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Make The Effort

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I would like today’s message to be simple, and to just be the exact statements that God has put on my heart. I tried to figure out a way to say it that it would be not offensive or provocative, but there is no real way to get around the truth other than to just say it. I come to you today with a very heavy heart. I have been broken inside from the things that I have sat around and pondered on.

You see, the reality of everything that I know is that my life would have never had the wonderful transformation without the intervention of God and its people. In other words, I would still be addicted to drugs and alcohol, would still be bound in that old depression and confusion, and more than likely would not be alive today. I will never be able to get around this, and will always remember where I have come from. I say all of that because every single day, I see and think about people that I know could have that same change done in their lives, but it doesn’t seem to happen like it did for me.

So in that, I am seeking and looking for myself as to which why I might be the holdup with that. And when I began to seek, the scriptures I am about to read came to mind.

1 Peter 5:1-11

1 – The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

2 – Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy Lucre, but of a ready mind;

3 – Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

4 – And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

5 – Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

6 – Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 – Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

8 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9 – Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

10 – But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

11 – To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

There are so many present sufferings all around us, to which most of them seem to not have a solution. Rather than trying to be of help in most cases, we join in with the popular opinion, simply because it is easier on you and I to not get involved and help anyone. I know that this sounds so harsh even now, but I am one to not hide the truth. The truth is that people need our help every single day, without wavering. So many people are on the brink of suicide that we cannot even see, and yet, with our obedience could save them. There are others that just need a good friend, and yet, with our disobedience could lead them to a deeper depressed state.

If there is anyone around you that you know NEEDS your help, I urge you to get out of your comfort zone and reach out to them. It is never too late to lend a helping hand. It is never too late to lead someone to Christ. Don’t let the enemy devour up any more of our people. Don’t let the enemy let people be persuaded in these horrible mental states, which put themselves in a pit, ready to be taken from us and this world. Make the effort to win hearts to Christ, just as someone did for you. Show the same love and kindness. Never give up on the fight to see them saved. I encourage you this day.

Leaders Arise!

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There have been so many times in my life where I have felt so out of place and lost with no direction. During those times of confusion, I always turn to God to show me the right way out, for God provides the way of escape through anything that we are going through. I could not tell you the amount of times in recent days that I have heard from people that tell me that they feel “lost” in their calling. So if you need this today, this message is for you.

By our instinctive nature, it is our natural ability to follow those around us when we feel as though we are lost. There will be times when your friends and family will be able to bail you out of a situation that is bigger than you. And in that case, that’s all good by all means, don’t get me wrong. Unfortunately though, there are going to be times that the people that you are following are just as lost as you are.

As God has shown me as of late, there comes a point in your individual ministry where you stop being the follower and start becoming a leader. I’ve now realized that as time has went by that there are many that are watching my every move, listening to my every word, and are keeping track of just how close that I am staying to God. One thing is for sure, there is no greater pleasure to someone that likes to persecute your beliefs than to point out your shortcomings.

The difference between the leader and the follower is where you point the finger when everything goes wrong. When you come short and you fail, who are you blaming for the failure?

When you are the follower, you point your finger at someone else and say, “Well, I thought it was okay because they were doing it” I use to try and blame everything but the kitchen sink when I would mess up, but I’m learning more and more that it is none other than me.

When you are a leader, you point the finger at yourself, and realize that you have to improve on your example so the others around you will not falter by the same mistakes. The quicker that we begin to realize this small concept, the faster that we can move forward in becoming stronger examples for people that are all around us to follow, and for others to be able to be drawn to Christ.

So where are you standing with God? Where does your mind stand during the day? Does God have to go to great measures to try and speak to you, simply just to get your attention?

There is no better time than now that we as the followers of God become leaders to the world!

Numbers 27:16-17

[16] Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
[17] Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

As Moses was asking of God, I ask of you today, stand with me, and be those people that will help lead the people out the bondage that they face today. Stand as leaders, and be not followers of the world, but followers of Christ. Stand boldly in your calling, and don’t give up to the enemy!  God be with you, and never give up!