'...Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.' Psalm 80:18 NKJV
The Psalmist prayed, 'Revive us, and we will call upon Your name.' Almost a century ago, AW Tozer laid out the steps that lead to personal revival. Some of the language may be outdated, but the principles still work today. First, get thoroughly dissatisfied with yourself. Complacency is the enemy of spiritual progress. A complacent soul is a stagnant soul. Secondly, set your face like a flint towards a sweeping transformation of your life. Timid experimenters are tagged for failure before they start. We must throw our whole soul into our desire for God. Thirdly, put yourself in the way of blessing. It's a mistake to expect God's help to come as a windfall apart from conditions known and met. There are plainly marked paths which lead straight to the green pastures; let us walk in them. To desire revival, for instance, and at the same time neglect prayer and devotions, is to wish one way and walk another. Fourthly, do a thorough job of repenting. Do not hurry to get it over with. Hasty repentance means shallow spiritual experience and lack of certainty in the whole life. Let godly sorrow do its healing work. Until we allow the consciousness of sin to wound us, we will never develop a fear of evil. Finally, make restitution wherever possible. If you owe a debt, pay it, or at least have a frank understanding with your creditor about your intention to pay, so your honesty will be above question. If you have quarreled with anyone, go as far as you can in an effort to achieve reconciliation.
'...Be quick to listen, slow to speak...' James 1:19 NLT
Want to become a good leader? Become a good listener! Here are two stories of what happens when we don't take time to listen. The first is from a young woman hurt by a manager who constantly cut her off: 'We expected he would wait and give us answers to serious questions about our work. Many times he walked off when we were in mid-sentence, having heard nothing.' The next is from a church youth director who was fired: 'After serving the Lord there for two years, I was called into an elders' meeting. They took out a list of all the things I'd done wrong in the past two years. Most of what they said was true, for I was brand new in this work. Then they called for my resignation. What did I learn? (a) not once did anyone care enough to coach or shepherd me (b) I'd no idea or warning that I was doing anything wrong (c) the church leaders never built a relationship with their staff.' Why is it so hard for some leaders to listen? Because leaders love to talk, and as they gain more authority there is the danger to think they have less reason to listen. Leaders by their very nature tend to be removed from the frontlines of battle. To win, they must constantly listen to those who are in the trenches and rely on that information to make wise decisions. Before Ezekiel was qualified to prophesy or lead God's people, he wrote: '...I sat among them for seven days-overwhelmed. At the end of seven days the Word of the Lord came to me.' (Ezekiel 3:15-16 NIV) All of us are leaders in some capacity so who do you need to listen to today?
'Seek the Kingdom of God above all else...' Matthew 6:33 NLT
As you read the following nine qualities, ask yourself, 'Are these things evident in my life today? Am I developing these fruits so that I may be entrusted with greater responsibility for the advancement of God's Kingdom?' (1) merciful and grace-giving. 'God blesses those who are merciful...' 'Stop judging others, and you will not be judged.' (Matthew 5:7; 7:1 NLT) (2) reconciliatory. 'If...a friend has something against you...go and apologize and be reconciled to him...' (Matthew 5:23-24 TLB) (3) teachable. 'Anyone who listens to My teaching and obeys Me is wise...' (Matthew 7:24 NLT) (4) courageous. 'Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves...don't be afraid...' (Matthew 10:16;26 NLT) (5) submitted. 'Anyone who does the will of My Father in Heaven is My brother and sister and mother!' (Matthew 12:50 NLT) (6) surrendered. 'If any of you wants to be My follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow Me.' (Matthew 16:24 NLT) (7) repentant. '...unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.' (Matthew 18:3 NLT) (8) humble. 'But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.' (Matthew 23:12 NLT) (9) servant-minded. 'But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.' (Matthew 20:26 NLT) If you're willing to make Jesus Lord of your life, make His Word the last word on all issues, and seek the fullness of His Spirit-you can live this lifestyle too!
'Seek the Kingdom of God above all else...' Matthew 6:33 NLT
What does it mean to put God's Kingdom first in your life? It means 12 things. Read them carefully then ask, 'How do I measure up?' (1) obedience to God. '...anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.' (Matthew 5:19 NLT) (2) love. '...love your enemies!...If you love only those who love you, what good is that?' (Matthew 5:44,46 NLT) (3) justice. 'God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice...' (Matthew 5:6 NLT) (4) peace. 'God blesses those who work for peace...' (Matthew 5:9 NLT) (5) holy living. '...let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.' (Matthew 5:16 NLT) (6) integrity. 'Just say a simple, "Yes, I will" or "No, I won't"...' (Matthew 5:37 NLT) (7) generosity. When you give a gift to someone in need, 'Give...in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.' (Matthew 6:2,4 NLT) (8) spiritual wholeness. '...Is anything worth more than your soul?' (Matthew 16:26 NLT) (9) Biblical knowledge. 'Your problem is that you don't know the Scriptures...' (Matthew 22:29 NLT) (10) Faith in God. '...if you had faith as small as a mustard seed...Nothing would be impossible.' '...But with God everything is possible.' (Matthew 17:20; 19:26 NLT) (11) blessing people. Jesus not only taught this, but His constant healing of, training, and serving others demonstrated how to do it (12) disciple-making. 'Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations...' (Matthew 28:19 NLT) According to Jesus that's the only agenda worth living for-and if necessary, dying for!
'...we loved you so much...' 1 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV
Hard work. 'Surely you remember...we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone.' (vs 9) If the church had been an army, Paul would have been a commanding general. He could easily have given orders to be provided for to whatever extent he chose, and been obeyed. But he didn't do that. What he did was work hard, beyond the requirements of his ministry, to alleviate the financial burden others would have had on his behalf. Dad, your kids need to see you do the same, because: (1) By seeing you work hard it elevates the importance of work and helps them discover dignity in it. 'Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.' (Proverbs 10:4 NIV) (2) By allowing them to share work with you around the home, you prepare them for success on the job by imparting to them much-needed work principles and skills. 'Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.' (Proverbs 22:29 NIV) You'll be preparing them to be recognized for excellence and promoted because of their outstanding work ethic and skills. In a time of economic trouble when only the strong survive the competition, prepare your children to be the best they can be. The attitudes and abilities you nurture in them will benefit them all their lives.
'...we loved you so much...' 1 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV
Share your life with them. 'We were delighted to share with you...our lives.' How can your daughter learn healthy relations with men, or your son develop a healthy male identity, unless you share your life with them? Today's mother-led family is largely the creation of the absentee father. Dad, you share your life with your kids by: (1) Sharing your values. They need to know what's important to you and where your priorities lie, what you stand for and truly believe. (2) Sharing how they can live by Biblical principles. Life will throw obstacles in their pathway, confusing them. They need to know God's ways and God's Word when making tough, crucial decisions. (3) Sharing moments of laughter and fun. When you come home do your kids scatter or gather around you? Are you fun to be with? Teach them that Christianity is something to be enjoyed, not endured. They say: 'The family that prays together stays together.' So does the family that plays together! (4) Sharing with them the finer interests of life. Criticizing their interests only strengthens their commitment to them. Instead of condemning their music, dress, TV shows and internet use, introduce them to better alternatives. (5) Telling them how valuable they are to you. Don't assume they know. Researchers say that most kids, particularly boys, feel like nuisances to their dads. 'We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you...our lives...you had become so dear to us.' Tell them again and again!
'...we loved you so much...' 1 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV
Becoming a great dad calls for a man having a close relationship with his heavenly Father. Applying the principles Paul used when fathering his spiritual children can equip you to become a great dad. Speaking to his 'children', Paul demonstrates the warmth of a mother and the muscle of a father (see 1 Thessalonians 2:7-11). For the next few days, let's observe some of Paul's fathering principles: Making them feel loved. 'We loved you so much.' Paul chose a seldom-used Greek word for love, not the usual word for unconditional love or brotherly affection. The word he used meant a strong, warm, spontaneous magnetism-an endearing term used normally with a very young child. Why would Paul speak this way to adults? Because the need to be loved is one we never outgrow! He wanted them to feel loved. The Bible says: '...the greatest of these is love.' (1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV) Dad, more than anything else, that is what your children need from you and it doesn't have a thing to do with their age; they need it as much in adulthood as they did in childhood. Your adolescent will probably cringe if you're affectionate with them around their peers, but deep inside they'll appreciate it. And it has nothing to do with their gender. Both sexes need to feel loved. Your teenage daughter is likely to return your hugs and words, while your teenage son will probably roll his eyes and grunt inarticulately. Love them anyhow, until they're old enough to tell you how good it felt! That will not only change them but you too...
