Misc. Leadership Principles – Part Three
Continuing our thought from Part Two, let’s
go to Matthew 5: 45b:
For he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. -- Matthew 5: 45b
In the last part of our teaching, we spoke about
overcoming evil with good and how difficult this is at times. Oftentimes it seems like the wicked prosper
more than Christians, but let me assure you this is only a temporary condition.
What is meant by this as far as the future is
concerned, is that God’s laws state implicitly that everyone gets what they
have coming to them.
But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong
which he hath done: and there is no
respect of persons. -- Colossians 3: 25
So the sun may rise on the evil person, but the next
day may bring his just destruction.
The Word always becomes living and real with real
life examples. Allow me to give you one
that relates to this subject matter.
So-called Christian search engines used to gladly
accept your web site many years ago.
Now some have become like dictatorships and want something in return to
accept your site. I WON’T GIVE IN. I will not make my web page appear like a
billboard with search engine links and I will not agree to their creed or what
they call a ‘statement of faith’. As
the world gets worse and worse, the submission guidelines for search engines
follow suit. Here is what recently
happened to me that developed into a 15 round battle in the ring with my personal
adversary.
This person who fought me every inch of the way will
receive back for the wrong which he hath done.
There is no escape from God’s justice.
My previously named site was on this search engine
and they repeatedly ignored my requests to modify the site. This went on for years. I tried to submit my newly named site and it
was rejected almost immediately. I
wrote back and called his site WeSpreadTheWorld and he
(the owner) became furious. Because I
refused to put his link plastered on my front page, HE BECAME EVEN MORE
FURIOUS. He never once looked at the
teachings on the site – he only looked for his link. That should tell you something immediately. He actually rejected my site and he says he
is spreading the Word. I had enough of
this search engine and I told him he worked for the devil. It is the truth. He ACCUSED me of everything he could think of. His arguments were extremely weak. I told him the “accuser” was one of the
names used in the Bible for the devil.
What started all of this was he sent me an insulting email with a
subject “Your site has been rejected” with no explanation at all. Can you imagine
my site was already on his search engine but it was a dead link! THE ONLY THING DIFFERENT WAS THE
NAME!!!!!!!!! This nonsense went on all
day and he told me I was deceitful and evil.
Class, NEVER try to reason with devil.
It can’t be done. Finally, I
told him that I said everything God wanted me to say and I was done. Of course, he wrote back again after I told
him his mail would be blocked. You see,
something was bothering him or he would not keep arguing with me. If someone came up to you and said you had
no right arm, would you argue with him?!
I ACTUALLY TRIED TO HELP HIM BY TRYING TO GET HIM TO REWORD HIS LETTERS
OF REJECTION. But as I taught
before: Try to do good for an evil
person and he will hate you even more.
And he did. That’s in the book of Proverbs.
Don’t do what I did. ** When you see a wicked or evil person, get away
from him or her as quickly as possible.
The enemy will get you burned out otherwise as you waste your time. This anger was built up inside me for many
years and I’m glad I got it out. Never
again. ** But remember, if God tells you to go for it, then do it.
God will crush this person in time.
I wish no evil on anyone.
In conclusion and to avoid confusion about this difficult concept, Christ goes on to say:
For if ye love them which love
you, what reward have ye? Do not even
the publicans the same?
What reward do you have if you love only them that love
you? He says that the publicans do the
same. It is many times the people who
are not born again and people who are down and out that really need the love of
God. Those people are really searching
for God’s love and those people will greatly appreciate the love and caring you
manifest towards them. I worked in a
State Hospital and the patients really took a liking to me. Why?
Because they really knew my caring and love and concern for them was
genuine. It was the most rewarding job
I had ever worked.
Now it’s time to move on from this subject and I pray that you have begun to master it. Help, love, and care, but run from those who are evil and wicked lest they get under your skin and you become like them.
PERFECTION is another interesting principle
that Jesus Christ taught. We are
actually to strive to be perfect because we are to imitate God who is perfect.
Be ye therefore followers
[imitators by knowing the Word] of God, as dear
children; -- Ephesians 5: 1
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in
heaven is perfect. – Matthew 5: 48
Now we all know that we will never be perfect in this present world, but we are to strive to be perfect according to how the Word of God defines perfection. We are to try our best. By renewing our mind, we become more and more perfect as we become more and more like God and Jesus Christ by the continuous effort we make by our free will to study and work the Word of God. That is the only way we can accomplish this leadership principle that Jesus Christ set forth.
COMMITMENT is an extremely important principle that Jesus Christ taught his followers. One cannot stress this point enough.
Jesus
Christ taught that we are the salt of the earth.
Ye are
the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it
be salted? It is thenceforth good for
nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. – Matthew 5: 13
This means
that we are preserving the earth from total corruption and destruction. Jesus
Christ warns us that the salt can lose its savour. This means that a person
can lose their commitment. You can stop studying
and give in to the thought that you are wasting your time and accomplishing
nothing or you can remain faithful. If
you don't remain faithful, you will be good for nothing and trampled under the
foot of men. You'll be burnt and destroyed by the world and it’s god. Your
purpose, first and foremost, is to keep God first and to live by His Word. You either live for God or against God.
There are only two choices.
A long
teaching can be made for the benefits and value of commitment, but in this
series of teachings concerning Jesus Christ, we are summing up all of the most
important principles that time allows.
However, EVERY principle that Jesus Christ taught is equally important.
Did you
ever imagine that you are responsible for stopping the earth from achieving
total corruption? True committed
believers who believe, study and apply God’s Word play a most important part
for God until God sees that it is time to send Jesus Christ back.
Ye are
the light of the world. A city that is
set upon a hill cannot be hid. –
Matthew 5: 14
Let me give you the
translation from The New English Bible of the first part of this verse.
You
are light for the whole world. NEB 5: 14a
So don’t doubt your
importance and don’t ever let the world discourage you. Remember what the Word of God says you are –
you are light for the whole world. It’s
almost hard to believe, isn’t it?
Believe it. You could not be any
more important.
It
does not matter how insignificant you're life may appear to you, IT MAKES A
DIFFERENCE. You may not know it but you
are a light to many people. You are
helping to preserve this earth from total destruction and corruption by
standing on the Word of God and doing your best to apply it and renew your
mind. Your life is important to
God. Don't be fooled by the thoughts
the god of this world tries to put in your head. They are lies so push them aside and continue in well doing. A light or candle is not put underneath anything
but on a candlestick so that it can give light unto the whole house. You are to let this light shine before men
so they may see your good works, and glorify your Father, which is in
heaven. A person will read you before
they read the Bible. Your life must be
an example to others. The 'OTHERS' here
are those who are sheep, NOT THE GOATS.
They will never hear so don't waste your time. They will always hate you and be channels for the adversary to
steal, kill, and destroy you if you allow it to happen. DON'T EVER GO BACK TO TRYING TO MAKE FRIENDS
WITH THE ADVERSARY'S PEOPLE. Keep away!
Notice
how many leadership principles of Jesus Christ are mentioned just in the Gospel
of Matthew alone. You are to do your
best and learn and apply one principle at a time. Do not be anxious to learn as much as possible as quickly as
possible. Take your time and relax. Learning the Word should be fun and
enjoyable and not a burden.
For
this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous [oppressive]. – I John 5: 3
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the
prophets: I am not come to destroy, but
to fulfil. – Matthew 5: 17
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one
jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. – Matthew
5: 18
Jesus Christ explained that what he was
trying to do when he said that he did not come to destroy the law, or the
prophets, but to fulfill and he taught them that ALL would be fulfilled. He compared 'greatness' in reference to the
kingdom of heaven. You, as a believer,
are responsible for all that you know. You must do and teach all that you know
about the Word of God.
Jesus Christ warns us in verse 22 about being angry with a
brother for no reason. Christ taught
that you are not to be angry with a brother without a cause. It's important to resolve these
conflicts - it should be priority.
Again, I cannot stress this principle enough. If you slight a brother or sister for no justifiable reason, make
sure you apologize as soon as possible or it will fester inside you. Don’t be tricked in this area.
Agree
with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any
time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the
officer, and thou be cast into prison. – Matthew 5: 25
This is an
Orientalism, however, I will keep it as simple as possible for the sake of this
type of teaching.
If
you are up against an adversary, just agree with him and then get on your way.
You become even a bigger fool if you argue with him. The adversary will provoke you at anytime and will get you to
WASTE YOUR TIME witnessing to a goat if he can. Smile and agree if the
situation warrants and don't forget your power of attorney. If your personal adversary is in your face,
you can rebuke him in the name of Jesus Christ. Then get away from his pawn as
quickly and graciously as possible.
When you have to deal with an adversary, do your best to do it
peacefully. Don’t let him take your
peace away from you.
Let’s
move on to Chapter Six (6) of the Gospel of Matthew. Can you imagine this is the 6th teaching on only the
first five (5) Chapters in Matthew?
That’s about 30 pages of instruction.
God wants His kids to know the score because He loves us.
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men,
to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no
reward of your Father which is in heaven. – Matthew 6: 1
Jesus Christ taught that we are not to do our alms before men, to
be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward from God. 'Alms' here means pity, compassion, and a
work of mercy such as giving money to the poor. LET ME BE MORE SPECIFIC FOR THIS DAY AND TIME.
People have the most annoying habit of wanting attention wherever
they go, especially in public places. A
modern example of this is people with their idolatrous cell phones. Everyone wants to be seen talking on their
cell phone even though 40% of the time, there is no one at the other end. In old times, the scribes and the Pharisees
would go on the rooftops to pray SO THAT THEY COULD BE SEEN. Get a life!
We are not to FLAUNT anything that we do. This also refers to our devotion to God.
When we worship God and pray, we do not sound a trumpet to get glory from men.
Those people get their reward, which is being recognized by men -- there is no
reward from God. Using a proverb and
personification, Christ said that when you pray, "let not your left hand
know what thy right hand doeth."
In other words, let your alms be done in secret, and God, which sees in
secret SHALL REWARD YOU OPENLY. NEVER
BRAG OR BOAST ABOUT ANYTHING, THAT INCLUDES YOUR WORK. God doesn't like people who flaunt, brag, or
boast about anything. There is a
balance here that you must achieve.
Control the extremes in your own life.
Christ said don't pray like the hypocrites standing in the corners of
streets that they may be seen of men.
But enter into the closet and when you shut the door, pray to God in
secret, and he will reward you openly.
Christ taught that God does not like repetitious prayer like the heathens
do for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. God knows your prayer before you even pray.
When I was a hustler on a pool table, I said nothing. I knew how good I was because I practiced
many hours a week. There’s no such thing
as a ‘natural’. It’s practice just like
with the Word.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth [practices] the will of God abideth forever. – I John 2: 16
Discretion is where it’s at.
God doesn’t like show-offs. God
doesn’t like women who flaunt what they got.
As
a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. –
Proverbs 11: 22
Got it,
ladies? Let’s move on.
For
to be carnally minded is death;
but to be spiritually minded is life
and peace. – Romans 8: 6
Although I
mentioned this principle before, but not in such detail, this is a big one and
you better master it if you are ever going to manifest the more than abundant
life. Remember the teaching about
burning the chaff? You should read it
again.
I am going
to give you the literal translation of Matthew Chapter 6, verses 19 to 21. First, you should read the King James
Version. Here is the literal
translation according to usage:
Don't let your thoughts be centered on
material things or you will be defeated by doubt, worry and frustration. Let your thoughts be centered on spiritual
matters where worry, frustration, defeat and doubt cannot break through and
steal your thoughts. For where your
thoughts are, there will your heart be also.
The Word speaks for itself.
If [Since] ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. --
Colossians 3: 1, 2
‘Affection’ is thinking – what we think about. How simple can God put it? We are to think on spiritual matters. Spiritual matters are life. Carnal matters are death.
Which one are you going to think on?
Material things can choke a person. You can get to the point where material
things own you! We are to live by need
and not by greed. So keep it simple and
travel light.
Finally, in this Part Three, we are going to
conclude with a simple principle very much related to the previous one.
No man can serve two masters; for he will either hate the one,
and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [wealth/riches]. – Matthew 6: 24
. . . . . whosoever therefore
will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. - James
4: 4b
You cannot be friends with the world and all its riches and
wealth and be in harmony with God.
Instead, you will be an enemy of God.
God wrote the book, I didn’t.
You cannot love God and the world at the same time. So often, when you love and serve the true
God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the world will hate
you. That’s the world’s problem. That is why I stress to get away from evil
and wicked people and you will find a great key to life.
Remember, as you study these principles, that the renewed
mind process is sometimes difficult and slow, but you are improving each
day. Remember, discouragement is not of
God. Many times, it is in our own
mind. God is always with you and He
loves you more than you can even comprehend.
God honors action as a condition to the more than abundant life. Keep trying and never stop studying and making
every attempt to apply God’s Word in your everyday life. We are in a temporary state and are just
passing through this world. We are not
a part of it.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? -- Romans
8: 31
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