Leadership is influence. Everything rises and falls on leadership, everything.
The longer something exists the easier it is to miss or shift away from the original intent, meaning, and purpose.
Acts. 4:29-31, NKJV; Acts 4:1-3, NKJV
Have you ever faced threats? (Acts 4:29-31, NKJV)
How do you respond and how do you support those being threatened? (2 Timothy 3:2, NKJV; 2 Timothy 3:11-12, CEV)
If you have not been threatened could it be you’re not making a stand for what you believe God’s called you to do?
- Could it be you are in the supportive role and not the leadership role?
- Could it be you are just not bold enough?
- Could it be you fear man more than God? (Proverbs 29:25, NKVJ)
How do you handle threats?
- The first and wrong reaction is usually anger and upset. (Matthew 21:12 NCV)
- The second reaction is usually fear.
- The third reaction is usually a disappointment. (This lasts the longest and is harder to get over.)
- The fourth and best reaction is to ask God for boldness and peace. (Acts 4:29, NKJV)
- The fifth reaction is to ask God not only for boldness but blessings. (Matthew 5:10-12, NKJV)
Questions to ask yourself:
- When is the last time someone said false things about you because of Christ?
- Truthfully, have you been more worried about what others would say about you or what you should be saying about Christ?
- Why hasn’t anyone said evil things about you?
- How would you rate yourself on a scale from 1-10 on being boldly based on threats and persecution? 1 being the lowest, 10 being the highest.
Jesus is with us. (Matthew 28:18-20, NKJV)
- Jesus is telling as we go we will receive power to make disciples and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus is also telling us He will be with us when we go.
- When is the last time you went and felt His power? 1-10
- Why have you not gone?
- What can we do better to go?
- Does it mean if we are not fishing we are not following? (Matthew 4:19, NKJV)
Prayer:
- We will start praying with boldness, speaking God’s Word with boldness.
- Prayer is not getting God to give us what we want, it is getting God to give us what we need.
- Prayer is not for God to remove our problems, hurts, and suffering, but to give us the power and His presence in the problem.