Motivation vs. Manipulation
We can positively and beneficially influence our leaders through motivation. I Timothy 6:1 says, “Let as many servants as are under the yoke (joined together) count their own masters (leaders, or employers) worthy of all honour that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed (spoken against). This does not tell us what motivation is as much as it gives us a reason why we should motivate our leadership. To “honour” means to “esteem.” So, this is saying that when we esteem our leaders by motivating them, we actually lift up God’s name along with His doctrine and our testimony. {click to continue reading…}
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Submission vs. Resistance
The Bible says in Hebrews 13:17, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief…” The message that the Apostle Paul is giving us here is quite clear: we are to submit entirely to our leaders. Why? Because our leaders are the people who are going to look out for our best interests! It says that, “…they watch for your souls…” This means literally that if we submit to our leaders, our souls (mind, will, and emotions) will be best cared for. Now, notice the phrase, “…that they may do it with joy and not with grief…” This is referring to our leaders in the act of watching out for our souls. What Paul is explaining here is that if we fail to submit to our leaders, then they will be unable to care for us with joy; and consequently, they will be grieved and disappointed in their responsibility of ministering to us. {click to continue reading…}
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“Our wrong thoughts hurt God’s heart. If we truly believed this, we would think differently.”
Have you talked to God this morning? God desires to speak to you! Have you heard from Him today? If you have not an answer, it may be that something is prohibiting your two-way communication. Do you know what it is? Remember, wrong thoughts are the interference of the enemy that he uses to scramble our frequency of communication from the Great Commander.
Yes…it could be that stinkin’ thinkin’! But where did it come from? And how did it begin?? One of the primary ways the devil will seek to advance upon us is through temptation. If his tactic of temptation is successful, we will be faced with an onslaught of turmoil that will likely interrupt our peace and overwhelm our meditations. My friends, Jesus clearly tells us that He does not want this to occur. Let us take a look at a portion of Scripture that demonstrates this truth. {click to continue reading…}
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The first element, provision, is satisfied by each leader providing things for us that are necessary within their own specific jurisdiction. An example of this would be parents providing food and housing for us when we were young.
Second, there is protection. Similar to provision, each leader is designed to protect us in a specific way. A good example of this protection would be the government protecting us from civil disobedience or enemy attack. It could also be a preacher protecting us from making a poor life decision or parents protecting us from bad friends. {click to continue reading…}
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