Leadership is Influence. Everything rises and falls on leadership, everything.
You can both disagree and be right. (Acts 2:4, TLB; Acts 21:11-13, TLB)
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- Paul was convinced and convicted by the Holy Spirit and a personal burning desire to go to Jerusalem.
- Spirit-filled believers were convinced and convicted that he should not go because he would be bound and killed.
- Both were right.
What to do when both disagree?
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- Unity is a result of sharing a common goal, not necessarily agreeing on how to get there.
- We are to focus on what we have in common, not our differences. (Amos 3:3, NKJV)
- Try to know their heart not just their head.
- Paul was going because of his love for the Lord, but also Paul loved the people more than he loved his life. (Acts 21:13, TLB; Mark 12:30, TLB)
- When you know someone’s heart you can disagree and still love them and have unity.
- Have realistic expectations.
- Unrealistic expectation as well as the undefined expectation is the main cause of most problems, disunity, disagreements, and disappointments.
- When we love and know someone’s heart we can have realistic expectations and still disagree.
Very important insights on disagreeing.
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- Look for the common goal.
- Look and know the heart and not only the head. (Not the reaction)
- Have realistic expectations.
Choose to encourage rather than criticize when the decision is made. (Acts 2:14, NCV)
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- Comes a time we have to pray God’s will be done if they will not stay.
God has a perfect will and a permissive will. (Acts 21:14, NCV; Romans 12:2, NKJV)
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- It is God’s will for everyone to be saved, stay married, and have abundant life.
- Permissive will – God has already given His promise, but He permits the time the promise is fulfilled upon us. (Exodus 3:17, NIV)
- It took them 40 years to go into the Promised land because they did not believe God’s promise and rebelled.
- God’s promises have a yes stamped on them. (2 Corinthians 1:20, KJV; MSG)
- We mustn’t allow the lying Devil to keep us in a bad situation or bondage longer than God’s Word permits. (Romans 14:17-19, NLT)