THE POWER OF EXAMPLE TO INFLUENCE

Edmund Burke forcefully drove home the power of example to influence others in stating, “People will learn at the school of example and they will learn at none other.”  Most secularized people are not about to pick up a Bible and study it. Nor will they bother with church or religion.  But when they encounter Christ’s love, lived out authentically in compassionate service to them, it may well begin them on a journey that leads to encountering the Master. St. Paul affirmed the power of example to influence in penning, “Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you.  Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives…” (2 Cor. 3:2,3a)

Jesus imitated the example of his heavenly Father: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (Jn. 5:19) (See Jn. 5:30; 14:24)

Jesus then used the power of his example to shape his disciples’ lives.  For example, the night before the cross he washed their feet, concluding with this powerful challenge: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”  (Jn. 13:15)  

Would the fact that 10 out of the 12 disciples were martyred for going to the ends of the earth proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah suggest that he had shaped their lives by his example?

Thirty years after Jesus’ ascension Peter wrote about the importance Master’s example: “…Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (I Pet. 2:21)  He also wrote instructions to wives on how through the power of example, to influence their deviant husbands: 

“Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.”(1 Pet. 3:1-4) (See I Pet. 5:2,3)

Think about how St. Paul significantly shaped Timothy’s life by the power of his example: “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance….And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”  (2 Tim. 3:10a; 2:2)

Paul wrote to the Philippians about the importance of example:  “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to thepattern we gave you.”  (Phil. 3:17) The word pattern here means a proto type; a model. 

QUESTION: Are you able with a clear conscience to say to the people whom you are seeking to influence, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice…”? (Phil. 4:9a)  If not, why not?

This week may you experience His grace, peace and protection! 

R. Dwight Hill 

THE POWER OF EXAMPLE TO INFLUENCE

Edmund Burke forcefully drove home the power of example to influence others in stating, “People will learn at the school of example and they will learn at none other.”  Most secularized people are not about to pick up a Bible and study it. Nor will they bother with church or religion.  But when they encounter Christ’s love, lived out authentically in compassionate service to them, it may well begin them on a journey that leads to encountering the Master. St. Paul affirmed the power of example to influence in penning, “Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you.  Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives…” (2 Cor. 3:2,3a)

Jesus imitated the example of his heavenly Father: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” (Jn. 5:19) (See Jn. 5:30; 14:24)

Jesus then used the power of his example to shape his disciples’ lives.  For example, the night before the cross he washed their feet, concluding with this powerful challenge: “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”  (Jn. 13:15)  

Would the fact that 10 out of the 12 disciples were martyred for going to the ends of the earth proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah suggest that he had shaped their lives by his example?

Thirty years after Jesus’ ascension Peter wrote about the importance Master’s example: “…Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (I Pet. 2:21)  He also wrote instructions to wives on how through the power of example, to influence their deviant husbands: 

“Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.”(1 Pet. 3:1-4) (See I Pet. 5:2,3)

Think about how St. Paul significantly shaped Timothy’s life by the power of his example: “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance….And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”  (2 Tim. 3:10a; 2:2)

Paul wrote to the Philippians about the importance of example:  “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to thepattern we gave you.”  (Phil. 3:17) The word pattern here means a proto type; a model. 

QUESTION: Are you able with a clear conscience to say to the people whom you are seeking to influence, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice…”? (Phil. 4:9a)  If not, why not?

This week may you experience His grace, peace and protection! 

R. Dwight Hill 

Work + Life + Ministry Balancing

Elder Daniel Lim, 15/07/2011
Ephesians 5:15-17, Colossians 1:9-14

Introduction
What does 'balance' mean?
It does not mean a state of equilibrium and tranquality.
It means having the right balance - like a balanced diet.
There is no such thing as a balanced life. In fact life seems imbalanced, but it is divine imbalance. As you live your life for God, more balancing needed.

Discover what God has in store for you as stated in Colossians 1:9-14

Questions we may ask:
- How do I know I'm having the right ingredients in my life?
- How do I manage the various important aspects of my life?
- How do I get the energy to do so much?
- What are God's promises and help available to me in the midst of conflicting demands and challenges?

A SIT - Our Position in Christ
In both passages in Ephesians and Colossians, common instruction to 'understand what the will of the Lord is"

When we cease work, we 'sit'.

Qn: Who are you when you are seated? Who are you at the end of the day when you're not working or teaching your children or rushing your assignment or project?
List down all the roles you play in life (Eg husband/ wife, parent, son/daughter, salesman, lawyer/ pastor/ worship leader/ usher/ brother/sister, etc). Which role is most important to you?

1. Know who you truly are

First: Your most important role is as a child (son/daughter) of God. Colossians 1:12, Ephesians 2:6, 7

Challenge in balancing "Work/Life/Ministry" comes about because of the many roles we all play. However, over-emphasis on any one (Work/Life/Ministry) can be detrimental to your real identity.
For example, if a person's thinks his most important role is as a salesman, then when there is conclict between work/family/ministry, the work always wins. And sometimes, this harms the person and those around him.

You may be a pastor, a student, a big boss but nothing in these roles compare to the high calling that you have as a child of God.

Qn: Today, do you feel that the circumstances of your life have dominated you instead of you dominating it? How many roles that you play overshadow who you truly are?
Remember who you are - a child of God, partakers of a glorious inheritance, called to dominate, strenghtened with might, delivered from darkness and conveyed into the Kingdom of His love.

2. Determine your Non-negotiables
Eph 5: 'Walk circumspectly' - It means to be watchful. We need to be watchful that we are building our lives from inside out and not outside in. The things you do do not make you who you are. You do things because of who you are.

A Christian should Determine 4 Non-negotiable in life:
a Loves God - Inner Life
b Relates to Others - Family, relationships
c Productive - Work
d Serves God - Ministry


The above 4 need not be in equal quantity bit they should all characterise a Christian's life at any one time.

Qn: Do you have non-negotiable essentials in all above 4 areas of your life?

B WALK - Our Performance as Co-workers
Performance doesn't change who we are. Whether we are a top boss or janitor, we are all equal because we are a child of God.

However, because we have a high calling to be sons of God, we must take every opportunity to improve ourselves so that we may "walk worthy of the Lord".

Espesians 5:16: We all have limited time whether we are young or old, rich or poor.

6 practical traits of many fruitful christians
1  Speed
Speed is neither rush nor rashness. It is efficiency - doing things as slow as it is needed to be good but in the quickest time possible.
Procrastination is buying time on credit and like anything bought on credit, it comes with interest. Do not think something will become easier if procrastinate & do it later.

2  Simplify
Sometimes, you need to simplify a part of your ambition in order to fit time in for ministry or to simplify your ministry to fit more of your family.

3  Single-mindedness
Being single-minded means to pursue certain goals in each non-negotiable area of your life. Sadly this mainly applies to work but it should apply to our family and personal walk with God.

4  Scheduling
What is worse than busyness? It is messy busyness!

a. Plan the Predictable
Plan your day/week/month
Allocate time to non-negotiable areas of your life
b. Create space for the unpredictable
Things that require urgent attention that can upset your schedule.

5  Stamina
Build your stamina by learing to accept increasing demands & pressures.

6  God's Seasons
We need to discern the seasons of God in our life right now.
Never presume your timing is God's timing. To discern God's seasons

C STAND - Our posture amidst challenges
Challenges come from (a) Conflicting demands, (b) Competition and (c) even Self-inflicted.

Ephesians 6: 13: "....having done all, to stand"

4 types of Christians
1 Some are like Balloon: Caried by the wind, connected to God by a thin line that can be easily broken. Every now & then the balloon becomes delfated and needs injection of helium again
2 Some are like Wheelbarrow: Won't move until they are pushed
3 Some like a Kitten: Always looking to be cuddled
4 What God is looking for: A Rock for God to build His church. What does a rock do when current hits it? It does nothing except to stand.
Remember Moses in front of the Red Sea with the Egyptian army behind. God told Moses to cease from all actions but to just stand still & see the salvation of God: Exodus 14:13.

2 things we can do to overcome the world and its challenges
1 Enlist God's help by faith
Most conflicts & challenges revolve around time. We are limited by time but God is not.
We don't just manage our time by skills but we need to learn to manage our schedule by faith. Psalm 31:15 'My times are in Your hand'
Learn to allow God to work out a miracle (Joshua 10:14)


2 Enter into God's rest by Prayer
God worked for 6 days but rested on the 7th day. Man was created on the 6th day. Man began his life with rest. We are to enter work week from a posture of rest.

The way to enter your week from a posture of rest is to learn to pray over our week. Through prayer we rule over the circumstances ahead of us. Pray over each role and circumstance. Entrust it to God. Don't fret over it and you won't lose sleep (Mark 4:26-29)

True rest comes from knowing that we can rely on God to give us the growth we so need in every area of our life.

IS IT TRULY POSSIBLE FOR ME TO EXPERIENCE JOY IN MY DAILY WALK WITH CHRIST?

"THE FACTS OF THE MATTER"

"A weekly letter of encouragement to business and professional men and women"

Good Morning!

You are pressing your way through the day, negotiating contracts in a business environment that takes no prisoners, that increasingly knows no ethical boundaries, and at best promises a hazy financial future.  It is exactly here that you are commanded to “Rejoice in the Lord always…” (Phil. 4:4a). 

“Right.  I’ll put that on my do list, and will choose to be joyful - starting tomorrow - since today I am too wrung out to even think about it!”  God’s word gives us no room for whining or excuses, ^“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” (Jms. 1:2)  How is this remotely possible? 

Well, we know from Scriptures that joy can reign in our lives amidst trials and sorrow. Jesus, for example, assured his grief stricken disciples  of joy and hope as they faced the specter of him going to the cross, “I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.  A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (Jn. 16:20-22) (See Rom. 5:3-3; Heb. 12:2; I Pet. 1:6-8)

“What exactly is this joy I am suppose to experience?  Certainly there is little around me that fosters inner joy.  For starters, joy is not to be confused with “happiness,” which is based on circumstances.  Nor is joy an emotion we can conjure up.  We err if we confuse joy with pleasure.  Actually the Greek word for pleasure is hedonism – the prevailing philosophy of our self-absorbed, pleasure seeking culture.  A hedonist is a person who is a lover “of pleasures more than  [a lover] of God.” (2 Tim. 2:4)  

As we choose to live in an abiding relationship with God (John 15), we find ourselves surrendering to his promises and eternal purposes. It is then that we experience his inner joy as he liberates us from our fears as he demonstrates to us that he indeed is worthy of our trust.  ^“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand…I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation…May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, ‘The Lord be exalted!’” (Ps. 16:11; 13:5; 40:16)  (See Ps. 32:11; Lk. 10:20; Jn. 15:11; 17:13; Rom. 15:13)

The path to experiencing His inner joy begins with simple and immediate obedience to His word and to the inner  prompting of the Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is then free to release its fruit in our lives as expressed through “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  (Gal. 5:22b)

You can be sure that the Enemy of your soul seeks to strip you of your joy through  acts of disobedience.  May God grant us deliverance from being put in King David’s position after his adulterous affair, as he desperately cried, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”  (Ps. 51:12)

QUESTION:  Is joy an integral part of your daily experience with God?  Are there actions you need to consider taking as you to continue to cultivate this marvelous gift from God?

This week may you experience His grace, peace and protection!

R. Dwight Hill

What Are We living For?

What Are We Living For?
Isaiah 6:1-3, John 12:37-43
Pator David Holdaway, 26/06/2011

How do we make our life worth living?

Isa 6:1: It was the year King Uzziah died. Uzziah was someone who began so well and ended badly. So many Christians are like King Uzziah. The Bible says in 2 Chronicles 26 that as Uzziah rose in power, pride got into his heart and he was struck with leprosy and shut out of the temple and his son ruled in his place (2 Chro 26:16-21). Power had gotten into his heart and pride had increased in his heart. As we increased in our lives, in position, status, prestige and power, in our career, in church life, in our office, we have to guard against pride and power. We have to be careful to walk in righteousness & humility.

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. We often say, 'If God is for us, who can be against us'. But let's turn it around and ask, 'If God is against us (opposes us), then, who can be for us?'

The devil is always looking for a foothold in our lives to make a stronghold.

Tragically, there are many Christians who start their race well but don't end well. Many things, rob them of their passions along the way.

In reading Billy Graham's biographies, the thing that people say about this man who had met kings, presidents, rich and poor is his humility. As Billy Graham got bigger in his ministry, his head did not get bigger, but his heart did.

In the year King Uzziah died, the Prophet Isaiah was seeking God.
Jesus told us that we are to Ask, Seek & Knock. Often, we go from Asking to Knocking (to getting the answer). But in between, is the Seeking. All great moves of God involved Seeking God. When we seek God, we are not coercing Him, but He is doing what He always wanted to do in us.

The Prophet Isaiah said he saw the King of Israel (this was Jesus, according to John 12:41), God Almighty, the Seraphs and angels of the Lord. He saw the holy presence of God. Isaiah had an awesome vision & encounter. But Isaiah also had a vision of vision of himself (Isa 6:5), he cried out that he was a sinful man, 'woe to me', 'I'm a person of unclean lips'. The greater the light we come into, the greater the light exposes. The light of God will reveal the blemishes in our lives and what we have to deal with.
One of the dangers of the Christian walk is that as we grow in our walk, we start to compare ourselves with the world and others instead of with Whom God is. The danger is that we fool ourselves that we are doing well compared with others, thinking that we are something that we are not. That's why the Bible says that we are not to be conform to the world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:2). If we don't stand for something, we will fall for anything and allow the world & things around us to influence us.

Floyd McClung worte how he realised he had lost his apostolic passion even though he still had Jesus. He wrote how he was being seduced by Western culture and the American dream which replaced the dream God placed in his heart. He said that he realised that he had an evangelical mind but had developed a Babylonian heart.

We battle with materialism, money & finances. It is not how much we have, but the attitude of our heart towards money. Billy Graham said the 3 greatest battles he has to guard his purity & passion are with money, sex and power.

We can't serve God and money but we can serve God with money. The danger is that money can be demonised and money becomes mammon, a god. How do you know when money becomes mammon to you?
1 When God asks you to give & you will not. Money controls your decisions.
2. When money defines you. How much is he or she worth? But in God's Kingdom, everyone's worth is defined by the value of the blood of Christ.
3. When we are willing to do what is ungodly or unrighteous to keep or get - that's when money has power over us.

In Isa 6:6-7: God took a fiery coal to purge Isaiah of his sins. It was not superficial, it was a deep purging & cleaning.
a Often we pray that God will remove the cobwebs in our lives. What we need is for God to kill the spider making the cobwebs.
b. Experienced warfare with a mosquito? We can apply lotions & creams but the mosquito will continue to bite. We need to kill the mosquito.
Too often we are clearing the cobwebs and applying the lotions in our lives. What we need is to kill the spiers and mosquitos like how God took the burning coal to purge & cleanse Isaiah. It was moment of recommissioning, reconsecration for Isaiah.

Conclusion
What are we living for? Are we so busy living that we have no time in our life for something worth living for? Is what we are living for worth what Christ died for? The life worth living is a life lived for God.

Have we lost the joy, the passion along the way?

Can we say, Lord here I am, cleanse me, purge me, use me, send me.

Five characteristics to model in your congregation

By Rick Warren


Leadership is a choice. The role of the leader doesn't come automatically when we're given a title -- even if the title is pastor."

Rick Warren

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you want to be a people builder, start by giving people an example to follow. Leadership begins with you and with how you live. At its most basic level, leadership is about being a model for others.

Why? You can only take a person as far as you have gone yourself. That’s why the first audience for your sermons each week isn’t your congregation -- it’s you. You can’t preach what hasn’t changed your life already,

The problem today is we don’t know the difference between being a leader and a boss. They are not the same. Dictators demand. Leaders model. You don’t lead by dictating. You lead by example. The Bible says, “Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care but lead them by your good example.” (1 Peter 5:3 NLT)

Jesus never asked anybody to do anything he hadn’t already done or wasn’t already doing. The Bible says in John 13:15, “I’ve given you an example to follow. Now do as I have done to you.” (NLT) Jesus said he did it, now you do it. In this particular case, he had just washed the feet of the disciples and modeled servanthood. Now he expected his followers to do it. But he modeled it first.

Pastor, what do we need to model to those we serve? Paul gives us five particular characteristics in 1 Timothy 4:12:


Speech. How do you talk to people?

Life. How do you live your life?

Love. Do you really show love to other people?

Faith. Do you really trust God?

Purity. Do you live a life of integrity?

Are you modeling those behaviors for your family? Are you modeling them for your church?


Leadership is a choice. The role of the leader doesn’t come automatically when we’re given a title -- even if the title is pastor. There are plenty of pastors who aren’t leaders. But you can be a leader. It starts by making choices that other people choose not to make and providing that as an example to others. Anyone can be a leader.

The issue is, do you choose to be one?

Writing your kid a letter as he prepares to leave the nest

"THE FACTS OF THE MATTER"
"A weekly letter of encouragement to business and professional men and women"
Ever feel like writing your kid a letter as he prepares to leave the nest? Here’s one I recently gave a young buck:

Dear Bill,

Wow, eighteen years old and the whole world and most of your life before you! What a time to live! What extraordinary opportunities and challenges await you! We live in a very needy world. Imagine the difference you can make in it? Life is too short to be lived in a small way. Grab the brass ring and go for it 110%.

Think about the wonderful home God placed you in! And the first rate education you have been privileged to receive up to this point. I am reminded of Jesus’ statement, “…From the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Lk. 12:48) With privilege comes increased responsibility.

Bill, I would like you to consider four concepts:

Intimacy: Christ wants to know you, and you to know Him. Deeply. Personally. But this won’t happen on the back stroke. Regular time with Him in his word and prayer is a matter of spiritual life and death. Make it your intention to travel with a company of strong disciples of Christ. Make the pursuit of Him your number one priority, and you will be astounded at the quality of life He will give back to you. Paul laid it out in saying, “…All the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant—dog dung. I've dumped it all in the trash so that I could embrace Christ.” (Phil. 3:8 – Msg.)

Commitment: Half baked commitment to God – or anything is a dead end street, and a loser’s game. It is God’s intention to enlist you in making a difference in the lives of people for His Glory and Kingdom. So give it your best shot. Here is how Jesus put it: “If anyone wants to follow in my footsteps, he must give up all right to himself, carry his cross every day and keep close behind me. For the man who wants to save his life will lose it, but the man who loses his life for my sake will find it. For what is the use of a man gaining the whole world if he loses or forfeits his own soul.” (Lk. 9:23-25 - Philips Translation)

Accountability: Have a blast with this thing we call life. Push out the walls and live it to the fullest. Just keep in mind Solomon’s caution: “You who are young, make the most of your youth. Relish your youthful vigor. Follow the impulses of your heart. If something looks good to you, pursue it. But know also that not just anything goes; You have to answer to God for every last bit of it.” (Ecc. 11:9 – Msg)

Responsibility: Bill, we live in a hurting and confused world. Our country is in crisis both economically and spiritually. By any measure, we as a nation are in decline. Most of the rest of the world is in desperate straits. You and I have the solution: The Gospel of Christ. Whatever profession you choose, from driving truck to running a company, use it as a platform for helping people discover Christ, to feed the poor, to bring hope and solutions to a suffering world. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” (1 Jn. 3:16-18)

As a young man I chose to seriously follow Christ. After 57 years I can tell you it has been an extraordinary experience, worth every second of it! Join me in the adventure!
This week may you experience His grace, peace and protection!
R. Dwight Hill