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in Leadership

Do Not Omit a Word

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SCRIPTURE

This what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the LORD’S house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word. Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from their evil ways. Then I will relent and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done. - Jeremiah 26:2-3

 

OBSERVATION

A prophet is to speak the whole counsel of God’s word. His job as a mouthpiece is to receive the truth and speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth. He is not a revisionist or an editor for God (as if God needed editing!) that sugar coats God’s message in order to make it more palatable for people to receive it. God has no use for self-appointed public relations consultants who speak half-truths or even untruths who think they are intermediaries for him. God uses prophets who receive his words and speak it with no omission. When Jeremiah was threatened with death for speaking the whole counsel of God’s word, he did not cower nor shrink back from his assignment nor his message, “Do with me whatever you think is good and right” (26:14). 

 

APPLICATION

What is it within me that makes me think I have to “defend” God, his words and his actions? Why is there an inward temptation not to speak the whole counsel of God’s truth and omit some unpleasantries in God’s word? It is the fear of man—being afraid of the rejection from people. It is also the approval of man—my insecurity to feel the need to be accepted by people. For people to embrace and appreciate the good news of the gospel they must first understand the bad news of God’s wrath and human depravity. As a pastor/shepherd there is an office and function of a prophet that I must walk in and courageously speak. 

 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for speaking to me with such clarity and conviction this morning! Please help me to kneel before you in order that I can stand before man. I humble myself before you and ask for your strength Holy Spirit so that I can stand courageously with God-confidence before people. Father, may I find my always find my identity, purpose and contentment in my belovedness as your son. Jesus, give me the grace when I fall and the strength to move forward to your upward calling. Would you help me to lead with love, wisdom and courage? I love you so much! Maranatha.

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in Grace

Drawing Near For Mercy and Grace

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SCRIPTURE

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4:16

 

OBSERVATION

The manner with which to approach God’s throne is with confidence. First of all God’s throne is a throne of grace. It almost doesn’t make sense until one understands that we have a great high priest who once-and-for-all made the eternal sacrifice to appease God’s wrath. Our confidence is that Jesus our high priest also sympathizes with our weakness. When I approach Jesus in prayer I can be confident knowing full well that he understands the full spectrum of the human experience of betrayal, anger, temptation, hunger, loss, joy and grief. The purpose of drawing near to God is to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. You would think the objective to approaching God with confidence is to boast (cf. priest in Luke 18) but yet is to receive mercy and grace.

 

APPLICATION

Approach my prayer with the posture of confidence in Jesus my sympathetic great high priest and with the objective of receiving mercy and grace. My confidence is not in myself or my self-righteousness but in the righteousness of Christ. The righteousness of Jesus covers the vast multitude of my sins and even though my sin is scarlet yet he has made me as white as snow. Confidence is not hubris or arrogance but it is fully understanding that Jesus sympathizes with my failure and weakness yet receives me by his grace anyway. I don’t have to worry or doubt if Christ can understand what I feel but I can be confident that because he is fully human while being fully God he empathizes with me. I come to God’s presence in prayer to receive unconditional mercy and undeserved grace. 

 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

Thank you so much for your new mercies everyday and all sustaining grace. Lord forgive me for sometimes thinking that you would not or could not understand the human plight. Jesus this is one of the reasons why you were born here on earth and took on skin and bones. It is with confidence and great humility and gratitude that I come to receive mercy and grace.

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