DeanSweetman.com » Bible Leadership http://deansweetman.com Sermons, Podcasts and Teachings to Live Your Best Life Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:55:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Dean Sweetman is Sr Pastor of the C3 Church with a campus in Lawrenceville, Georgia. He also serves as Executive Regional Overseer for C3 Americas. The Sweetmans moved to the USA in 1996 for the sole purpose of planting the Lawrenceville church. C3 Church currently serves the Atlanta community in a unique way through itís technology and charity work. Last year, Dean and Jill planted the C3 Church in Studio City, California. As Sr Pastors of both churches, they split their time between Atlanta and Studio City and have homes in both cities. Dean is a sought-after speaker in both church and business settings and an emerging author. His passionate and uncompromising preaching will inspire the most on-fire believer as challenge those who lack the fervor required to serve God. C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA webmaster@christiancitychurch.com webmaster@christiancitychurch.com (C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA) C3 Atlanta Online with Dean Sweetman DeanSweetman.com » Bible Leadership http://audio.thec3church.com/podcasticon.jpg http://deansweetman.com/category/bible-leadership/ The First Family http://deansweetman.com/2011/12/11/the-first-family-2/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/12/11/the-first-family-2/#comments Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:31:40 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=620 When we think of Bible heroes, names like Moses, David, Samson, and Daniel come to mind. Joseph of Nazareth – husband to Mary and earthly father of Jesus – is generally not on the list. But on closer inspection, this quiet man is due more notice and respect than he is given. His heart is very much like God’s and provides a powerful role model for all of us today.

Joseph and Mary were betrothed in the Hebrew tradition. This is rather difficult for us to understand for it was not just a joining of two people in marriage but a merging of families, fortunes, and futures. A betrothal period could last up to seven years. During that time the expectations of both families looked and worked toward the union in a way foreign to us today. In addition, the entire community knew of and anticipated the union.

The Spirit and will of God interrupt this proceeding with the purpose of changing mankind’s destiny. From a heavenly perspective, it made perfect sense. From an earthly perspective, it made no sense. Fortunately, Joseph was not a man given to emotional reaction. Here we find his first quality of merit. Matthew 1: 19 tells us that Joseph “considered these things.” He didn’t react in a reality TV/Jerry Springer kind of way. He thought carefully and took the issue before God. He opened the door of his heart to hear what God had to say about the matter before he made any decision. Though his personal reputation was on the line, his first consideration was finding out what was the right thing to do.

A second quality to notice is that Joseph chose not to seek retribution, but to cover Mary and “break the engagement quietly.” (vs 18) If Mary’s pregnancy were to be discovered she would, at the least, be exiled or, at worst, stoned to death. Imagine Jesus’ life being ended before He had a chance to be born. But Joseph chose grace. He chose to cover her rather than expose her. In this day of “investigative reporting” when no secret is safe, and when many delight in the downfall of others, we could learn a great deal from this type of grace. Joseph took Mary as his wife but did not sleep with her as his wife until Jesus was born. Pretty amazing, right? Imagine walking in that kind of obedience.

Most importantly, Joseph’s willingness to set his own feelings and opinions aside and be open to God brought the will of God to pass. God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream to confirm the truth of the story Mary had told him. Joseph protected them and provided for them as Jesus grew. Once the story of Jesus’ birth, the flight to Egypt, and the return to Nazareth is done, we don’t hear any more about Joseph. He fades into the background. But without his obedience, the story would never have taken place. Imagine the multitude of lives that have been changed because Joseph chose to consider God in his actions. How many of us are living our best life because of his choice and how many others might find their best life if we choose to live by his example?

Verses Used:
*Matthew 1:18-24

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/12/11/the-first-family-2/feed/ 0 When we think of Bible heroes, names like Moses, David, Samson, and Daniel come to mind. Joseph of Nazareth – husband to Mary and earthly father of Jesus - is generally not on the list. But on closer inspection, When we think of Bible heroes, names like Moses, David, Samson, and Daniel come to mind. Joseph of Nazareth – husband to Mary and earthly father of Jesus - is generally not on the list. But on closer inspection, this quiet man is due more notice and respect than he is given. His heart is very much like God’s and provides a powerful role model for all of us today. Joseph and Mary were betrothed in the Hebrew tradition. This is rather difficult for us to understand for it was not just a joining of two people in marriage but a merging of families, fortunes, and futures. A betrothal period could last up to seven years. During that time the expectations of both families looked and worked toward the union in a way foreign to us today. In addition, the entire community knew of and anticipated the union. The Spirit and will of God interrupt this proceeding with the purpose of changing mankind’s destiny. From a heavenly perspective, it made perfect sense. From an earthly perspective, it made no sense. Fortunately, Joseph was not a man given to emotional reaction. Here we find his first quality of merit. Matthew 1: 19 tells us that Joseph “considered these things.” He didn’t react in a reality TV/Jerry Springer kind of way. He thought carefully and took the issue before God. He opened the door of his heart to hear what God had to say about the matter before he made any decision. Though his personal reputation was on the line, his first consideration was finding out what was the right thing to do. A second quality to notice is that Joseph chose not to seek retribution, but to cover Mary and “break the engagement quietly.” (vs 18) If Mary’s pregnancy were to be discovered she would, at the least, be exiled or, at worst, stoned to death. Imagine Jesus’ life being ended before He had a chance to be born. But Joseph chose grace. He chose to cover her rather than expose her. In this day of “investigative reporting” when no secret is safe, and when many delight in the downfall of others, we could learn a great deal from this type of grace. Joseph took Mary as his wife but did not sleep with her as his wife until Jesus was born. Pretty amazing, right? Imagine walking in that kind of obedience. Most importantly, Joseph’s willingness to set his own feelings and opinions aside and be open to God brought the will of God to pass. God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream to confirm the truth of the story Mary had told him. Joseph protected them and provided for them as Jesus grew. Once the story of Jesus’ birth, the flight to Egypt, and the return to Nazareth is done, we don’t hear any more about Joseph. He fades into the background. But without his obedience, the story would never have taken place. Imagine the multitude of lives that have been changed because Joseph chose to consider God in his actions. How many of us are living our best life because of his choice and how many others might find their best life if we choose to live by his example? Verses Used: *Matthew 1:18-24 C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 26:33 The Four Rivers – The River of Anointing part 2 http://deansweetman.com/2011/10/02/the-four-rivers-%e2%80%93-the-river-of-anointing-part-2/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/10/02/the-four-rivers-%e2%80%93-the-river-of-anointing-part-2/#comments Sun, 02 Oct 2011 19:01:35 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=568 The concept of the Rivers and the Garden continues to unfold the further we go into this series. The garden of the heart is filled with seeds that grow and produce fruit, providing even more seed. But what do we do with this new seed? Do we store it in barns, afraid that we won’t have enough seed in the future? Or do we give the seed to God and let Him scatter it? God can do more with the little seed that we have then we could ever hope to dream of if we keep it stored away. God has promised time and again that whatever we give to Him, He will give back to us. And He has also shown that whatever we hold in our hands, refusing to let go for fear of loss, will be lost through the decay of time and death. No man on his death bed is happy that he clung to all his riches. No, he wishes more than anything that he had done something with that which he had obtained.

The River Gihon, as stated last week, is the River of the Anointing. It means “to burst forth.” When something bursts up, it flows out. God began with the River Pishon (increase) and the moved on to Gihon (anointing or flow). You first receive increase and then you let it go somewhere. There is no use having seed if it is not going to go anywhere. You can have it all–fame, fortune, the praise and accord of others–but it means nothing without the anointing that flows out into the world.

John 9 tells the tale of Jesus healing a blind man by placing mud on his eyes and telling him to “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam.” Siloam means “sent.” Siloam is also the spring of the River Gihon. Jesus sent the blind man on a mission to receive his healing. The blind man had to grope about, asking for help to find the spring of the sent. And it was there that he was healed. Gihon and Siloam are the River of the sent: those who are sent out on missions; those who are a part of other people’s miracles. Do you want to be a apart of someone’s miracle? Then GO! You don’t have to (and we strongly advise against this) put mud in people’s eyes. But speak well of them. Tell those in authority that their employees are the best! Help with your words and actions! And through that, people will receive their miracle.

Verses Used:
*Genesis 2: 13
*John 9:6 & 7
*I Kings 1: 32-35

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/10/02/the-four-rivers-%e2%80%93-the-river-of-anointing-part-2/feed/ 0 The concept of the Rivers and the Garden continues to unfold the further we go into this series. The garden of the heart is filled with seeds that grow and produce fruit, providing even more seed. But what do we do with this new seed? The concept of the Rivers and the Garden continues to unfold the further we go into this series. The garden of the heart is filled with seeds that grow and produce fruit, providing even more seed. But what do we do with this new seed? Do we store it in barns, afraid that we won't have enough seed in the future? Or do we give the seed to God and let Him scatter it? God can do more with the little seed that we have then we could ever hope to dream of if we keep it stored away. God has promised time and again that whatever we give to Him, He will give back to us. And He has also shown that whatever we hold in our hands, refusing to let go for fear of loss, will be lost through the decay of time and death. No man on his death bed is happy that he clung to all his riches. No, he wishes more than anything that he had done something with that which he had obtained. The River Gihon, as stated last week, is the River of the Anointing. It means "to burst forth." When something bursts up, it flows out. God began with the River Pishon (increase) and the moved on to Gihon (anointing or flow). You first receive increase and then you let it go somewhere. There is no use having seed if it is not going to go anywhere. You can have it all--fame, fortune, the praise and accord of others--but it means nothing without the anointing that flows out into the world. John 9 tells the tale of Jesus healing a blind man by placing mud on his eyes and telling him to “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam.” Siloam means "sent." Siloam is also the spring of the River Gihon. Jesus sent the blind man on a mission to receive his healing. The blind man had to grope about, asking for help to find the spring of the sent. And it was there that he was healed. Gihon and Siloam are the River of the sent: those who are sent out on missions; those who are a part of other people's miracles. Do you want to be a apart of someone's miracle? Then GO! You don't have to (and we strongly advise against this) put mud in people's eyes. But speak well of them. Tell those in authority that their employees are the best! Help with your words and actions! And through that, people will receive their miracle. Verses Used: *Genesis 2: 13 *John 9:6 & 7 *I Kings 1: 32-35 C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 29:21 The Holy Spirit http://deansweetman.com/2011/07/01/the-holy-spirit/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/07/01/the-holy-spirit/#comments Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:06:24 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=482 There are 59 scriptures featuring the Holy Spirit in Acts. Acts chapter 4 tells of believers being filled with the Holy Spirit and how the believers then grew in numbers. In Acts chapter 8, the Holy Spirit empowers different members of the gathering. When God gets into everyday people, miracles happen. The Holy Spirit is how God accomplishes these miracles.

Up until this time in Acts, Peter and John had only been water baptised. Water baptism is only one step in the process. The second and continual experience is being filled with the Holy Spirit. Everytime the leaders got together, they were again filled with the Holy Spirit. After they were filled, they then laid hands on others for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Believers in Jerusalem were growing in number and meeting daily until the believers scattered due to increasing persecution–culminating in the stoning of Stephen.

Philip, a deacon in the church, went to Samaria, and there, he began preaching about Jesus. A revival started as a result! Soon, John and Peter came to see all that God was doing and to help. Now, some people today claim that miracles could only be from apostles, but here was Philip, a deacon, performing miracles! He started as a servant, giving food to the widows, until God promoted him. Peter and John served as overseers over the movement, including Samaria. Philip could have gone back with Peter and John to Jerusalem, but God lead him to the desert. God is into accountability. There is freedom in oversight; Peter and John told him to follow God’s leading. God wants to release people within boundaries and structure. It is how the church works.

Philip does not flinch at God’s leading. He sees a caravan in desert as he is walking. The second in command in Ethiopia was a Proselyte Jew returning from pilgrimage to Jerusalem. By now, Jerusalem was in turmoil, the 25 thousand believers meeting daily only to suddenly stop following the stoning of Stephen. The Ethiopian man came there during that time. The man did not know anything about Jesus. He did not know the “people of the way.” The Holy Spirit told Philip to go up and talk to him. He invites Philip into the chariot. The man was reading Isaiah, and Philip shows Jesus to him in the scriptures. The Ethiopian asks to be water baptized. There are Ethiopians today who can trace there lineage and faith back to this scene, all because of Philip heeding the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit told Philip to do things he did not know how to do. We are a church of the Holy Spirit. When we heed the Holy Spirit, we never know what God will do through it.

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/07/01/the-holy-spirit/feed/ 0 Authority in Christ http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/17/authority-in-christ/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/17/authority-in-christ/#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 17:08:08 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=470 Some people interpret the Bible literally. I believe in taking the Word of God and interpreting it in the context of our society. I am a contextualist rather than a literalist. This simply means taking the Bible and making it apply in the context of our lives. The important thing is to live the meaning of the scriptures, to apply the teaching. We need to think about what God says and live out our faith. Apply the principles of the Bible to our lives.

We have been exploring the topic of who we are in Christ. We have authority in Christ. We have authority to do greater works in Jesus than He himself did. We have authority to cast out demons and heal the sick. We have authority to speak God’s word into existence. We have authority to teach all the nations.

Authority is powerful. It is something given to you – given from a source over or above you. When you are at work, your boss gives authority; he gives you access. When you start operating in that authority, you become so integral to the work, that you end up having more power over that process than the boss who gave you that authority. Jesus said to his disciples, “I’m leaving, but I am leaving you the Holy Spirit.” God has given us access to His power. He has given it, or delegated it to us. We need to step into that position and move within that power. He had all authority and He gave it to us. He said we could do greater things then He did, IF we live and walk in that authority.

Matthew 18:18-20: “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” We have been given the authority to open and close things, to bind or loose them, and to unlock or shut them in the context of prayer. We use this authority for when a breakthrough is needed. We are loosing the will of God on earth. The Kingdom of God is bigger than us. God’s will is bigger and more powerful then the world’s will. Jesus was talking about prayer and faith, about standing on the Word of God in authority. It can change the course of human life. Words are powerful. In authority, words can change the course of human life; they become potent. It is like having a nuclear device in the world of the Spirit.

Mark 16: 17: And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues. These miraculous signs will follow those who believe: healing and casting out demons. You have the POWER of the Holy Spirit in you! Don’t live in first gear when you have a V8 engine inside! In authority, we can bridge the natural and supernatural! Jesus spent so much time in prayer, He knew the heart of the Father. All the perfection of heaven can heal the broken. In those times that you need to stir the faith and soul again, go back to a time in your life when the will of heaven and the will of earth collided, and in God – everything aligned. See that time, visualize it, and find the confidence and authority in Christ.

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/17/authority-in-christ/feed/ 2 Christ in YOU http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/01/christ-in-you/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/01/christ-in-you/#comments Sun, 01 May 2011 16:53:54 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=461 Romans 5:1&2 - “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”

Last week, when I asked you to pray for one another, I saw some of you get right up & pray, knowing that you were able to lay hands on those around you and expect healing to occur. I saw that it was hard for others, and some of you folded your arms & looked at me like, “I am not qualified to do that!” We need to realize who we are and what we have as believers, to focus on the power that each of us can tap into through Christ. The pastor of any church is not better, more spiritual, nor worse than any of his congregation. We are all ministers of God’s power in our world. There are many days when Jill & I do not feel qualified to do all the things that God has us doing – Pastor Phil Pringle prays starting at 5:30 every morning. I can’t do that! I need coffee to get going, and then I do what the Lord has asked me to do for that day. Each of us, according to the verse in Romans, have been made right in God’s sight by faith; we have peace with God because of Jesus’ death, as we talked about on Easter. Read the 2nd verse – we can confidently & joyfully share the power of God that has changed us with those in the marketplace. We are all righteous enough to lay hands on others, we are all filled with the same Holy Spirit. We transfer whatever is in us to others. Nothing imperfect can come into God’s presence. That’s why when we’ve been forgiven of our sins! We are all “made right in God’s sight by faith” as it says in verse 1 above.

Take the opportunities God gives when He gives them – it is easier than we think! God WANTS to use us, His people! Let the Holy Spirit stir you to enact your faith – don’t freak out! Laying on of hands is a point of contact and a transfer happens when we decide we can allow God to use us as conduits of His power. There is often self-doubt when God is starting this process in us. We never feel good enough, we know our own sins & lack of spirituality – but it’s not about US, it’s about GOD in us! Don’t disqualify yourselves or others for Christian/spiritual service. The Apostle Paul said, “My confidence isn’t in me, it’s in Christ & the anointing on my life.” Read about Paul’s early years before he got saved – he was not the best guy around!

Lead out of anointing and faith in God, not out of gifts we’ve been given. God gets on our heart, not our natural gifts; He enhances & anoints anything we offer back to Him, confident that He will use it through us. When we are called upon to do something outside our natural ability, we have faith that God will come through. Build on the basics and we come into a “zone of favor” that we couldn’t do on our own. God opens doors for us, no matter how bad we used to be, no matter what we have done. None of us is worse than anyone else because Jesus is the Great Equalizer, and in God’s eyes, we are all cleaned up & ready for new life when we accept Christ into our hearts and begin to live with simple faith, simple confidence. Ephesians 2:6 – “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” When we allow faith to lead us and believe that God is in us, we have that confidence to simply obey when the moment arises for us to act when God prompts us to reach out to someone. We were dead until we met Jesus, now life & resurrection impregnate us! The next time you are called upon to lay hands on someone, remember who you are and what you have – you CAN pray for those in your world! God is working through all of us, what a change that will make in the marketplace!

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/05/01/christ-in-you/feed/ 0 Romans 5:1&2 - "Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where... Romans 5:1&2 - "Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory." Last week, when I asked you to pray for one another, I saw some of you get right up & pray, knowing that you were able to lay hands on those around you and expect healing to occur. I saw that it was hard for others, and some of you folded your arms & looked at me like, "I am not qualified to do that!" We need to realize who we are and what we have as believers, to focus on the power that each of us can tap into through Christ. The pastor of any church is not better, more spiritual, nor worse than any of his congregation. We are all ministers of God's power in our world. There are many days when Jill & I do not feel qualified to do all the things that God has us doing - Pastor Phil Pringle prays starting at 5:30 every morning. I can't do that! I need coffee to get going, and then I do what the Lord has asked me to do for that day. Each of us, according to the verse in Romans, have been made right in God's sight by faith; we have peace with God because of Jesus' death, as we talked about on Easter. Read the 2nd verse - we can confidently & joyfully share the power of God that has changed us with those in the marketplace. We are all righteous enough to lay hands on others, we are all filled with the same Holy Spirit. We transfer whatever is in us to others. Nothing imperfect can come into God's presence. That's why when we've been forgiven of our sins! We are all "made right in God's sight by faith" as it says in verse 1 above. Take the opportunities God gives when He gives them - it is easier than we think! God WANTS to use us, His people! Let the Holy Spirit stir you to enact your faith - don't freak out! Laying on of hands is a point of contact and a transfer happens when we decide we can allow God to use us as conduits of His power. There is often self-doubt when God is starting this process in us. We never feel good enough, we know our own sins & lack of spirituality - but it's not about US, it's about GOD in us! Don't disqualify yourselves or others for Christian/spiritual service. The Apostle Paul said, "My confidence isn't in me, it's in Christ & the anointing on my life." Read about Paul's early years before he got saved - he was not the best guy around! Lead out of anointing and faith in God, not out of gifts we've been given. God gets on our heart, not our natural gifts; He enhances & anoints anything we offer back to Him, confident that He will use it through us. When we are called upon to do something outside our natural ability, we have faith that God will come through. Build on the basics and we come into a "zone of favor" that we couldn't do on our own. God opens doors for us, no matter how bad we used to be, no matter what we have done. None of us is worse than anyone else because Jesus is the Great Equalizer, and in God's eyes, we are all cleaned up & ready for new life when we accept Christ into our hearts and begin to live with simple faith, simple confidence. Ephesians 2:6 - "For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus." When we allow faith to lead us and believe that God is in us, we have that confidence to simply obey when the moment arises for us to act when God prompts us to reach out to someone. We were dead until we met Jesus, now life & resurrection impregnate us! The next time you are called upon to lay hands on someone, remember who you are and what you have - you CAN pray for those in your world! God is working through all of us, what a change that will make in the marketplace! C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 50:36 First Fruits http://deansweetman.com/2011/02/23/first-fruits/ http://deansweetman.com/2011/02/23/first-fruits/#comments Wed, 23 Feb 2011 01:55:33 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=410 Leviticus 23:9-11 (NLT): Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. When you enter the land I am giving you and you harvest its first crops, bring the priest a bundle of grain from the first cutting of your grain harvest. On the day after the Sabbath, the priest will lift it up before the Lord so it may be accepted on your behalf. On that same day you must sacrifice a one-year-old male lamb with no defects as a burnt offering to the Lord.

The First Fruits, though mentioned seven times in the New Testament, is an Old Testament concept. Before we move forward into this essential truth, we must understand that the Old Testament, the Old Covenant, or the Law is still important to us of the New Covenant. Why? Because, though the Law presents itself as a long list of rules, it is, in reality, God establishing truth. Yes, the Law without its fulfillment (JESUS!) is a curse (as Paul says) upon life, making things so very hard. But, after Jesus came and fulfilled the law with His death and resurrection, we became free to look at the Law as God’s truths, and it is from this platform that we proceed into the First Fruits.

The First Fruits came out of a festival where the Hebrews would bring their first cut of grain and a one year old male lamb to be sacrificed before God. The offerings were presented to the Priests (thank God we no long need a priest to mediate for us; we have Jesus, the High Priest) on the day after the Sabbath. The priests would prepare the sacrifices and place them on the burning alter. God would smell the smoke and accept the offerings. Very simple. So, how does that apply to us now? Seeing as this is Atlanta, there is an obvious lack of sheep. And, as stated before, we live in the New Covenant where Jesus fulfilled the Law, so…do we need lambs?

No. But the principle is still the same. You see, the First Fruits is not about giving God a lamb-burger. It is about remembering what God has done for us. If you believe as I do, you know that Jesus died on a Friday; was in the grave through Saturday (the Sabbath); and rose again on Sunday (the day after Sabbath). Think that over for a minute. Jesus was presented as the perfect replacement on the day after Sabbath! Jesus is God’s First Fruit. When Jesus was crucified before a blood thirsty crowd whose only goal was to silence Him forever, His blood became the First Fruit–the Fulfillment of the Law. God wanted Jesus’ blood more than the crowds screaming “Crucify Him!” He wanted it so much because He knew that when the blood and water hit the ground that it was a seed being planted. And that when Jesus rose again on the third day, He became the fulfillment of First Fruits Law, and from that moment on, the Harvesting of the NATIONS would begin!

You see, in this, the New Covenant, the First Fruits is about PEOPLE. All throughout His ministry, Jesus used the image of grain and wheat to represent people. (“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”) The New Covenant First Fruit Sacrifice is all about People (wheat/grain), Jesus (the lamb), and the holy Spirit (the wine–wine was also part of the sacrifice). So, when you give in the First Fruits Offering, you are giving to the empowerment of the House to reap the harvest. You are giving to the changing of people’s lives. It is always about the people.

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2011/02/23/first-fruits/feed/ 0 Leviticus 23:9-11 (NLT): Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. When you enter the land I am giving you and you harvest its first crops, bring the priest a bundle of grain from the first cutting of your... Leviticus 23:9-11 (NLT): Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. When you enter the land I am giving you and you harvest its first crops, bring the priest a bundle of grain from the first cutting of your grain harvest. On the day after the Sabbath, the priest will lift it up before the Lord so it may be accepted on your behalf. On that same day you must sacrifice a one-year-old male lamb with no defects as a burnt offering to the Lord. The First Fruits, though mentioned seven times in the New Testament, is an Old Testament concept. Before we move forward into this essential truth, we must understand that the Old Testament, the Old Covenant, or the Law is still important to us of the New Covenant. Why? Because, though the Law presents itself as a long list of rules, it is, in reality, God establishing truth. Yes, the Law without its fulfillment (JESUS!) is a curse (as Paul says) upon life, making things so very hard. But, after Jesus came and fulfilled the law with His death and resurrection, we became free to look at the Law as God's truths, and it is from this platform that we proceed into the First Fruits. The First Fruits came out of a festival where the Hebrews would bring their first cut of grain and a one year old male lamb to be sacrificed before God. The offerings were presented to the Priests (thank God we no long need a priest to mediate for us; we have Jesus, the High Priest) on the day after the Sabbath. The priests would prepare the sacrifices and place them on the burning alter. God would smell the smoke and accept the offerings. Very simple. So, how does that apply to us now? Seeing as this is Atlanta, there is an obvious lack of sheep. And, as stated before, we live in the New Covenant where Jesus fulfilled the Law, so...do we need lambs? No. But the principle is still the same. You see, the First Fruits is not about giving God a lamb-burger. It is about remembering what God has done for us. If you believe as I do, you know that Jesus died on a Friday; was in the grave through Saturday (the Sabbath); and rose again on Sunday (the day after Sabbath). Think that over for a minute. Jesus was presented as the perfect replacement on the day after Sabbath! Jesus is God's First Fruit. When Jesus was crucified before a blood thirsty crowd whose only goal was to silence Him forever, His blood became the First Fruit--the Fulfillment of the Law. God wanted Jesus' blood more than the crowds screaming "Crucify Him!" He wanted it so much because He knew that when the blood and water hit the ground that it was a seed being planted. And that when Jesus rose again on the third day, He became the fulfillment of First Fruits Law, and from that moment on, the Harvesting of the NATIONS would begin! You see, in this, the New Covenant, the First Fruits is about PEOPLE. All throughout His ministry, Jesus used the image of grain and wheat to represent people. (“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.") The New Covenant First Fruit Sacrifice is all about People (wheat/grain), Jesus (the lamb), and the holy Spirit (the wine--wine was also part of the sacrifice). So, when you give in the First Fruits Offering, you are giving to the empowerment of the House to reap the harvest. You are giving to the changing of people's lives. It is always about the people. C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 22:24 Going to the Other Side http://deansweetman.com/2010/08/31/going-to-the-other-side/ http://deansweetman.com/2010/08/31/going-to-the-other-side/#comments Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:46:42 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=314 Mark 4:35-42: That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

All new things are exciting- when you first invite Jesus into your boat, your life is fun. You go to places that you’ve never been before, but before you know it, the storm comes. As you launch into that idea, life gets rocky, and it gets tough. It seems as though Jesus is gone from your life, when really, he is just sleeping. He has been in your boat since the day you invited him in, and he will never leave it.

So why is Jesus sleeping in the boat when your world seems to be caving in, nothing is going right, and life might just end soon? Because he trusts you. At least four of the disciples were trained, skilled professionals at boating. Jesus was sleeping then because he knew that the disciples could handle it- even if they thought that they couldn’t. God likes to let you steer your boat through the storm. That’s just how much he trusts you to do what you know to do- he is sleeping! Trust God that he will do what he said he would do, when he said he would do it.

One more thing: Jesus deals with your storm when you can’t, but then he deals with you. He calmed the storm, but then straightaway, he asked the disciples why they were scared. He was in the boat with them; they must have known that they would have been safe even if the storm had crashed their boat. So why are you scared? What is keeping you from doing what you know to do? He trusts you, so do it!

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2010/08/31/going-to-the-other-side/feed/ 3 Mark 4:35-42: That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, Mark 4:35-42: That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” All new things are exciting- when you first invite Jesus into your boat, your life is fun. You go to places that you’ve never been before, but before you know it, the storm comes. As you launch into that idea, life gets rocky, and it gets tough. It seems as though Jesus is gone from your life, when really, he is just sleeping. He has been in your boat since the day you invited him in, and he will never leave it. So why is Jesus sleeping in the boat when your world seems to be caving in, nothing is going right, and life might just end soon? Because he trusts you. At least four of the disciples were trained, skilled professionals at boating. Jesus was sleeping then because he knew that the disciples could handle it- even if they thought that they couldn’t. God likes to let you steer your boat through the storm. That’s just how much he trusts you to do what you know to do- he is sleeping! Trust God that he will do what he said he would do, when he said he would do it. One more thing: Jesus deals with your storm when you can’t, but then he deals with you. He calmed the storm, but then straightaway, he asked the disciples why they were scared. He was in the boat with them; they must have known that they would have been safe even if the storm had crashed their boat. So why are you scared? What is keeping you from doing what you know to do? He trusts you, so do it! C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 28:47 Imitate Me http://deansweetman.com/2010/06/20/imitate-me/ http://deansweetman.com/2010/06/20/imitate-me/#comments Sun, 20 Jun 2010 16:42:28 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=281 1 Corinthians 4:14-17: “I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.”

Today is Father’s Day, but I would like to call it “Fathering Day”. Do you know why? Just because you have children, it does not make you a father. Get your children to tell you how you did in the parenting field. It might not have gone how you thought it did. Your children have a completely different view on things.
The biggest thing in parenting is discipline. Don’t be too strict, but do not be too lax, either. There is a balance between the two. Discipline realistically. You should let your children make decisions for themselves, but teach them what they should do, first, and warn them about what is out there and what could happen should they get themselves stuck in it.

Throughout all of Paul’s letters, he tells the churches to be like Christ, however, in verses sixteen and seventeen, he tells the Corinthian church that he is their spiritual father, and that they should imitate him. He brings correction into the here and now, telling them to do as he does, not as Christ did in the past. The Bible doesn’t do the hard stuff for us; we do it. We show our children how to live by what we do. If your children see you treating your wife or husband badly, that is how they will treat their spouse. Take responsibility for your life and the actions you take.

There is a difference between instructing and fathering. Fathering requires heart. Do not only tell your children what to do, and how to live their lives. Love them. Affection is modeled. If you do not show the love you have for your children, then they will have a hard time farther down the line, when they try to show affection of their own. Speak well into your children’s lives. They want it. Be honest and real; make sure that they know that correction comes out of love.

Father’s Day is either the best day, or the worst day. Many people have horrible memories of their fathers. Many fathers out there are either missing or abusive. However, the greatest redemptive moment is when you use your mess to help someone else who is going through it. There is a point in time, and it becomes easier to forgive and forget the hurt and pain that was caused to you.

Never forget that your children are watching you, and that what you do in life will become apparent in their own lives. Be real with them. Show them that they are loved, and make sure that they never forget it.

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2010/06/20/imitate-me/feed/ 1 1 Corinthians 4:14-17: “I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 1 Corinthians 4:14-17: “I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church." Today is Father’s Day, but I would like to call it “Fathering Day”. Do you know why? Just because you have children, it does not make you a father. Get your children to tell you how you did in the parenting field. It might not have gone how you thought it did. Your children have a completely different view on things. The biggest thing in parenting is discipline. Don’t be too strict, but do not be too lax, either. There is a balance between the two. Discipline realistically. You should let your children make decisions for themselves, but teach them what they should do, first, and warn them about what is out there and what could happen should they get themselves stuck in it. Throughout all of Paul’s letters, he tells the churches to be like Christ, however, in verses sixteen and seventeen, he tells the Corinthian church that he is their spiritual father, and that they should imitate him. He brings correction into the here and now, telling them to do as he does, not as Christ did in the past. The Bible doesn’t do the hard stuff for us; we do it. We show our children how to live by what we do. If your children see you treating your wife or husband badly, that is how they will treat their spouse. Take responsibility for your life and the actions you take. There is a difference between instructing and fathering. Fathering requires heart. Do not only tell your children what to do, and how to live their lives. Love them. Affection is modeled. If you do not show the love you have for your children, then they will have a hard time farther down the line, when they try to show affection of their own. Speak well into your children’s lives. They want it. Be honest and real; make sure that they know that correction comes out of love. Father’s Day is either the best day, or the worst day. Many people have horrible memories of their fathers. Many fathers out there are either missing or abusive. However, the greatest redemptive moment is when you use your mess to help someone else who is going through it. There is a point in time, and it becomes easier to forgive and forget the hurt and pain that was caused to you. Never forget that your children are watching you, and that what you do in life will become apparent in their own lives. Be real with them. Show them that they are loved, and make sure that they never forget it. C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 35:33 Making Disciples http://deansweetman.com/2010/06/06/making-disciples/ http://deansweetman.com/2010/06/06/making-disciples/#comments Sun, 06 Jun 2010 16:37:51 +0000 Dean http://deansweetman.com/?p=268 Matthew 28: 16-20: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

There is a big difference between being a believer and a disciple. Most people probably don’t stop and really think about this. Most people probably picture a bearded man in sandals when the hear the word disciple. What’s more, most people probably tend to think that the end of their faith journey culminates in their belief, in their salvation moment. A lifetime spent away from God pivots upon the events of one morning, wherein a person’s heart becomes inexplicably soft—by a pointed sermon or a moment of worship or even the power withheld in the very name of Jesus himself—they respond to that altar call, confess their sins, give their life to Christ, and then for many, they’re done. Not so for the disciple.

Getting saved by Jesus is the easiest task one could ever hope to perform. One doesn’t have to accomplish anything by their own cleverness or effort. One doesn’t need to do anything period. Except surrender their pride and accept the gift. It is, after all, the Holy Spirit who is doing the saving anyway. It’s his work to his glory; not yours. Consider it this way: if salvation were the goal for humanity, if it alone was the charge of the Great Commission, then Scripture would read, “Go into all the world and save people.” Instead it reads, “make disciples of all nations.” Disciples, unlike Christians, are not born. They are made.

Concerning the passage from Matthew above, before the charge to his disciples to go make more disciples, Jesus commands the remaining eleven to go to “the mountain” in Galilee. Scholars have debated to which Galilean mountain he directed them. Some have argued that it was perhaps Mt. Carmel, where Elijah slew the false prophets of Baal. Others have suggested Mt. Table. I personally believe that it was Mt. Hermon, a coastal mountain overlooking Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus had once taken his disciples and proclaimed “I will build my church” (Matthew 16: 13-20). It is this same mountain that Peter, James, John, and Jesus ascend in Matthew 17, where the Lord appears transfigured and meets with Moses and Elijah. Mt. Hermon is, in short, a significant site to the disciples, and thus likely the one mentioned in this week’s passage.

So here Jesus takes all eleven disciples and, overlooking the pagan colony of Caesarea Philippi and all the sinners within, he commands, “Go and make disciples of all the nations.” What, then, is the difference between the saved and the disciples? For one thing, discipleship is necessarily beyond salvation. It’s the next, big step in one’s faith walk. Again, being saved is easy; becoming a disciple, on the other hand, takes work. It takes, according to this passage, first being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Now, this naturally constitutes an actual physical water baptism by which one publicly and symbolically demonstrates their physical death and rebirth in Christ, but it also suggests that we are to be baptized in the name, or, in other words, immersed in the spirit of God. God has a hand in our salvation, to be sure, but He also guides us toward discipleship after He finally gets His hands on our lives.

We must get out of His way so that He may do so, however. One must never underestimate the power of his own will. As C.S. Lewis once suggested, the spirit of God “cannot ravish. He can only woo.” So if the God of Heaven, who merely spoke the cosmos into existence, can approach the door of your spirit but cannot (or rather, will not) force His way through, then we can conclude that a man’s will is a strangely powerful thing. So to become a disciple, finally, we must allow God to take our hand and lead us deeper into Himself. Once this happens, we’ll begin to feel convicted about our sin. We’ll begin to actually want to spend time in prayer, in worship, and in the Word. Getting saved, you see, cleanses our spirit but doesn’t change our bad habits or attitudes. Going deeper into God’s teachings and truths is what ultimately transforms our lives from believers to disciples. We begin to talk differently, act differently. We begin, in short, to live our faith as well as believe it.

A challenge facing Christianity today is that we have a great many Christians and too few disciples. We need more disciples in the kingdom, more Christians walking out, not just believing in, their faith. If the original eleven disciples multiplied and, in time, transformed the the Roman Empire from a land of unrestrained paganism to the site of the early Church, how much more of an impact will a kingdom of disciples have today? Certainly have we more than eleven disciples at the present moment. Our focus, then, as a Church should be to foster a community of discipleship, and not belief only.

]]> http://deansweetman.com/2010/06/06/making-disciples/feed/ 3 Matthew 28: 16-20: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been g... Matthew 28: 16-20: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." There is a big difference between being a believer and a disciple. Most people probably don’t stop and really think about this. Most people probably picture a bearded man in sandals when the hear the word disciple. What's more, most people probably tend to think that the end of their faith journey culminates in their belief, in their salvation moment. A lifetime spent away from God pivots upon the events of one morning, wherein a person’s heart becomes inexplicably soft—by a pointed sermon or a moment of worship or even the power withheld in the very name of Jesus himself—they respond to that altar call, confess their sins, give their life to Christ, and then for many, they’re done. Not so for the disciple. Getting saved by Jesus is the easiest task one could ever hope to perform. One doesn’t have to accomplish anything by their own cleverness or effort. One doesn’t need to do anything period. Except surrender their pride and accept the gift. It is, after all, the Holy Spirit who is doing the saving anyway. It’s his work to his glory; not yours. Consider it this way: if salvation were the goal for humanity, if it alone was the charge of the Great Commission, then Scripture would read, “Go into all the world and save people.” Instead it reads, “make disciples of all nations.” Disciples, unlike Christians, are not born. They are made. Concerning the passage from Matthew above, before the charge to his disciples to go make more disciples, Jesus commands the remaining eleven to go to “the mountain” in Galilee. Scholars have debated to which Galilean mountain he directed them. Some have argued that it was perhaps Mt. Carmel, where Elijah slew the false prophets of Baal. Others have suggested Mt. Table. I personally believe that it was Mt. Hermon, a coastal mountain overlooking Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus had once taken his disciples and proclaimed “I will build my church” (Matthew 16: 13-20). It is this same mountain that Peter, James, John, and Jesus ascend in Matthew 17, where the Lord appears transfigured and meets with Moses and Elijah. Mt. Hermon is, in short, a significant site to the disciples, and thus likely the one mentioned in this week’s passage. So here Jesus takes all eleven disciples and, overlooking the pagan colony of Caesarea Philippi and all the sinners within, he commands, “Go and make disciples of all the nations.” What, then, is the difference between the saved and the disciples? For one thing, discipleship is necessarily beyond salvation. It’s the next, big step in one’s faith walk. Again, being saved is easy; becoming a disciple, on the other hand, takes work. It takes, according to this passage, first being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Now, this naturally constitutes an actual physical water baptism by which one publicly and symbolically demonstrates their physical death and rebirth in Christ, but it also suggests that we are to be baptized in the name, or, in other words, immersed in the spirit of God. God has a hand in our salvation, to be sure, but He also guides us toward discipleship after He finally gets His hands on our lives. We must get out of His way so that He may do so, however. One must never underestimate the power of his own will. As C.S. Lewis once suggested, the spirit of God “cannot ravish. He can only woo.” So if the God of Heaven, who merely spoke the cosmos into existence, C3 Church in Lawrenceville, GA USA clean 35:12 Leadership 202: The Next Level http://deansweetman.com/2009/02/06/leadership-202-the-next-level/ http://deansweetman.com/2009/02/06/leadership-202-the-next-level/#comments Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:54:23 +0000 Dean http://deanandjill.com/2009/02/06/leadership-202-the-next-level/ Matthew 5:3-10: 3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth. 6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. 7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God. 9 God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God. 10 God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Leadership is about heart-to-heart connections. How do you relate to other people? These attitudes that Jesus lists are the realities of living. These are the basic ideas of how we as humans can positively affect the people around us. Attitude changes the atmosphere around you, and it begins by being honest and self-reflective. Be honest with yourself. What do you struggle with? What are your weaknesses? Don’t fall into a victim mindset; don’t start to blame; just be real and honest with yourself. Determine to change and move forward.

Now, this teaching from Jesus is very powerful. It helps us to get in touch with our emotions, and through that, we find parts of our world that need change in order to influence the world. Influence is a common denominator in leadership. First, you influence yourself, and, second, you influence others. What you do in life effects the people around you very deeply.

The life we live is not about us. Everything we do has an affect on other people. It is critical that we honestly lead ourselves and work out what is holding us back. One of the hardest things you will ever learn is how to view a conflict outside our own perspective. It is hard to see beyond our grid–the way we view the world forged by our past and the condition of our hearts–and try to understand the other person’s perspective. How do they view this moment? Conflict is causing a reaction in lives of the people. And we, as humans, are self-centered in the idea that the conflict is all about us. Christianity is about looking beyond yourself. We say often enough that, when one get’s saved, our lives are no longer our own but become God’s. But how often do we live that? It is hard to shift out of yourself and to realize that you affect everyone around you with everything you do.

Being self-aware is essential. Being emotionally tuned in means you are aware of the emotions of the people around you. It is called being empathetic. It helps you to get along in a diverse group of people. In being empathetic and self-aware, you know immediately who you are in the ranking of the people around you, and you can cope with your position with grace and humility. Submission and accountability are important, especially when in leadership. Leaders are just as accountable–if not more so–as those who follow. Know who you are and where you rank in each situation you find yourself and remain submitted to the authority in your life. Self-leadership will allow you to adjust your behavior according to your rank in the room.

Pride rises up to blind us to the truth of our situations. Pride comes before the fall, as it says in the Word. Pride will rise up when we have to submit to authority in our lives. Pride will drive us to act like we are more than we are. The Bible warns against acting like you are higher in the ranking than you truly are. Beware of your pride. When you bring the Kingdom of God into your life and embrace empathy and become emotionally and self aware of the world around you, your pride begins to die and the doors are opened for true heart-to-heart relationships.

Relationships are no clinical. They are on an emotional level. There has to be a heart-to-heart, emotional connection because that is where the influence is transferred. Bossing people around is not leadership. A bossy leader will lose his followers, and a leader without followers is just someone walking alone. It is a heart thing. Leading requires the forging of relationships. Relationships break down due to pride. Lower yourself and soften your heart. A hard heart–a prideful heart–cannot receive from God. Let go of your stuff and let God have His way with you and your life. Don’t get all your ducks in a row; cry out to God for help. He loves that!

Take the Kingdom of God out of your church world and place it into the middle of your work world and watch what happens. God will unleash His supernatural powers out there. Let Him help you tune into the emotions of the world around you. Let Him help you to serve the people in your world. Serve those in authority over you. Serve those who are in submission to you. Serve and forge relationships; that is the key to leadership.

Influence brings with it the ability to inspire people and to bring them hope. People need hope. Life is hard; many people don’t have hope. Inspirational leaders can influence the masses to change. When a leader becomes honest, self-aware, empathetic, and emotionally in tune in his relationships, the chance for influence and inspiration will come, and the relationship will grow in equity and become sound. The relationships will become so strong that the storms of life will not shake it. You give in relationships. Relationships are give and take. If you constantly take, you will not influence or inspire anyone. Give in a relationship; serve in your relationships; deposit into your relationships; and you will gain the ability to influence and to inspire.

Inspiration is guiding and motivating with a vision. Of you don’t have a vision, you can’t inspire anyone. God will give you a vision. He wants you to discover the vision He has placed in your heart. You can’t take anyone into their vision unless you are living your vision. You have to put your money where your mouth is; you need to walk the walk; you cannot inspire someone to do what you are not doing yourself. Jesus pressed this point time and again. If you are going to inspire the world with the message of Jesus, you had better be living it!

Self leadership requires a lot of us. Every decision we make is under the microscope of the world. Everyone around you is watching you. Children watch their parents. Co-workers watch their bosses. Bosses watch their co-workers. Friends watch friends. Every single action of every single day influences those around you. It is challenging, yes, but we have God on our side. Know and have faith in the fact that God is strong when we are weak. He is the one equipping us to live our lives for Him. He is the one guiding us and teaching us how to live the Kingdom of God out there in the world. Our connection to God is the key to everything. God teaches us to self-lead, and He will continue to guide us as we walk it out. So have faith. And go for it!

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