character of the person is key. We have to first get it right on the inside. Do an assessment of your leadership:
  • The heart…what is your motivation as a leader?
  • The head…what are your beliefs as a leader?
  • The hands…what are you doing and saying? Do they align?
  • The habits…what is developing in you? Is it good and of God?
• When we get it right on the inside of ourselves, the source, what flows out from us, what we say and do, our words and actions are right and consistent.
• Jesus said, “you will know a tree by its fruit.” You will know a person by the fruit displayed in his/her life. What fruit do you and others see from your life?
• A life led by the Spirit of God yields certain fruit. See Galatians 5:22-25. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self-control.
• A life that is not led by God’s Spirit, but led by the flesh displays the works or fruit of the flesh. See Galatians 5:19-21. The works of the flesh are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, factions, seditions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, reveling.
• Jealousy and fighting your way up the ladder of success may seem the right motivator to get ahead, but it is being led of the flesh.  Proverbs 14:12 says, “there is a way that seems right to a person (without God’s leading/principles), but the end thereof is death and destruction.” Destruction to yourself, your leadership and others.
• A life or leadership that is not Spirit led is envious, angered, fearful and prideful. It is not sustainable. It will not stand or last…it will fall under the storms of life.
• The truly wise and intelligent are not full of pride. The Scriptures declare that, “pride goes before destruction.” Proverbs 16:18

Application

• Where do you lead? Family? Church? Business? Community?
• How do you lead?
• What is the impact of your leadership?

Any comments or questions?

Tags: Take 10