Devotions – Page 4 – Hour of Power

Who Is a Leader?

“He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.” – Exodus 18:25 It’s easy to believe that leaders are those who have been given a position or title granting them a measure of authority in a specific area or over a certain group. The truth, however, is that all Christians are called to lead. How? In the same manner Jesus did — by being a servant. To make it simple, leadership is influence, and as we sow ideas and actions into the world, our goal is to make the Lord visible to others so they want to know more about Him and receive His life into theirs. Servant leadership stands in stark contrast to our natural human desire to control. Whether leading our kids, our spouse, our parents, or even our enemies, it’s easy to become worried when they

August 26, 2023 3 Comments

Good Will in Action

“Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.“ – John 4:36 Yesterday we covered the business of goodwill, which is when others consider intangible assets such as your love, service, and actions. Today, I want to share a beautiful story of goodwill in action. I recently read an account describing goodwill between the Native American Choctaw Nation and the country of Ireland. During the forced relocation of the Choctaw Nation in 1831 called the Trail of Tears it is estimated that more than 2,500 Choctaw men, women, and children died on their journey to Oklahoma. Despite their huge loss and in the midst of rebuilding in 1847, the Choctaws took up a donation and collected over $170 ($5,000 in today’s money) to support the Irish during the Potato Famine. In fact,

August 25, 2023 No Comments

The Business of Good Will

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us — yes, establish the work of our hands.“ – Psalms 90:17 In the course of buying or selling a business, you certainly assess the income, but you also examine what is known as goodwill. The business of goodwill refers to intangible assets such as your customer base and product popularity. What is the culture of your company? What is the perception of leadership among the employees? Does this company have a bright future? I have a memorable story of goodwill when we started our first church in Orange, California. We were a group of young people who wanted to start a church, but we had no resources. There was a building we were interested in, but property management wanted thousands of dollars a week. It was totally out of our price

August 24, 2023 No Comments

Find A Need and Fill It

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” – Matthew 25:35,36 Here’s what service is in the words of author and clergyman Norman Vincent Peale: “You find a need, and you fill it.” And I would add that you find the need, and you get really good at filling it. There is no one better at filling the need than you! In life, you’re going to thrive and succeed as you do that. As this concept is tattooed on your brain, you’ll be the greatest person ever. As long as you fill a need the best way you can, you will thrive in

August 23, 2023 No Comments

We Need Each Other

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,“ – Colossians 3:23 Life’s rewards are proportional to the quantity and quality of our service. It is a law that cannot be violated. Earl Nightingale, a radio speaker and author who specialized in human character development, put it this way: “Never before in the history of the world have human beings been so interdependent. It’s as impossible to live without serving others as it would be to live as if others were not constantly serving us.” There is no way to get rich alone on a desert island. A pile of money on a plot of sand would be worthless to you. Who are you going to pay? What will you do with it? As we serve one another and become better at it, everything gets better, including ourselves. Getting good

August 22, 2023 No Comments

Who’s Going To Be the Greatest?

“The greatest among you will be your servant.“ – Matthew 23:11 People in Jesus’ day imagined He would one day be a governor or a king on the throne of a government. Jesus’ disciples did not realize that He was creating a spiritual kingdom rather than a country. One day when all the other disciples are away, the mother of James and John tries to help her sons advance in their careers and help them get a little promotion. As she approaches Jesus, she says, and I paraphrase: James, and John are amazing! I need you to do one thing for me. When you become king of Israel, when you sit on your throne, I want you to put one on your left hand and one on your right. Do you know what that means? You should have them as your number one and number two, your go-to guys, your

August 21, 2023 No Comments

Serve in the New Way

“But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.“ – Romans 7:6 It is purposeful to be full of the Holy Spirit in order to serve in the new way, to make a difference, and make an impact on others. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descends, and there’s this amazing experience in Acts chapter 2 where a large crowd speaks in tongues. There is an unusual phenomenon in which these flaming tongues of Heaven appear on people. Every disciple starts speaking the language of the tourists that are in town and proclaiming the Gospel to them. A fiery tongue today would be as if I just started preaching the Gospel in Spanish, German, Mandarin, or Arabic, perfectly without an accent. It is

August 20, 2023 No Comments

What is a Prophet?

“I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.“ – Deuteronomy 18:18 Here’s a good question: What is a prophet? Most people think it’s a fortune teller — someone who tells the future. The biblical concept of a prophet is a person who is filled with the Holy Spirit, who operates in God’s power, but primarily a person who speaks for God to the people for their benefit. Even if the prophet speaks to those who are evil, it is for their benefit. God’s heart is always to turn people around, to give mercy, to point them in the right direction, and show them the way out! A few biblical examples of prophets showing the way out include Moses leading people to freedom; Elijah providing the widow

August 19, 2023 10 Comments

Be Filled With the Holy Spirit

“I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.“ – Numbers 11:17 Today, beginning with the book of Numbers, I’m going to take a look at the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. In Numbers, Moses led God’s people to Mount Sinai and a census was taken. It numbered 600,000 people! Despite God’s provision of manna — morning, noon, and night — the people began to grumble. I once heard manna described as a macaroon-like substance that tastes like coriander or cilantro. Cilantro and olive oil don’t seem too bad, but day after day, they craved something different. With 600,000 discontent people, I can just see Moses telling them to be

August 18, 2023 1 Comment

Growing in Your Ability to Serve

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;“ – Romans 12:6-8 Our goal in any relationship is to grow as someone who has the ability to serve through our gifts and talents. During this series, we will focus on the Holy Spirit. I believe the Holy Spirit’s purpose is to help Christians achieve more than they thought possible, and to help them see and feel the world as God does. The power that God gives to us should be used to make a difference or to serve. Serve, not because you think you “ought to serve” or you’re bound by some moral code to serve, but in a way that makes an impact. Service of this kind makes all the difference

August 17, 2023 No Comments

Who Is a Leader?

Good Will in Action

The Business of Good Will

Find A Need and Fill It

We Need Each Other

Who’s Going To Be the Greatest?

Serve in the New Way

What is a Prophet?

Be Filled With the Holy Spirit

Growing in Your Ability to Serve

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