Leadership Beyond Reproach

 

1 Corinthians 9:27 

King James Version

27 But I keep under my body, 

and bring it into subjection: 

lest that by any means, 

when I have preached to others, 

I myself should be a castaway.

True leaders are not hypocrites.

They must live, as they teach.

This blog is about those called to Christ.

When you are Christ's, all the more you must be spotless.

Your leadership must be beyond reproach.

You must be true to the Lord.

Be not like the leaders of the world, who say one thing, and yet do another.

Have no room for politics, division, distraction, deception, destruction, debauchery, and decadence.

Most of all, a true follower and believer of Jesus, will have no room for disobedience to the commandments of God.

Yes, it will be tough, but look at how the LORD JESUS conducted His life.

He had the toughest life yet.

Even as He had all the power in the world to chicken out, He did not.

Even as He had all the power in the world to zap satan who tempted Him in the wilderness, He did not.

JESUS taught us to obey the will of God.

To endure, by enduring.

To live by FAITH alone.

It can be done.

Luke 1:37

King James Version

37 For with God 

nothing shall be impossible.

Philippians 4:13

King James Version

13 I can do all things through Christ 

which strengtheneth me.

There are no excuses, when you serve GOD.

When you don't, you'll always find one.

Only by being born again can you understand such task, and discipline, of being a SPIRIT-led leader.

You will then make a discipline, out of that discipline.

The Holy Spirit will help you correct the errors of your heart.

Being born again will help you get through the most crucial moments of temptation, where, one small slip, can cause your downfall.

That small slip is the only opening satan waits for.

Whatever challenges we have in life right now, it is all so worth it, especially if your end goal is God.

Focus on JESUS alone.

Let GOD's WILL be done, through you.

The lusts of the flesh, the delusions of the mind, the confusion of self, can be conquered if you have CHRIST in your heart.

Ezekiel 36:27

King James Version

27 And I will put my spirit within you, 

and cause you to walk in my statutes, 

and ye shall keep my judgments, 

and do them.

And you'd make a very apt, God-led leader.

Of great value to all.

GOD Blesses to a THOUSAND Generations

 

Deuteronomy 7:9

King James Version

9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, 

he is God, 

the faithful God, 

which keepeth covenant and mercy 

with them that love him 

and keep his commandments 

to a thousand generations;

Yes, you read Scripture right.

God blesses those who love Him, and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.

In contrast -- the cost of hatred, and disobedience:

Exodus 34:7

King James Version

7 Keeping mercy for thousands, 

forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, 

and that will by no means clear the guilty; 

visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, 

and upon the children's children, 

unto the third and to the fourth generation.

Deuteronomy 5:9

King James Version

9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, 

nor serve them: 

for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, 

visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children 

unto the third and fourth generation 

of them that hate me,

And yet, a previous article those verses were included, explores the visitation of that iniquity to even more generations, too.

It explains why hardship never seems to end.

Let us not be deluded into thinking we can go scott-free when we hate, disobey, or displease God.

Only God has perfect vision, and memory.

There is no fooling God.

He sees all; knows all.

As the LORD JESUS said:

Matthew 22:29

King James Version

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, 

Ye do err, 

not knowing the scriptures, 

nor the power of God.

Only a true born again can learn to love God.

For He will be true to Jesus, Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and thus, true to God.

As a leader, it's important you know that.

For many lives hinge upon your ability to lead, with wisdom.

True wisdom can only come from the Lord.

James 3:17

King James Version

17 But the wisdom that is from above 

is first pure, 

then peaceable, 

gentle, 

and easy to be intreated, 

full of mercy and good fruits, 

without partiality, 

and without hypocrisy.

Let JESUS be our leader, so we can lead better.

Updated 21 October 2022

The PERFECT PRAYER

 

Luke 11:1

King James Version

11 And it came to pass, that, 

as he was praying in a certain place, 

when he ceased, 

one of his disciples said unto him, 

Lord, 

teach us to pray, 

as John also taught his disciples.

True leaders are humble.

They're prayerful.

They acknowledge the TRUE power.

They pray the prayer Jesus taught us:

Matthew 6:9-13

King James Version

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: 

Our Father which art in heaven, 

Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, 

Thy will be done in earth, 

as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, 

as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from evil: 

For thine is the kingdom, 

and the power, 

and the glory, 

for ever. 

Amen.

In that simple prayer, we acknowledge:

1. That we have a Father.

2. That He is in heaven.

3. That His Name is holy.

4. That His kingdom will come.

5. That His will be done -- in earth, and in heaven.

6. That we rely on Him for our life, and spiritual subsistence.

7. That we need His forgiveness.

8. That we need to forgive others.

9. That He has power over temptation.

10. That He has power over evil.

11. That we need His help to overcome both temptation, and evil.

12. That the kingdom is His.

13. That power is His.

14. That glory is His.

15. That eternity is His.

"Amen" pertains to "verily, truly" -- in total agreement of the prayer.

1 Chronicles 16:36

King James Version

36 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel 

for ever and ever. 

And all the people said, 

Amen, 

and praised the Lord.

When we can pray as the Lord Jesus taught us, we are in humble supplication, and obedience to His Father.

Through His own life, and ministry, Jesus showed He only cared to do the will of the Father.

All the way to the Cross.

The PERFECT MAN teaches us the PERFECT PRAYER.

The perfect prayer leads us to perfection -- being acceptable in the eyes of God -- for Jesus did say:

Matthew 5:48

King James Version

48 Be ye therefore perfect, 

even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

As a former Catholic, taught in Catholic schools, I did not understand the importance of the Lord's prayer.

We just kept mouthing it, not really understanding its power, and significance.

But the Lord forgave my ignorance.

He knew, on the day of His choosing, I would begin to understand.

Mercifully, 20 months ago, that day came, and the Holy Spirit started instructing me.

What prayers do you pray?

Does it lift self?

Or does it glorify God?

Are our prayers "vain repetitions"?

Matthew 6:7

King James Version

7 But when ye pray, 

use not vain repetitions, 

as the heathen do: 

for they think that they shall be heard 

for their much speaking.

Whether you acknowledge it, or not, our path is the path to perfection, for we need to be changed, if we are to meet up with the Lord, on the day God Himself appoints.

Let's all love God, and pray the PERFECT PRAYER Jesus taught us.

Only through Jesus can we all survive what is to come.

And all GLORY belong to GOD alone.

Updated 21 October 2022

A Challenge to ANY Leader

 

1 Corinthians 15:58 

King James Version

58 Therefore, 

my beloved brethren, 

be ye stedfast, 

unmoveable, 

always abounding in the work of the Lord, 

forasmuch as ye know 

that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Are you the richest person on earth?

Are you the smartest?

Are you the most good-looking?

The most popular?

The most educated?

The most philantrophic?

Or, perhaps, that's your goal, and you're on your way there?

I don't care who you are, how much you earn, how much you have, how good you look, or how powerful you are.

I only have one question for you:

Does God rule your heart?

Because if He is, you won't even aspire to be all those.

You'd kneel before God, in submission, and honor the ONLY KING to the THRONE.

You'd wait for His commands.

You'd follow His will.

If you are of the world, reveling in your wealth, beauty, power, and glory, know that the Lord Jesus descended from heaven, in all humility.

Philippians 2:5-8 

King James Version

5 Let this mind be in you, 

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, 

thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, 

and took upon him the form of a servant, 

and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, 

he humbled himself, 

and became obedient unto death, 

even the death of the cross.

There is only ONE rightful Master.

Jesus.

Philippians 2:9-11 

King James Version

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, 

and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 

of things in heaven, 

and things in earth, 

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess 

that Jesus Christ is Lord, 

to the glory of God the Father.

Do you know who you serve, when you are so full of self?

Isaiah 14:12-14 

King James Version

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, 

O Lucifer, 

son of the morning! 

how art thou cut down to the ground, 

which didst weaken the nations!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, 

I will ascend into heaven, 

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: 

I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, 

in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; 

I will be like the most High.

As your fellow human being, I ask you come back to earth now, get your heart right with the Lord, so we can be worthy of meeting Him up in the clouds, before all hell will break loose.

Updated 21 October 2022

God's Blessings

 

In sharp contrast to the previous post, on God's wrath, here's what to expect if you elicit the favor of God because you listen to Him, you observe His commandments, and you show love, and gratitude to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 

King James Version

28 And it shall come to pass, 

if thou shalt hearken 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 thee on high 

above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, 

and overtake thee, 

if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, 

and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, 

and the fruit of thy ground, 

and the fruit of thy cattle, 

the increase of thy kine, 

and the flocks of thy sheep.

5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, 

and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies 

that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: 

they shall come out against thee one way, 

and flee before thee seven ways.

8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee 

in thy storehouses, 

and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; 

and he shall bless thee in the land 

which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

9 The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, 

as he hath sworn unto thee, 

if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, 

and walk in his ways.

10 And all people of the earth shall see 

that thou art called by the name of the Lord; 

and they shall be afraid of thee.

11 And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, 

in the fruit of thy body, 

and in the fruit of thy cattle, 

and in the fruit of thy ground, 

in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, 

the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, 

and to bless all the work of thine hand: 

and thou shalt lend unto many nations, 

and thou shalt not borrow.

13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, 

and not the tail; 

and thou shalt be above only, 

and thou shalt not be beneath; 

if that thou hearken unto the commandments 

of the Lord thy God, 

which I command thee this day, 

to observe and to do them:

14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words 

which I command thee this day, 

to the right hand, 

or to the left, 

to go after other gods to serve them.

Updated 21 October 2022

God's Wrath

 

Have we any idea of what happens when we turn from GOD?

And refuse to obey Him?

These verses tell us much:

Deuteronomy 28:15-68 

King James Version

15 But it shall come to pass, 

if thou wilt not hearken 

unto the voice of the Lord thy God, 

to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes 

which I command thee this day; 

that all these curses shall come upon thee, 

and overtake thee:

16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, 

and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

17 Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.

18 Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, 

and the fruit of thy land, 

the increase of thy kine, 

and the flocks of thy sheep.

19 Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, 

and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.

20 The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, 

vexation, 

and rebuke, 

in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, 

until thou be destroyed, 

and until thou perish quickly; 

because of the wickedness of thy doings, 

whereby thou hast forsaken me.

21 The Lord shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, 

until he have consumed thee from off the land, 

whither thou goest to possess it.

22 The Lord shall smite thee with a consumption, 

and with a fever, 

and with an inflammation, 

and with an extreme burning, 

and with the sword, 

and with blasting, 

and with mildew; 

and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.

23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, 

and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.

24 The Lord shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: 

from heaven shall it come down upon thee, 

until thou be destroyed.

25 The Lord shall cause thee 

to be smitten before thine enemies: 

thou shalt go out one way against them, 

and flee seven ways before them: 

and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

26 And thy carcase shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, 

and unto the beasts of the earth, 

and no man shall fray them away.

27 The Lord will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, 

and with the emerods, 

and with the scab, 

and with the itch, 

whereof thou canst not be healed.

28 The Lord shall smite thee with madness, 

and blindness, 

and astonishment of heart:

29 And thou shalt grope at noonday, 

as the blind gropeth in darkness, 

and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: 

and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, 

and no man shall save thee.

30 Thou shalt betroth a wife, 

and another man shall lie with her: 

thou shalt build an house, 

and thou shalt not dwell therein: 

thou shalt plant a vineyard, 

and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.

31 Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, 

and thou shalt not eat thereof: 

thine ass shall be violently taken away from before thy face, 

and shall not be restored to thee: 

thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, 

and thou shalt have none to rescue them.

32 Thy sons and thy daughters 

shall be given unto another people, 

and thine eyes shall look, 

and fail with longing for them all the day long; 

and there shall be no might in thine hand.

33 The fruit of thy land, 

and all thy labours, 

shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; 

and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

34 So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes 

which thou shalt see.

35 The Lord shall smite thee in the knees, 

and in the legs, 

with a sore botch that cannot be healed, 

from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.

36 The Lord shall bring thee, 

and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, 

unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; 

and there shalt thou serve other gods, 

wood and stone.

37 And thou shalt become an astonishment,

 a proverb, 

and a byword, 

among all nations whither the Lord shall lead thee.

38 Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, 

and shalt gather but little in; 

for the locust shall consume it.

39 Thou shalt plant vineyards, 

and dress them, 

but shalt neither drink of the wine, 

nor gather the grapes; 

for the worms shall eat them.

40 Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, 

but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; 

for thine olive shall cast his fruit.

41 Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, 

but thou shalt not enjoy them; 

for they shall go into captivity.

42 All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.

43 The stranger that is within thee 

shall get up above thee very high; 

and thou shalt come down very low.

44 He shall lend to thee, 

and thou shalt not lend to him: 

he shall be the head, 

and thou shalt be the tail.

45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, 

and shall pursue thee, 

and overtake thee, 

till thou be destroyed; 

because thou hearkenedst not 

unto the voice of the Lord thy God, 

to keep his commandments and his statutes 

which he commanded thee:

46 And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, 

and upon thy seed for ever.

47 Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God 

with joyfulness, 

and with gladness of heart, 

for the abundance of all things;

48 Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies 

which the Lord shall send against thee, 

in hunger, 

and in thirst, 

and in nakedness,

 and in want of all things: 

and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, 

until he have destroyed thee.

49 The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far, 

from the end of the earth, 

as swift as the eagle flieth; 

a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

50 A nation of fierce countenance, 

which shall not regard the person of the old, 

nor shew favour to the young:

51 And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, 

and the fruit of thy land, 

until thou be destroyed: 

which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, 

or the increase of thy kine, 

or flocks of thy sheep, 

until he have destroyed thee.

52 And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates, 

until thy high and fenced walls come down, 

wherein thou trustedst, 

throughout all thy land: 

and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates 

throughout all thy land, 

which the Lord thy God hath given thee.

53 And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, 

the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, 

which the Lord thy God hath given thee, 

in the siege, 

and in the straitness, 

wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:

54 So that the man that is tender among you,

 and very delicate, 

his eye shall be evil toward his brother, 

and toward the wife of his bosom, 

and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave:

55 So that he will not give to any of them 

of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: 

because he hath nothing left him in the siege, 

and in the straitness, 

wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates.

56 The tender and delicate woman among you, 

which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot 

upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, 

her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, 

and toward her son, 

and toward her daughter,

57 And toward her young one 

that cometh out from between her feet, 

and toward her children which she shall bear: 

for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly 

in the siege and straitness, 

wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.

58 If thou wilt not observe 

to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, 

that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, 

The Lord Thy God;

59 Then the Lord will make thy plagues wonderful, 

and the plagues of thy seed, 

even great plagues, 

and of long continuance, 

and sore sicknesses, 

and of long continuance.

60 Moreover he will bring upon thee all the diseases of Egypt, 

which thou wast afraid of; 

and they shall cleave unto thee.

61 Also every sickness, 

and every plague, 

which is not written in the book of this law, 

them will the Lord bring upon thee, 

until thou be destroyed.

62 And ye shall be left few in number, 

whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; 

because thou wouldest not obey 

the voice of the Lord thy God.

63 And it shall come to pass, 

that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good,

 and to multiply you; 

so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, 

and to bring you to nought; 

and ye shall be plucked from off the land 

whither thou goest to possess it.

64 And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, 

from the one end of the earth even unto the other; 

and there thou shalt serve other gods, 

which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, 

even wood and stone.

65 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, 

neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: 

but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, 

and failing of eyes, 

and sorrow of mind:

66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; 

and thou shalt fear day and night, 

and shalt have none assurance of thy life:

67 In the morning thou shalt say, 

Would God it were even! 

and at even thou shalt say, 

Would God it were morning! 

for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, 

and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.

68 And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, 

by the way whereof I spake unto thee, 

Thou shalt see it no more again: 

and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies 

for bondmen and bondwomen, 

and no man shall buy you.

Related material:

WRATH of GOD

Verses from Bible Gateway

Updated  8 July 2024

Only 2 Choices in Life

 

Matthew 6:24 

King James Version

24 No man can serve two masters: 

for either he will hate the one, 

and love the other; 

or else he will hold to the one, 

and despise the other. 

Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Is life really all that complicated?

Are choices really all that complex?

Hasn't it always been just a choice, between God, and the world?

The world made it complex, so you'll get confused.

For the world is wicked.

1 John 5:19 

King James Version

19 And we know that we are of God, 

and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

The god of this world doesn't want us to know the gospel of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:4 

King James Version

4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded 

the minds of them which believe not, 

lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, 

who is the image of God, 

should shine unto them.

Your only hope out of confusion is to seek God.

If your heart is true, God will be there for you.

He has your heart mapped out.

He can tell if you're for Him, or against Him.

Have nothing to do with the antichrist.

1 John 4:3 

King James Version

3 And every spirit that confesseth not 

that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh 

is not of God: 

and this is that spirit of antichrist, 

whereof ye have heard that it should come; 

and even now already is it in the world.

He is the one who denies the Father, and the Son.

1 John 2:22 

King James Version

22 Who is a liar 

but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? 

He is antichrist, 

that denieth the Father and the Son.

And right now, there are many pretenders to God's throne.

Matthew 24:24 

King James Version

24 For there shall arise false Christs, 

and false prophets, 

and shall shew great signs and wonders; 

insomuch that, 

if it were possible, 

they shall deceive the very elect.

He will blaspheme against God.

Daniel 7:25 

King James Version

25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, 

and shall wear out the saints of the most High, 

and think to change times and laws:

 and they shall be given into his hand 

until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Be not deceived, for he will show himself to be as God.

2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 

King James Version

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: 

for that day shall not come, 

except there come a falling away first, 

and that man of sin be revealed, 

the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself 

above all that is called God, 

or that is worshipped; 

so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, 

shewing himself that he is God.

That's why we know the return of Jesus is imminent, and that we are to make a decision now, not later.

1 John 2:18 

King James Version

18 Little children, 

it is the last time: 

and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, 

even now are there many antichrists; 

whereby we know that it is the last time.

Have you chosen God yet?

Pray to Him with all your heart.

Let God send you His Holy Spirit, who will teach you everything about Jesus, and God's truth.

It is also inevitable, you will have to be born again.

Only then can you understand things of the Spirit.

There are no short cuts.

That's the first step to knowing God.

And it's a really beautiful step.

Related material:

JESUS and Satan

Updated 21 October 2022