THE SPIRIT OF JOY - PART 1

 THE SPIRIT OF JOY - PART 1

Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith".

Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones".

Praise God! We @TMTL will like to use this opportunity to appreciate everyone who has stayed all through the journey thus far and we will like to say a very big thank you; also wishing you all a Happy Happy New month. Our prayer is that this month be most fulfilling and inspiring for you; a month filled with all round prosperity in Jesus mighty name. Amen

Hallelujah once again! This week we shall be looking at a very vital biblical concept which is Joy. Joy is more than what it literarily means i.e. "to be happy". Here, we will see what more there is to this and even why it is necessary for us as believers. 

In a world of so many crisis today; a world of confusion when men are thrown into strife and hatred for one another, where sorrow and languish have become the daily meal of certain ones, where those that oppress continue to seek to oppress and so many have even lost their source of happiness. God is saying to you "BE JOYFUL". It doesn't matter how the circumstances may look currently; it doesn't matter whether your finances are a mess or you can't even provide for your family. It doesn't matter that there is that someone who is always at all times frustrating your endeavors whether it be a colleague or a superior. God is saying to you "BE JOYFUL". 

Why do I need to be joyful when all around me is not working, some may ask? 

One of the things I have come to understand is that Joy is the only proven antidote for sadness. The way it is said that if you nurse hatred for a person, just in your heart begin to find reasons to love that person, soon your hatred for that person will be long forgotten; in the same vein this is applicable with Joy. For every heart that sorrows, you can only find solace in Joy. 

One thing we must understand is that Joy or being joyful is the heritage of every believing child of God. Being joyful is our birthright. So whether you choose to or not, this Spirit is a must have and it's available for you and I. God is not happy seeing his own hurt daily, He is not happy seeing you go through pain. The Bible makes us to understand in Jeremiah 8:21paraphrased "for the hurt of my people, am I hurt, dismay hath taken ahold of me". This is God talking to us here.

Our Father in heaven is a joyful God. The scripture makes us see this in Psalm 16:11; "in his presence, there is fullness of Joy and at his right hand, there are pleasures forever more". You can take a few lines back and see the light from that word. Have we ever heard that in heaven, there is agony or there is pain. Never. It is impossible to have heard that sometime in heaven; things were so hard and God cried or the host of heaven all wore sack clothes and had ashes upon them-At all! 

This is infact God's divine plan for us. Right from creation, we see God's original intent for us from verse 26 of Genesis 1. "Now, let us make man in our own image and after our likeness..." 

You are made in the image and after the  likeness of God; thus, if his image is Joy, then you have every right to own joy and not just that "to stay joyful". The second part of that verse says "...and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth". In all of these words aforementioned; I don't think sorrow was ever part of divine arrangement for us. Subsequent verses "be fruitful, multiply, inherit, govern". No place for sorrow or sadness in God's dictionary for us. This tells us that He is concerned about what makes us happy. This means if things are not working, and we are therefore sad, it is never his work. Going back to the verse in Psalm 16:11 "in his presence there is fullness of Joy..."

 Now, if I may ask, where is the presence of God? Heaven -no. God lives in Heaven, yeah; but he is present in you and I through his Holy Spirit. Therefore, Joy is in us. Hallelujah! 

Please let us make these confessions "I have joy that the devil cannot take from me" "I have joy so great that the devil cannot withhold from me" "I am joyful because I have a joyful Father". 

This is our birthright even as we become genuine born again children of God. You are not supposed to be heavy at heart. The spirit of heaviness is of the devil; and as long as you are not his, it is not yours! Concluding this pilot series; from that verse in Psalms "...at his right hand there are pleasures for ever more". This is the reason we are Joyful because life is pleasurable in God. It brings happiness unto us. Communion and constant fellowship with Him makes us liable to this. Whether it is pleasures in your health, finances, academics, career, marital life, fruitfulness - He has them all in His possession and it is ours for the taking. Why should we then be sad?

TO BE CONTINUED

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TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP PART 2

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP PART 2

What is Transformation?

According to the dictionary, transformation means the act of transforming or the state of being transformed. It is also defined as a marked change in appearance or character, especially for the better.

What is Transaction?

According to the dictionary, transaction is an act of conducting or carrying out business, negotiation and plans; an exchange or trade as of ideas, money, goods etc.

Differences between Transactional leadership and Transformational leadership.

We understand that transformational leadership is when the behaviours of leaders influence followers and inspire them to perform beyond their perceived capabilities. This form of leadership doesn't give based on merit or on the fact that one deserves it but on the basis of service and love. In this form of leadership, leaders employ enthusiasm and charisma to influence their followers. As from definition we have been stating, transformational leadership is based on leaders ability and personality traits to make changes through examples. They earn trust, admiration and respect from their surbodinate. They focus on values, ideas, needs and morals of the followers and are change-oriented.

Transactional leadership on the other hand, in one word is quid pro quo ( meaning "this for that") one has to earn in this type of leadership. Every follower must deserve every type of mentorship and idea dispensation. In transactional leadership, leaders employ punishments and rewards and motivation for its followers. This type of leaders are action oriented, rigid and self directive. They also focus on maintaining favourable relationship with the followers. Unlike how transformational leaders are proactive, transactional leaders are reactive

In transformational leadership, every follower is considered as potential leaders while in transactional leadership only one person is seen as the leader.

Characteristics of transformational and transactional leadership

Some Characteristics of a transactional Leadership.

✓ Extrinsic motivation

✓ Opposed to change

✓ Conventional decision making

✓ Performance oriented

✓ Structured

✓ Directives

Some Characteristics of transformational Leadership

✓ Curiosity

✓ Communication

✓ Visionary

✓ Team first Attitude

✓ Simplicity

✓ Charismatic

✓ Tolerance for risk

In the next article on this series we shall be explaining these highlighted characteristics. 

Thank you. 

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TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP

 TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP

In this week article, we will be making a study into another style of leadership - TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP. 

Leadership is the ability to rally men and women towards a common goal and interest in the spirit of Capacity and Character building. Our case study this week is Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of United States of America.

Abraham Lincoln, the 16th US president was born on February 12th, 1809. He was an American Lawyer and a statesman and was sworn-in to 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He was an educated man who had passion for public education. He became a lawyer and U.S Congress man in 1849. He returned to his law practice but became vexed by the opening of additional lands to slavery as a result of the Kansas Nebraska Acts.. Lincoln led the nation through the America civil war, the country's greatest moral, cultural, constitutional and political crisis. He succeeded in preserving the Union, abolishing slavery boistering the federal government and modernizing the U.S economy.

His Legacy as a

Republican: Lincoln's redefinition of Republican values has been stressed by historians and was called declaration of Independence-which emphasizes freedom and equality for all.

Reunification of the State: in Lincoln's inaugural address, he explored the nature of democracy. He denounced succession as anarchy and explained that majority rules had to be balanced by constitutional restrains.

What then is transformation?

Transformation can be defined according to Mariam Webster dictionary as an act, process or instance of transforming or being transformed. To transform means to change the form of, nature of or the appearance of something, someone or an entity.

What is Transformational Leadership?

Transformational Leadership is a theory of leadership where a leader works with teams beyond their immediate self interest to identify needed change, creating a vision to guide the change through influence, inspiration and executing the change in tandem with committed members of a group. Transformational leadership is when the behaviors of leaders influence followers and inspire them to perform beyond their perceived capabilities.

Transformational leadership inspires people to achieve unexpected or remarkable results. Transformational Leadership also serves to enhance the motivation, morale and job performance of followers.Transformational leaders typically perform four distinct behaviors, also known as the four I's. These behaviors are as follows: Inspirational motivation, Idealized influence, Intellectual stimulation, Individualized consideration.

✓Inspirational motivation is when the leader inspires their followers to achieve. This leader sets high and reasonable goals for their followers and their organization. They inspire commitment and they create a shared vision for their organization.

✓Idealized influence is when the leader acts as a strong role model for their organization and leads by example. This leader consider the needs of their followers and prioritize their needs.

 

✓Intellectual stimulation is when the leader encourages their followers to think for themselves. These leaders are creative, innovative, and are very open to new ideas. They tend to be tolerant of their followers' mistakes, and even encourage them as they believe they promote growth and improvement within the organization.

✓Individualized consideration is when the leader establishes a strong relationship with their followers. These leaders act as a caring supportive resource for their followers and their organization. They mentor their followers and allocate their time to developing their followers potential.

These four behaviors were what Abraham Lincoln exercised and he is still regarded today as one of the best presidents United States of America ever had. Lincoln is remembered as a martyr and hero of the United States and is consistently ranked as one of the greatest presidents in American history. In the 21st century, President Barack Obama named Lincoln his favorite president and insisted on using the Lincoln Bible for his inaugural ceremonies.

TO BE CONTINUED

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GENERATION OF ACHIEVERS - PART 2

 GENERATION OF ACHIEVERS - PART 2

One of the tools used to sharpen or shape the mind is Words. Words are important drivers of anything man desires to become. Knowing the right words, speaking the right words even doing those right words are key to a man fulfilling his ultimate goal on Earth. Even God used the word when He called forth things that previously didn't exist into existence. Hence, we must understand that whatever importance we give to the word we must also give to studying the word. Reading has a major role to play when it comes to us accessing information or truth. The words you don't read, you simply cannot access and once you don't have access to it, the words can't profit you. The place of Reading is however thus important. 

"To read" according to Webster Dictionary is to receive or take in the sense of letters, words etc, especially by sight or touch. When we read, we feed our minds with the correct tools to shapen the mind in order to achieve our dreams.

What then is Dream? 

☑️Dream is a long distance journey that requires right information to reach it. Words are used as blocks to shape our dreams to the form we want. Dreams without right words are called illusions. Your mind can only be strong and powerful when it is fed with the right words, to the extent that it can help you to overcome incredible obstacles and position you to become what you dream of. 

☑️A dream is a picture of the future and this picture appears in the mind. One of the way you can feature in the picture of the future is by educating your mind, reading books or learning a skill in accordance to the future you want to feature.

How then can you achieve your dreams?

1.Be a committed learner: 

We must understand firstly that there is nothing new under the sun. It is either someone else has acheived your dreams or laid a foundation for the fulfilment of your dreams. The place of learning is thus very paramount and this can be done either through learning a skill that is in accordance to the dream, or reading books that is related to the dream.

For instance, Richard Branson who was a case study in our previous article, is someone who loves reading cosmic books. This among many others brought light to his dream. Anything the physical eyes cannot see; this means it is dark to us. When we can't see our dreams, this is what it literarily means. They are dark to us; and no man achieves anything in the absence of light. 

We cannot see the future with our physical eyes and this is the reason we need light to educate our mind. Education is light needed for the eyes to see and not just see, but see efficiently and effectively.

2. The Triple D's (Discipline, Diligence and Determination): 

For you to acheive your dreams; you need these triple D's. Discipline guides you towards your dreams; Determination focuses your attention towards your dreams; and Diligence energizes you to work hard toward your dreams.

3. Put it on paper: 

A dream is a picture of the future that the eye of the mind can see. Therefore, it is imperative that you write it down, paste it where your physical eyes can see and run with it regularly in order to believe and acheive it.   

Thank you and Remain blessed.

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GENERATION OF ACHIEVERS - PART 1

 GENERATION OF ACHIEVERS - PART 1

There are wise popular sayings that go thus; "those who achieve greatness in life have most of the time dreamt greatness". "You cannot become what you have not first imagined". "A man's station is only limited by his imaginations". 

Also, looking into the scriptures (Genesis 13:14-15); God told Abraham, _"for as far as thou can see I have given unto you"_. Thus, for every great thing we aspire to be, there must always be a great dream preceding it. This week we will be looking at the story of a man who had great dreams and was able to acheive his dreams. In our dreams coming into fulfillment, there are certain things that must be put in place, some of which we will be looking at.

Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson, our case study for this article is a British English magnate, born on 18th July 1950. He is a big time investor, author and a commercial astronaut. Also, He co-founded the Virgin group, a conglomerate which dates back as far as the 1970s. At the time he did this, he was a young adult with the vision of a great future. Branson expressed his desire to become an entrepreneur at a young age. He didn't have it all rosy for him, didn't go to a prestigious university and in fact, he didn't even complete his secondary  education, but yet He was still able to achieve greatness in life. He ranks one of the top UK billionaires  according to Forbes. How was he able to do this? History makes us know that growing up, Richard Branson suffered from a condition called "Dyslexia" which is the inability or difficulty to read". Thus, he couldn't keep up with his studies as a teenager. He didn't fit in at all. Despite these odds on his journey, he never allowed his inefficiencies to prevent him from attaining great heights or stopping him from fulfilling his great dreams. Rather than allowing his challenges to make him feel inferior, He had to set out to find the key to success which according to him was to focus on the things he was passionate about and this we see he was able to fulfil.

In that time of his life when he fullfiled his dream of going to space; He said, _“I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I am an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth. To the next generation of dreamers; if we can do this, just imagine what you can do"._ This he said while sharing a clip of himself and his team floating in the ship. From his story, we can see that a tender age, he was sold out to his dreams, determined not to back out at the presence of obstacles. He had so many great dreams and was able to fulfil them. Even at an old age, he fulfilled his dream of flying in space. This shows us that there is never an age you get to that all your dreams and hopes can't be realized. So many men like this also in our world today. It is never too late to fulfill your dreams. 

What is a dream?

A dream is an inspiring picture of the future that energizes your mind, will and emotions, empowering you to do everything you can to achieve it. Imagination is one of the greatest power God gave humanity. It is as powerful to the extent that you can travel to your future and yet you are still in your present. The seat of imagination is in the mind and that is where our sight is located. We see "through" our eyes but we see "with" our mind. The mind is what we use to see the future while the eyes just see what is now. The power of imagination can enable our roaming without opening our physical eyes. The mind is as important to the future as the eye is important to the present. Without the mind, one cannot see the future and automatically a future you don't see you are not permitted to become. A future you cannot visualize, you cannot realize. A future lost is a life lost. 

Dreams generate from the mind but if the mind is not taken care of by constantly feeding it positively and taking positive actions, then the dream may not be achieved. Looking at the story above, Bramson had a dream but he did not just stop there, he did a lot of things which we will unveil even as we journey in our articles...

TO BE CONTINUED...

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GENERATION OF PURPOSE - PART 3

 GENERATION OF PURPOSE - PART 3

HOW TO LIVE A LIFE OF PURPOSE

1. Understand that God is the originator of all purpose: For every purpose on the heaven, God is the master planner (Genesis 1:1, Jeremiah 1:5). The Bible made us understand that He created everything in the earth including that reason for your existence which is Purpose. Therefore, to fulfil purpose we must have an understanding that it all comes back to Him. No man can ever know his purpose or how to live it outside the One who gave it. God is the creator, we are the works of His creation according to Ephesians 2:10; hence we must acknowledge Him always on the path to fulfilling purpose.

2. Give yourself to prayer:We have all heard the usual saying that prayer is the pillar of every Christian, the same goes for a man who wants to fulfil purpose. Why! Firstly, prayer is a communication between man and God; God, who is the originator of our purpose. Hence, if we must identify with our Purpose, then we must communicate with the giver. We can only do this when we pray constantly unto him. Secondly, apart from seeking to know your purpose, the way to go about it is also revealed through Him. _Deut 29:29 "the secret things belongeth unto God but the things which are revealed belong unto us..."_. We have to understand that prayer is one way we seek direction from God (Isa 48:17). He leads in the way we should go; and this way is only revealed to us when we are constantly in communion with Him

3. Put in the work of Faith: It is one thing to pray, it is another to pray in Faith. The purpose has been given but to see it come to pass, you have to believe every of its content. Believing as God has shown you not as you deem fit. For every purpose from God, man must take responsibility; and one way by which we take this responsibility is through Faith. Faith is that force that accelerates our prayers. You have prayed, it's time to put in the work of Faith.

4. Be Obedient: Finding purpose can come in diverse ways. One of such ways is through instructions. The originator, God himself, will instruct; it is now up to he who is instructed to run with every instruction obediently. We are to obey regardless of the circumstances that surround the vision; obeying unrelently, both to the full and to the end (Num 14:24). The proof that you have accepted that which is said is shown when you obey dilligently.

5. Give yourself to meditation: Meditation just refers to deep thoughts. God has revealed the purpose unto you; it is now left for you to also think deeply on that which he has said. Your thinking is not to go against what He has said. But you are quietly building solid grounds in your thoughts for actualization. No man gets a successful project done without first going to the inner room of his thoughts. He doesn't go there to find negativities but to build strong defenses that can withstand the test of time. If your thoughts are not positive, then your ways cannot be. Because out of your thoughts come the fuel that keeps you in motion. Positive thinking, this is Meditation.

6. Be diligent: DILLIGENCE is one vital tool if we must fulfil our God ordained pattern for our life which is Purpose. Your ability to persevere, to remain consistent,  conscientious is key to actualizing Purpose. Every good purpose has the capacity to produce results but it is what you do with the Purpose that determines this. A good seed has the innate ability to germinate into good fruits, but if it is sown in a bad ground, it may not. This does not stop it from being a good seed but the end result which is a good fruit has been changed. One fertile ground for which the seed of Purpose is grown is Diligence. _Proverbs 22:29 "seest thou a man dilligent in his business, he shall stand before Kings and not mean men"_. Let us learn that Hard-work which is Diligence does not kill; it only refines.

7. Write your vision down: Habakkuk 2:2 talks about writing our vision. Vision is the unfolding of God's plan which is His purpose for our lives. For every purpose of a man, the revelation of it is Vision. Thus, as these things are revealed unto us, we must pen them down. Remember, every purpose will materialize if due course is followed.  One reason we must write them down (from God's word in Habakkuk) is "so that they will run with it them that see it". In us fulfilling our vision, we are not the only ones involved. There are several others that will run also with the vision who God will show us as we journey with Him. This makes writing the vision down of utmost importance. Also we tend to forget less the things we have in store. Why? Because when we go back, they are easily searchable. A Vision not written can easily be lost compared to one that is written. Write the vision plainly. To write plainly means to be clear enough. The vision must be as God has given it; no additions, no substractions; in actual sense it must be PURE.

8. Share your vision: The last phrase in the scripture Habakkuk 2:2 "so that he may run that readeth it". The vision is not for you to keep or to Lord over as some do. It is for you to share with others. You will grow in your vision and others too will. Every vision from God has the capacity to bless as much persons as possible, but it will come through one vessel. Let's look at our Father Abraham, through him God blessed a whole generation of which you and I are beneficiaries. This is how Purpose stems from generation to generation. Also, from God's word; it was Jacob who God gave the ministry of cross breeding animals to, now we see so many follow this path in the world today. Never think the vision is for you and your family; do not cripple the vision. Also, when fulfilling your vision, it is important to note that you don't share with just anybody. This is why in the previous point, we see that God is the one that shows you these persons. Just obey and be alert enough to follow.

9. Wait patiently: Habakkuk 2:3 also says "for the vision is yet for an appointed time, it shall speak, it will surely come, it shall not tarry". Every vision will speak but according to God's time and season. It is not in man to fulfil his vision; you have to trust the Visionary; the one who has made it possible in the first place. He knows what is best and the time that is best. All we have to do is trust in Him, trust in His process and wait patiently. 

10. Learn moderation: Modesty, Moderation, Contentment is key to making the most of our Purpose. Yes, God has the capacity to do great and mighty things, but be contended with the way He is doing it. Do not expect big when it is small that is necessary at that time. Just be contended, be moderate and modest. No car ever remains on the same spot getting to its destination. When ignited, it also doesn't just start moving on a very fast speed; it is a gradual process. This is the same way it is with our purpose. With God on our side, we are sure to fulfil Purpose but let Him lead and we follow.

I pray God blesses us and grants unto us more understanding. Amen

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Generation Of Purpose Part 2

Generation Of Purpose Part 2

How Do I Discover Purpose?

✓ Go to the manufacturer : The manufacturer of any product is still the only one that knows 100% of the product, so he is totally in charge of the product. God is the manufacturer while man is the product. The best place to take our products to for repair, or to know more about the product is the company where the product was manufactured - because they know everything about the product. The same applies to Man  (Product), to know your Purpose, you have to go to God the manufacturer. This process is for three basics reasons which are : Asking, seeking and knocking. Asking in Prayer, seeking Him in his word (Manual) and knocking to wait for reply which I describe as meditation. If you engaged these processes, then I believe your answers will be delivered.

✓ Serve faithfully in that organization you belong: Luke 16:     12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? What I have come understand is that not everyone will be the founder of an organization, you must understand that Purpose discovery is not synonymous to Founder of organization, therefore, in any organization you find yourself, serve faithfully there, it may be there you will discover your purpose or where you have been assigned by God to function to serve your generation. The organization you are at can be a stepping stone or a learning process. There is corporate Vision but different parts must be played in order for the actualization of the Vision. 

Note : Vision comes from a known Purpose. 

✓ Check within yourself : You must understand that people's Purpose in life is always connected to their Gifts/Talents. In other words, your gift/talents can be a pointer to what you are created to solve. The gifts, talents and skills are your hidden potential i.e untapped resources. You are to activate them by building capacity for the gifts, talents and skills to be marketable i.e to serve your generation. You have to guard them by righteously using them, unless you'll begin to use them wrongly or for selfish interest. Remember your gifts/talents is to serve your generation and build a stepping stone for the coming generation.

To be continued...

Thank you

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GENERATION OF PURPOSE PART 1

 GENERATION OF PURPOSE PART 1

Esther 4: 14 for if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?_

The Story in the book of Esther helps us to understand the concept of this week's topic.

King Xerxes organized a banquet for the nobles and officials in the land. The King commanded the Queen Vashti to display her beauty to the people and nobles for she was very lovely to look at but the Queen refused to come and thereafter she was deposed and Esther was made Queen because the king was attracted to her than any other woman. There is a man called Haman who had a plot to destroy the Jews because the King had elevated him higher than the nobles in the kingdom, he was not aware that queen Esther was a Jew so therefore his plans was destroyed when Esther discover his purpose and she saved the Generation of the Jews.

God created the Heaven and Earth and caused it to serve the purpose of generation for all living creature. 

What is a Generation?

Generation according to oxford dictionary is the average amount of time needed for children to grow up and have their own children. Generation also means descendant, progeny, offspring. As God created the heaven and the Earth for a purpose. We must understand that everything created by God had been ordained to be a blessing or addition to his or her generation. The plants and animal are beneficial to themselves. In the field of biology, there is what we call plant microbiome which helps  plants to remain fit and also offers critical genetic variability. So also animals also are created to be an addition to their species. Every generation must be an improvement to the previous generation. If you are not adding value to the coming generation, then you have not started living, you are merely existing.

What is Purpose?

Purpose is God’s intention for your being created i.e. the "why" of your creation. God is a God of purpose. Everything he created serves a purpose like for instance the purpose of heaven and Earth is for the preservation of all the generations of everything created in it. Plants and Animals were created for a purpose. A man said the greatest tragedy in life is not death but a life without purpose. Purpose discovery is what gives life meaning. You can not know what your life contains until you discover purpose. Discovery and fulfillment of purpose is what makes the coming generation to be an improvement to the present generation. You must understand that you are not a biological accident despite the circumstance surrounding your birth. Your parents might have conceived you unknowingly but God created you for a reason. Purpose is the discovery of problem you are created to solve. For instance, the story of Mordecai and Esther in the Book of Esther Chapter 4 verse 14b(NIV), mordecai  said “ who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this, that is to deliver the Jews. This speech was what made Esther to discover her purpose  and she said if I perish, I perish. Discovery of purpose makes you come to the end of yourself because you have found what your life contains.

To be continued...

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THE SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS-PART 2

THE SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS-PART 2

Earlier this week, we learnt that it is essential to have the fruits of meekness in us as believing children of God. To be meek just means humility, totally submissive, not wanting your own at all times, building capacity in the place of letting in the opinions of others, not being too self indulgent and not too carried away with all that's possessive (I, me, myself). We also learnt that a meek heart is one that is teachable, easy to accept instructions, easily molded. It doesn't resist growth, ever receptive to right directions.

But today, we will look more into the concept of MEEKNESS as a lifestyle. To start with, meekness or one's ability to humble self is not a once and for all thing but it is something continuous. One thing I have come to realize in the kingdom is that Consistency is the rule of the game. To get continuous rewards on every of our seeds, we have to be consistently consistent. A farmer who decides because the planting season is longer than usual, then goes to retrieve his seeds sown can never reap the harvest when it is ripe. One has to just be intentional in these things. Have we ever noticed at times, if we are not totally sold out to something whether it be a calling or a pursuit, it is very easy to derail from it. The same way it is with the spiritual fruits. Yes, we are given through the baptism of the Holy Spirit but continued engagement in them keeps them working in us. This is the way it is with meekness also. From scriptures, Psalms 25:9 says "the meek will he guide". It did not say the used-to-be meek; he who was meek in time past. No, "will" there also shows a state of continuity. As long as he remains meek, he is open to receive instructions that will build, edify and nurture him. Matthew 5:5 "blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth". Every blessing in the scriptures is as long as you keep engaging.

The second here is meekness is a thing of the heart. You can't pretend to be meek. It's not a thing you say with the mouth "I am meek". It shows in your actions. It is just as a staff will not tell his boss "I am hardworking, I deserve a raise". It will have to show from your actions. And every action of man stems from the inner man of the heart. Every dictate, every word you speak, step you take are all a function or proceeds of the heart. Romans 10:35 "for with the heart man believeth". This is to tell us that whatever things we believe in, self developed principles, acquired principles; as long as there be some sort of belief in it, it comes from the heart. A truly or genuinely meek person is meek in heart. As long as his heart remains the citadel of meekness, he remains as such because out of this heart flows the issues of life. Meekness in career, spiritual things, academics, relationships, in all kinds of endeavor. As long as the heart is not corrupted, it is constantly given to the word that will nurture and help grow this fruit, we continue to grow in capacity. There are different levels to the manifestation of these fruits. To one it is given to manifest in a thirty, to another in a sixty, to another an hundred. It just depends on how well you have grown or built capacity enough for growth. You cannot grow or build capacity without involving the inner man of the heart.

We must also recognize that the HOLY SPIRIT is the Spirit of meekness. You see a man filled with the Holy Spirit; such is not a man that is proud or wants everything for himself. He does not desire the recognition of others as much as he loves to do what is right. One of the very essence of being Spirit filled is that you will have the fruits in you. One of the things that Aaron and Miriam lacked(Numbers 12). It is not in the natural man to understand the things of the Supernatural(1Corinthians 2:14). The Holy Spirit is that force that bridges the gap of the natural with the Supernatural. With him in us, the Supernatural just becomes our natural order. You who used to find it hard to humble yourself even amongst colleagues, you find that it has now become easy to do. This is the conviction of the Holy Spirit. The Bible describes Him as the Spirit of truth who will come and teach man all things that pertaineth unto truth and godliness. Meekness is a godly trait; hence one of the many truths He has come to take us. When His Spirit takes us over, we begin to manifest without difficulty the fruits He possesses. It becomes easier to succumb to the will of the Father, to obey and follow His leading, to submit as Christ did. This is what the Holy Spirit came to do; to teach us as Christ would have done it. All we just need to do is listen and follow

TO BE CONTINUED...

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THE SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS- PART 1

 THE SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS - PART 1

Psalms 25:8-9 "Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgement: and the meek will he teach his way.

Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth"

From the above scriptures, we are made to understand that meekness is an essential virtue for every born again child of God. Even in the world today, certain things cannot be given unto us without us being humble enough to lay hold on them. David talking here says only the meek can be guided by God. As long as we have the Spirit of meekness in us, we submit ourselves to His leading and we are taught of Him. Remember the Bible talks of us being the clay in the hand of a potter (Isaiah 45). God is the potter; He knows everything about us, our purpose and our journeys in life. He has a better understanding of this. But it's the spirit of meekness in us that will make us succumb to His leading. From God's word, we see He is always instructing, always correcting but only a meek heart can accept these instructions. A haughty heart is never submissive. Even when he walks the path of destruction and the instruction comes to take him off this path, he never succumbs. Why? Because he is not filled with the Spirit of meekness. Our God loves meekness. This is what the scripture makes us understand.  Psalm 138:6 "though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly; but the proud knoweth he from afar". Proverbs 3:34 "surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly. Many instances as this from God's word, to prove his dislike for the sin of pride and his love for the righteousness of meekness. Yes, the righteous are meek! Galatians 5:22-24 makes us understand that one of the fruits of the Spirit i.e the fruit of Righteousness is meekness. Meekness is one of the many proofs of who a truly redeemed child of God is. Every true believer seeks to have a communion with God as every true son his Father, but you cannot have this communion if you detest the fruits he requires. This fruit of meekness! Since God cannot dwell with the proud as we see in Proverbs 6; a believer can only be taught, imparted, instructed, corrected, engraced, blessed, commune with, live a Holy life on the platform of being meek. All these summarize our life as true believers. Proverbs 6:16 "these six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 an heart that devise the wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren". 

From this scripture, we see God hates the abode of the proud. He knows He can never be allowed in; that abode is filled with all evils. With pride, hatred for your neighbors even sets in, mischief, false witness and all that was said in these verses of the Bible. Therefore it is very important for us to have the Spirit of meekness. 

What then is Meekness?

Meekness just means humility. To be meek means to humble one's self. It means to control ego, to submit either to authorities or persons. It means to be selfless; to be lowly in heart. It means to not place much importance on self that it so then affects others. It is willingness to accept; willingness to be taught; willingness to grow. For a person who cannot pay the price of learning i.e. who cannot be taught, he should not expect to enjoy the prize of growth. Meekness even means taking responsibility for your actions. The proud is never responsible for anything. To admit even that a wrong is done by you, you must have the spirit of meekness dwelling on your inside as we see in King David when he was called to order by theProphet Nathan(2 Samuel 12).

It means to not consider yourself above the following(2Timothy 3:16): doctrine , reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness; only then can man be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto good works (verse 17). To be meek means to be totally submissive. Let us understand that being submissive is not a sign of weakness. Moses was meek and according to scriptures he was very great in the land(Exodus 11:3). The things of the Spirit can never be understood in mere mortal wisdom. To the natural man, if you do not show some measure of pride in your dealings, you would be taken for granted. But as believers; children of God, we strive to please God not men. The Bible makes us understand if our ways be pleasant before him, he will make our enemies to be at peace with us. Moreover without meekness, we cannot enjoy the blessings. Because for every blessing from God, there is an instruction to follow, there is always something to do. 

Deuteronomy 28:1 "if thou shall hearten diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set the on high above the nations of the earth". There is always something to do. Bishop David Oyedepo will always say Obedience to God's instructions is gateway to our high places in life. But the proud, the haughty cannot accept His leading not to talk of obeying the instructions. A submissive heart, a submissive will; only one who is humble can receive the instructions and as such inherit the blessings  thereof (Matthew 5:5). 

James 4:5 "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up".

TO BE CONTINUED...

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PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE PART 2

 PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE PART 2

HOW TO LIVE A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE

We have come to a conclusion that life is a journey or an adventure. Purpose is the driver, while destiny is the end of the journey of life. In this life, the most important thing is to understand the reason you were given Life. Myles Munroe of blessed memory said the greatest tragedy is not death but life without Purpose. A life without purpose is an aimless life, a merely existing life and life was given to us so we can live it. Today we will be looking on how to live a purpose driven life. 

Firstly, if we want to know how to live a purpose driven life, we must understand that God is the source of every Purpose. In other words, if any man wants to live a Purposeful life, he must fear and serve the originator of all Purpose. The scripture makes us to understand that the fear of God is Wisdom, what is Wisdom? Simply put, Wisdom is the application of the word of God (Job 28:28). So for us to live a Purposeful life, we must always acquire knowledge from the manual God gives to us which is the Bible. The manual will be a guideline for us to live our lives right and not abuse it or misuse it.  Another way to know how to live a purpose driven life is to serve God and the interest of His kingdom. Real purpose focuses on the advancement of God's kingdom on Earth or the betterment of humanity.

Secondly, if we want to know how to live a purpose driven life, we must envision that life and be passionate towards our discovered Purpose. I will paint it in this analogy: Purpose is the driver of life; Vision is the wheel steering of life (it determines the direction of our Purpose); while Passion is the fuel that powers the desire to get to the end of the journey.

Vision emanates from a discovered Purpose that was given by God. Man plans on how to carry out the step and man also develops a passion ( burning desire) to see it fulfilled.

One very important thing we must also understand is that Purpose is a product of value. Every time we make a decision in life, we are filtering that decision through our value grid, whether we are conscious of it or not. Our values influence everything we do. So, we all have values but often times we haven't clarified them.

Where do we get our values from?

We pick them from our friends, books, parents, the music we listen to, from the society in general. Today, one of the ways we pick up our values is through the media especially the social media.The scriptures tell us that the values of the world are very well known and have not changed. So we are going to get our values from one of two places- the world or the word (the Bible), from culture or from Christ. 1John 2:15-16[15]Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.[16]For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]–these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself].

The Bible mentions three things here

✓ Pleasure

✓ Possession

✓ Prestige

Romans 12:2[2]Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

Thus, if you buy into the world's value system, that the ultimate value of life is pleasure, possession and prestige, you will miss God's purpose for your life!

Pleasure doesn't last Heb11:25

Possession doesn't last 1Tim 6:7

Prestige doesn't last Mk10:31.

Solomon had everything yet he drifted from God's purpose. His conclusion? Vanity upon vanity, all is vanity. If you have no purpose in life, none of these things matters.

So what needs to be done

DEFINE YOUR PURPOSE

There are three primary aspects to God's purpose for your life.

1. To be God's friend

God made you to love him. Matthew 22:37-38[37]And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). [Deut. 6:5.][38]This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment.This is his priority. He says if you don't do anything else in life, you need to learn to know God and love God.You are called to be a part of His family. You are His son or daughter. He wants to love, care, provide for and protect you. He wants to spend time with you. This is our highest purpose or calling and it is to be the foundation for any other "ministry".

✓ To help others

First, you are to be God's friend. He wants a personal relationship with you. Then, God wants you to begin 'doing' His will by helping others. What will be the contribution of my life? In other words, what am I going to do with my God given talents? Ephesians 2:10[10]For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].The Christian life is to be one of 'servanthood'. This is the key to true greatness. A servant sees themselves as 'under' others and seeks to promote and make other people successful (Mark 9:33-37). Jesus was a servant. He came as a servant to serve and to give to his life for us. Jesus told the disciples that they were also called to serve. 'Do as I have done unto you' (John 13:15). 

✓ To influence your world

Mark 16:15. He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.Go into all the world and proclaim the 'good news' about Jesus Christ. The 'world' includes all aspects and places where people live and interact. God put you here to bring a positive change to the world. Eliminate worthless things that don't matter. Stop doing what isn't important so you've got time, money and energy to do the things that count.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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LIVING A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE - PART 1

LIVING A PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE - PART 1

Life is a journey. We all are on a journey towards the end of our lives. We will either live a life of purpose, fulfillment and direction or coast through life with no sense of direction at all. The great question therefore is; where are you going? and what are you doing about it?

Purpose has been defined as the reason for which something is done, or the reason it is done in a particular way. More importantly it has been described as an intention. So everyone's life is driven by something. It may be guilt, anger, money, pleasure, parent, worry or fear etc. Whatever it is, it is God's divine plan for us to be purpose driven; driven by his plan and will for our lives.

That's when meaning and significance comes.

God has planned for you before he even planned the world. Which means His purpose for you has been planned even before you were born. So, when your life's purpose is fulfilled, it brings honour to God and satisfaction to yourself.

Our saviour and Lord Jesus Christ was a Purpose driven person. In John 17:4; He said "I have glorified You down here on the earth by completing the work that You gave Me to do". Therefore, if you are a follower of Christ, you want to bring glory to God. 

How can this be done?

You do this by completing the work God gave you to do according to 2 Timothy 1:9[For it is He] Who delivered and saved us and called us with a calling in itself holy and leading to holiness [to a life of consecration, a vocation of holiness]; [He did it] not because of anything of merit that we have done, but because of and to further His own purpose and grace (unmerited favor) which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago].

Life is lived at one of these three levels:

SURVIVAL: This is the first and lowest level of all. Unfortunately most people live at this level. They coast through life. They are not really living. Rather they are merely existing. No wonder someone described a survivor as someone who endures through disaster or hardship. They never have any major goal or drive in life just living everyday as the previous.

The second is

SUCCESS: A lot of people are in the second level. A little higher level called success level. They are entirely focused on living a comfortable life. Neither rich nor poor, neither small nor great. Just average. Yet this level does not satisfy. You are able to provide for your needs but you are not fully fulfilled in what you do.

SIGNIFICANCE: This is the third and highest level. Significance is when you know why you are here on Earth i.e your importance . You know there is a meaning behind your existence and the things that happen in your life. People who enjoy significance know what on Earth they are here for! They know and they move in the direction of that knowledge. They are builders, creative minds, not easily drifted by the purpose of others. There is a motive for whatever it is they do and they strive to achieve results. These kind are said to be fulfilled.

The goal therefore is to not live at the Survival level; but move from Success to Significance.

To be Continued

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A DESPERATE FAITH - PART 2

 A DESPERATE FAITH - PART 2

Matthew 15:21-29

The level of one's Faith determines the proceeds we get. The Faith of a man cannot deliver more than it is applied. As men are in sizes, so is our Faith in levels. Earlier this week, we looked at the different levels of Faith. In life, you are only permitted to become what you have believed. If you have not believed, then you cannot receive or claim that which is right for you. There are so many things right for us, but we must first possess them in Faith before they come into existence. This is to tell us that for your seed sown to reap good fruits, it must be done in Faith. Hebrews 11:1 explains what Faith is unto us "Now, Faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen". This is Faith! You have not seen the answers to your request, but there is an assurance in your heart that it's settled. You are believing God for somethings, they are not forthcoming; yet you still press on in prayers of Faith. This is the lifestyle of a person who will always get returns on his expectations. Most times, we deny ourselves of our desired breakthrough, when we turn aside or do not hold on to Faith. Your ability to believe and work in the direction of what you have believed is Faith. In the book of the Old Testament 2Kings 7, we see a bad situation in the economy of a nation at that time; everything was not working, things were sore hard for the people. But in the midst of this so great affliction, God sent his word through the mouth of His prophet that there was going to be a turnaround in the city; but there arose a man who dared not to believe that great word from Heaven; He saw the breakthrough but he never partook of it. This is how the devil robs man of his inheritances. Especially for us as believers, there are treasures laid down for us in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, but our lack of Faith and hope will only rob us of them. 

Let us take a look at another such biblical example of a great Faith so desperate enough to receive the blessings. The anchor passage in Matthew tells us about the story of this Canaanite woman whose daughter had been grievously vexed with the devil. She came unto Jesus to seek for the healing of her daughter. Remember in the Old Testament, the Canaanites were no friends of the Israelites by virtue of the instructions God gave unto them. But this woman of Canaan must have heard the testimonies of the great miracles Jesus had performed, so when she heard of his whereabout, the Bible made us understand she came out of the coasts, crying- a cry of mercy. But Jesus would not even look at her; he did not answer this woman a word. But the Faith in this woman kept pushing and pushing to the extent that the disciples had to return to Jesus saying Send her away, for she crieth after us!. By revelation, "sending her away" would actually mean give her what she wants and let her go her way; hence Jesus's response, "I am not sent but to the lost sheep of Israel". But this woman would not agree. Faith does not agree with obstacles; Faith rises above hindrances. This woman kept on in Faith. From scriptures, we see she came with another tactic. Verse 25 "then she came and worshipped him, saying, Lord,help me". Still Jesus wouldn't give her what she wanted, but with her daughter still grievously ill, she persevered, now demanding in Faith, her desired miracle. Faith continues against all odds; against all forms of adversities. According to Jesus, it was not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs. But this woman desperately tried in Faith declared "Truth, Lord: yet, the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table". Kai! Jesus could not resist that word of Faith. The scripture made us understand this time, he now spoke unto her; O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole that very hour. 

Our Faith is mandated to produce our desired results when we continue steadfastly, desperately, persevering as the Canaanite woman did; unrelenting. It is not looking like it's  forthcoming; it's time to increase the tempo of your Faith, to activate that great and desperate Faith. Remember, God will always answer as long as we make it a duty to call unto Him in Faith. Your desperate cry procures desperate answers to your requests. Until Faith is activated, the proceeds of our expectations cannot be seen.

TO BE CONTINUED..

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A DESPERATE FAITH - PART 1

 A DESPERATE FAITH - PART 1

Mark 5:24-34, Luke 8:43-48

This story in the Bible is one so taught in our Christian gatherings, but this week we will look into understanding what it means to be desperate when it comes to our Faith. According to God's word, we understand that Faith in God is what produces our desired results (Acts 3:16, Matthew 15:27-28, Mark 10:52). The ability to believe every spoken or written word in the scripture determines how far what we can get from it. Yes, the Bible says the truth shall set  you free but it's not just the truth that sets free, but you believing this truth is what sets free. Mark 9:23 "If thou canst believe, all things are possible unto him that believeth". This passage didn't say all things are possible to him that knows the truth. Luke 1:45 also states "blessed is she that believeth for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her of the LORD".

From scripture, we also see that God gave all power to Jesus and by so doing He had power to heal the sick, raise the dead, deliver the afflicted, and so on but at every point He performed those miracles, He would always utter the word of Faith, "arise, take thy bed, thy Faith hath made thee whole..."  This tells us the importance of Faith in the life of any believer. However, we must understand that Faith is in levels; there is the level of little faith, great Faith, very great Faith and desperate Faith. The latter is what we see in the woman with the issue of blood. This is the operation of a DESPERATE faith. In Mark 5, we understand that this woman has been afflicted 12 years with a bleeding disease, she had lost money and other possessions to the disease all to no avail. For twelve good years, she had been to places after places, institutions after institutions still no sign of a miracle. But according to scriptures, we see she never got tired, she was never weary. Despite how worse she got, she continued to press in the direction of her desired healing. This is the attitude of someone who is desperate, and this nature of Faith is very vital to us as believers. FAITH does not tire easily, it is relentless. it is long suffering. Faith does not look at the impossibilities around but focuses on the capacity of God to perform. Even when it looks like there are all odds around, but Faith is able to sail through the storm. 

You may now wonder why some people who have Faith just tend to give up when they are faced with difficult situations. The answer is simple, there is a Faith that is little, there is a Faith that is great, there is another exceedingly great and there is another desperate. Depending on the level of your faith, this is what determines your results. Ordinary Faith will yield ordinary results, exceeding Faith will yield exceeding results. It is now up to every believer who wants to yield good returns to sow good seeds, i.e grow our Faith.

Faith does not look at seeming challenges. Apart from the challenge of profuse bleeding, the woman with the issue of blood was also faced with the challenge of the multitudes. According to scriptures, there was a great crowd together with Jesus. This woman's Faith did not consider how large they were in number, what she saw was her healing and she took it by Faith "if I may but just touch the hem of his garment, I shall be made whole". 

If we will just say, regardless of whatever conditions we find ourselves, if I may just touch Jesus, just believe him concerning this situation I am going through, just trust in His capacity and not mine, just lean on His strength and not look at your weakness, just believe the words He has said and not those voices in your head, you will be made whole.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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DISCIPLINE AND DILIGENCE- KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP PART 3

 DISCIPLINE AND DILIGENCE, KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP PART 3

-CONSEQUENCES OF NOT POSSESSING THESE TWO TRAITS.

In life, there are two sides to every matter; you either get a reward for doing or you get the consequences for not doing. We have looked into understanding vital keys to a successful leadership and the benefits of possessing these two traits - Discipline and Diligence. But in the place of not possessing, what is the outcome.

✓ Indiscipline :  If a leader will not love discipline, then he will love indiscipline. The trait of indiscipline is such that it prevents leaders from listening to corrections, pride sets in and a loose life is being lived. These things tend to affect leadership and may be the "norm" approach and could destroy  everything especially the church. A leader who cannot discipline his mouth, his eyes, even his want for certain things will only end up treading the path of destruction, and drag even others with him.

✓Laziness (non- diligence). The opposite of Hard work is Laziness. A lazy person can never get things done. He or she has excuses for every action. A leader who posseses this attribute will never be successful in that which he doeth.

When you are in a bad situation; with continual weariness, leaders tend to lose primary focus, be ineffective and most dangerously, become a stumbling block to others. We as leaders definitely wouldn't be able to function as He called us, nor will  be able to worship and serve God effectively. 

Proverbs 24: 30-34, Matthew 25: 1-13, Mark 14:32-42)

✓Failure in Leadership: We must understand that everything falls and rises under Leadership. A leader without discipline and diligence will not successfully rise no matter how he tries. As a leader, these two keys will enhance your growth as a leader. As a leader we must imbibe these gift, if we truly want to emerge true leaders. 

✓Broken character: A leader without a disciplined lifestyle will soon lose his character, Capacity is what brings every man to Leadership while character is what sustains him, so without character, the leadership will never be sustained. Diligence deals with capacity while discipline deals with Character. Character is the real you when nobody is watching you. For instance, Joseph had the two traits and he was able to sustain his Leadership at Egypt but Samson only possessed diligence not discipline that was why he never ended well.

✓Abuse of power: A leader that lacks either or none of the gifts will eventually abuse the power of leadership. A man once said "to know the true character of a leader, give him money and power". Power reveals the true character of a man. When power is misused, a leader will turn into a manipulator, therefore it becomes very important as leader to possess these two traits.

✓A people scattered: Hosea 4:6 "my people are destroyed because they lack knowledge". A leader is expected to build up certain virtues in his followers. When he lacks these truths, he cannot teach them. Having no understanding of these, the people are easily swayed. Ecclesiastes 10:16 "Woe unto thee oh land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning". As leaders, whatever we do do, we must understand there are lives attached to ours and we will be accountable for how we led them.

If a leader is good, it will show in his followers; a leader is bad, it will also show in his followers. They are a proof of your leadership. If you lead them right, they are right; bit if you lead them wrong, they will only be a source of concern to you and the world at large.

Thank you for following through the series. God bless you all

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DISCIPLINE AND DILIGENCE - KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP PART 2

 DISCIPLINE AND DILIGENCE - KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP PART 2

-WHY POSSESS THE TWO CHARACTERS?

Earlier this week, we started out on understanding Discipline and Diligence as two very important keys to a successful leadership. Today, we will look into why they are both necessary for us as leaders.

01. Discipline: As defined, discipline means controlled behaviour. A leader must be able to control  himself, to bring himself  into core values, visions or missions. A man who can't control himself ( Discipline) won't be a template for others to learn from. We ooze only out what we carry. Besides, Leadership is continuous and it is not something that is done for a day and dropped. It is continuous therefore there has to be a consistency in controlling self ALWAYS. Until we have disciplined ourselves in certain things, we might not be able to find fulfillment in the path we have chosen.

As kingdom leaders, there are disciplines that we need to cultivate,  some of which include;

✓Prayer : A leader should  always communicate with his father (God) the husbandman and vine in order to communicate with others i.e bearing fruits.

✓Fasting : These helps us in focus and relieves us from distractions and noises.

✓ Meditation/ Quiet time : A leader must have a quiet time; where it's only him and his thoughts; thinking on how best to affect his world; how to effect changes in his environment. Great men are great thinkers, they say. Deep and positive thinking i.e. meditation must be cultivated in us as leaders.

✓Obedience: Leaders must always obey the master leader (God) and that is the way to show that we love him (John 15:10)

✓Submission : Who we submit to determines who submits to us, the same way what we submit to determines what submits to us.

Proverbs 22:6; 1 Corinthians 14:26-28, 1 Corinthians 7:8-10

 02. Diligence 

The second very vital tool is Diligence.

Most leaders are rich and prosperous because they are ahead of everyone they lead (Proverbs 12:24). Diligence is the personal trait that makes a person have ideas that leads to abundance (Proverbs 21:5 ) Diligence is a personal trait that leads to promotion (Proverbs 22:29).Kingdom leaders are not complacent, kingdom leaders do not settle for less, kingdom leaders know where they are going and they continue to move in that direction. A diligent leader never agrees with the negative, he or she is consistently looking for a headway and this is what makes us truly successful leaders. Kingdom leaders move and only get better. As we have said, they don't settle with the less. A diligent leader is never tossed here and there by situations that come his path; at every point, he rises above them.

Diligence helps facilitate us to develop a good attitude as well as confidence, patience, forgiveness, values, loyalty and integrity 

(Proverbs 6:6-11; Ruth 2:1-13, Mark 13: 32-36, Acts 9:36-39).

TO BE CONTINUED...

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DISCIPLINE AND DILIGENCE - KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP PART 1

DISCIPLINE AND DILIGENCE -KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP PART 1

Leadership as have been rightly defined is the ability to rally men and women to a common goal and purpose, building in the place of character and capacity. A leader on the other hand is a person who has discovered purpose or a course and has set out to achieve it. From a well defined purpose comes a vision which means seeing the end of a Purpose from its beginning. This is where Leadership journey starts. This week we will be looking at two vital leadership characteristics which I have so named the Defining D's - Discipline and Diligence. These are two very important characters every leaders should possess. Lacking in the life of a leader, such a person can not lead effectively and efficiently.

There is a need to always set the foundation before a building is constructed hence, the need to lay out certain foundational knowledge as we go on in this series.

First, what is Discipline?

According to dictionary, Discipline means having a controlled behaviour or self control. Discipline can also be defined as a state of order based on submission to authority. The ability to discipline oneself is one proof of wisdom. Pproverbs 12:23 "A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness". Prudence also means Discipline. 

As true leaders, we can never do without the wisdom of God to lead effectively. God is the greatest leader that exists and if we must lead as He did, we cannot afford to make wisdom void. A wise man is one that van discipline himself and only a leader that can control himself can control those under him. No man can give what he does not have.  Many  failed relationships today were in one way results of lack of self discipline whether on the part of one party or both parties.

Discipline simply means doing what is commanded and not what is convenient. The ability to steer forward even in the presence of seemingly overcoming waves. To successfully fulfill any vision there are laid down requirements and none is ever convenient. Therefore, as leaders who want to fulfill Purpose  we must discipline ourselves in achieving them especially in the aspect of the eyes and vision. 

We must also understand that we were created to lead and that is why God gave us the most powerful weapon in actualizing our Purpose which is the power of Vision. Vision is the function of the heart and not only the sight. A leader who wants to really fulfill purpose must not walk in all by sight. The "eye" looks at  what is now while "vision" sees what could be. The former deals with now; while the latter deals with the future, For example, Samson had a great vision but his eyes destroyed him, If you cannot discipline your eyes, your vision may become blurred and in the process become blind. This was the case of Samson. 

We must discipline our eyes in other for us to fulfill our vision.

What is DILIGENCE? 

According to the dictionary, DILIGENCE means being steadfast, earnest, persistent, consistent, hardworking. It can also mean conscientiousness, determination, and Perseverance. It is a long-term effort not a short-term investment. Diligence is the personal trait that makes a person able to lead well.

Diligence simply means Hard work. A man once said Hard work never kills, it is wrong work that kills. As leaders, we have to recognize our purpose already which can also be likened to our work or the right work. We must put all our efforts in order to fulfill our purpose.  Passion is what fuels vision and DILIGENCE is what births desire. Desire without diligence is disaster. Many visionary Leaders are where they are today because of lack of diligence, all they will be acclaiming is God will do. God gives the vision, man pursues the Vision. God gives Grace to pursue the vision while man runs the race to fulfill the vision. So as visionary Leaders, we must take responsibility.

To be continued

The Men That Lead

Building Manhood

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CREATIVITY IN ACADEMICS - PART 1

 CREATIVITY IN ACADEMICS -PART 1

This week we will be looking at something different. This is a concept that has not been so much talked about. We will look at what it means to be creative and how through creativity, one can better one's odds in academics.

Creativity in relation with Academia are two correlatable concepts. Creativity as have been defined by several authors, can be said to literally mean "create", "creation"  or "creative force" and "power to create new works". It is the ability to make or bring something new into existence. This "new" could either be in the aspect of solving a problem, finding a method, etc. The concept "Creativity" is of value to every discipline. It cuts across the Academia, business system, finance system and so many others. One thing also about Creativity is this, it is never afraid of trying something new hence its ability to bring newer results every time given the chance. Creativity has been said to mean innovations. A process of becoming sensitive to problems, deficiencies, gaps in knowledge, missing elements and disharmonies as well as identifying, searching for solutions, making guesses or formulation of hypotheses, and possibly modifying and restating them, and experimenting to find results and finally communicating the results.(Penick 1992).

{You can go over this definition again.} It cuts across every aspect of what Creativity entails.

Despite how important Creativity is in order to foster good academic achievements, it is poorly understood even in our schools today. We are all expected to possess abilities to recognize, memorize and be able to produce those information same way it is given to us. But this is often times not the case with the students. A school is made up of different individuals with different capabilities and these should be clearly understood. Many times the difference between a poor performance and good performance is Ability. The Ability of A to do is different from B; A's approach could be totally different from B but if B's does not tally with custom and tradition, it is regarded as low-class; and this in the long run affects such individuals.

Academic Creativity is a way of thinking about, learning and producing information in subjects taught in schools in such a way that it is specific to different individuals and brings a special excitement along with it. 

You ever wonder why growing up, children tend to be excited once they discover new things; for instance they build new toy cars, houses,etc. The joy they experience at that moment. This is the excitement that comes with creativity; that comes when we build our own paths and not follow strictly what is the norm.

Look carefully at the illustrations below:

1. In what year did Nigeria become amalgamated? (The answer 1914, requires recognizing and memorizing information.)

2. How are the Northern and Southern states both similar and different? (The answer requires more than memorization and understanding; it requires students to think about what they know.)

3. Suppose Nigeria had not been amalgamated. How would our lives and history have been different? (The answer requires many creative thinking skills including imagining, experimenting, discovering, elaborating, testing solutions, and communicating discoveries.) Creative thinking enhances fluency, flexibility, originality and elaboration. It is a natural and healthy  human process as opposed to learning by Authority. 

Creativity is fundamental to self - reliance. The more self - reliant a person becomes, the better the quality of his or her life, family, community and society at large. Being creative enables us to get the most out of life experiences and resources. 

Inasmuch as, we see its usefulness, its however delicate i.e. it is dependent on so many factors and these in the long run can exert positive or negative effects on Creativity. One of such factors is the environment. The environment where a child finds himself or herself could foster or inhibit creativity. Though an individual may have the innate or genetic ability for creativity, yet parents and teachers have roles to play to enhance and foster these creative traits.  Others which include, family support, availability of learning materials and social pressures have also been postulated. It is clear that if teaching, assessment and social environment support creative thinking, the innate tendency is continued, but if not, reverse is the case.

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A PREDESTINED LIFE - PART 3

 A PREDESTINED LIFE - PART 3

Knowledge is very vital on the way to our Glorious destiny(Hosea 4:6). Without Knowledge, you cannot know the path to your destiny neither can you understand how to walk the path. Hence,  we will be considering today some required knowledge that will help take you to your destination.

Knowing your God helps you to see your destiny. Having a glorious destiny begins with you having the understanding that it is God who has prepared your destiny. In order to now fulfill that destiny, you must grow deeper in your knowledge of God. Until you have understood the Creator's purpose for your existence, there is a tendency that you may abuse the product. One way we can know our God and His plans concerning our Glorious destiny is through reading your Bible - daily and continued reading. The Bible is God's wisdom in print. The wisdom for his creation is resident in the Bible and since we are all creations of His, it is important that we study the Scriptures. It is God's manual for our triumphant, glorious and victorious living.

Also reading spiritual books from Anointed Men of God, praying to God for direction, all these are ways through which we can access this needed Knowledge.  Doing this, it becomes easier for you to fulfill your destiny.

It is also very essential to note that Knowing your Destiny enhances your Vision. One of the most powerful weapon God gave to humanity in order to fulfill their destiny is the power of vision: not sight. It makes you to see the end from the very beginning and that will produce a passion to keep you going so as to get to your destination. Once your vision is already clear, then you begin to walk in line of fulfilling it.

Knowing your vision also helps to choose Destiny friends. The truth is the journey of destiny cannot be journeyed by only you, you need destiny friends that will help you get to your destination. Look at the story of David and Jonathan. Such friends have to be in your life for you to maximize your God ordained glorious destiny. You cannot run it alone, you need people that are oriented in that line as you are to help motivate and also run with the vision. A Destiny friend is simply someone that God has appointed to help you get to your destination. Jesus Christ himself did not fulfill His destiny only by Himself. The most Anointed son of God still needed the company of the 12 disciples.

Knowing and identifying this set of right company brings you to your destination and that will result to your Glorification. When you have selected your destiny friends, then the journey to your destiny becomes smooth as did David's. Why is this so? They become committed to helping you fulfil it in every manner and way. The end of every fulfilled destiny is GLORY(Romans 8:30).

May we all end well and end fulfilled in Jesus mighty name. AMEN

Thank you for following all through this series..

The Men That Lead

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A PREDESTINED LIFE - PART 2

 A PREDESTINED LIFE - PART 2

Earlier this week, we began exploring the nature of a Predestined life. We must understand that a predestined life is one already ordained by God and prepared for man to manifest. Let's look at Jeremiah's account in the book of Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations".

Just like Jeremiah, there is a prepared destiny for every man on the platform Earth which God has before hand engrafted in us to fulfil.

Every human being created by God was created for more regardless what they have achieved. There's a lot that God has deposited in every human being; our Destiny is to be like the end of his dear son, because that is whom we have been conformed to be (2Corinthians 3:18). However, it is possible for man not to identify what has been deposited in him nor understand how to make the most of it.  

What does it mean to live a fulfilled life? Fulfilment in life is a state of absolute or total completeness in your assignments. Jesus Christ when be was here on Earth lived a fulfilled life; this was why at the cross, he could say the words IT IS FINISHED. This statement is a proof of completed assignment. The last statement of a thoroughly finished man should be just those 3 words "It is finished" but it's quite unfortunate that many don't get to this end. 

God has chosen your destiny but you decide the fulfilment. Fulfilment of destiny is not a function of how long we lived but how well we have lived on Earth. Jesus Christ died at the age of 33 years, and he fulfilled his destiny as a result of prompt response to the voice of the Father. Jesus is our true model, one we should all emulate in other to have a good end. In order to fulfil one's destiny, there is a part we ourselves have to play in running with all that's been deposited in us. This was what Jesus Christ did, never for once did He stop racing after destiny.

In the journey to our destination ( pre - destined end), we must understand that there is a place of seasons. A season is a time defined by particular circumstances or features. According to Merriam  Webster dictionary, Time is a piece of eternity. When God created every individual and prepared our Destiny, He put us in time, so that we can have a beginning and an end (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2). God does not live in time, He is not bound by time, He exists  in eternity. We must understand that there are certain times for certain occurrences in our lives. On the path to our glorious destiny, Time is one vital tool that we must exploit. God gave us time so we can be reminded of how we are to live. From the Scripture, we understand that there are different times and seasons; to sow, to reap, a time to get, a time to lose, a time to labour, a time to enjoy, and so on. We are to operate via these to fulfil our destiny.

We must understand that God never said everything will be fine but he promised us that if we can hold on to him, then we will become victorious. God's love is longsuffering (Num 14:18); God's love is not forever suffering. It may be long but not forever suffering. On your journey towards your destiny, it is expedient we build our Faith. In this context, Faith is the driving force that pulls us toward destiny. Faith draws Grace from above to finish till the end. We will all end well In Jesus mighty Name. Amen 

TO BE CONTINUED...

THE MEN THAT LEAD

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