THE LEADING MENTALITY - PART 1

 THE LEADING MENTALITY - PART 1

This week, we begin a new Leadership series and I advise every one to follow closely on the series, because this will help us understand the root of Leadership and the Leading Mentality.

Firstly, we will begin with a talk about the history of Leadership. As Leadership, there are certain facts that must be understood that will explain the philosophy of Leadership. In the 1st century, there were two powerful nations - Greece and Rome. The Greeks were known for their intellectual prowess; they documented the systematic studies on human behavior. The Greeks invented most thories we now use in Leadership today. For an instance, the democracy policy that the world has adapted today was invented by the Greek. The common trait present amongst the Greek philosophers then was that they were thinkers. Great philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. They were known and are still referred to today as Great thinkers.

The Romans, on the other hand were well known for combat; they had strong military forces hence they were able to attack the Greeks and conquered them in 146B.C. Although the Romans conquered the Greeks but they never destroyed their library (one would want to think it was because of their wealth of information stored in these libraries, the Roman soldiers struck). They (i.e. the Romans) took these libraries and adopted the theories of the Greeks.

After the invasion, the Romans began to think like the Greeks. The Romans were the first country to rule the world. The Roman Empire was Rome's greatest achievement held together by the military power of one city. 

Now let us look at certain philosophies of the Greek people.

Four Philosophies of the Greek?

1. A leader is a product of certain endowments.

2. Leadership is a product of birth traits.

3. Leadership is a product of Providence.

4. Leadership is a product of charisma.

TO BE CONTINUED.

THE IMPACT TEAM

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UNHEALTHY COMPARISON PART 1

 UNHEALTHY COMPARISON PART 1

Theodore Roosevelt -

                "Comparison is the thief of Joy"

It is Personal development week, and here are some truths which are fundamental to developing one's personalty.

Social comparison is one of the most ubiquitous features of human social life. This fundamental tendency of man to look to others for information about how to think, feel, and behave has provided us with the ability to thrive in a highly complex and interconnected modern social world but all things must be done in moderation.

📝Humans tend to compare themselves to another, because they perceive they are not doing as much as the other person is doing.

📝Unhealthy comparison is toxic and damaging. It reduces one's self worth, and distracts you from the set goals you have written down to achieve. 

📝When you compare yourself with another person, you are simply saying you do not have any strength, ability or talent.

📝 Remember, you do not have the same opportunity, education, or experiences(the list of things you do not share with others is endless) as the other person.

📝When you compare yourself with someone else whom you think or believe is ahead of you, it leaves you feeling dejected, sorrowful and depressed.

📝Comparing yourself with someone else is destructive and leads to negative talks. 

However, comparing you with yourself is the better, because you are comparing your yesterday with your today which is necessary because it will motivate you to grow and develop in the areas where you need to. This is one form of Healthy comparison.

How can you do this?

📝You could ask yourself some questions to reflect on where you are today; after answering them, you can compare your current state to the future you, which will help you set relevant personal goals. Doing this is healthy unlike comparing your journey to someone else's journey which isn't fair.

📝Another form of Healthy comparison is to look at the lives of significant others who are successful in that which you are embarking upon. You are looking up to them, not to feel embarrassed, dejected or sorrowful but to gain wisdom from them. Remember, we can only see far if we climb on the shoulders of those who have gone far.

📝Having good role models to compare yourself with is an Healthy form of comparison. Once you discover these persons, study their lives and grasp what it is that appeals to you from their lives.

📝Lastly, remember that you also are a role model for others as well. When you develop yourself, they too can also benefit from this. Though personal development talks about your personal self. What you do with yourself goes far towards affecting other people.

Thank you.

The Impact Team

To be continued.

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LIVING BY GRACE PART 3

LIVING BY GRACE - PART 3

This week we began a teaching series titled "Living By Grace". To walk in Grace and live by Grace is a must for every believing child of God. A man working in Grace is too endowed to be stressed by life situations. This does not mean life challenges will not come; they will for everybody according to God's word in John 16:33; but a man enjoying Grace is not stressed by them. He has God working for him. Since the beginning of the week, we have looked at so many pivotal points. Today, we will further look into the manifestations of this Grace.

What are the workings of GRACE?

7. GRACE secures access to a world of unlimited possibilities:

To a man working and living by Grace, everything works together for his good. You cannot carry God and life situations will refuse to bow. Psalms 114 :1-8 is an account of what happens when a child of God carries God. Verses 3-4 "The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back. The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs".

Everyone who enjoyed the workings of Grace in the Bible had access to these Divine possibilities. Doors are not shut to a life living with Grace. Joseph in Potiphar's house (Genesis 39), Esther (Esther 2) in the king's palace. 

Boldly declare this words "I receive Grace that makes for Greatness" Amen!

8. GRACE guarantees access to Revelation:

Ephesians 3:2-3

"If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words"

A life working with Grace is that which God reveals secrets unto. There are many mysteries in the kingdom that God will have us know and that through Grace we are empowered to know. 

The Bible says in Jeremiah 33:3 "call unto me and I will answer thee, and shew you great and mighty things which thou knowest not of".

One thing Grace does is that it unlocks for a man living with it access to Divine secrets and access to secrets means a glorious life.

9. Grace of God empowers to live a Holy life:

God's grace is sufficient to lift us from death and sin and to endow us with eternal life. It is sufficient to change us, transform us, and perfect us (1 Peter 5:10 "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").

Grace is sufficient to enable you to fully realize your divine potential as a son or daughter of God. Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith". 

Titus 2:11-13 now summarizes it up 

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Through Grace, we are redeemed to live a holy life.

10. GRACE guarantees access to live the Overcomer's life:

There is a life of victory through Grace. A life of seamless breakthroughs in all aspects of life. The victory is sweatless and sweet when Grace is at work.  Grace is that force by which we prevail over life situations. Grace empowers to overcome sin. It empowers to overcome the challenges of life. 2Corinthians 10:4 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds". Grace is having God in your race and by so doing, you are guaranteed to be a conqueror over those opposing situations. Grace carriers always have and enjoy victories.

11. GRACE guarantees us access to the help of God in difficult situations:

The Bible in Hebrews 4:16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

One of the many workings of Grace is that through it, we have access to Divine help. It must interest you to know that a person living with Grace cannot be stranded. There is always help in Zion, all you just need to do is ask the Father for it. The scripture in Hebrews above says when we come to this altar of Grace, we must do so boldly and we will have the help we need. To enjoy the Grace of God is to see and enjoy help at different areas and scopes of your life. God is our help (Psalms 121:1) and if we must be helped, we must seek to carry him.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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LIVING BY GRACE - PART 2

LIVING BY GRACE - PART 2

Earlier this week, we started a series titled Living by Grace. We have been made to understand that life is not meant to be navigated without the Grace of God. We were also made to understand that there will always be a difference between a life with Grace and another without Grace; and amongst other things, Grace helps a man to fulfil destiny. Today we will look at what it means to work in Grace.

The Gospel of Grace is what every man needs to hear; that we are not condemned of the Father but he has given us the ability to enjoy of Him, Grace. The gospel of Jesus Christ is as a matter of fact the gospel of Grace. John 1:16-17 "And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ".  Grace is the love of God shown to the unlovely; the peace of God given to the restless; and the unmerited favor of God.

What therefore are the workings of Grace?

1. Grace brought unto us the redemption from sin:

Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

John 1:16-17 makes us understand that the gospel of Jesus Christ that saves from sin is the gospel of Grace. Romans  5:1-2 paraphrased "...by whom we have access by faith into this Grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God".

The scriptures above make us understand that one of the workings of Grace is that we are no longer accountable for the sins we have committed in time past. We are saved and by the Grace of God.

2. Grace is given to us of the love of God:

One of the benefits we enjoy when we are in love with God is access to unusual dimensions of Grace. In 2Corinthians 8 where Apostle Paul talked about the grace bestowed upon the Macedonian church, we are made to understand that these people were lovers of God and the interest of His kingdom (verse 4, 5). Being in love guarantees access to certain Fatherly blessings. Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us". Now we can boldly lay claim to this because of God's Love.

3. Grace focuses on God and not man:

 Remember the story of the harlot in John 8 when a certain people came to the master accusing a woman of the very act she was caught in. Jesus's response to the crowd was that if any of those accusers were without sin, they should cast the stone. With no one, he said unto her in verse 10-11 "When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more".

The Grace of God does not look at your inadequacies or weaknesses as a person but shows you that you are made perfect even in that weakness. 

2 Corinthians 12:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me".

GRACE again does not condemn. It does not look at your infirmities but on God's ability to render you whole when you come unto Him. We must know that our accusers will always want to come but we should trust in the Grace that we have received.

4. Grace makes a man earn that which he does not naturally deserve:

 This is one manifestation of Grace. As Grace is defined, man is undeserving of it. Queen Esther enjoyed grace and she became the wife of the King (Esther 2:17) Joseph in Genesis 39:4 found grace in Potiphar's house and he made him overseer of all He had. Grace enthrones a man with no qualifications for the throne. It gives unto a man that, which is not supposed to be his by earthly standards. It cuts out all earthly protocols. It raises the lowly and gives them a place among Kings. Hence, no man can live without Grace because the blessings are just too much to live without.

5. Grace is the basis for our Christian identity:

 Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:10 "But by the grace of God, I am what I am". Man is able to answer the question of who he is, what he is or why he is here on Earth, by knowing the Grace made available unto him. Apostle Paul did not stop with the above in verse 10, he went on to further state what that Grace upon his life meant and why He needed the grace. There is a grace that helps a man identify with his purpose, there is a grace for that assignment and even when we fall short and situations try to challenge this identity, this call or this assignment, we can boldly call unto Grace for help (Hebrews 4:6).

Also, when we know we are saved through grace and not according to our works, our mentality becomes changed to certain things that try to challenge our salvation but we must know that Grace is no ticket to live a life of unholiness and ungodliness (Romans 6:1).

6. We live by the Grace of God: 

Man must understand that Living is only by the grace of God. Psalm 3:5 "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me". Our sustenance is of God and by the Grace He bestows unto us. We are sustained through the sustenance of His Grace.  God does not only want to save but wants to sustain us throughout our work and walk here on Earth. He will not only have us start the race but also finish and end it well. Therefore to do that, He knows we will require Favour, Grace and strength. The Father knows we can only live the way He wants through empowerment with His Grace. Acts 20:32 "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified".

Apart from being sanctified, we need the word of Grace. God’s sustaining Grace is the power that keeps us going when we feel like giving up?  Have you ever felt like giving up?  Sustaining Grace gets you through that.  It helps you make the right choices when you really want to make the wrong choice.  

TO BE CONTINUED...

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Building men and women of Excellence...

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LIVING BY GRACE PART 1

 LIVING BY GRACE - PART 1

Hallelujah! This week we shall be delving into the topic "Living by Grace". We will understand what it means to live a life of Grace as well as how to. There are many truths we will be UNVEILING through the help of the Holy Spirit even as we journey through this school of the Spirit. Therefore, be at alert and enjoy the series.

One thing we must first understand is that the Grace of God is accessible to all but there is need to learn and understand how to access it. 2 Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work". 1 Peter 5:10 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus...". 

Ever wonder, at times you earn certain things you feel by all standards you do not merit. Yes, this can simply be described as the working of God's grace upon your life. Queen Esther enjoyed this unmerited favour as she became Vashti's replacement of all the maidens (Esther 2:17 "And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti).

We need to understand that in God's kingdom, there are Mysteries that are unveiled unto us by the Spirit of God (Matthew 13:11). One of such mysteries unveiled is that of the Grace of God. The Bible in 1 Corinthians 15:10 and Apostle Paul's message unto the church at Corinth; "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me". 

This verse was preceded by Apostle Paul telling how undeserving he was of the blessings which was now upon him and how his election was of Grace and we see from scriptures the many exploits He made in ministry. The Grace of God is a must know and a must to be enjoyed by every one who is come unto God through his son Jesus Christ (Philemon 1:3, 2Corinthians 13:14, 2Peter 1:2)

What then is the Grace of God?

Grace is all spiritual blessings that reside in heavenly places in Christ. Grace is a gift from God. Grace is God's ability made manifest in the life of a man. In another definition, Grace simply means God in your race. Life as have been created by God cannot be lived outside this Grace of God. In one of Apostle Joshua Selman's teachings, he said "Life has been wired to function in such a way that men will only live up to the fullness of Christ through the agency of GRACE".

There will always be a difference between a life operating with the grace of God and a life without it. The Grace of God in a man's life is what makes him merit that which is not his by the measures and standards of man. Grace brings the heavenly measures into the things that are earthly. It breaks the standards and protocols created by the laws of men bringing the laws of God to manifest. All these and many more are the explanation of what Grace is.

While it is important to know that Grace is given to man by God and it has been said to also mean "Unmerited favour", we must understand that there are certain fundamental requirements to operating in it as well. One way to illustrate this from God's word is that we are saved by Grace (Ephesians 2:8 "For by Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast"). Though the above is true, but man must still confess with his mouth and believe in God with his heart to truly be saved (Romans 10:9-10); and then man must also continue to work out his salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). 

Another very important fact about the Grace of God is that it cannot be understood by mere wisdom or knowledge of man, hence Apostle Peter in 2Peter 3:17-18 "...But grow in Grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ". How can we explain man having lost connection with God after the fall in Genesis 3; God still would have him saved and come into the knowledge of His truth (1 Timothy 2:4). God will have him saved and this, by sending him God's only begotten son. Therefore, only a born again, spirit filled child of God can understand clearly the manifestations of His Grace (1 Corinthians 2:14). 

In the ministry of Jesus Christ and also the apostles, it became more clear to us why the Grace of God is very important. Not much attention was paid to Grace in the old testament as it was in the new testament. The New testament preaching after the resurrection of Christ came fully fledged on the Grace of God. Why is this so? Because it is important that we understand it better to approach it better. Certain things will never be clear to us, certain mysteries of the kingdom will not be revealed except by Grace Ephesians 3:2-13 (See the book of 2 Corinthians as concerning Giving). In this kingdom, there are mysteries that lead to the revelation of other mysteries, one of such is the mystery of GRACE. If there was something spectacular about the preachings and teachings of Apostle Paul, it is on this concept of Grace (1 Corinthians 15:10, Romans 12:3). 

There are however important truths to know when it comes to living a life of Grace. One of such is that Grace is of God, and given to man from God and by Him. Philemon v3 "Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ". Ephesians 4:7 "But unto every one of us is given grace...".  But just as it is given, there are things to do to enjoy it's full benefits. Just as we have to walk in faith to enjoy the blessedness, and walk in the love of God to receive all the rewards, we also have to abound in Grace. 2Corinthians 8:7.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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