power

Lions in the Daniel Den

“So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, ‘May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!’” – Daniel 6:16 Yesterday, we looked at the life of Daniel and how he made prayer both a matter of habit and priority. Although he was taken away from Jerusalem, transported to the pagan world of Babylon, and put at the disposal of the king, he refused to waver in his conviction, and he continually sought the presence of the Lord. While it could have cost him his life, his fierce devotion afforded him ongoing supernatural favor. In fact, through the years, he was filled with the Holy Spirit so powerfully that he could interpret dreams and visions and figure out mysteries that no one else could fathom. Despite refusing to bow to idols, he gained influence with heathen

June 2, 2021 No Comments

Do You Plan for Succession?

“When a land transgresses, it gains a succession of leaders, but with an understanding and knowledgeable man, its stability endures.” – Proverbs 28:2 (ISV) Today, I want to look at the second of three questions we’re wise to ask ourselves if we want to lead with the heart of Jesus, and that is — are we planning for our succession? From the very beginning of His ministry, our Lord was training others to take His place. He told His disciples that they would do greater things than He did because He was going to His Father. In other words, since He knew He was leaving the earth, He invited them to step up and accomplish even more — to build on the foundation that He laid. Likewise, as we seek to lead in our modern world, we’re wise to consider how we’re equipping those who come behind us. If we’re a

May 5, 2021 No Comments

Called vs. Driven

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5 Among the greatest gifts we inherit when we become part of the family of God is that He gives us a purpose. The very One who set the stars in the sky and the planets in space has ordained a calling for us, and if we seek Him, He faithfully leads us to it. As for me, I’m called to be a pastor and to expand the Kingdom of Christ through Hour of Power and Shepherd’s Grove. However, I’m not the proprietor of my position — I’m only a steward of what the Lord has entrusted to me. First and foremost, it belongs to Him, and so does everything else that I enjoy. Knowing this, I’m free to embrace my

May 3, 2021 1 Comment

Let Go of Ego

“Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’” – Luke 12:15 Which of us hasn’t driven through a really exclusive neighborhood and thought to ourselves, “Man, I would love to live here.” Or maybe we’ve taken a walk by the beach and admired a massive yacht floating by that left us wondering how the “other half” does it. No matter who we are, the finer things beckon us, and though there’s nothing wrong with having what the world offers, pursuing it above all else leaves us feeling hollow. While most of us instinctively know this to be true, society continually hounds us with images of how it might be if we would just bow to its idols. The problem is that in the end, doing this will leave us sad. It’s been proven

May 2, 2021 No Comments

Servants of All

“Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:43-45 Understanding the Bible in its historical context enables us to see just how scandalous our Savior was. Jesus was born into a world under the rule of the Roman Empire — the most powerful civilization in history — so His ministry took place in a society that was immersed in hierarchy, and position was the currency of power. In the ancient world, there was a clear caste system, and emerging from one’s allotted place in the pyramid typically happened only by force. Caesar was at the top of the heap, and at his disposal were massive armies and legions

April 30, 2021 No Comments

Lead Like Jesus Did

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” – Matthew 20:16 One of the hallmarks of this ministry is that we believe that everyone in the Kingdom of God is a leader. You don’t need to hold a title, go to seminary, or be given a formal position in order to influence others — simply living your life before them and sharing your story qualifies you to lead. Having established this, I encourage you to affirm at some point every day — and even say it out loud — “I am a leader!” Once you’ve internalized this truth, ask yourself whether or not you’re leading well. Knowing that both friends and strangers are watching what you do, be intentional in how you model Jesus to those around you, and give priority to imitating His ways. Though the world offers much wisdom and insight on the topic

April 28, 2021 No Comments

Words Contain Faith

“Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.” – Luke 1:11-13 One of my favorite Biblical examples of the power of words is found in the story of a New Testament character named Zechariah. Married to Elizabeth, he was a priest, and by the time we’re introduced to him in Luke chapter 1, he’s an old man. Though he and his wife were very much in love, they were unable to have kids, and this was a source of heartbreak for both of them. Resigned to being childless, Zechariah faithfully continued his priestly duties, and one

March 29, 2021 1 Comment

Live Life Extraordinarily

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” – 1 Corinthians 1:27 God is not looking for remarkable people, but simply for those who are willing to surrender so He can do extraordinary things through them. While it’s difficult to fathom that the Creator of the Universe wants to use us to accomplish great and powerful feats for His Kingdom, it’s a fact! The Lord delights in employing the foolish and weak things of the world to confound the wise, and no matter how unqualified or ill-equipped we feel, if He calls us to do it, He will see us through it. I think about Moses, who was full of excuses when God chose him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He swore that he wasn’t eloquent enough, but his Heavenly Father

March 24, 2021 1 Comment

Meekness Isn’t Weakness

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” – Matthew 5:5 Julius Caesar took to heart the Roman belief that achievements and conquests were everything, so he became determined to take over the world. On one occasion, when his armies were at war with Pompey, his life was saved by a Semitic Edomite named Antipater. The two of them became fast friends, and Caesar awarded Antipater’s heroic actions by making him the chief minister of the Middle East. In that role, his job was to collect taxes and oversee his lord’s government in the region of Syria, which also included Jerusalem. Antipater later appointed his sons — one of whom was Herod — to help him carry out his duties, and Herod was given the responsibility of overseeing the area of Israel. Unfortunately, he was a narcissistic, neurotic, and nervous guy, who, through a series of wars and

March 15, 2021 1 Comment

On Earth as It Is in Heaven

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:10 Not only do I love the Lord’s Prayer because it’s the perfect model for us to follow as we approach our Heavenly Father but also because it reflects the heart of God. Jesus taught us to pray: “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” Though it’s easy to gloss over that phrase, it actually paints a very powerful picture of the manner in which the Lord of Creation wants His will, priorities, and power to prevail on this planet. Many of us get so focused on reaching eternity that we forget there is work to do here and now. While it’s tempting to discard the future of the world, especially when it looks chaotic and uncertain, it’s important to remember that as Christ’s disciples, we are

January 27, 2021 No Comments

Lions in the Daniel Den

Do You Plan for Succession?

Called vs. Driven

Let Go of Ego

Servants of All

Words Contain Faith

Live Life Extraordinarily

Meekness Isn’t Weakness

On Earth as It Is in Heaven

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