Servant Leadership

Servant Leadership

2 Corinthians 6: ³ We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so we try not to put obstacles in anyone's way. ⁴ Instead, in everything we do we show that we are God's servants by patiently enduring troubles, hardships, and difficulties. ⁵ We have been beaten, jailed, and mobbed; we have been overworked and have gone without sleep or food. ⁶ By our purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness we have shown ourselves to be God's servants—by the Holy Spirit, by our true love, ⁷ by our message of truth, and by the power of God. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves.

 

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Tired of bullies and being a goody, goody, I decided to get into body building. This way I could be attractive and be ready to fight. The bigger I got, the more I realized there was always a bully who was bigger and stronger than me. I was preparing to fight the wrong battle.

 

• I wanted to overcome frustrations by venting or fighting.
• I wanted to fulfil my lusts.
• I wanted to be seen as a strong leader based on the world’s definition.

 

Paul describes a life that is less desirable to many. It is a life dedicated to GOD’s service. He mentions that he was beaten, jailed, mobbed, sleepless and starving all for the sake of being a servant of GOD.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to patiently endure troubles, hardships and difficulties.
• GOD wants me to focus on purity, knowledge, patience and kindness to be HIS example.
• GOD wants me to show the love of the HOLY SPIRIT with the message of truth.

 

Being a pushover is not where GOD wants me. I mean, HE doesn’t want me gullible or unwise. HE knows the ways of the world require that I understand it, but not follow it. GOD’s kingdom is the only kingdom worth building.

 

HE loves when I surrender parts of my life solely for HIS purpose. HE then gives me HIS righteousness to attack injustice with peace and fight bullying, whether passive or overt, with love and truth. I gladly take on being a servant of GOD so HE may bring many back to HIS kingdom.

 

Challenge

• Have you ever viewed your hardship, difficulty or trouble as the ministry GOD wants you to use as your ministry?
• What do you notice about what the writer went through?
• As a child, were you ever scared to do something so you asked an adult to help you?
• Will you be that adult to someone and share how GOD is keeping your trial today?

Cure for the Holidays

 Cure for the Holidays

2 Corinthians 4: ¹³ The scripture says, “I spoke because I believed.” In the same spirit of faith we also speak because we believe. ¹⁴ We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus to life, will also raise us up with Jesus and take us, together with you, into his presence. ¹⁵ All this is for your sake; and as God's grace reaches more and more people, they will offer to the glory of God more prayers of thanksgiving.

 

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Grumpy was the feeling I wanted to feel. I did not want to be cheered up during this particular holiday because I felt frustrated in life. My jalopy of a car was not working, I had a job cleaning after people who really did not care and worst of all, I had to visit people who I was angry with.

 

• The holidays emphasized my hurt.
• The holidays showed me how far I was from having a smiling face.
• The holidays seemed like a period to get beyond.

 

Paul saw through the troubles and trials of life enough to speak about JESUS. He knew there would be circumstances that would make him feel like remaining silent or hiding away in a corner until the perfect conditions appeared. He mentions a scripture that says “I spoke because I believed.” His belief was in “grace” that was necessary to fill empty hearts.

 

My Observations

• GOD wants me to focus on HIS love for me, especially when I don’t feel like it.
• GOD wants me to accept HIS cure for brokenness by offering HIM thanksgiving.
• GOD wants me to look beyond my circumstances to spread the message of life so more and more people will receive grace.

 

Hurt, loneliness and bitterness can blind me to my purpose. I mean, when I am tempted to want to remain grumpy, I allow myself to be open to isolation, which could also enable me to be manipulated by the enemy. He seeks to devour the meal I make each time I voice my frustration or stew in my pain.

 

GOD wants me to be guided out of my pain by others and then HE wants me to guide others out of their pain. The true cure is to be able to “believe” the Gospel is the answer to all ills so I can use thanksgiving as a weapon against any pain that arises. I am thankful and I hope all who read can know they are loved deeply.

 

Challenge

• Have you ever felt bad about wanting to feel grumpy?
• Will you accept that sometimes you will want to feel that way, but try to limit the time that you allow it?
• Will you look at “thanksgiving” as a weapon versus a feeling and use it to fight against the enemies of isolation, deep hurt and loneliness today?
• Will you be raised up from your feelings today so you can speak life to people in a small way?

Peace Broken

 

Peace Broken

Acts 24: ¹⁷ “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. ¹⁸ I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. ¹⁹ But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. ²⁰ Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— ²¹ unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”

 

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After completing the project with success, I felt a sense of accomplishment. Everything I did in my power worked well. But there were some who did not like the accomplishment. For whatever reason, they wanted to tarnish the accomplishment with innuendoes and conjectures. I felt blamed versus being able to celebrate.

 

• There have been many times when people tried to rob me of peace.
• There have been many times when people stirred up the crowd, trying to deflect showing their faults.
• There have been many times when people were against me for doing something good.

 

Paul continues to explain why he was being blamed. He told the governor how he came into Jerusalem with peaceful actions to provide for the poor. He then explained how he knew the Law and observed them by being ceremonially clean. He asked that his accusers present evidence of wrong doing.

 

• GOD want me to seek HIS peace daily.
• GOD knows there will be people who will try to steal my peace.
• GOD gives me peace that surpasses all understanding.

 

Peace is a weapon that cannot be stolen. I mean, when someone brings me disturbing news or acts devious towards me, peace is there as a weapon against my foe. When JESUS tells me to “have peace” HE enables me to use peace in the middle of the storm.

 

Peace is a choice. When I realize GOD is in control or the difficult situation, I can then give it over to HIM, knowing HE has the best outcome. HE is always looking for me to be doing something better for HIM. The situation is only the catalyst for the next great adventure HE has for me. I am grateful GOD protects me and gives me peace.

 

• Is your peace broken by someone?
• Has someone cause you to worry or doubt?
• Will you use GOD’s peace as a weapon so you can be filled with HIS strength today?

Weak weapons Strong weapons

2 Corinthians 12: ²⁰ For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

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“Keep a level head,” “Treat people as you want them to treat you,” “Slow down when situations are escalating,” “Don’t stoop to low levels, take the high road” are amongst the many words of advice my mentors have given me throughout the years. As they watched me grow so did my career.

But the people they warned me about in some advice given, got on my nerves. I mean they deserved a few slanderous words and “when I take over I would get rid of them,” I thought to myself. Was I becoming like them?

• Discord and jealousy get me nowhere but in trouble.
• Fits of rage and self-ambition put me on an island that no one wants to be on.
• Slander and gossip are tools for the weak and when I use them it takes away my strength.
• Arrogance and disorder are the result of losing my cool and using weak weapons.

It takes strength not to fall to “that” person’s level and I have failed at that over and over again. When I do, I don’t want my mentors watching me. It seems like things get in a mess and situations begin popping up all over the place. BUT GOD gave me different weapons to use.

• GOD gave me “prayer” which is an open door to come to HIM with any situation I’m in.
• GOD gave me “faith” to be used when my selfish ambitions get in the way.
• GOD gave me “promises” that if I serve others HE would reward me abundantly, if not in this life then in the next.
• GOD gave me “love” to be dished out on those I want to slander so I can see the example HIS SON did for me.

“But they are acting a fool” I thought to myself. GOD says “Follow MY gently, faithful, kind, merciful, loving ways and you will always be fine. “I guess I better get back on the high road and not let them take me down” was the thought that set my course straight.

• Is someone getting on your nerves?
• Do you feel rage building up just thinking about “that” person?
• Can you slow your thoughts down enough to see and hear GOD’s ways?
• Won’t you listen to HIM and show “that” person some love?

I have an arsenal available to me

2 Corinthians 10: ⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.5 

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“Woe is me” I thought to myself many times. I mean “that” person didn’t treat me right or I didn’t win the contest or I was broke again or someone including myself felt sick. “Can’t I ever get ‘my’ way?

• I fight against GOD when what I want isn’t what I need.
• I struggle with GOD when HE delays my deliverance.
• I wrestle with GOD when I lose my faith in HIM and try to go my own way.

There is something inside me that says “this GOD stuff is too hard, give up and go your own way.” The problem with that crazy statement is “which way can I go outside of GOD?” The very thought that I can do better without GOD puts me on the wrong path. Soon my thoughts attack HIS intentions and even still they attack HIS existence. How do I combat this?

• GOD gave me HIS Bible to keep my mind focused on HIS wonderful promises for me.
• GOD gave me five senses to see, smell, hear, taste and touch HIM daily.
• GOD gave me HIS HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me and comfort me when things go wrong.
• GOD gave me HIS SON who died in my place giving me free access to the FATHER whom I can ask for anything.

This little situation or that one cannot match the weapons GOD has given me. In fact, once I assess the situation I notice my faith is really being attacked and I am tempted not to use my weapons. GOD says “try ME out and watch the outcome.” HE changes me to be stronger to handle the situation while bringing others along.

The power is with GOD and while I may not get “my” way I will get the best way!

• Are you battling something?
• Is there something in your life making you doubt GOD?
• Can you look at the weapons GOD has given you to protect you?
• Will you help someone realize GOD’s power today?