Introduction: Is leadership an innate ability? Is a person born that way? Or does it require development? If we take examples in the Bible, it appears the GREATEST Leader of all, JESUS CHRIST, developed those He chose, even though Judas FAILED the test. Consider these perspectives:

1. Where have you been in 1st FOLLOWING Jesus? (Matt 4:17)

“8And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.”

These were men who both saw and trusted JESUS to lead them. Are you willing to TRUST Jesus to lead you? You’ve trusted Him to forgive you, haven’t you? Now take it another step and let Him guide you. But how can we do that?

2. Where are you at right now in FOLLOWING Jesus? (Heb 12:5-11)

“5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

Are you willing to be CORRECTED by His WORD? His Spirit? Through others in authority? This is the difficult part because of our independence. But in order to have “SPIRITUAL” influence, we must be willing to be trained and corrected by our Lord.

3. Where are you going in FOLLOWING Jesus? (John 21:21-23)

“21Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 23Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?”

Peter, like us, was more concerned about what was going on with John than FOLLOWING Jesus. This is a GREAT lesson for us. Why? Because we look around and wonder about people instead of FOLLOWING Jesus.

Introduction: Did you realize that God hates lying? Are you honest? Or deceptive? Sneaky? Untruthful?
Solomon writes,

16″These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

The CHARACTER trait of INTEGRITY is valuable to our Lord.

The word “integrity” means being honest and having strong moral principles.

1. Honesty is rewarded! (Prov 20:7)

“7The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”

The word “integrity” here is : תֹּם: (tome), which means completeness, integrity, also part of the high priest’s breastplate.

In a world that operates under the influence of DARKNESS with the Prince of DARKNESS, one must be SPIRIT-FILLED and EMPOWERED to live a life of INTEGRITY.

2. Dishonesty will be Punished! (Rev 21:8)

“8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

God will sift out the right from the wrong one day. It is better to “turn around” today instead of face the consequences of sin tomorrow. Jesus bore our sins on the cross and is willing to forgive us if we put our FAITH & TRUST in Him and not ourselves!

Introduction: Have you ever heard, “the CHRISTian life is not a 50 yard dash, but instead a marathon!” Therefore, as believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we need to ENDURE. What and How can we ENDURE?

1. Endure Hardness! (2Tim 2:1-4)

“3Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

The word “endure” is κακοπαθέω, (κακοπαθής), which means suffer (endure) evils (hardship, troubles), to be afflicted.

Suffering hardships today…glory and rewards tomorrow.

2. Jesus Endured! (Heb 12:1-3)

“2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The word “endure” is ὑπομονή, (hoop-om-on-ay’), which means a remaining behind, a endurance, steadfastness, patient waiting for.

Although Jesus was God, and man, yet He was steadfast in His mission on earth; i.e. to redeem mankind by dying on a cross, and then rising from the grave.

3. James writes about Enduring! (James 1:2,3)

“2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

The word “patience” is endurance. As we endure, our faith is tested and proven to be genuine.
Is your faith in Jesus being tested?

Introduction: Have you said YES to JESUS? His calling in your life is most important. We all feel unworthy! But hey. It is not about our worthiness but instead, it is about His worthiness!! Notice a pattern with those He calls.

1. Gideon! (Judges 6:12-16)

“12And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 13And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 14And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 15And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. 16And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.”

Like some of us, Gideon wanted a SIGN from God, which our Lord demonstrated with the fleece and fire. However, please notice that today we have the Holy Spirit and the holy Scriptures whereas Gideon did not in the same sense. Needless to say, God used Gideon in a MIGHTY way! And He will use us as well, if we SURRENDER to His will.

2. Isaiah! (Isa 6:1-8)

“…..8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

After seeing the glory of the Lord and confessing his inadequacies, Isaiah surrenders to God’s call. Will we?

3. Paul! (Acts 9:3-9)

” 3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. 7And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. 8And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.”

After persecuting CHRISTians, including Stephen, Paul finally surrendered to Jesus Christ by answering His call.

Are we running from God’s calling?

4. You & me! (1Cor 1:26-31)

“26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence….”

Paul writes under the inspiration of Scripture to the believers at Corinth to remind them of the Lord’s calling.

It is ALL about HIM!
It is all about HIS GLORY!!

Introduction: Are you enjoying the journey? You ask…but “how can I with all the stress of life?” This devotion will help you get reconnected to “Enjoying the journey with JESUS”!

1. Be sure your sins are confessed up to date!

“9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9)

Notice the word “IF.” Our Lord gives us a choice. But He knows what is best. So in order to be in FELLOWSHIP with Him, we must admit when we sin and then allow Him to put it under His cleansing blood (1John 1:7). Have you confessed your sins lately?

2. Be sure you are taking time daily to wait upon the Lord!

“31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isa 40:31)

Praise the Lord for His STRENGTH! We need it!! Amen & amen. So take time to wait.

3. Be sure you are not allowing WORRY pull you down! (1Pet 5:7)

Care will overwhelm you and zap you of your joy. Unless, you constantly throw your worries and concerns on Him. By the way, He can carry a heavy load!

4. Be sure you are making use of your life by fulfilling your purpose by serving the Lord!

“10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:10)

We are saved by GRACE alone, through FAITH alone, for the purpose of producing GOOD WORKS. However, He is the Vine and we are the branches. As we abide in Him (John 15:1-7), His Word and power abides in us.

5. Be sure you are staying dressed for battle!

“10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places…” (Eph 6:10-18)

Staying clothed with the whole armor of God is an absolute must. That means daily.

6. Be sure you are admiring God’s creation!

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.” (Psa 19:1,2)

“When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained,” (Psa 8:3)

The beauty of God’s creation is a spectacle of amazement. Gen 1:1 declares it all.

“1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

Imagine how beautiful heaven is going to be!

7. Be sure you are evaluating your life as we stand before Jesus at the “bema”!

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2Cor 5:10)

It’s coming, maybe sooner than we expect. Are you ready?

Introduction: How you would like to be baptized with FIRE and POWER! Jesus said when the Holy Spirit would come that He would baptize believers with Fire and Power. Check it out:

1. John predicted it!

“6John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: 17Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.” (Luke 3:16-17)

John who baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River spoke of a futuristic event about the coming of the Holy Spirit. It was fulfilled.

2. Jesus prophesied that the Holy Ghost would come!

“16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14,15,16)

“26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”

“But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

After Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, He ascended into heaven, but 10 days later sent His Holy Spirit.

3. Luke proclaimed it!

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4)

After the Holy Ghost was poured out upon those early disciples of Jesus, there was a supernatural miracle performed as they spoke in a different dialect which was understandable by those pilgrims from foreign countries who were celebrating the Passover feast in Jerusalem. Power from the Holy Ghost descended as Jesus promised and John predicted.

4. CHRISTIANS can profit from it!

“8And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” (Eph 5:18)

Interesting that this passage is in the context of the biblical role of husbands and wives. Are you Spirit-filled?

Introduction: Have you been baptized? Did you understand it? Do you know the meaning of baptism? Is it “Deeper than Water? Let’s see.

1. Water Baptism is an “Outward Demonstration” of an “Inward Revelation”!

“……3Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” (Rom 6:1-5)

What a biblical truth our Lord wants us to know! He has done it in Jesus! He is not asking for our opinion. He is telling us a heavenly FACT. But it must be appropriated by FAITH. Then comes the FRUIT.

2. Water Baptism is an “Outward Demonstration” of an Inward Appropriation”!

“6Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:6-11)

This FACT of being co-crucified with Christ now leads to co resurrected with Jesus. However, the door is unlocked only by FAITH. The result of that is FRUIT!

3. Water Baptism is an “Outward Demonstration” of an “Inward Manifestation”

“2Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.” (Rom 6:12-13)

Great FRUIT bursts forth because of FAITH in the FACT. All of this process is experienced in baptism.

Introduction: Jeremiah was a prophet. He prophesied after the Assyrian invasion and just prior to the Babylonian invasion. His message was a warning to the southern kingdom of Judah that God’s judgment was inevitable. It came to pass. Much can be gleaned from the study of this inspired book. A quick overview is the following:

1. Jeremiah’s calling!

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jer 1:5)

God is in control! He has a plan for our life! We can trust Him. Are you?

2. Jeremiah’s condition!

“1Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
2And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.” (Jer 5:1,2; 6, 7)

Much like today in our day, the nation of Judah was religious but becoming more and more corrupt. Jeremiah pronounces God’s judgment. Do you wonder about America?

3. Jeremiah’s confinement!

“2Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.” (Jer 20:2)

What about that? Getting persecuted for standing for truth! What would you have done? Doesn’t seem fair. But neither does God sending His Son, Jesus Christ to be crucified on a cross for my sins! Now I’m free and forgiven because of His sacrifice.

4. Jeremiah’s commitment!

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jer 29:11-13;32; 33)

There was HOPE for Judah! Jeremiah brings good news because God intended a hopeful future for His people. Jeremiah buys some land to prove that God would bring them back to their home land. Are we living in the HOPE that Jesus will make the wrong right one day? He will come again and overthrow Satan and his demonic forces.

5. Jeremiah’s conclusion!

“4In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.” (Jer 50:4; 51, 52)

While the nation of Babylon will meet her demise, the nation of Israel was restored. God has a plan for Israel and for the Church. After the rapture of the Church, Jesus will set up His kingdom and fulfill His covenants will Israel.

Introduction: Who do you think is the greatest leader? No doubt, Jesus Christ was the greatest leader that ever lived. Though He was God in the flesh, He was obedient to His Father’s will. And though He was God, He was led by the Spirit. In fact, both Matthew and Paul wrote concerning His life. (Heb 5:8; Matt 4:1,2)

“8Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.”

“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.”

But how did Jesus demonstrate leadership (influence)?

1. He Prayed!

“And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” (Matt 14:22,23)

Without prayer, there will be no good fruit.

2. He read the Scriptures!
(Luke 4:18-20)

“18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.”

Reading the Bible will make one wise.

3. He mentored His disciples!

“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart…” (Matt 17:28)

Deliberate discipleship works.

4. He taught them what was to Come in the future!

“3And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you…” (Matt 24:3,4f)

There’s Hope for the future!

5. He promised to come back again!

“1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

Are you ready?

Introduction: Are you looking forward to going to heaven? Just think, in heaven there is not going to be any more troubles! Why should every CHRISTIAN long for heaven? Check out a few reasons:

1. No more Death! (Rev 21:4)

“4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Death has been defeated by Jesus Christ (Rev 1:18). His resurrection assures every CHRISTIAN of life after this life.

2. No more Sorrow! (Rev 21:4)

“4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

All tears will be wiped away. No more crying.But eternal happiness will prevail.

3. No more Pain! (Rev 21:4)

“4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

From birth to death, pain is common to all. But in that day, pain will be gone.

4. No more Sickness! (Rev 21:4)

“4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Can you imagine not having any stomachaches, or headaches, or other sicknesses. Wow!

5. No more Sin! (Rev 21:4)

“4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

The deadly virus of sin will be eradicated….gone.

6. No more Taxes! (Rev 21:4)

“4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

No light bills, phone bills or taxes owed in heaven!

7. No more Fear! (Rev 21:4)

“4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

Faith replaces fear.