by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
It's Not What you Sell, It's What You Stand For by Roy Spence, Jr. is about creating purpose that drives your business. The book's primary goal is to get you to the same level as the purpose-driven companies he identifies in the book. It's an action road map to discover your purpose, bring it to life, and then actively market and practice the purpose.
Your purpose is the definitive statement of how you are making a difference in the world. Everything circles around the question, "does it further our cause?"
Your purpose holds you steady in turbulent times, injects your brand with healthy doses of reality and draws passionate people to you.
So your higher purpose is to discover your purpose. You do this by revisiting your heritage. By going back and digging out the "why" of your company in the first place. Ask the original owners why they formed the company. Talk to those retired from the company and ask them why they formed the company. If you are the owner, ask yourself why you did this in the beginning. Was your original purpose given up too soon? What should you get back to? Ask yourself and everyone around you, who knew you from the beginning...Why? Why do you do what you do? Why does your existence matter? Reread all your original notes and plans that will reveal the original zeal of why you did this. What was and is the functional, emotional, ultimate benefit to your customer and constituents?
Spencer likes to use Southwest Airlines as a favorite example and the Hedgehog concept from Good To Great.... What are you passionate about; what you can be the best in the world at; and what drives your economic engine? Ask your customers and fans what difference your business and product has made in their lives? What would they miss the most if you ceased to exist? What do they see that makes you better, standout from everyone else?
Your vision comes clear when you look into your heart, so make it a heart-felt matter. Now refine the difference you are out to make in the world and make it simple enough that everyone can understand.
As you craft a great purpose keep in mind to keep it simple, aim high, and don't be too vague that others don't see it. Focus on what you do rather than how you do it. Some purpose statements Spencer shares are from Southwest Airlines, "To give people the freedom to fly;" Wal-Mart, "To save people money so they can live better;" American Red Cross, "Enabling Americans to perform extraordinary acts in the face of emergencies."
The purpose is a definitive statement about the difference you are trying to make in the world.
The mission is your core strategy or what must be undertaken to fulfill the purpose.
The vision is a vivid, imaginative concept or view of the world once your purpose has been fulfilled.
Find the thrill, have the will and ignite the passion. Be the leader of your purpose, or the steward of the purpose. Help people believe in themselves.
To fulfill the promise of the purpose get the handle on the business you are really in, position yourself so people can see what you have that the competition doesn't. Bring it to life by getting the employees on board. Figure out what really matters to people and develop marketing solutions accordingly. Fulfill your purpose everywhere you go.
Spencer continues to address how a purpose can take corporations higher with several in depth case studies of companies driven by purpose, and its place in membership, nonprofit, higher education, sports organizations.
High performing organizations are build with a meaningful difference, with leaders who are stewards of great purpose, and bring life in meaningful and relevant ways in the marketplace.
For more note the USAToday review:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/books/reviews/2009-02-15-its-not-what-you-sell_N.htm
And Roy Spence's website:
http://www.itsnotwhatyousell.com/spence-contact.htm
Every group that meets, a purpose evolves from it. The Spiritual pattern is it starts in prayer, seeking God's ways, getting His Divine insights. As love abounds in the group and covenant connections are cemented and grow, the power for Divine revelation and Divine Purpose increase.
The crucial thing to know is Covenant Connections increase the Power that goes with Divine Purpose... as we discover it and execute it.
We can hold on to The Apostle Paul's thoughts in Ephesians:
"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:11-14, TNIV)
All this has been created for us long ago. We tap it in Spirit.
The promise continues for the Power to accompany it, as is continued in Ephesians "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that can be invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." (Ephesians 1:17-23, TNIV)
In Chapter 7, The Body of Christ , Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft expounds on this more. It is the Body, The New Body of Christ, now as a corporate unity of all the Believers as one, that this is fulfilled through. Thus, Covenant Connection takes on a very important characteristic to make it all work to the level the Scriptures exhort it will.
Jesus' teachings applies to this New Body, which is now His Body reformed or could we say morphed into another kind of Body of people in a covenant connection with each other. As we look at how this New Body functions in the Early Church a lot can be learned from this. They had problems in almost every conceivable form of fellowship... messages, ministers, morals, marriage, money.
One of greatest sections in the New Testament which deals with corporate operation come from 1 Corinthians 11, 12, 13,and 14. The chief concern of this section is the Covenant connection. References to the theme here are from Luke 22:14-23 and John 6:53-63.
When He told His disciples that this is "my body given to you" Jesus had something more "world changing" in His mind. They would literally turn the world upside down. It is a proclamation relevant for us today.The synagogue needed 10 men to function. But Jesus said that that there can be just two or three. Again the issue is the unity of the believers is what is most important versus the number.
The early Church had four main elements. Reading the Scriptures; expounding on the Scriptures; singing of hymns and Psalms; prayers and intercession. They had a mandate to celebrate the Lord's Supper. What was the significance of the Lord's Supper?
Paul in the Corinthians letter was attempting to correct the loss of unity and oneness that belonged to the Body of Christ. One of the differences was how they celebrated the Lord's Supper. This sharing had to do with the Covenant Connection they shared.
Covenant is a powerful word. A covenant is the binding of two parties. The Bible has many covenants it refers to... covenant of circumcision, covenant of promise, everlasting covenant, first covenant, old covenant, covenant of blood. The covenant of blood suggests the binding relationship of the Body of Believers in the Body of Christ.... Christ's New Body now representing Him on earth.
David and Jonathan had a covenant relationship. Jonathan gave up his robe and sword giving up his rights. This is a love covenant and prime example of how the Body of Christ is to be. They would cut their wrists and rub their wounds together to form a blood covenant or bond between them. They were known to squeeze their blood into glass of wine and drink it jointly. Today we may use a written contract, but then these actions became binding covenants between them.... to the point of being willing to give their life for each other.
Many times the Blood Covenant was accompanied by a meal to celebrate the binding agreement. So the passover meal that Jesus asked to be prepared as His final statement of his relationship to them would continue in Spirit. It is the relationship we are to continue with each other on earth. This is referred to as the New Covenant in the Bible.... the true meaning of the Communion service... a reminder of our binding in Spirit to Christ and our binding in relationship to each other.
When Jesus talked about eating His flesh could very well be His reference to the truth of His miraculous birth, sinless life, teaching and message, and the Power of His redemptive and healing ministry. The drinking of His blood appears to be about His death. We participate in Christ to bring His vicarious blessings to us. Intercessory prayer is a place of where we sweat drops of blood in our spirit for others. We shed our blood when we serve at the expense of self. We don't bless until we bleed. This is drinking His blood.
He washed the disciple's feet to demonstrate His humility in service. We should demonstrate the same humility in how we serve each other. Jesus said to serve one another. This is His love in action. His act is an act of service in the time of need. As we take the role of a servant and serve each other we practice the spirit of foot washing Jesus illustrated. We should practice acts of serving members of the New Body of Christ and others when they are in need. If we do not have a serving attitude toward those in need, we suffer the loss of the manifestation of His Presence. Only as we share with others do we have Part with Him.
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul points out the infections coming into their times of communion. He said when they came together, they came together not for the better, there were divisions. It was not for the Lord's supper but to eat and feast. He told them they were to tarry one for another and minister to each other. Instead they lost value of their covenant connection and need for unity. Satan's goal is to divide. The Holy Spirit can't work when there is not unity.
When there is absolute unity, the windows of Heaven open for us and all of God's blessings fall on us. That's why Jesus pronounced heavy judgment on those who cause divisions. When people do that, they kill the Spirit and it doesn't manifest in the group. So we can't overemphasize the significance and value of the unity among the Believers.
We could say there is malpractice in communion when there are divisions, intoxication in other things than Spirit. When the lesser fortunate are not taken care of, and there is a glutton spirit among the ones there who indulge in overeating, then the sense of koinonia is lost.
Communion is an incarnation. It is when the Body of Believers are in Spiritual relationship to one another and in Christ. The relationship of believers is the residency for the presence of Christ. It is the Spirit affinity of the believers that Christ wishes to be present. To eat His flesh is the when we are feeding on His Spirit. We eat off of each other's personality. In that we are becoming like those with whom we associate. When we are asked to examine ourselves, we are asked to examine our relationship with each other. We are to correct wrong attitudes and adjust our attitudes to be loving and tolerant, understanding and accepting to each other.
Love heals. Love heals the loneliness away, it heals the negative emotions away, it heals blood pressure, ulcers, it heals all there is that surrounds us and in us both emotionally and physically. Our covenant connection between believers provides a way for healing love that heals the sick.
The covenant connection also brings to our attention our relationship with other believers. What comes into play are our relationships of servanthood. Are we willing to serve our associates, our fellow believers, even our enemies? When we unite, it connects us to heaven. Believer plus Believer equals unity with the Father. The Power of the Spirit is again present when we do this.
As Jesus said in John 13, a New Commandment I give to you. As I have loved you, you love each other. This is a lofty goal that is out of possibility of man. But not with God. Through God all things are possible. God knows our limitations and He has provided the Holy Spirit as One who we can make this possible. With men many things are impossible; with God All Things are Possible.
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Get Motivated!... In Intercession, The Body of Christ (6)
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Get Motivated! by Tamara Lowe is about motivation being a uniquely individual force. "Everyone cannot follow the same steps to get the same results." Everyone has a specific motivational pattern. What motivates me will probably not motivate you. You first need to understand the four laws of motivation.
Law #1. Everyone is motivated differently. Everyone's motivated by something but it may be by different and sometimes self-destructive things.
Law #2. Each individual has a unique and distinctive motivational type. Your motivational DNA is so uniquely you. It's like your finger print. It's part of who you are. Reducing motivators to their most fundamental form. Lowe's team discovered six factors of motivation affecting all areas of motivation.
Law #3. What motivates one person can de-motivate others.
Law #4. No one motivational type is better than the other. A type A is not better than a type B, only different.
Motivational DNA is made up of Drives, Needs, Awards.
Drives are either a drive for production or for connection. These are internal forces that mobilize a person to act.
Needs are for stability or variety which are core requirements for a person to feel fulfilled. Awards, internal or external, are types of compensation or remuneration a person desires to reward achievement or encourage performance.
Thus, the six factors of motivation:
Connection, productivity (drives)
Stability, variety (needs)
Internal, external (awards)
We all have a preference for three of these motivators.
Answer these three questions to discover your three.
1. Do you tend to be more competitive or cooperative?
2. Do you prefer constancy or change?
3. Which would make you feel more valued at work....sincere appreciation without financial bonus, or a bonus without appreciation.
Drives that mobilize a person to act.
Production Drive. Focuses on achievement, results, leadership, thrives under pressure, persistent, energetic and confident.
Connection Drive. Moves toward affiliation and values relationships. Friendly, reliable, well-liked by others. Good listeners and are good sounding boards. Supportive, loyal, collaborative.
Needs that a person must have to feel fulfilled.
Stability. Enjoy routines, good with schedules, systems, and organization. Practical, methodical, responsible. Refine ideas and improve processes.
Variety. Enjoy change. Animated, persuasive, and spontaneous. Can shift gears quickly, fun loving and enthusiastic.
Stabilizers can experience paralysis by analysis. Variables(those who like variety) many times under analyze risks. Stabilizers may think too much and not act; whereas, variables may act too soon without thinking.
Awards. How a person desires to be compensated for achievements which includes the material, spiritual, and psychological currency a person wants to be paid for performance.
Internal rewards. Mission-minded people who need to make a positive difference. Generally prefers private vs. public recognition. Meaningful work and desire to feel about what they are doing.is primary importance.
External Rewards. Believe that winning should be rewarded. Enjoy public recognition by superiors. Motivated by salaries, authority, opportunity to advance. Internals are seen as selfless, externals as selfish.
So you have a combination of Drives, Needs, Awards working to make your motivational DNA. Which drive is you? What reward is you? Create the right combination and you get motivated.
From these combinations, you have the
Director (PSI...production, stability, internal)
Visionary (PVI...production, variety, internal)
Chief (PSE...production, stability, external)
Champion (PVE... production, variety, external)
Supporter (CSI... connection, stability, internal)
Relater (CVI... connection, variety, internal)
Refiner (CSE... connection, stability, external)
Explorer (CVE... connection, variety, external)
Success strategies of highly motivated achievers includes
being able to identify the motivating characteristics of others
and respond in a way that will be accepted (motivating) for them; find out what motivates you and then devise a plan that uses your motivational characteristics in the best way possible.
In order to get motivated and stay motivated, a person has to enjoy the activity and be able to do it well.
To find other people's motivator you can do it by passive observation.
Look for clues in their behavior which relate to the six factors...production/connection, stability/variety, internal/external.
Secondly, you can do it by friendly inquiry finding out about the things they enjoy and naturally excel at. You can use active presentation of this information and ask them to identify which area they see themselves. Lowe has an on-line test at her website to help you determine this.
In short, the clues are the producer talks fast, in a hurry with a commanding presence; the connector has a friendly presence with a calm pace desiring to talk to you; stabilizers are more concerned about order, schedule and sequence; variables are animated and expressive; internals want a sense of meaning or significance; externals are interested in pay, advancement and status. Then relate to them according to their motivational style or motivational DNA.
Lowe then goes through the six descriptions of motivational DNA and explains each in depth. She covers these areas for each: temperament, communication style, cognitive process, likely strengths, possible pitfalls, what they are like at work, play, in relationships, resolving conflicts, how they influence others, value, de-motivators and top-ten motivators for them, and advice each can use.
Here's a sampling of the communication style for each one. When talking or presenting to them keep this in mind and adjust your style to theirs.
Producers: edit thoughts before hand, be concise, talk fast and get to the point.
Connectors: slow down your pace, small talk first, be warm and friendly and give them time to finish thoughts, don't interrupt.
Stabilizers: have the facts, prove it's doable, present ideas systematically, use facts and figures to explain concepts.
Variables: be positive and enthusiastic, maintain eye contact, listen, show interest, express appreciation for their achievements. Use stories instead off facts and figures.
Internals: express interests in their interests, use "feel", "believe" as words, explain purpose of task, look for areas of agreement, allow them to voice opinions.
Externals: highlight benefits, compliment accomplishments, single out for recognition, offer big prizes, constantly affirm talents.
Sustain action.
If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. Cooperate with their motivation style. What motivates one person can de-motivate another.
Get more motivation from Tamara Lowe at
http://www.getmotivatedbook.com/
In The Body of Christ, Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft discusses the church in intercession in Chapter 6. Historically, Spiritual movements have been more powerful with loose organization and strong commitment to each other... those centered around gathering daily in a routine environment. The main activity was prayer. Those proactive in prayer, when meeting continually, would find a mission begin to surface from their praying. God then equipped them with power as their cohesiveness grew. The more they met, the more they were led to creative solutions to problems they faced, saturated with the Power of the Holy Spirit creating a miraculous path.
The main references for this chapter are from the Scriptures in Acts 3 and 4. It would be beneficial to read these chapters first or after you read this summary.
By going away, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to come and be in our meetings where prayer and the center of attention is Jesus-based issues. In John 16, Jesus promised that when the Holy Spirit is at work in and among us. The Holy Spirit will convict the world, guide us, show us things to come, glorify Jesus, and take what Jesus knows and tells us. Jesus among us secures the Power of His Spirit at work through us and God's Spirit making Himself known to the world... in tangible ways.
In Acts 3 it says Peter went up at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour or middle of the afternoon. Prayer is the priority of all believers and even after great events like Pentecost, the Disciples always went back to prayer. Prayer is the priority of the believers all the time. Prayer includes all kinds of personalities with all kinds of customs. Tolerance was the rule of the day, most did not have a clear understanding of why each other did things a certain way. Love abounded and was the number one rule of the day.
When we pray, we can relate and find cohesiveness among many. When love and prayer are at the forefront, we accept each other and don't spend time talking about our different views on things. Prayer will foster unity in a group faster than anything else, as our focus is on God and not us. As we humble ourselves before God and others, the Power of the Spirit manifests in power to the level we will humble ourselves before God and to men.
Sin and unbelief blind us. They deaden our sensitivities. Our desires maybe misdirected for the wrong things. With Jesus Christ, as our mediator, we put our sins on the altar of God, forgiven, and our faith rises in belief because we depend on God's power and not ours. Prayer then becomes very powerful.
In agreement (centered around Jesus) being in harmony with each other, the Power of the Holy Spirit thrives under theses conditions.
In Matthew 18:19, the significance of In My Name stands out... "Where two or three are gathered In My Name there I am."
What is the significance of using His Name?
First, we are in harmony with the instructions of Jesus. There is perfect unity between Jesus and the Father. All the authority of God is transferred to the Son of God, Jesus. What importance did Jesus place in using His Name? There is reverence in the Name of God. Blessings and cures were attached to the Name of God. Not using the name of God in vain is a commandment. Jesus started His prayer with "hallowed be thy Name." We are standing on Holy Ground when addressing God, with the authority of Jesus with us.
In His Name, is saying we respect the agenda of Jesus and are praying in light of His Will. Jesus said what we ask according to His will, we can be confident He will answer us. Jesus did what He did in the authority of the God. God, the All Powerful Creator, responds to the requests of Jesus. We now share in Jesus' authority. What a powerful thought. When we walk as Jesus directs us to walk, and fulfill the Father in Heaven's will as Jesus did, we can expect miraculous results along the way.
Jesus said He would do nothing outside what the Father told Him to do. Jesus was so tuned into His Father's will that what He did was identical to the Father. Here's another outstanding revelation.... What we see in Jesus is God!
Jesus now commissions His disciples to do the same.
So in using the name of Jesus is using His authority, we now have in God as He had with God. Using His name demands we be in Christ as He is in us and in the same way the Father was in Him and He was in the Father. God is trinity. Trinity is Relationship. This reveals to us the value of relationship and effectiveness of relationship. That's why Jesus emphasized..."that they may be one, even as we are one." (John 17:22)
This is a very high calling. Anything less than this is religion without power, form without substance. The power they had did not come from themselves or what they had. Their lives were totally on the side of the Spirit... not material goods. When Spirit guides us we stretch out our hands to the needy, we share our bread in fellowship. Spirit turns loose the material. His blessing multiplies the bread.
All we need is the Spirit to move us, and we will experience His promise that if we agree together as touching anything that we shall ask, it shall be done.
The Spirit is manifested into the temporal, creating the tangible. This is in contrast to those who try through the material world to accomplish Spiritual ends. Our lesson from Jesus is that we should never attempt anything in our natural selves, but always begin with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit then creates the material, changes the emotions, mends broken hearts.
We see the Church as it formed, that is the Body of Christ which emerged after Pentecost, does the same things as Jesus. Corporately, we are the same as Jesus, so unity as One is essential to see the release and manifestations of Power Jesus demonstrated on earth. His plan is to do it now through a Body of Believers... versus just one person. So we all need the interconnections and relationships.
The place for prayer is not geographic. It is wherever God's people assemble together. But, it is always where believers (two or three or more) are gathered together in the Name of Jesus.
The Prayer of Intercession begins in God. It is not in us to shape prayer. It begins in God and is God. Its focus is on what He wills and what He plans to do. The action of the enemy is not against men, but against the plans of God. We rely on God's power for continued power, miracles and victory.
We know God is available, when we are in one accord, one mind and in the Spirit of God. The results...the place is shaken when people intercede and everyone gets excited about what is happening. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. One filling is not enough. They went back to prayer for a continuous flow of Spirit in Power in their lives. Jesus, when going to the mountain to pray, was transfigured anew by God. We can have this too.
They spoke the Word of God with boldness, a result of their times in prayer and through the inner presence and power of the Holy Spirit. As they shared bread and fellowship, there was no difficulty in having success when God is working in the hearts of people. Sharing all things in common, this loving fellowship and communion with each other ripped open the gates of Heaven for all the Mighty and Power of God to be seen at work all around them.
Spirit manifested in everything, in every way.
4spirit@gmail.com
Get Motivated! by Tamara Lowe is about motivation being a uniquely individual force. "Everyone cannot follow the same steps to get the same results." Everyone has a specific motivational pattern. What motivates me will probably not motivate you. You first need to understand the four laws of motivation.
Law #1. Everyone is motivated differently. Everyone's motivated by something but it may be by different and sometimes self-destructive things.
Law #2. Each individual has a unique and distinctive motivational type. Your motivational DNA is so uniquely you. It's like your finger print. It's part of who you are. Reducing motivators to their most fundamental form. Lowe's team discovered six factors of motivation affecting all areas of motivation.
Law #3. What motivates one person can de-motivate others.
Law #4. No one motivational type is better than the other. A type A is not better than a type B, only different.
Motivational DNA is made up of Drives, Needs, Awards.
Drives are either a drive for production or for connection. These are internal forces that mobilize a person to act.
Needs are for stability or variety which are core requirements for a person to feel fulfilled. Awards, internal or external, are types of compensation or remuneration a person desires to reward achievement or encourage performance.
Thus, the six factors of motivation:
Connection, productivity (drives)
Stability, variety (needs)
Internal, external (awards)
We all have a preference for three of these motivators.
Answer these three questions to discover your three.
1. Do you tend to be more competitive or cooperative?
2. Do you prefer constancy or change?
3. Which would make you feel more valued at work....sincere appreciation without financial bonus, or a bonus without appreciation.
Drives that mobilize a person to act.
Production Drive. Focuses on achievement, results, leadership, thrives under pressure, persistent, energetic and confident.
Connection Drive. Moves toward affiliation and values relationships. Friendly, reliable, well-liked by others. Good listeners and are good sounding boards. Supportive, loyal, collaborative.
Needs that a person must have to feel fulfilled.
Stability. Enjoy routines, good with schedules, systems, and organization. Practical, methodical, responsible. Refine ideas and improve processes.
Variety. Enjoy change. Animated, persuasive, and spontaneous. Can shift gears quickly, fun loving and enthusiastic.
Stabilizers can experience paralysis by analysis. Variables(those who like variety) many times under analyze risks. Stabilizers may think too much and not act; whereas, variables may act too soon without thinking.
Awards. How a person desires to be compensated for achievements which includes the material, spiritual, and psychological currency a person wants to be paid for performance.
Internal rewards. Mission-minded people who need to make a positive difference. Generally prefers private vs. public recognition. Meaningful work and desire to feel about what they are doing.is primary importance.
External Rewards. Believe that winning should be rewarded. Enjoy public recognition by superiors. Motivated by salaries, authority, opportunity to advance. Internals are seen as selfless, externals as selfish.
So you have a combination of Drives, Needs, Awards working to make your motivational DNA. Which drive is you? What reward is you? Create the right combination and you get motivated.
From these combinations, you have the
Director (PSI...production, stability, internal)
Visionary (PVI...production, variety, internal)
Chief (PSE...production, stability, external)
Champion (PVE... production, variety, external)
Supporter (CSI... connection, stability, internal)
Relater (CVI... connection, variety, internal)
Refiner (CSE... connection, stability, external)
Explorer (CVE... connection, variety, external)
Success strategies of highly motivated achievers includes
being able to identify the motivating characteristics of others
and respond in a way that will be accepted (motivating) for them; find out what motivates you and then devise a plan that uses your motivational characteristics in the best way possible.
In order to get motivated and stay motivated, a person has to enjoy the activity and be able to do it well.
To find other people's motivator you can do it by passive observation.
Look for clues in their behavior which relate to the six factors...production/connection, stability/variety, internal/external.
Secondly, you can do it by friendly inquiry finding out about the things they enjoy and naturally excel at. You can use active presentation of this information and ask them to identify which area they see themselves. Lowe has an on-line test at her website to help you determine this.
In short, the clues are the producer talks fast, in a hurry with a commanding presence; the connector has a friendly presence with a calm pace desiring to talk to you; stabilizers are more concerned about order, schedule and sequence; variables are animated and expressive; internals want a sense of meaning or significance; externals are interested in pay, advancement and status. Then relate to them according to their motivational style or motivational DNA.
Lowe then goes through the six descriptions of motivational DNA and explains each in depth. She covers these areas for each: temperament, communication style, cognitive process, likely strengths, possible pitfalls, what they are like at work, play, in relationships, resolving conflicts, how they influence others, value, de-motivators and top-ten motivators for them, and advice each can use.
Here's a sampling of the communication style for each one. When talking or presenting to them keep this in mind and adjust your style to theirs.
Producers: edit thoughts before hand, be concise, talk fast and get to the point.
Connectors: slow down your pace, small talk first, be warm and friendly and give them time to finish thoughts, don't interrupt.
Stabilizers: have the facts, prove it's doable, present ideas systematically, use facts and figures to explain concepts.
Variables: be positive and enthusiastic, maintain eye contact, listen, show interest, express appreciation for their achievements. Use stories instead off facts and figures.
Internals: express interests in their interests, use "feel", "believe" as words, explain purpose of task, look for areas of agreement, allow them to voice opinions.
Externals: highlight benefits, compliment accomplishments, single out for recognition, offer big prizes, constantly affirm talents.
Sustain action.
If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. Cooperate with their motivation style. What motivates one person can de-motivate another.
Get more motivation from Tamara Lowe at
http://www.getmotivatedbook.com/
In The Body of Christ, Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft discusses the church in intercession in Chapter 6. Historically, Spiritual movements have been more powerful with loose organization and strong commitment to each other... those centered around gathering daily in a routine environment. The main activity was prayer. Those proactive in prayer, when meeting continually, would find a mission begin to surface from their praying. God then equipped them with power as their cohesiveness grew. The more they met, the more they were led to creative solutions to problems they faced, saturated with the Power of the Holy Spirit creating a miraculous path.
The main references for this chapter are from the Scriptures in Acts 3 and 4. It would be beneficial to read these chapters first or after you read this summary.
By going away, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to come and be in our meetings where prayer and the center of attention is Jesus-based issues. In John 16, Jesus promised that when the Holy Spirit is at work in and among us. The Holy Spirit will convict the world, guide us, show us things to come, glorify Jesus, and take what Jesus knows and tells us. Jesus among us secures the Power of His Spirit at work through us and God's Spirit making Himself known to the world... in tangible ways.
In Acts 3 it says Peter went up at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour or middle of the afternoon. Prayer is the priority of all believers and even after great events like Pentecost, the Disciples always went back to prayer. Prayer is the priority of the believers all the time. Prayer includes all kinds of personalities with all kinds of customs. Tolerance was the rule of the day, most did not have a clear understanding of why each other did things a certain way. Love abounded and was the number one rule of the day.
When we pray, we can relate and find cohesiveness among many. When love and prayer are at the forefront, we accept each other and don't spend time talking about our different views on things. Prayer will foster unity in a group faster than anything else, as our focus is on God and not us. As we humble ourselves before God and others, the Power of the Spirit manifests in power to the level we will humble ourselves before God and to men.
Sin and unbelief blind us. They deaden our sensitivities. Our desires maybe misdirected for the wrong things. With Jesus Christ, as our mediator, we put our sins on the altar of God, forgiven, and our faith rises in belief because we depend on God's power and not ours. Prayer then becomes very powerful.
In agreement (centered around Jesus) being in harmony with each other, the Power of the Holy Spirit thrives under theses conditions.
In Matthew 18:19, the significance of In My Name stands out... "Where two or three are gathered In My Name there I am."
What is the significance of using His Name?
First, we are in harmony with the instructions of Jesus. There is perfect unity between Jesus and the Father. All the authority of God is transferred to the Son of God, Jesus. What importance did Jesus place in using His Name? There is reverence in the Name of God. Blessings and cures were attached to the Name of God. Not using the name of God in vain is a commandment. Jesus started His prayer with "hallowed be thy Name." We are standing on Holy Ground when addressing God, with the authority of Jesus with us.
In His Name, is saying we respect the agenda of Jesus and are praying in light of His Will. Jesus said what we ask according to His will, we can be confident He will answer us. Jesus did what He did in the authority of the God. God, the All Powerful Creator, responds to the requests of Jesus. We now share in Jesus' authority. What a powerful thought. When we walk as Jesus directs us to walk, and fulfill the Father in Heaven's will as Jesus did, we can expect miraculous results along the way.
Jesus said He would do nothing outside what the Father told Him to do. Jesus was so tuned into His Father's will that what He did was identical to the Father. Here's another outstanding revelation.... What we see in Jesus is God!
Jesus now commissions His disciples to do the same.
So in using the name of Jesus is using His authority, we now have in God as He had with God. Using His name demands we be in Christ as He is in us and in the same way the Father was in Him and He was in the Father. God is trinity. Trinity is Relationship. This reveals to us the value of relationship and effectiveness of relationship. That's why Jesus emphasized..."that they may be one, even as we are one." (John 17:22)
This is a very high calling. Anything less than this is religion without power, form without substance. The power they had did not come from themselves or what they had. Their lives were totally on the side of the Spirit... not material goods. When Spirit guides us we stretch out our hands to the needy, we share our bread in fellowship. Spirit turns loose the material. His blessing multiplies the bread.
All we need is the Spirit to move us, and we will experience His promise that if we agree together as touching anything that we shall ask, it shall be done.
The Spirit is manifested into the temporal, creating the tangible. This is in contrast to those who try through the material world to accomplish Spiritual ends. Our lesson from Jesus is that we should never attempt anything in our natural selves, but always begin with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit then creates the material, changes the emotions, mends broken hearts.
We see the Church as it formed, that is the Body of Christ which emerged after Pentecost, does the same things as Jesus. Corporately, we are the same as Jesus, so unity as One is essential to see the release and manifestations of Power Jesus demonstrated on earth. His plan is to do it now through a Body of Believers... versus just one person. So we all need the interconnections and relationships.
The place for prayer is not geographic. It is wherever God's people assemble together. But, it is always where believers (two or three or more) are gathered together in the Name of Jesus.
The Prayer of Intercession begins in God. It is not in us to shape prayer. It begins in God and is God. Its focus is on what He wills and what He plans to do. The action of the enemy is not against men, but against the plans of God. We rely on God's power for continued power, miracles and victory.
We know God is available, when we are in one accord, one mind and in the Spirit of God. The results...the place is shaken when people intercede and everyone gets excited about what is happening. They were filled with the Holy Spirit. One filling is not enough. They went back to prayer for a continuous flow of Spirit in Power in their lives. Jesus, when going to the mountain to pray, was transfigured anew by God. We can have this too.
They spoke the Word of God with boldness, a result of their times in prayer and through the inner presence and power of the Holy Spirit. As they shared bread and fellowship, there was no difficulty in having success when God is working in the hearts of people. Sharing all things in common, this loving fellowship and communion with each other ripped open the gates of Heaven for all the Mighty and Power of God to be seen at work all around them.
Spirit manifested in everything, in every way.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Magnificent Mind at Any Age... the Practical, the Body of Christ (5)
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Magnificent Mind at Any Age by Daniel G. Amen, M.D., is about the natural ways to unleash your brain's maximum potential. Amen says the brain and mind are two different things although they interact with each other. Our mind not only affects problems as attention deficit disorder, anxiety, depression, addictions, anger, but also being more thoughtful, creativity, energy, focus and effectiveness.
The first key to a magnificent brain is a balanced brain. Failure is often related to a brain gone wrong. The brain is very fragile and physical blows to it can affect its ability to function well. Avoid contact sports where the head can have blows to it like football, boxing, soccer. It's important to increase blood flow and your brain reserve. Brain reserve is building up neurons in our brain. This is done through
Making positive social connections,
Engaging in new learning,
Maintaining a healthy died,
Taking daily multiple vitamins,
Taking fish oil supplements,
Learning music,
Exercising regularly,
Dancing,
Expressing gratitude,
Meditating,
Controlling and balancing life is vital while eliminating daily habits that hold you back.
These bad habits affect you at all ages: Lousy diet, lack of exercise, risking brain trauma, chronic stress, negative thinking (worry, anger), poor sleep, cigarette smoke, excessive use of caffeine, alcohol, TV, video games, computer, cell phones, aspartame and MSG, and exposure to environmental toxins. All these, especially in excess, affect your brain's ability to function at its optimum.
The four circles of optimal health are your biological circle, psychological circle, your social circle and your Spiritual circle. Keep these in balance and active. Natural strategies for optimizing the brain are Multiple vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acid. Amen shares other natural supplements to aide ADD, anxiety and depression, insomnia, memory and pain.
Ignite new passion in life. Review what turned you on in your life, excited you or game you maximum fun in life in your past and present life. What would give you the same feelings in the future. Note them in these areas (your balance of life areas): relationships, work, finances, physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual life. Use this as your plan to follow to make your own miracles, to use your brain to define your dreams and make it a reality.
The rules to follow are to define your own success(specifically defined by you), success is a feeling and you must feel it, success at any price may not be success, it is a process that occurs in steps, success must be balanced, learned, defining success too low or too high will derail you, and success is having the ability to be honest with you. Now use the balance of life areas above. Tell your brain what you want and match your behavior to get it. Use your prefrontal cortex to plan it, do it.
Create a One-Page Miracle with the balance of life areas. Simply state what you want and what you are doing to make it happen.
In these areas, know when to put your brakes on. Know what is not taking you where you want and have the courage to say no. Saying no is okay if it takes you away from what you feel you want or need to be. Learn to use the phrase, "Let me think about it. If I want to do it, I will get back to you."
You don't have to live someone else's life. Know what you want and live it.
Embrace the truth and liberate yourself from the lies that pollute your brain. Amen calls these your ANTs... automatic negative thought. These negative thoughts may come in these ways. Always thinking and overgeneralizing, focusing on the negative, fortune-telling (predicting a negative future), mind reading or assuming you know what the other person is thinking, thinking with your feelings, guilt beatings, attaching negative labels to yourself and others, personalization which allows innocuous events to take on a personal meaning, and blaming other people for problems in your life. Each time any of these occur, turn on your internal logic part of your brain. Tell yourself and others the truth. Be a merciful judge to yourself, and express gratitude for things in your life and to others. When you do this, your brain actually works better.
To get unstuck, you can grease your brain by balancing your brain... consider herb and vitamin supplements, come back to problems later, think through answers before automatically saying no, write out options when you feel stuck, seek counsel, don't overreact to opposition, use reverse psychology on yourself.
Develop mental toughness and cultivate a resilient brain. Ten ways to do that are to gather informatoin on all issues, develop a personal sense of control by being proactive in solution action and not dwelling on mistakes of past, build self esteem telling yourself nice things about yourself, keep pleasure centers healthy, clear up traumas, face your fears, deal with adversity, use positive emotions such as laughter, rely on a moral compass, and nurture social support.
Brain trust grows when you enhance your social network. One of the best antidepressants is relating. Relating is an acronym for responsibility, empathy, listening, assertiveness, time, inquiry, noticing what you like the most, connecting with great groups. Be a maverick thinker and stop anxiety from allowing others to run your life. Maverick thinking is independent thinking, not accepting the norm just because it is the norm, creative thinking different than others, and the passionate belief you can make a difference.
The brain builds nerve cell networks tagged with names of people we see as honest and trustworthy or lying and unreliable. We can rebuild those brain connections by staying consistent and honest in our behavior. Behavior wins out over words and in time we can restore trust relations. This empowers the brain to know we are trusted. Your behavior tells the story.
For more indepth look at how to make your magnificent brain click to
http://www.amenclinics.com/
In Practical Ministry, The Body of Christ by Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft, he says that everyone hungers for reality. We must go beyond theory. The program for practical ministry in the Scriptures is expressed in Acts 2:41-47. When Jesus' disciples gathered,
they were centered in the Scriptures. They continued steadfastly. It means they devoted themselves to the study of God's Word. We are to be doers of the Word, James 2:22 , and not just hearers. To accomplish this daily devotion is necessary. A personal discipline is required with specific times set aside just for this... every day. A personal Bible reflection time done daily is just as important as group discussions of the Scriptures. Their goal was to learn and obey the Scriptures. Deuteronomy 6 says we were to do this all day long, and then all would be well with you.
The early church learned the apostles doctrine through kerygma.. the proclamation of Jesus. We learn it, become the Word and the proclamation is natural when it's naturally part of us.
Deuteronomy 6:7-9. Instruction is vitally important to make the Scriptures a walking, living, breathing part of us. "Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." It is vital to be a powerful proclaiming group. We proclaim it to each other and all we come in contact with.
Staying continually in God's word and God's presence yields great power. It transforms our minds to be Minds of Christ. The apostles spent 10 days in prayer. Peter gave a 3-minute sermon and 3000 people were converted that day. In the modern day we may give a 3-minute prayer, have ten days of preaching and not have one convert. We may very well be doing things backwards. Prayer must precede and exceed our proclamation times.
Then in addition to being centered in God's Word, they continued in fellowship. Their fellowship was immersed in the power of Spirit. It was an unconditional sharing, sacrificial love. They were gathered together in His Name. Jesus promised when we do that, He will be among us, in person, right there with us. It made koinonia possible... the intimate sharing of fellowship.
People were more important than property or policies. Needs were common. Communion is more than a ceremony to acknowledge Jesus as part of our lives. The sharing of bread with those who are in need is the spirit of communion. The bread the world wants, is hungry for, is both physical and spiritual. When it was necessary to meet the needs of others they sold their possessions. It's not as important to know how they met needs but that they did it. Their willingness to do it is what stands out. Such willingness proved the unselfishness of those members of the Body of Christ.
The role of Koinonia is found in Ephesians 4:2,3 and 1 Cor 1:9,10. "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." (NLT)
Some think just having a place to meet fosters koinonia. The assembly is just ecclesia. The Church centers around koinonia... a close knit sharing of all things in common, and looking out for the well being of everyone there. It's not a legislated thing. But it comes from Spirit in and among each other as expressed in Love they have for each other. They are gathered together in His Name.
It is important again to remind us that unity is what is important; not the specific number.
In Acts, there were a number of homes mentioned where they met. The home was their central meeting place. They met together in the Word and in the Name of Jesus. He was there. They were internally and externally blessed. They faithfully went from house to house, breaking bread, and eating with gladness and with singleness of heart. It is most dramatic to see the sacrificial love they had.
Paul found such sharing in as well with the Macedonian Christians. They were people persecuted and disenfranchised. With no source of income, they had to find ways to feed themselves. In the midst of this abject poverty they were willing to share with other saints. When they needed to, they would liquidate a portion or all of their assets for the benefit of the dependent members of the fellowship. They did not consider what they had as too valuable to sacrifice for those in need. The real truth that should shine through all this is the spirit of sacrificial sharing, the willingness to give up our self-interests was the top priority.
"If anyone should come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
An expression in the early days of the Pentecostal movement was "being sold out." Being sold out was that you held nothing back. To hold something back illustrated our selfish priority. It meant physical death to Ananias. It means Spiritual death to us. These people recognizing their desperate need, sold their possessions as they saw the desperate need of the community to know Christ in a living, vital relationship. Is it any wonder they had such a response from the people?
In the midst of sharing they were praising God and enjoying their food with gladness. This puts into perspective the unity of the mind of each and all. They were not split between the sacred and secular. The supernatural result of people who are sold out, committing all that they are to Him, is that many come into the Kingdom of God. This is the supernatural result of koinonia. Such love was a magnet that drew people to Christ. Power exuded all around them. With great power they gave witness of the resurrection.
The unity of the believers in koinonia caused the presence of the Lord to draw near. As they acted in unity, they became the manifestation of the presence of the Lord. The early life of Jesus was the bodily form of God on earth.The unity of the believers becomes a new body of flesh where God manifests himself in the world, now in the place of the physical presence of Jesus. We, as a unit, now walk the earth as the physical presence of Jesus. That's why unity is essential to see the power of Jesus, when on earth, to be manifested now.
"The works that I do, you will do even greater works than these."
(Jesus)
This new man of Jesus, the believers unified in the Body of Christ, will do the works even greater than Jesus when He was on earth.
4spirit@gmail.com
Magnificent Mind at Any Age by Daniel G. Amen, M.D., is about the natural ways to unleash your brain's maximum potential. Amen says the brain and mind are two different things although they interact with each other. Our mind not only affects problems as attention deficit disorder, anxiety, depression, addictions, anger, but also being more thoughtful, creativity, energy, focus and effectiveness.
The first key to a magnificent brain is a balanced brain. Failure is often related to a brain gone wrong. The brain is very fragile and physical blows to it can affect its ability to function well. Avoid contact sports where the head can have blows to it like football, boxing, soccer. It's important to increase blood flow and your brain reserve. Brain reserve is building up neurons in our brain. This is done through
Making positive social connections,
Engaging in new learning,
Maintaining a healthy died,
Taking daily multiple vitamins,
Taking fish oil supplements,
Learning music,
Exercising regularly,
Dancing,
Expressing gratitude,
Meditating,
Controlling and balancing life is vital while eliminating daily habits that hold you back.
These bad habits affect you at all ages: Lousy diet, lack of exercise, risking brain trauma, chronic stress, negative thinking (worry, anger), poor sleep, cigarette smoke, excessive use of caffeine, alcohol, TV, video games, computer, cell phones, aspartame and MSG, and exposure to environmental toxins. All these, especially in excess, affect your brain's ability to function at its optimum.
The four circles of optimal health are your biological circle, psychological circle, your social circle and your Spiritual circle. Keep these in balance and active. Natural strategies for optimizing the brain are Multiple vitamins, Omega-3 fatty acid. Amen shares other natural supplements to aide ADD, anxiety and depression, insomnia, memory and pain.
Ignite new passion in life. Review what turned you on in your life, excited you or game you maximum fun in life in your past and present life. What would give you the same feelings in the future. Note them in these areas (your balance of life areas): relationships, work, finances, physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual life. Use this as your plan to follow to make your own miracles, to use your brain to define your dreams and make it a reality.
The rules to follow are to define your own success(specifically defined by you), success is a feeling and you must feel it, success at any price may not be success, it is a process that occurs in steps, success must be balanced, learned, defining success too low or too high will derail you, and success is having the ability to be honest with you. Now use the balance of life areas above. Tell your brain what you want and match your behavior to get it. Use your prefrontal cortex to plan it, do it.
Create a One-Page Miracle with the balance of life areas. Simply state what you want and what you are doing to make it happen.
In these areas, know when to put your brakes on. Know what is not taking you where you want and have the courage to say no. Saying no is okay if it takes you away from what you feel you want or need to be. Learn to use the phrase, "Let me think about it. If I want to do it, I will get back to you."
You don't have to live someone else's life. Know what you want and live it.
Embrace the truth and liberate yourself from the lies that pollute your brain. Amen calls these your ANTs... automatic negative thought. These negative thoughts may come in these ways. Always thinking and overgeneralizing, focusing on the negative, fortune-telling (predicting a negative future), mind reading or assuming you know what the other person is thinking, thinking with your feelings, guilt beatings, attaching negative labels to yourself and others, personalization which allows innocuous events to take on a personal meaning, and blaming other people for problems in your life. Each time any of these occur, turn on your internal logic part of your brain. Tell yourself and others the truth. Be a merciful judge to yourself, and express gratitude for things in your life and to others. When you do this, your brain actually works better.
To get unstuck, you can grease your brain by balancing your brain... consider herb and vitamin supplements, come back to problems later, think through answers before automatically saying no, write out options when you feel stuck, seek counsel, don't overreact to opposition, use reverse psychology on yourself.
Develop mental toughness and cultivate a resilient brain. Ten ways to do that are to gather informatoin on all issues, develop a personal sense of control by being proactive in solution action and not dwelling on mistakes of past, build self esteem telling yourself nice things about yourself, keep pleasure centers healthy, clear up traumas, face your fears, deal with adversity, use positive emotions such as laughter, rely on a moral compass, and nurture social support.
Brain trust grows when you enhance your social network. One of the best antidepressants is relating. Relating is an acronym for responsibility, empathy, listening, assertiveness, time, inquiry, noticing what you like the most, connecting with great groups. Be a maverick thinker and stop anxiety from allowing others to run your life. Maverick thinking is independent thinking, not accepting the norm just because it is the norm, creative thinking different than others, and the passionate belief you can make a difference.
The brain builds nerve cell networks tagged with names of people we see as honest and trustworthy or lying and unreliable. We can rebuild those brain connections by staying consistent and honest in our behavior. Behavior wins out over words and in time we can restore trust relations. This empowers the brain to know we are trusted. Your behavior tells the story.
For more indepth look at how to make your magnificent brain click to
http://www.amenclinics.com/
In Practical Ministry, The Body of Christ by Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft, he says that everyone hungers for reality. We must go beyond theory. The program for practical ministry in the Scriptures is expressed in Acts 2:41-47. When Jesus' disciples gathered,
they were centered in the Scriptures. They continued steadfastly. It means they devoted themselves to the study of God's Word. We are to be doers of the Word, James 2:22 , and not just hearers. To accomplish this daily devotion is necessary. A personal discipline is required with specific times set aside just for this... every day. A personal Bible reflection time done daily is just as important as group discussions of the Scriptures. Their goal was to learn and obey the Scriptures. Deuteronomy 6 says we were to do this all day long, and then all would be well with you.
The early church learned the apostles doctrine through kerygma.. the proclamation of Jesus. We learn it, become the Word and the proclamation is natural when it's naturally part of us.
Deuteronomy 6:7-9. Instruction is vitally important to make the Scriptures a walking, living, breathing part of us. "Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." It is vital to be a powerful proclaiming group. We proclaim it to each other and all we come in contact with.
Staying continually in God's word and God's presence yields great power. It transforms our minds to be Minds of Christ. The apostles spent 10 days in prayer. Peter gave a 3-minute sermon and 3000 people were converted that day. In the modern day we may give a 3-minute prayer, have ten days of preaching and not have one convert. We may very well be doing things backwards. Prayer must precede and exceed our proclamation times.
Then in addition to being centered in God's Word, they continued in fellowship. Their fellowship was immersed in the power of Spirit. It was an unconditional sharing, sacrificial love. They were gathered together in His Name. Jesus promised when we do that, He will be among us, in person, right there with us. It made koinonia possible... the intimate sharing of fellowship.
People were more important than property or policies. Needs were common. Communion is more than a ceremony to acknowledge Jesus as part of our lives. The sharing of bread with those who are in need is the spirit of communion. The bread the world wants, is hungry for, is both physical and spiritual. When it was necessary to meet the needs of others they sold their possessions. It's not as important to know how they met needs but that they did it. Their willingness to do it is what stands out. Such willingness proved the unselfishness of those members of the Body of Christ.
The role of Koinonia is found in Ephesians 4:2,3 and 1 Cor 1:9,10. "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought." (NLT)
Some think just having a place to meet fosters koinonia. The assembly is just ecclesia. The Church centers around koinonia... a close knit sharing of all things in common, and looking out for the well being of everyone there. It's not a legislated thing. But it comes from Spirit in and among each other as expressed in Love they have for each other. They are gathered together in His Name.
It is important again to remind us that unity is what is important; not the specific number.
In Acts, there were a number of homes mentioned where they met. The home was their central meeting place. They met together in the Word and in the Name of Jesus. He was there. They were internally and externally blessed. They faithfully went from house to house, breaking bread, and eating with gladness and with singleness of heart. It is most dramatic to see the sacrificial love they had.
Paul found such sharing in as well with the Macedonian Christians. They were people persecuted and disenfranchised. With no source of income, they had to find ways to feed themselves. In the midst of this abject poverty they were willing to share with other saints. When they needed to, they would liquidate a portion or all of their assets for the benefit of the dependent members of the fellowship. They did not consider what they had as too valuable to sacrifice for those in need. The real truth that should shine through all this is the spirit of sacrificial sharing, the willingness to give up our self-interests was the top priority.
"If anyone should come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
An expression in the early days of the Pentecostal movement was "being sold out." Being sold out was that you held nothing back. To hold something back illustrated our selfish priority. It meant physical death to Ananias. It means Spiritual death to us. These people recognizing their desperate need, sold their possessions as they saw the desperate need of the community to know Christ in a living, vital relationship. Is it any wonder they had such a response from the people?
In the midst of sharing they were praising God and enjoying their food with gladness. This puts into perspective the unity of the mind of each and all. They were not split between the sacred and secular. The supernatural result of people who are sold out, committing all that they are to Him, is that many come into the Kingdom of God. This is the supernatural result of koinonia. Such love was a magnet that drew people to Christ. Power exuded all around them. With great power they gave witness of the resurrection.
The unity of the believers in koinonia caused the presence of the Lord to draw near. As they acted in unity, they became the manifestation of the presence of the Lord. The early life of Jesus was the bodily form of God on earth.The unity of the believers becomes a new body of flesh where God manifests himself in the world, now in the place of the physical presence of Jesus. We, as a unit, now walk the earth as the physical presence of Jesus. That's why unity is essential to see the power of Jesus, when on earth, to be manifested now.
"The works that I do, you will do even greater works than these."
(Jesus)
This new man of Jesus, the believers unified in the Body of Christ, will do the works even greater than Jesus when He was on earth.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
A Sense of Urgency... In Baptism, The Body of Christ (4)
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
A Sense of Urgency by John P. Kotter, change expert, was written just as things began to show dramatic deterioration in the economy. His message is that we need to have a day-to-day sense of urgency in our businesses to maintain business growth. Needless to say, the need to instill a sense of urgency is obvious. A sense of urgency is self-evident as we watch economic news deteriorate almost daily. The time for urgency is now. So, what's Kotter's priority tactics for urgencies?
Strategies for increasing true urgency include:
Giving people important facts. Facts that define new needs, and new goals. It should win over the mind strategy, the thoughts of others. A logical case needs to be accompanied by emotionally compelling needs. The goal is to create true urgency by winning over the hearts and minds, and sufficiently increase the sense of urgency.
Create action that rings an alert, externally oriented, and it constantly purges low value-added activities.
Bring the Outside In.
Bring in from the outside people, and evidence that will show what the outside opportunities and hazards are. Don't always shield people from troubling data. Redecorate your surroundings. Send people out to bring in new information about the world and have a newfound determination to do something with that information. Bring data in and frankly share it.
Behave with Urgency Every Day.
Respond fast, move now. Be visibly urgent. Urgency begets urgency. Ultimately it is often only a steadily growing wave of people behaving with a sense of urgency each and every day that conquers negativity and cynicism.
Your behavior should include... purge and delegate, move with speed, speak with passion, match words and deeds, let them all see it. Be deliberate with a balance of urgent patience. Never act content and each day demonstrate a sense of urgency in meetings, one on ones, emails. Choose words and language that compel urgency.
Find the Opportunity in Crisis.
Proceed cautiously, and remove what neutralizes a sense of urgency, people who want to stay complacent. Crisis can be used to create a sense of urgency. Always think of crisis as potential opportunities. Never forget though that a crisis does not automatically reduce complacency.
Deal with the NoNos, the naysayers.
To reduce complacency, make sure the urgency is visible, unambiguous, related to real business problems, and that it can be solved with small, simple actions. In serious crises, keep people focused on these simple actions they can enact constantly through the day. Big problems are solved through constant simple steps.
Be the example of urgency, set short-term immediate tasks and get short-term commitments. Practice urgency so others see your own demonstration of acting urgently.
When success becomes evident, urgency may wane. To keep up urgency after success, anticipate, in advance, a possible downturn in the sense of urgency. Plan for a solution in advance. As soon as you see urgency start to dip, renew the urgency raising tactics using the heart-head strategy.
As Speed increases, a sense of urgency will only become more essential.
Be exceptionally proactive in assessing how people will react. Plans need to focus on other's hearts as much as their minds. Relaying emotional consequences of action and inaction, are equally important as showing the truth behind the facts.
John Kotter has more for you at
http://www.johnkotter.com/
The banning together of Believers after the Acts explosion (Acts 2:1-4), brings us into a new understanding of this dynamic element which now exists called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft elaborates on what this all means in his chapter In Baptism, The Body of Christ.
If anything is to be accomplished for God's Glory and the overall well being of mankind, it must be done through the direction and orchestration provided by the Holy Spirit. It will require the collaborate cooperation of the Believers called the Body of Christ... where Christ's Spirit now exists on earth through man. This union when unified, is so powerful and magnificent, that this is truly another incarnation of God manifesting himself through men and women.
Exploding into civilization, coming and never leaving, the Body of Christ (Believers as one group) is now referred to as The Church. It's all who believe in Jesus as their Lord and ban as one with each other.
God's presence then moves within us rather than something on the outside like ceremonies, temples, altars. We, now as connected Believers are the new Temple where God exists in all the Power just as Jesus had when on the earth. That's why being in unity in heart and Spirit is so huge. This is where all power is now.
The Scriptures say we are built together as the place of habitation of God's Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)
So the believers in unity is the power and significance for seeing the manifest presence of Jesus in our lives today. In the Bible the word manifest means to open to sight. The Holy Spirit has people through whom He can show himself. When the Body of Christ is in proper relationship to God and to one another, The Holy Spirit works through it.
This is no secret of what happened. God forecast it through all His prophets in the Old Testament. Jesus is not a stand alone person. We as a unit, united, cooperating, loving each other as One, are Now Jesus. Jesus went from one person to now a Corporate Unit of many who believe in Him connected by God's Very Own Spirit. God's plan could not be aborted by anyone. His people were ready to receive His plan.
They met in one room and waited for this baptism or explosion of Spirit to deluge over them. Those in this room were different nationalities, sexes, religious backgrounds. Yet they came together and waited as One. They were in one accord, in harmony, one mind. The reason it took ten days for all this to happen was maybe it took that long for them to work out the differences, put them aside, and become one. They probably spent much time in self examination.
The power became internal, but manifested itself externally. The word incarnation is an appropriate word here. Its meaning is to embody in Spirit as an earthly form. It is God, Himself, now dwelling in those who received the Holy Spirit.
Then the explosion of the Holy Spirit came..
1. There was sound. It came as a strong wind going through the place.
2. There was something to see. It looked like fire on top of their heads.
3. There was compound reaction: They spoke in languages unknown, but each person hearing His own language. This noise went abroad. Everyone was amazed and marveled at what was happening. All the17 dialects represented heard people praising God in their own language.That very day 3000 more people became Believers and were added to the Body of Christ.
Koinonia emerged. They were no longer just a group meeting together, but an intimacy among them became obviously apparent. It was an intimate sharing fellowship as all things were considered to be in common and shared by all. This was done to such an extent, no one person in the group was without. All needs were met. Individuals seemed to lose individual identities in the group. There was a vicarious unselfishness to share all blessings with each other.
Unity in all things was the word of the day.
1. They were in unity as One with God.
2. They were one in themselves, one with the Holy Spirit now working vigorously through them. They turned over selfish ambitions for God's directives speaking unceasingly through them.
3. They were one with each other. As Peter spoke to the crowd afterward... He was speaking as the whole group of 11 disciples. A unique occurrence.
4. They were in unity with all Believers. Togetherness was the characteristic of the group, as well as the condition behind why they all had so much power now.
5. They were in communication. Now, the Spirit was communicating through them from the Spirit within them. They had God's voice in them speaking to them.
6. They were in unity in material things. They shared things of value with each other... food, clothing, shelter, houses, transportation. Even though most were in poverty, in their sharing they all become a group without any lack among them. Prosperity seems to promote individualism... individualism weakens Spiritual power. Their power came from their sharing... a new concept of power's origins.
7. They were in unity in witnessing. They had favor with all people and people listened to them. They were amazed that they seemed to know so much, and were bold as an authority in their field even though not educated. The warmth and love they had among each other, attracted many to them.
All this centered around the unity of Spirit as One Group they had. When there is disunity, the power is zapped. We should avoid disunity at all costs. Satan's premiere tool to make the Church powerless is to create disunity. When that happens, Power is diluted, exponentially, from the group. To the same degree, when their is unity, power is added exponentially to the group.
The Unity of Believers Brought the manifestation of God's Presence. A common ministry emerges when we are in unity in any group. As one in Spirit, the specific directives of Spirit become apparent for that particular group. Again, that's why Satan attacks to create disunity. Then power wanes.
From this outpouring of Spirit, all forms of power ministry became evident. The Word of God was preached. The prophetic words of God were expressed through common men. As a group they guarded doctrine so it was stable, and there was fellowship.They ate together and shared together.
Believers were without livelihood due to persecution and ostracism. Those were times of deprivation of family and food. They shared the basics of life with each other.
During all this, they were in constant prayer and worship. As one in worship the powers of the Supernatural presence of God created all forms of Supernatural gifts, healings and miracles of immediate manifestations.
The Very World-Creating Spirit of God was at work... regularly. This is our challenge today.To find ourselves completely lost in our Lord Jesus Christ so that we lose sight of all that brings individualism, division, unfeeling relationships within the fellowship. With the Baptism of Spirit in our whole group, many will come running to us.
4spirit@gmail.com
A Sense of Urgency by John P. Kotter, change expert, was written just as things began to show dramatic deterioration in the economy. His message is that we need to have a day-to-day sense of urgency in our businesses to maintain business growth. Needless to say, the need to instill a sense of urgency is obvious. A sense of urgency is self-evident as we watch economic news deteriorate almost daily. The time for urgency is now. So, what's Kotter's priority tactics for urgencies?
Strategies for increasing true urgency include:
Giving people important facts. Facts that define new needs, and new goals. It should win over the mind strategy, the thoughts of others. A logical case needs to be accompanied by emotionally compelling needs. The goal is to create true urgency by winning over the hearts and minds, and sufficiently increase the sense of urgency.
Create action that rings an alert, externally oriented, and it constantly purges low value-added activities.
Bring the Outside In.
Bring in from the outside people, and evidence that will show what the outside opportunities and hazards are. Don't always shield people from troubling data. Redecorate your surroundings. Send people out to bring in new information about the world and have a newfound determination to do something with that information. Bring data in and frankly share it.
Behave with Urgency Every Day.
Respond fast, move now. Be visibly urgent. Urgency begets urgency. Ultimately it is often only a steadily growing wave of people behaving with a sense of urgency each and every day that conquers negativity and cynicism.
Your behavior should include... purge and delegate, move with speed, speak with passion, match words and deeds, let them all see it. Be deliberate with a balance of urgent patience. Never act content and each day demonstrate a sense of urgency in meetings, one on ones, emails. Choose words and language that compel urgency.
Find the Opportunity in Crisis.
Proceed cautiously, and remove what neutralizes a sense of urgency, people who want to stay complacent. Crisis can be used to create a sense of urgency. Always think of crisis as potential opportunities. Never forget though that a crisis does not automatically reduce complacency.
Deal with the NoNos, the naysayers.
To reduce complacency, make sure the urgency is visible, unambiguous, related to real business problems, and that it can be solved with small, simple actions. In serious crises, keep people focused on these simple actions they can enact constantly through the day. Big problems are solved through constant simple steps.
Be the example of urgency, set short-term immediate tasks and get short-term commitments. Practice urgency so others see your own demonstration of acting urgently.
When success becomes evident, urgency may wane. To keep up urgency after success, anticipate, in advance, a possible downturn in the sense of urgency. Plan for a solution in advance. As soon as you see urgency start to dip, renew the urgency raising tactics using the heart-head strategy.
As Speed increases, a sense of urgency will only become more essential.
Be exceptionally proactive in assessing how people will react. Plans need to focus on other's hearts as much as their minds. Relaying emotional consequences of action and inaction, are equally important as showing the truth behind the facts.
John Kotter has more for you at
http://www.johnkotter.com/
The banning together of Believers after the Acts explosion (Acts 2:1-4), brings us into a new understanding of this dynamic element which now exists called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft elaborates on what this all means in his chapter In Baptism, The Body of Christ.
If anything is to be accomplished for God's Glory and the overall well being of mankind, it must be done through the direction and orchestration provided by the Holy Spirit. It will require the collaborate cooperation of the Believers called the Body of Christ... where Christ's Spirit now exists on earth through man. This union when unified, is so powerful and magnificent, that this is truly another incarnation of God manifesting himself through men and women.
Exploding into civilization, coming and never leaving, the Body of Christ (Believers as one group) is now referred to as The Church. It's all who believe in Jesus as their Lord and ban as one with each other.
God's presence then moves within us rather than something on the outside like ceremonies, temples, altars. We, now as connected Believers are the new Temple where God exists in all the Power just as Jesus had when on the earth. That's why being in unity in heart and Spirit is so huge. This is where all power is now.
The Scriptures say we are built together as the place of habitation of God's Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)
So the believers in unity is the power and significance for seeing the manifest presence of Jesus in our lives today. In the Bible the word manifest means to open to sight. The Holy Spirit has people through whom He can show himself. When the Body of Christ is in proper relationship to God and to one another, The Holy Spirit works through it.
This is no secret of what happened. God forecast it through all His prophets in the Old Testament. Jesus is not a stand alone person. We as a unit, united, cooperating, loving each other as One, are Now Jesus. Jesus went from one person to now a Corporate Unit of many who believe in Him connected by God's Very Own Spirit. God's plan could not be aborted by anyone. His people were ready to receive His plan.
They met in one room and waited for this baptism or explosion of Spirit to deluge over them. Those in this room were different nationalities, sexes, religious backgrounds. Yet they came together and waited as One. They were in one accord, in harmony, one mind. The reason it took ten days for all this to happen was maybe it took that long for them to work out the differences, put them aside, and become one. They probably spent much time in self examination.
The power became internal, but manifested itself externally. The word incarnation is an appropriate word here. Its meaning is to embody in Spirit as an earthly form. It is God, Himself, now dwelling in those who received the Holy Spirit.
Then the explosion of the Holy Spirit came..
1. There was sound. It came as a strong wind going through the place.
2. There was something to see. It looked like fire on top of their heads.
3. There was compound reaction: They spoke in languages unknown, but each person hearing His own language. This noise went abroad. Everyone was amazed and marveled at what was happening. All the17 dialects represented heard people praising God in their own language.That very day 3000 more people became Believers and were added to the Body of Christ.
Koinonia emerged. They were no longer just a group meeting together, but an intimacy among them became obviously apparent. It was an intimate sharing fellowship as all things were considered to be in common and shared by all. This was done to such an extent, no one person in the group was without. All needs were met. Individuals seemed to lose individual identities in the group. There was a vicarious unselfishness to share all blessings with each other.
Unity in all things was the word of the day.
1. They were in unity as One with God.
2. They were one in themselves, one with the Holy Spirit now working vigorously through them. They turned over selfish ambitions for God's directives speaking unceasingly through them.
3. They were one with each other. As Peter spoke to the crowd afterward... He was speaking as the whole group of 11 disciples. A unique occurrence.
4. They were in unity with all Believers. Togetherness was the characteristic of the group, as well as the condition behind why they all had so much power now.
5. They were in communication. Now, the Spirit was communicating through them from the Spirit within them. They had God's voice in them speaking to them.
6. They were in unity in material things. They shared things of value with each other... food, clothing, shelter, houses, transportation. Even though most were in poverty, in their sharing they all become a group without any lack among them. Prosperity seems to promote individualism... individualism weakens Spiritual power. Their power came from their sharing... a new concept of power's origins.
7. They were in unity in witnessing. They had favor with all people and people listened to them. They were amazed that they seemed to know so much, and were bold as an authority in their field even though not educated. The warmth and love they had among each other, attracted many to them.
All this centered around the unity of Spirit as One Group they had. When there is disunity, the power is zapped. We should avoid disunity at all costs. Satan's premiere tool to make the Church powerless is to create disunity. When that happens, Power is diluted, exponentially, from the group. To the same degree, when their is unity, power is added exponentially to the group.
The Unity of Believers Brought the manifestation of God's Presence. A common ministry emerges when we are in unity in any group. As one in Spirit, the specific directives of Spirit become apparent for that particular group. Again, that's why Satan attacks to create disunity. Then power wanes.
From this outpouring of Spirit, all forms of power ministry became evident. The Word of God was preached. The prophetic words of God were expressed through common men. As a group they guarded doctrine so it was stable, and there was fellowship.They ate together and shared together.
Believers were without livelihood due to persecution and ostracism. Those were times of deprivation of family and food. They shared the basics of life with each other.
During all this, they were in constant prayer and worship. As one in worship the powers of the Supernatural presence of God created all forms of Supernatural gifts, healings and miracles of immediate manifestations.
The Very World-Creating Spirit of God was at work... regularly. This is our challenge today.To find ourselves completely lost in our Lord Jesus Christ so that we lose sight of all that brings individualism, division, unfeeling relationships within the fellowship. With the Baptism of Spirit in our whole group, many will come running to us.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Peaks and Valleys... in Revelation, The Body of Christ (3)
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
Peaks and Valleys by Spencer Johnson, famous for Who Moved My Cheese, comes up with another allegorical treatment of life-preserving principles. The principles he lays out are simple to grasp, which makes the book valuable because many can easily relate to, and actually use them.
And what empowers the principles is Johnson's ability to intertwine them in a story. To truly make principles work, Johnson uses a progressive and constant return to the key principles as he builds the story... an excellent educational treatment. The result... they lock in your brain. Of course the ideal way to get the most benefit from this is to read the book. But for now, here's a short version of the truths in Peaks and Valleys.
Peaks and Valleys is a story of a bright young man who lived unhappily in a valley until he met a man on the peak. While growing up he was happy in the valley, but he lamented that he may have to spend his whole life there as he used to gaze at the peak and wonder about being there. All the jobs he had he never felt satisfied. He sometimes would gaze on the peak and for a while feel satisfied, just thinking about what it would be like on the peak. Maybe life would be different outside the valley. Of course, whenever he shared his dreams with those in the valley, they only criticized or discouraged him from climbing the peak.
So one day, he set out to climb the peak. He put his fear aside and took off on a journey. Unfortunately the trail he followed, ended part of the way up the peak. He got lost in the thicket of the trees. He fell trying to cross a narrow ridge. Got bruised and bled, then found a new path. The warnings of the people in the valley about the terrors of the peak crossed his mind. He continued. Got above the clouds and finally arrived. There he met the old man who changed his life forever.
He learned the Peaks and Valley approach to good and bad times. There the young man discovered three things: how to get out of the valley sooner; how to stay on a Peak longer; and how to have more Peaks and fewer Valleys. You make the good and bad times work for you, worry less and do better. Peaks and Valleys are a part of life. What matters is how we handle each when in them. First separate them from how you feel inside as a person. Each person must win this battle first.
It's most important to realize that Peaks and Valleys are connected. The error you make in Today's Good times create tomorrow's bad times. The wise things you do in Today's Bad times create tomorrow's Good times. We actually create our good and bad times by how we handle each.
Peaks are moments when you appreciate what you have. Valleys are moments when you long for what is missing. You can't always control your external circumstances, but you can control your personal peaks and valleys by what you believe and what you do. What you believe and do makes the difference. You change your valley into a peak, when you find and use the good that is hidden in the bad time. As you do, it is a reality that between peaks there are always valleys.
How you manage the valley determines how soon you reach your next peak. If you do not learn in a valley, you can become bitter. If you learn something valuable, you become better.
The young man went down to the valley to put to work what he learned from the old man, but it only lasted a short time. He wanted to talk to the old man again. But he felt if he returned to the peak, he would be disappointed once more when he returned to the valley. He went to a plateau and thought this over. Nonetheless, he returned to the peak.
This time he was invited to the old man's home. He was a very well off and had a beautiful home, breath-taking scenery with a view over a sparkling lake. There the old man showed him a graph of a heart beat. It had spikes up from the line. That was a healthy heartbeat. The old man pointed out that a healthy heartbeat is like life... it has peaks and valleys. No heartbeat is a straight line... when it does it's dead. But there are plateaus in the heartbeat. These are times of rest to reflect and renew.
Being on a peak too long affects your ego and you become arrogant. In the peak your ego makes things seem better than they are. In the valley the ego makes things seem worse that they are. When you put your ego aside you are more likely to leave a valley sooner.
The way to get to your next peak is to follow your sensible vision. A sensible vision is a vision of a future peak you want to be on that makes good sense to you. Something as big as you can imagine that is also realistic and attainable if you want it enough. Sensible means you can make what you imagine more real to you when you use all your five senses to create an image in such specific, believable detail that you begin to realize you can make it happen.
How you manage your Valley determines how soon you reach your next Peak. The pain in the valley can wake you up to a truth you have been ignoring. You are always creating two visions. A fearful vision or a sensible vision. Many people have as their valley fear. Avoid believing things are better than they really are when you are on the peak or worse than they are when in the valley. Make reality your friend. A personal peak is triumph over fear. Fear traps you from the truth and keeps you from succeeding. When on the peak learn humility and you will stay on the peak longer. At the peak you celebrate life, in the valley you learn about life. Let go of fear and get out of yourself in the valley. This is the first step that gets you moving out of the valley.
To stay on a Peak longer, be humble and grateful. Do more of what got you there. Keep making things better. Do more for others. Save resources for your coming valley. At work, be of greater service; in life, be more loving.
Life is always a series of peaks and valleys. Learn how to manage each.
In summary: Make reality your friend. Find and use the good hidden in a bad time. Appreciate and manage your good times wisely. Follow your sensible vision. Share it with others... how to make good and bad times work for them.
The Peaks and Valleys interactive community is at
http://www.peaksandvalleysthebook.com/
In the chapter, In Revelation, the Body of Christ by Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft, he leads us to the realization that as a body we are Christ, the same as Christ with all of Jesus' power on earth plus more. John the Baptist said this of Jesus, "He speaks God's words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit."( John 3:34, NLT)
So we have, as a Body, One, united, sharing in the Same Spirit, we have all of Spirit that was freely Given to Jesus on earth. We, still on earth, have all of this too... as a Body. Separated from each other we are powerless.
What is so astounding is that Jesus comes to us, even when we lock Him out. The doors where shut and Jesus was locked out. "That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them!" (note John 20:19-23)
In the middle of our turmoil, disheartening experiences, grief, Jesus is there. He comes through all the things that may block Him. He loves us so much, He comes even when we are blocking Him out. They had closed the doors for fear. Their leader was assassinated. Because of their association to him, they may be in jeopardy. Their fear could very likely be, "Am I next?" They just witnessed one of the most horrible deaths, or executions, one could go through. Fear overwhelmed them.
Fear always closes the doors. Fear kept them from seeing the resurrection. Our negative emotions trips our minds up. We need to be aware of what strong negative emotions can do to us. Jesus healed the blind more than likely to heal us out of our own blindness, both physical and spiritual. We can easily be led astray by depending on our limited resources when making decisions. When we lean on our own "flesh," the makeup of our mind and emotions, we limit the very power of God that wants to work in our lives then.
The principle to see is that Jesus came to them when they were gathered together. The secret to Spiritual Power is here: get with other believers when things get really bad, in every crisis and disturbing situation. It is the sure way to take advantage of the law of manifestation... He Will Be There.
When things get bad, we go back to what we have been doing before... Peter went fishing. Being fearful, the thoughts of God had gone out of their mind.They could not sense His Presence. Nothing could stop His coming to them, even walls and locked doors. He breaks through our fears, our flimsy plans to protect us. He will break through our locked up emotions and give the peace of His Presence.
The Manifest Presence of Jesus the Christ with us has these components active and intertwined:
1. Two or more
2. Gathered together
3. In Jesus' Name
That includes the Spiritual interaction of loving each other as Jesus loved us, sharing with each other in thoughts and goods, and serving each other with the attitude of considering others more important than ourselves. When you have all these components in the mix, you can expect the manifest presence of the Lord, that's all the creative powers of God's Spirit at work. (note Matthew 18:18-20, Acts 1-4)
With this, Jesus personal presence is there. Jesus came to His disciples with door's locked and afraid. He addressed their fears first and said, "Peace to you." When clouds of grief surround us we close our eyes to the reality of His closeness. At the Mount of Transfiguration, a cloud kept Jesus' out of sight. Clouds often obscure our vision, although, God is in the clouds. God was in the cloud at the Tabernacle in the wilderness. When clouds of grief or fear surround us, we can know God is in this phenomenon.
In this Manifest Presence we encourage one another and are in intimate fellowship with each other. We, from our hearts, easily enjoy the laws of His manifest presence. He is God and nothing is so comforting as His Presence. In our deepest of hearts, we just want to know He is there. Knowing this we are comforted, we have peace, and His Power comes over us.
The Manifest Presence provides peace. Jesus rebuked the winds when He was in the boat with His disciples and a storm raged around them. He simply said, "Peace, be still." Jesus, now through the Holy Spirit in our lives, says this to the storm that ranges around us, just like when He was there in the same boat. He says to our hearts and emotions, "Peace be Still."
The Manifest Presence provides pleasure and a deep gladness. When the disciples saw the Lord they were elated, ecstatic, spiritually wrapped in intense pleasure. Nothing that man can do can hinder God's purposes from being fulfilled. Healing is ours, eternal life is ours.
The Manifest Presence provides purpose. It seems selfish to be so concerned about our own happiness when the world is in grave misery. God wants us to be glad for a purpose. He sends us to share in His Purposes.... to bring peace, joy, and power to all around us... to bring hope, life and a future to every one we come in contact with. What a tremendous purpose... to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. To accomplish this, God used and uses ordinary people. It can be farmers, janitors, factory line workers, waiters, nurses, tax accountants, carpenters, mechanics, salespeople, a handyman, check out attendants, lawyers... all play a part in this purpose of being the Kingdom of God on earth. He has something special for all of us. When we think of what God sent Jesus to do, and its meaning and impartation to us, the magnitude of this assignment is staggering. As we follow in the life pattern of Jesus, we share in the great mission Jesus was on... to bring hope, salvation, love, power, and eternal wonder to mankind.
We have the assurance that as united believers we have His presence, and if we have His presence all things are, in a true reality, possible. God's callings are His enablements. He enables us to the assignments He gives us. We can expect supernatural signs to follow. As the Scriptures say, "These signs shall follow them who believe in Him." It's up to us.
We have a choice, to use His Presence or lose it for sake of inactivity in Him. If we think we can just take Him, to soak in His Presence in prayer and worship and not share, we fail in the task God has commanded each of us to perform. We are to share all the love, joy, power that is coming into our lives. Those who hoard the gifts God gives them will lose them. The faithful servants who invest His Gifts in others will have even more and those who don't use them will have them handed over to those using them.
Our lives are about finding needs and filling them. As we attempt Great things for God, He is there backing us up and filling us with His Power. We are being filled with a Divine supply. As we unite with another believer we see this being true. Then we become the manifestation of Jesus, as the Body of Christ.
The Manifest Presence provides power. We are not called to do the impossible, but to know that Jesus will provide the power to be and to do His will. Jesus breathed on them and said "Receive the Holy Spirit," which is Creative, Energizing, Exciting. This is the same Spirit responsible for the original creation of man that was breathed into us. We are to participate in redeeming action which takes personal sacrifice and transforms it with ability and power to share and serve our generation. His Spirit makes it all possible. His Spirit with us is His Presence with us. Thus we have the power to be and do. (Acts 1:8)
Hopefully, the awareness this brings is finding a newer and greater significance to our meeting together as believers. Greater awareness may result in our recognizing the presence of the Lord with us. The Body of Christ manifests in these times of fellowship. Whenever two or more believers meet in the name of Jesus in Prayer, the potential is immeasurable.
The importance that lies in how we relate to each other cannot be stressed enough. It must be a sacrificial love, a compassionate love. Love implies a giver and a receiver. The Body of Christ gathered together, one in Spirit, manifests the presence of the Lord. When His Presence manifests, the Body of Christ increases in love, power and size.
4spirit@gmail.com
Peaks and Valleys by Spencer Johnson, famous for Who Moved My Cheese, comes up with another allegorical treatment of life-preserving principles. The principles he lays out are simple to grasp, which makes the book valuable because many can easily relate to, and actually use them.
And what empowers the principles is Johnson's ability to intertwine them in a story. To truly make principles work, Johnson uses a progressive and constant return to the key principles as he builds the story... an excellent educational treatment. The result... they lock in your brain. Of course the ideal way to get the most benefit from this is to read the book. But for now, here's a short version of the truths in Peaks and Valleys.
Peaks and Valleys is a story of a bright young man who lived unhappily in a valley until he met a man on the peak. While growing up he was happy in the valley, but he lamented that he may have to spend his whole life there as he used to gaze at the peak and wonder about being there. All the jobs he had he never felt satisfied. He sometimes would gaze on the peak and for a while feel satisfied, just thinking about what it would be like on the peak. Maybe life would be different outside the valley. Of course, whenever he shared his dreams with those in the valley, they only criticized or discouraged him from climbing the peak.
So one day, he set out to climb the peak. He put his fear aside and took off on a journey. Unfortunately the trail he followed, ended part of the way up the peak. He got lost in the thicket of the trees. He fell trying to cross a narrow ridge. Got bruised and bled, then found a new path. The warnings of the people in the valley about the terrors of the peak crossed his mind. He continued. Got above the clouds and finally arrived. There he met the old man who changed his life forever.
He learned the Peaks and Valley approach to good and bad times. There the young man discovered three things: how to get out of the valley sooner; how to stay on a Peak longer; and how to have more Peaks and fewer Valleys. You make the good and bad times work for you, worry less and do better. Peaks and Valleys are a part of life. What matters is how we handle each when in them. First separate them from how you feel inside as a person. Each person must win this battle first.
It's most important to realize that Peaks and Valleys are connected. The error you make in Today's Good times create tomorrow's bad times. The wise things you do in Today's Bad times create tomorrow's Good times. We actually create our good and bad times by how we handle each.
Peaks are moments when you appreciate what you have. Valleys are moments when you long for what is missing. You can't always control your external circumstances, but you can control your personal peaks and valleys by what you believe and what you do. What you believe and do makes the difference. You change your valley into a peak, when you find and use the good that is hidden in the bad time. As you do, it is a reality that between peaks there are always valleys.
How you manage the valley determines how soon you reach your next peak. If you do not learn in a valley, you can become bitter. If you learn something valuable, you become better.
The young man went down to the valley to put to work what he learned from the old man, but it only lasted a short time. He wanted to talk to the old man again. But he felt if he returned to the peak, he would be disappointed once more when he returned to the valley. He went to a plateau and thought this over. Nonetheless, he returned to the peak.
This time he was invited to the old man's home. He was a very well off and had a beautiful home, breath-taking scenery with a view over a sparkling lake. There the old man showed him a graph of a heart beat. It had spikes up from the line. That was a healthy heartbeat. The old man pointed out that a healthy heartbeat is like life... it has peaks and valleys. No heartbeat is a straight line... when it does it's dead. But there are plateaus in the heartbeat. These are times of rest to reflect and renew.
Being on a peak too long affects your ego and you become arrogant. In the peak your ego makes things seem better than they are. In the valley the ego makes things seem worse that they are. When you put your ego aside you are more likely to leave a valley sooner.
The way to get to your next peak is to follow your sensible vision. A sensible vision is a vision of a future peak you want to be on that makes good sense to you. Something as big as you can imagine that is also realistic and attainable if you want it enough. Sensible means you can make what you imagine more real to you when you use all your five senses to create an image in such specific, believable detail that you begin to realize you can make it happen.
How you manage your Valley determines how soon you reach your next Peak. The pain in the valley can wake you up to a truth you have been ignoring. You are always creating two visions. A fearful vision or a sensible vision. Many people have as their valley fear. Avoid believing things are better than they really are when you are on the peak or worse than they are when in the valley. Make reality your friend. A personal peak is triumph over fear. Fear traps you from the truth and keeps you from succeeding. When on the peak learn humility and you will stay on the peak longer. At the peak you celebrate life, in the valley you learn about life. Let go of fear and get out of yourself in the valley. This is the first step that gets you moving out of the valley.
To stay on a Peak longer, be humble and grateful. Do more of what got you there. Keep making things better. Do more for others. Save resources for your coming valley. At work, be of greater service; in life, be more loving.
Life is always a series of peaks and valleys. Learn how to manage each.
In summary: Make reality your friend. Find and use the good hidden in a bad time. Appreciate and manage your good times wisely. Follow your sensible vision. Share it with others... how to make good and bad times work for them.
The Peaks and Valleys interactive community is at
http://www.
In the chapter, In Revelation, the Body of Christ by Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft, he leads us to the realization that as a body we are Christ, the same as Christ with all of Jesus' power on earth plus more. John the Baptist said this of Jesus, "He speaks God's words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit."( John 3:34, NLT)
So we have, as a Body, One, united, sharing in the Same Spirit, we have all of Spirit that was freely Given to Jesus on earth. We, still on earth, have all of this too... as a Body. Separated from each other we are powerless.
What is so astounding is that Jesus comes to us, even when we lock Him out. The doors where shut and Jesus was locked out. "That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them!" (note John 20:19-23)
In the middle of our turmoil, disheartening experiences, grief, Jesus is there. He comes through all the things that may block Him. He loves us so much, He comes even when we are blocking Him out. They had closed the doors for fear. Their leader was assassinated. Because of their association to him, they may be in jeopardy. Their fear could very likely be, "Am I next?" They just witnessed one of the most horrible deaths, or executions, one could go through. Fear overwhelmed them.
Fear always closes the doors. Fear kept them from seeing the resurrection. Our negative emotions trips our minds up. We need to be aware of what strong negative emotions can do to us. Jesus healed the blind more than likely to heal us out of our own blindness, both physical and spiritual. We can easily be led astray by depending on our limited resources when making decisions. When we lean on our own "flesh," the makeup of our mind and emotions, we limit the very power of God that wants to work in our lives then.
The principle to see is that Jesus came to them when they were gathered together. The secret to Spiritual Power is here: get with other believers when things get really bad, in every crisis and disturbing situation. It is the sure way to take advantage of the law of manifestation... He Will Be There.
When things get bad, we go back to what we have been doing before... Peter went fishing. Being fearful, the thoughts of God had gone out of their mind.They could not sense His Presence. Nothing could stop His coming to them, even walls and locked doors. He breaks through our fears, our flimsy plans to protect us. He will break through our locked up emotions and give the peace of His Presence.
The Manifest Presence of Jesus the Christ with us has these components active and intertwined:
1. Two or more
2. Gathered together
3. In Jesus' Name
That includes the Spiritual interaction of loving each other as Jesus loved us, sharing with each other in thoughts and goods, and serving each other with the attitude of considering others more important than ourselves. When you have all these components in the mix, you can expect the manifest presence of the Lord, that's all the creative powers of God's Spirit at work. (note Matthew 18:18-20, Acts 1-4)
With this, Jesus personal presence is there. Jesus came to His disciples with door's locked and afraid. He addressed their fears first and said, "Peace to you." When clouds of grief surround us we close our eyes to the reality of His closeness. At the Mount of Transfiguration, a cloud kept Jesus' out of sight. Clouds often obscure our vision, although, God is in the clouds. God was in the cloud at the Tabernacle in the wilderness. When clouds of grief or fear surround us, we can know God is in this phenomenon.
In this Manifest Presence we encourage one another and are in intimate fellowship with each other. We, from our hearts, easily enjoy the laws of His manifest presence. He is God and nothing is so comforting as His Presence. In our deepest of hearts, we just want to know He is there. Knowing this we are comforted, we have peace, and His Power comes over us.
The Manifest Presence provides peace. Jesus rebuked the winds when He was in the boat with His disciples and a storm raged around them. He simply said, "Peace, be still." Jesus, now through the Holy Spirit in our lives, says this to the storm that ranges around us, just like when He was there in the same boat. He says to our hearts and emotions, "Peace be Still."
The Manifest Presence provides pleasure and a deep gladness. When the disciples saw the Lord they were elated, ecstatic, spiritually wrapped in intense pleasure. Nothing that man can do can hinder God's purposes from being fulfilled. Healing is ours, eternal life is ours.
The Manifest Presence provides purpose. It seems selfish to be so concerned about our own happiness when the world is in grave misery. God wants us to be glad for a purpose. He sends us to share in His Purposes.... to bring peace, joy, and power to all around us... to bring hope, life and a future to every one we come in contact with. What a tremendous purpose... to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth. To accomplish this, God used and uses ordinary people. It can be farmers, janitors, factory line workers, waiters, nurses, tax accountants, carpenters, mechanics, salespeople, a handyman, check out attendants, lawyers... all play a part in this purpose of being the Kingdom of God on earth. He has something special for all of us. When we think of what God sent Jesus to do, and its meaning and impartation to us, the magnitude of this assignment is staggering. As we follow in the life pattern of Jesus, we share in the great mission Jesus was on... to bring hope, salvation, love, power, and eternal wonder to mankind.
We have the assurance that as united believers we have His presence, and if we have His presence all things are, in a true reality, possible. God's callings are His enablements. He enables us to the assignments He gives us. We can expect supernatural signs to follow. As the Scriptures say, "These signs shall follow them who believe in Him." It's up to us.
We have a choice, to use His Presence or lose it for sake of inactivity in Him. If we think we can just take Him, to soak in His Presence in prayer and worship and not share, we fail in the task God has commanded each of us to perform. We are to share all the love, joy, power that is coming into our lives. Those who hoard the gifts God gives them will lose them. The faithful servants who invest His Gifts in others will have even more and those who don't use them will have them handed over to those using them.
Our lives are about finding needs and filling them. As we attempt Great things for God, He is there backing us up and filling us with His Power. We are being filled with a Divine supply. As we unite with another believer we see this being true. Then we become the manifestation of Jesus, as the Body of Christ.
The Manifest Presence provides power. We are not called to do the impossible, but to know that Jesus will provide the power to be and to do His will. Jesus breathed on them and said "Receive the Holy Spirit," which is Creative, Energizing, Exciting. This is the same Spirit responsible for the original creation of man that was breathed into us. We are to participate in redeeming action which takes personal sacrifice and transforms it with ability and power to share and serve our generation. His Spirit makes it all possible. His Spirit with us is His Presence with us. Thus we have the power to be and do. (Acts 1:8)
Hopefully, the awareness this brings is finding a newer and greater significance to our meeting together as believers. Greater awareness may result in our recognizing the presence of the Lord with us. The Body of Christ manifests in these times of fellowship. Whenever two or more believers meet in the name of Jesus in Prayer, the potential is immeasurable.
The importance that lies in how we relate to each other cannot be stressed enough. It must be a sacrificial love, a compassionate love. Love implies a giver and a receiver. The Body of Christ gathered together, one in Spirit, manifests the presence of the Lord. When His Presence manifests, the Body of Christ increases in love, power and size.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
The Big Idea... In Mystery, The Body of Christ (2)
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
The Big Idea by Donny Deutsch, the reality show host for business dreamers, says now is the best time to make your entrepreneur dream come true... to making your first million. Our business culture is going through the most radical transformation since the industrial revolution. And all the churning in the economy is showing signs that the unemployment line is really your soul getting you to move on your dream at this time.
The first advice from the Deutsch road to success is do what you love. Do what you are passionate about, and if you aren't passionate about what you are doing now, find it and pursue it. Trust that inner voice and don't let anyone talk you out of it. Your big idea starts with an observation, your awareness. What do you see that needs to be done or made and you can do it?
How do you get your dream to reality and then make millions? Deutsch has many big idea lessons throughout his book. Here's a few of them. Ignorance can be bliss and you can bring something totally new to the marketplace when you don't know everything. Starting out with a new idea, many will get excited with you and want to help you get there. Funding many times comes from family and friends first.
Discipline, teamwork, courage and building winning combinations will create a solid foundation for your business. Many services exist on the web that help people with the big idea to get it going. You can learn how to do it by devoting an hour a day to study on how to do it, and getting around business groups who are doing it. Keep a notebook with you at all times to collect ideas that come along where ever you go. Childhood dreams can be your incubator for adult success.
Your frustrations with "there's got to be a better way" can be the open door to your big idea. Fix it, and start toward your million: there's probably a lot out there who feel the same way you do. The five steps to a better way are acknowledge it, own it, make it, wear it, sell it.
What is humanity longing to respond to. Can you create a new twist on it? Sell it to your neighborhood.
Will your idea make millions? Every successful product answers these questions: Does it have a million-dollar name? packaging? price point? market?
Break out of the box and be an innovator. Innovators have 5 qualities. "How would I approach this business challenge if I had no preconceived notions of how it should be done? If it has never been done that way before it may need to be done that way now. If it has been done, it can be done with another unique twist. Embrace your individuality and let that be your distinction. Challenge every day assumptions and create disruptions. Your innovations may be in your living room, kitchen, staring at you every day... just waiting for your personal, ingenious touch to it.
.
You have a right to make your dream a reality. So declare..."Why Not me!" You're personally entitled to do the work you love, live your life as you want to live it, and be all the things you want to be.
Do the process...
What is your mission statement?
What is your profile... uniquely appealing about you?
Who's the target market?
What's your media plan?
Who's on your board of directors?
Success is a democracy. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't join. If you got a revolutionary idea the chorus may clamor against you, but do it anyway. Someday they will be working for you.
If you want to succeed in life, write your own script. Don't be shackled to your failed scripts of the past. Build on your inner strengths like you build muscles, and draw on them during the inevitable crises of life and business. Tragedies show us what we are really made of, testing our will and resolve. Listen to your heart. If you feel a need, chances are others do too. Persistence always pays.
Dig beneath no's. Make a "no" a beginning not an ending, and no's are universal... they don't apply to everyone.
Prepare for the marathon, not the sprint. Prosper where planted, create value and results for others. Don't let big ego's fool you... many may have small bank accounts. Opportunity should not compromise your identity. The most important quality is attitude.
In parts 4 and 5 of the book Deutsch takes you down the road to your first million and shows you how to break down roadblocks.
Our attitudes in our relationships may be worth more than gold. Some say it takes money to make money to get the first million. Not necessarily so. The Internet and other avenues open up great doors we can begin opening when opening the business. Business tips to keep at the front are make people feel welcomed the first time you meet them. Be loyal to those loyal to you.
Showing gratitude goes a long way. Never display arrogance in your business and life. Make customers feel they are part of the family. All the money in the world won't make your idea work if it is a lousy idea. And all the poverty in the world won't stop your idea if it is great.
It is possible to shortcut the road to your first million.
1. Claim the spotlight. Put yourself out there. Be bold and make key contacts.
2. Put a stake in the ground. When the vision is hot, even before the plan is finished, claim the vision as yours. This initial energy you get from your vision is vital to maintaining momentum.
3. Use technology to leap ahead. Build a blogging audience first. The web has many services free, inexpensive and quickly accessible.
4. Team up, not down. Make key people partners. Keep your ego in check and get people better than you. Find others who love what they do too, to be along side you.
Having old fashioned family values is at the top good business that works. Your core values need to be unwavering and woven into all fabric of your business. Having a great story with a great product equal marketing success... a great idea, a passion people relate to, a news hook. Network success brings success. Network to help others as well as yourself. Target one key person. Make yourself prominent in the community. Tap into the virtual world. Ask for what you want.
Breaking through roadblocks. Put all your money, or in absence of money your time, all your energy, all you got behind your business idea. The path to money starts with your own money, then money from friends and family, then peer to peer lending, or next a small business loan, or partnering up, and finally find an angel. In most cases the new idea is launched with the help of those you know... yourself, family, peers. Get in the right trade shows. Be ready to expand your vision, find new applications that will attract new customers.
The blueprint to launching your business has 12 steps, (including 50 questions to answer).
1. Write your mission statement. 2. Describe your product or service.
3. Conduct market research. 4. Create your business plan.
5. Build your network. 6. Formalize your ideas.
7. Create a prototype. 8. Hold focus groups.
9. Find manufacturing and distribution. 10. Launch your website.
11. Publicize your idea. 12. Pitch potential suppliers/customers.
Deutsch identifies many websites per chapter to help you make it work. He's created a resource guide to traject your idea connecting you to many valuable tributaries of other specialized resources. Truly a work of great value to make it happen.The Big Idea website is part of Cnbc.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15838512
In Mystery, Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft in the Body of Christ takes us down the road to Emmaus. It is a lonely road thinking the most important person in our lives is gone. As they communed together on this road these two followers of Jesus didn't even recognize it was Jesus with them. (Note Luke 24:13-18)
They were intense in their conversation. They were so intense that the one they loved appeared and they didn't even recognize Him. The point here is Jesus pays particular attention to believers in Harmony and meeting in His name. They were so in the natural, that the Supernatural was apparent but not obvious to them. We fail to identify the presence of Christ in our daily lives and activities. We have not suffered the cross, thus we are not able to fully appreciate the Spirit and identify it at work in our lives. So, the presence of the Lord escapes us as it normally would seem present.
What the cross means for us is death to the self-life.
As we are able to disconnect the sovereignty of self, we are able to enthrone the sovereignty of the Spirit. The New Testament and the Body of Christ helps us to become sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
On the road to Emmaus, the two were preoccupied with their thoughts... of the temporal, the natural, and were blinded to the presence of Jesus, the Spirit of God. In so many instances, the Lord is with us and we don't even know it.
Can anything separate us from the Lord? We are promised of His presence when two or more meet and Jesus is the center of our interests. We can be blinded by grief like these two and fail to see Jesus being with us in our human circumstances.
If Christ came to them in the midst of their doubt, he will come to us in our time of anxiety. Understanding the powers of Spiritual relationship among believers should calm our anxieties in the face of loss.
Jesus after His death, resurrection and even appearance to the disciples stood on the shores and they again didn't recognize Him. (John 21:1)
This Spiritual blindness that afflicts us from time to time is caused by inattention, panic, grief, even ecstasy. It keeps us from seeing Jesus who is with us. We must allow Him to teach us to "see" Him in all the ways He may manifest himself to us. We can become so self-absorbed we are indeed blind to Him being beside us.
The point is that Jesus was with them. He has promised to be with those who meet in His Spirit and in His name. He keeps His promises even though we don't recognize it. When we don't recognize Him we become people of despair and a sad countenance. Like us, they were trying so hard to figure things out, in their own human thoughts, they totally missed Him.
We cannot see God when we limit seeing Him to our own intelligence. Our own intelligence, in absence of Spiritual intelligence, makes us sluggish, and dull-witted simpletons. God said His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8)
We have one solution: the Holy Spirit must totally over take our lives so we can be responsive to each occasion of His Presence with us. We must turn our eyes from the temporal, natural, and be fixed on the Heavenly, the Supernatural. "I will teach you all things," Jesus. (John 14:26)
Our part is to desire Him, seek Him diligently with all of our hearts. He has told us that in the day we seek him diligently with our hearts we will be found by Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
Once you have felt the presence of the Lord you hunger for more, continually. Once you have recognized Him you long for His communication. It is in the time of the evening shadows when we may feel that Jesus is not with us. We want His presence in the dark times of our lives... times of uncertainty...times of loneliness...times that are threatening.
His promise: "where two or three are gathered in My Name.... there I am." (Matthew 18:20) If we desire Him, He will not disappoint us. It is comforting to know that if we call on another believer friend, meet in Jesus' Name, the promise of the Holy Spirit, creative power of everything, is guaranteed.
When does He meet us? He meets us in the common activities of our lives. He is the center of our focus. He blesses our bread. It is in our sharing that He is revealed to us. When did they recognize Him... during the breaking and sharing of bread. When we are broken, and then share, His power erupts.
Additional emphasis should be placed on that it is in the sharing that He becomes known to us. We cannot keep Jesus to ourselves as our own little treasure. Jesus must be shared to be ours.
Just remember. Jesus' appearance may be a mystery. He appears in ways we least expect. He will come to us, but not as we may naturally think. He delights to surprise us, so be attentive to Him as He appears in surprising ways.
Live expectantly and Jesus will appear in the most unexpected ways...He truly delights to surprise you.
4spirit@gmail.com
The Big Idea by Donny Deutsch, the reality show host for business dreamers, says now is the best time to make your entrepreneur dream come true... to making your first million. Our business culture is going through the most radical transformation since the industrial revolution. And all the churning in the economy is showing signs that the unemployment line is really your soul getting you to move on your dream at this time.
The first advice from the Deutsch road to success is do what you love. Do what you are passionate about, and if you aren't passionate about what you are doing now, find it and pursue it. Trust that inner voice and don't let anyone talk you out of it. Your big idea starts with an observation, your awareness. What do you see that needs to be done or made and you can do it?
How do you get your dream to reality and then make millions? Deutsch has many big idea lessons throughout his book. Here's a few of them. Ignorance can be bliss and you can bring something totally new to the marketplace when you don't know everything. Starting out with a new idea, many will get excited with you and want to help you get there. Funding many times comes from family and friends first.
Discipline, teamwork, courage and building winning combinations will create a solid foundation for your business. Many services exist on the web that help people with the big idea to get it going. You can learn how to do it by devoting an hour a day to study on how to do it, and getting around business groups who are doing it. Keep a notebook with you at all times to collect ideas that come along where ever you go. Childhood dreams can be your incubator for adult success.
Your frustrations with "there's got to be a better way" can be the open door to your big idea. Fix it, and start toward your million: there's probably a lot out there who feel the same way you do. The five steps to a better way are acknowledge it, own it, make it, wear it, sell it.
What is humanity longing to respond to. Can you create a new twist on it? Sell it to your neighborhood.
Will your idea make millions? Every successful product answers these questions: Does it have a million-dollar name? packaging? price point? market?
Break out of the box and be an innovator. Innovators have 5 qualities. "How would I approach this business challenge if I had no preconceived notions of how it should be done? If it has never been done that way before it may need to be done that way now. If it has been done, it can be done with another unique twist. Embrace your individuality and let that be your distinction. Challenge every day assumptions and create disruptions. Your innovations may be in your living room, kitchen, staring at you every day... just waiting for your personal, ingenious touch to it.
.
You have a right to make your dream a reality. So declare..."Why Not me!" You're personally entitled to do the work you love, live your life as you want to live it, and be all the things you want to be.
Do the process...
What is your mission statement?
What is your profile... uniquely appealing about you?
Who's the target market?
What's your media plan?
Who's on your board of directors?
Success is a democracy. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't join. If you got a revolutionary idea the chorus may clamor against you, but do it anyway. Someday they will be working for you.
If you want to succeed in life, write your own script. Don't be shackled to your failed scripts of the past. Build on your inner strengths like you build muscles, and draw on them during the inevitable crises of life and business. Tragedies show us what we are really made of, testing our will and resolve. Listen to your heart. If you feel a need, chances are others do too. Persistence always pays.
Dig beneath no's. Make a "no" a beginning not an ending, and no's are universal... they don't apply to everyone.
Prepare for the marathon, not the sprint. Prosper where planted, create value and results for others. Don't let big ego's fool you... many may have small bank accounts. Opportunity should not compromise your identity. The most important quality is attitude.
In parts 4 and 5 of the book Deutsch takes you down the road to your first million and shows you how to break down roadblocks.
Our attitudes in our relationships may be worth more than gold. Some say it takes money to make money to get the first million. Not necessarily so. The Internet and other avenues open up great doors we can begin opening when opening the business. Business tips to keep at the front are make people feel welcomed the first time you meet them. Be loyal to those loyal to you.
Showing gratitude goes a long way. Never display arrogance in your business and life. Make customers feel they are part of the family. All the money in the world won't make your idea work if it is a lousy idea. And all the poverty in the world won't stop your idea if it is great.
It is possible to shortcut the road to your first million.
1. Claim the spotlight. Put yourself out there. Be bold and make key contacts.
2. Put a stake in the ground. When the vision is hot, even before the plan is finished, claim the vision as yours. This initial energy you get from your vision is vital to maintaining momentum.
3. Use technology to leap ahead. Build a blogging audience first. The web has many services free, inexpensive and quickly accessible.
4. Team up, not down. Make key people partners. Keep your ego in check and get people better than you. Find others who love what they do too, to be along side you.
Having old fashioned family values is at the top good business that works. Your core values need to be unwavering and woven into all fabric of your business. Having a great story with a great product equal marketing success... a great idea, a passion people relate to, a news hook. Network success brings success. Network to help others as well as yourself. Target one key person. Make yourself prominent in the community. Tap into the virtual world. Ask for what you want.
Breaking through roadblocks. Put all your money, or in absence of money your time, all your energy, all you got behind your business idea. The path to money starts with your own money, then money from friends and family, then peer to peer lending, or next a small business loan, or partnering up, and finally find an angel. In most cases the new idea is launched with the help of those you know... yourself, family, peers. Get in the right trade shows. Be ready to expand your vision, find new applications that will attract new customers.
The blueprint to launching your business has 12 steps, (including 50 questions to answer).
1. Write your mission statement. 2. Describe your product or service.
3. Conduct market research. 4. Create your business plan.
5. Build your network. 6. Formalize your ideas.
7. Create a prototype. 8. Hold focus groups.
9. Find manufacturing and distribution. 10. Launch your website.
11. Publicize your idea. 12. Pitch potential suppliers/customers.
Deutsch identifies many websites per chapter to help you make it work. He's created a resource guide to traject your idea connecting you to many valuable tributaries of other specialized resources. Truly a work of great value to make it happen.The Big Idea website is part of Cnbc.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15838512
In Mystery, Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft in the Body of Christ takes us down the road to Emmaus. It is a lonely road thinking the most important person in our lives is gone. As they communed together on this road these two followers of Jesus didn't even recognize it was Jesus with them. (Note Luke 24:13-18)
They were intense in their conversation. They were so intense that the one they loved appeared and they didn't even recognize Him. The point here is Jesus pays particular attention to believers in Harmony and meeting in His name. They were so in the natural, that the Supernatural was apparent but not obvious to them. We fail to identify the presence of Christ in our daily lives and activities. We have not suffered the cross, thus we are not able to fully appreciate the Spirit and identify it at work in our lives. So, the presence of the Lord escapes us as it normally would seem present.
What the cross means for us is death to the self-life.
As we are able to disconnect the sovereignty of self, we are able to enthrone the sovereignty of the Spirit. The New Testament and the Body of Christ helps us to become sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
On the road to Emmaus, the two were preoccupied with their thoughts... of the temporal, the natural, and were blinded to the presence of Jesus, the Spirit of God. In so many instances, the Lord is with us and we don't even know it.
Can anything separate us from the Lord? We are promised of His presence when two or more meet and Jesus is the center of our interests. We can be blinded by grief like these two and fail to see Jesus being with us in our human circumstances.
If Christ came to them in the midst of their doubt, he will come to us in our time of anxiety. Understanding the powers of Spiritual relationship among believers should calm our anxieties in the face of loss.
Jesus after His death, resurrection and even appearance to the disciples stood on the shores and they again didn't recognize Him. (John 21:1)
This Spiritual blindness that afflicts us from time to time is caused by inattention, panic, grief, even ecstasy. It keeps us from seeing Jesus who is with us. We must allow Him to teach us to "see" Him in all the ways He may manifest himself to us. We can become so self-absorbed we are indeed blind to Him being beside us.
The point is that Jesus was with them. He has promised to be with those who meet in His Spirit and in His name. He keeps His promises even though we don't recognize it. When we don't recognize Him we become people of despair and a sad countenance. Like us, they were trying so hard to figure things out, in their own human thoughts, they totally missed Him.
We cannot see God when we limit seeing Him to our own intelligence. Our own intelligence, in absence of Spiritual intelligence, makes us sluggish, and dull-witted simpletons. God said His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8)
We have one solution: the Holy Spirit must totally over take our lives so we can be responsive to each occasion of His Presence with us. We must turn our eyes from the temporal, natural, and be fixed on the Heavenly, the Supernatural. "I will teach you all things," Jesus. (John 14:26)
Our part is to desire Him, seek Him diligently with all of our hearts. He has told us that in the day we seek him diligently with our hearts we will be found by Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
Once you have felt the presence of the Lord you hunger for more, continually. Once you have recognized Him you long for His communication. It is in the time of the evening shadows when we may feel that Jesus is not with us. We want His presence in the dark times of our lives... times of uncertainty...times of loneliness...times that are threatening.
His promise: "where two or three are gathered in My Name.... there I am." (Matthew 18:20) If we desire Him, He will not disappoint us. It is comforting to know that if we call on another believer friend, meet in Jesus' Name, the promise of the Holy Spirit, creative power of everything, is guaranteed.
When does He meet us? He meets us in the common activities of our lives. He is the center of our focus. He blesses our bread. It is in our sharing that He is revealed to us. When did they recognize Him... during the breaking and sharing of bread. When we are broken, and then share, His power erupts.
Additional emphasis should be placed on that it is in the sharing that He becomes known to us. We cannot keep Jesus to ourselves as our own little treasure. Jesus must be shared to be ours.
Just remember. Jesus' appearance may be a mystery. He appears in ways we least expect. He will come to us, but not as we may naturally think. He delights to surprise us, so be attentive to Him as He appears in surprising ways.
Live expectantly and Jesus will appear in the most unexpected ways...He truly delights to surprise you.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Knack... the living power of the Body of Christ (1)
by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
The Knack by Norm Brodsky and Bo Burlingham is how street-smart entrepreneurs learn to handle whatever comes up. Business is not something that can be learned with a step-by-step formula. It is a way of thinking that allows someone to deal with many different situations and many different opportunities that come up. This will not guarantee success but it will improve your chances significantly.
Brodsky concludes each chapter with his bottom line... key points of the chapter. One way to quick read the book, as most entrepreneurs are in a hurry to get to the point, is to read the end of each chapter's key points. Then go back into the chapter for more detail on areas of particular interest.
So this summary will deal with a sampling of these critical points, much like business proverbs. There are seventeen chapters. With four points a chapter, that's a bunch for a summary. Although this will serve as a guide for points of interest you may want to explore more in detail.
How to Succeed in Business
Don't let your emotions lead you into hasty decisions that will make it difficult for you to achieve your goals. Figure out in advance the cash necessary for the business and what you must do to maintain it. Control the sales mentality and balance it with a business mentality. Have a good feel for the business and its numbers.
The Right Stuff
Perseverance wins, be resilient and welcome failure. When things go wrong look deep inside you for why it went wrong. Solutions are seldom right in front of you. Learn how to spot them out of the corner of your eye.
Why Startups Fail
Your first business should be simple and write your business plan for yourself. Your time is more valuable than money, so learn to use it well and not waste it.
Where the money is
Treat bankers like you would want your customers to treat you. Your receivables are loans to your customers.
Magic Numbers
Find your numbers that help you follow your business in real time. More sales mean less cash flow. Make sure you keep your cash flow up. Know how to figure a true value of your business.
The Art of the Deal
Know what is really being said. Assume the other side is smarter than you. Dig deeper, there is more to it than what meets the eye on the surface. Not all parts of a deal will make both sides happy.
It Begins with a Sale
What business are you really in... know your niche in time. If you don't ask you won't get. You won't find your niche until after you've launched your business, and no niche lasts forever.
Good Sales, Bad Sales
You are better off with more smaller customers. Showing is better then telling. They need to experience it, and listen well.
Customers for Keeps
Teach them your business.
Always treat old customers like the new prospects. As you grow, make sure you keep face to face time with them.
How to Lose Customers
Customers don't like to think they are feeding lavish lifestyles. Avoid big jumps in prices. Increase prices to maintain needed margins slowing and over time.
The Decision to Grow
Do a life plan before your business plan. Make sure you have good reasons for why you want to grow. Bigger is not always better. Small companies have some advantages over larger companies.
Becoming the Boss
Even though you become close to your employees, the business relationship needs to be treated as such. Keep good systems so people can be trusted, and they guard employee integrity.
The One Thing you Can't Delegate
You shape the culture of your business and it is the most powerful for finding and keeping good employees. You can't delegate this responsibility to craft your culture. You need to get everyone involved in controlling expenses. Let your employees know you care about them and they will care about keeping expenses down.
Selling is a Team Sport
Choose sales people that represent you well. Your market sees your company in how they represent themselves. Commission only sales takes away from a company team effort. Involve all your employees in selling.
Help! I need Somebody
Accountants are good at seeing what has happened in the past, but don't go to them for business advice. Talk to an experienced business owner instead. Attorneys are good at law, but don't go to them for business advice. World class executives will work for you if you make sure they make money and are having fun.
When the Student is Ready the Teacher Appears
When problems come up, first stop the bleeding then find the underlying causes. Be sure to read and re-read a contract to make sure what is in it. The harder someone pushes you to make a quick decision, the more you should insist about taking your time.
Keeping Up with the Stones
Be prepared to carry sales people for a year before getting the kind of production that will justify their cost. Sales people need to know how you make money. Watch your numbers and when they change find out why; there is a reason. Enthusiasm is the life blood of a business, be generous with it.
For more on The Knack,
http://www.theknack.info/
Norm Brodsky is a regular contributor to Inc. magazine,
http://www.inc.com/
The Body of Christ by Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft was the life work of Dr. Ashcroft. He wanted the Church, the Body of Christ, the living organism of Jesus alive and well among us so we know what we really have. As an Inspired visionary, his hope was to help us all realize and live in the same power as recorded in the Acts Church of the New Testament.
Here's a beginning of a summary of the Body of Christ, a devotional study by Dr. Ashcroft... (introduction and chapter 1), Jesus establishes a new body.
Dr. Ashcroft had a theme line which came out of the forward to his book. "How can we love God whom we have not seen if we do not love man who we do see." (1 John 4:20) "Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these you have done it to me." (Matthew 24:40)
I recall the initial words in the beginning of what became a 7-year relationship... the last 7 years of his life. "The Power of the 21st Century Church will be in the home." At the time he didn't have the cultural research we have today. He was a man of Spirit and Spirit informed him that by 2000 with the Internet and new cultures emerging we long for connection and intimacy among each other. We connect in our homes via the Internet and smart phones keep us in touch in all places we go.
Dr. Ashcroft goes on to say in the forward, "It is my conviction that our churches will never enjoy the fuller measures of grace and gifts of the Spirit until there is Spiritual Affinity among the believers of our congregations." Today people prefer to relate in smaller environments like homes and offices. "Affinity" means to merge or progressively grow as one. "May they also be one as we are One."(John 17:21)
And Jesus said if we become One as He and our Father in Heaven are One, there will be greater things than ever in our lives. Jesus promised this. (John 14:12) This study is about the conditions we must meet to see this manifest presence of Jesus in the world around us, how we must prepare for this manifest presence. Our mandate is to seek out those who have strayed from the flock of Christ, and rekindle the fire that agreement sparks in our activities. "Where two agree as touching anything that they shall ask, we are guaranteed it will be done." (Matthew 18:18) The key word is what "agree" is. Ashcroft takes great care to define that.
Where does the Body of Christ begin? It begins with a child. "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" The child. (Matthew 18:1) Jesus saw the individual. He was aware of crowds, but it was the individual that was important to Him. We must see individuals, persons, not just audiences. Why a child? A child is most teachable. A person's best time for learning is as a child, in both speed and quality. A child is the Biblical quality of meekness. To be meek is to put oneself at the disposal of the Lord. It is this character that marks the leader that is put in charge. The seat of authority, the transfer of power is to the meek and teachable as a child; to those who receive these little ones in the Name of Jesus.
This means that a person must have an appropriate attitude about oneself, that is humble and teachable. And one must have an attitude of concern and acceptance toward others, especially the little ones. To offend a little one, the least of these, is a serious matter in the Kingdom of God. So the power to fulfill the ministry of the Kingdom of God is in the Relationship between the disciples in this way. The attitude is to be servant of all. "You cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven unless you become like (the meekness of) a little child." (Matthew 18:3)
What should be noted is the significance of receiving a little child. If we receive a little child in His name, it is as though we are receiving Jesus. How we act and receive the humblest person or the most unlovable in the body of Christ may determine how we are able to "receive" Christ Himself. It goes back to our relationship, and including even the least of those around us. Each person is important to Jesus. Too often the abjectly poor, the unschooled, different classes and races are ignored. Those who ignore these, the least, may not be in the Body of Christ. So this first part is foundationally critical to establish as a base....the importance of the individual, relating to individuals in the Name of Jesus, what Jesus stands for.
Everything depends upon our relationship to each other. Where harmony prevails we know that God commands a blessing. "Where brothers dwell in unity, the Lord commanded the blessing..." (Psalm 133:1,3) We should be careful not to offend anyone, even the least or the most insignificant, and in the smallest matters. So we do not allow the smallest of offense to hinder the harmony we should hold up to maintain. All matters that create disharmony should be resolved quickly. When disharmony prevails, it prevents the power of Spirit to function fluidly. Condemnation is not a prerequisite of an individual. Every effort at reconciliation is to be made by the individual.
Too often we focus on the numbers (two or three) as the reason for the manifest presence of Christ. The critical issue is not the number, but the relationship between the two or three. It is easier to get harmony, too, between two or three than a mass of people. The real issue is: are we relating to each other? If not, the number means nothing. Most groups are really crowds. Most are there for individual interests. These groups are ineffective when relationship qualities are weak or don't exist. Spirit is neutralized and we do not see the benefits realized.
Note that action on earth is validated by action in heaven. This is the germ of truth for this principle. The key phrase to remember is when two or three are gathered together in my name. We involve heaven when we meet in His Name. (Matthew 18:20)
This truth is supported then by the promise in Matthew 18:20. This brings us to the universal principle in Spirit which opens the door for its Supernatural power. Our relationship to others On Earth Releases God's power in Heaven.
Why? Jesus also promises to be in our midst, In Spirit in our presence, when two or three agree. With Jesus right here with us, all the creative, healing, relational powers of God are in full operation, at work with and around us. This is A Super WOW, when we take a minute to contemplate the implications of this.
We can be sure when Jesus is in our midst, present with us, all of His wisdom for guidance is with us, loving forgiveness prevails, revelation is present, knowledge beyond our understanding comes to mind, and everything about God's literal creative powers is manifested. When Jesus, the Christ, is the center of our lives and in our efforts, we have all the potential of His manifested presence.
What builds relationships more than anything else... Forgiveness.
We are to forgive without limits (Matthew 18:21, 22) This is to be a permanent attitude. When in doubt ask for forgiveness. It takes a humble person to ask for forgiveness. It takes a person confident in the resilient power of the Spirit to seek forgiveness... even when it may be someone else's fault. We ask, and relationships are built around this one principle of Spiritual Power.
The spirit of forgiveness is permanent. No individual condemnation. No grudges. No personal recrimination. This spirit of forgiveness is of staggering magnitude.
The foundation for power then is ...
do the Father's will,
love vicariously and sacrificially,
and be humble and forgiving.
When we are attentive to the Name of the Lord and are honest in our good attitude toward and sharing with one another, we can expect God to be joined with us in our purposes. Private or selfish interest cannot play a part in our enjoying the privilege of being a part of the Body of Christ. The private interests of any one must be sacrificed to the community. We need each other.
The word "agree" originates from the word symphony. The word "symphony" implies a harmony being heard as in a great symphonic orchestra where every instrument is in perfect harmony. They are under the synchronized directions of the conductor, being subject to the refined signs of the conductor. The conductor keeps everyone in tune, at the right volume, and with the right emotional quality to get the message across.
This is what agreement is about. A depth of spiritual agreement is much like an orchestra. When meeting in His name and this level of spiritual affinity exists, we create the power of harmony where we then see the manifest presence of Jesus among us. This takes humility and forgiveness. Thus forgiveness is the essential component of harmony among believers.
To summarize chapter one of the Body of Christ, the fundamental Spirit that guides us manifests itself in the humility of a child, a willingness to learn, and forgiveness of Jesus Spirit that is at work in us.
4spirit@gmail.com
The Knack by Norm Brodsky and Bo Burlingham is how street-smart entrepreneurs learn to handle whatever comes up. Business is not something that can be learned with a step-by-step formula. It is a way of thinking that allows someone to deal with many different situations and many different opportunities that come up. This will not guarantee success but it will improve your chances significantly.
Brodsky concludes each chapter with his bottom line... key points of the chapter. One way to quick read the book, as most entrepreneurs are in a hurry to get to the point, is to read the end of each chapter's key points. Then go back into the chapter for more detail on areas of particular interest.
So this summary will deal with a sampling of these critical points, much like business proverbs. There are seventeen chapters. With four points a chapter, that's a bunch for a summary. Although this will serve as a guide for points of interest you may want to explore more in detail.
How to Succeed in Business
Don't let your emotions lead you into hasty decisions that will make it difficult for you to achieve your goals. Figure out in advance the cash necessary for the business and what you must do to maintain it. Control the sales mentality and balance it with a business mentality. Have a good feel for the business and its numbers.
The Right Stuff
Perseverance wins, be resilient and welcome failure. When things go wrong look deep inside you for why it went wrong. Solutions are seldom right in front of you. Learn how to spot them out of the corner of your eye.
Why Startups Fail
Your first business should be simple and write your business plan for yourself. Your time is more valuable than money, so learn to use it well and not waste it.
Where the money is
Treat bankers like you would want your customers to treat you. Your receivables are loans to your customers.
Magic Numbers
Find your numbers that help you follow your business in real time. More sales mean less cash flow. Make sure you keep your cash flow up. Know how to figure a true value of your business.
The Art of the Deal
Know what is really being said. Assume the other side is smarter than you. Dig deeper, there is more to it than what meets the eye on the surface. Not all parts of a deal will make both sides happy.
It Begins with a Sale
What business are you really in... know your niche in time. If you don't ask you won't get. You won't find your niche until after you've launched your business, and no niche lasts forever.
Good Sales, Bad Sales
You are better off with more smaller customers. Showing is better then telling. They need to experience it, and listen well.
Customers for Keeps
Teach them your business.
Always treat old customers like the new prospects. As you grow, make sure you keep face to face time with them.
How to Lose Customers
Customers don't like to think they are feeding lavish lifestyles. Avoid big jumps in prices. Increase prices to maintain needed margins slowing and over time.
The Decision to Grow
Do a life plan before your business plan. Make sure you have good reasons for why you want to grow. Bigger is not always better. Small companies have some advantages over larger companies.
Becoming the Boss
Even though you become close to your employees, the business relationship needs to be treated as such. Keep good systems so people can be trusted, and they guard employee integrity.
The One Thing you Can't Delegate
You shape the culture of your business and it is the most powerful for finding and keeping good employees. You can't delegate this responsibility to craft your culture. You need to get everyone involved in controlling expenses. Let your employees know you care about them and they will care about keeping expenses down.
Selling is a Team Sport
Choose sales people that represent you well. Your market sees your company in how they represent themselves. Commission only sales takes away from a company team effort. Involve all your employees in selling.
Help! I need Somebody
Accountants are good at seeing what has happened in the past, but don't go to them for business advice. Talk to an experienced business owner instead. Attorneys are good at law, but don't go to them for business advice. World class executives will work for you if you make sure they make money and are having fun.
When the Student is Ready the Teacher Appears
When problems come up, first stop the bleeding then find the underlying causes. Be sure to read and re-read a contract to make sure what is in it. The harder someone pushes you to make a quick decision, the more you should insist about taking your time.
Keeping Up with the Stones
Be prepared to carry sales people for a year before getting the kind of production that will justify their cost. Sales people need to know how you make money. Watch your numbers and when they change find out why; there is a reason. Enthusiasm is the life blood of a business, be generous with it.
For more on The Knack,
http://www.theknack.info/
Norm Brodsky is a regular contributor to Inc. magazine,
http://www.inc.com/
The Body of Christ by Dr. J. Robert Ashcroft was the life work of Dr. Ashcroft. He wanted the Church, the Body of Christ, the living organism of Jesus alive and well among us so we know what we really have. As an Inspired visionary, his hope was to help us all realize and live in the same power as recorded in the Acts Church of the New Testament.
Here's a beginning of a summary of the Body of Christ, a devotional study by Dr. Ashcroft... (introduction and chapter 1), Jesus establishes a new body.
Dr. Ashcroft had a theme line which came out of the forward to his book. "How can we love God whom we have not seen if we do not love man who we do see." (1 John 4:20) "Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these you have done it to me." (Matthew 24:40)
I recall the initial words in the beginning of what became a 7-year relationship... the last 7 years of his life. "The Power of the 21st Century Church will be in the home." At the time he didn't have the cultural research we have today. He was a man of Spirit and Spirit informed him that by 2000 with the Internet and new cultures emerging we long for connection and intimacy among each other. We connect in our homes via the Internet and smart phones keep us in touch in all places we go.
Dr. Ashcroft goes on to say in the forward, "It is my conviction that our churches will never enjoy the fuller measures of grace and gifts of the Spirit until there is Spiritual Affinity among the believers of our congregations." Today people prefer to relate in smaller environments like homes and offices. "Affinity" means to merge or progressively grow as one. "May they also be one as we are One."(John 17:21)
And Jesus said if we become One as He and our Father in Heaven are One, there will be greater things than ever in our lives. Jesus promised this. (John 14:12) This study is about the conditions we must meet to see this manifest presence of Jesus in the world around us, how we must prepare for this manifest presence. Our mandate is to seek out those who have strayed from the flock of Christ, and rekindle the fire that agreement sparks in our activities. "Where two agree as touching anything that they shall ask, we are guaranteed it will be done." (Matthew 18:18) The key word is what "agree" is. Ashcroft takes great care to define that.
Where does the Body of Christ begin? It begins with a child. "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?" The child. (Matthew 18:1) Jesus saw the individual. He was aware of crowds, but it was the individual that was important to Him. We must see individuals, persons, not just audiences. Why a child? A child is most teachable. A person's best time for learning is as a child, in both speed and quality. A child is the Biblical quality of meekness. To be meek is to put oneself at the disposal of the Lord. It is this character that marks the leader that is put in charge. The seat of authority, the transfer of power is to the meek and teachable as a child; to those who receive these little ones in the Name of Jesus.
This means that a person must have an appropriate attitude about oneself, that is humble and teachable. And one must have an attitude of concern and acceptance toward others, especially the little ones. To offend a little one, the least of these, is a serious matter in the Kingdom of God. So the power to fulfill the ministry of the Kingdom of God is in the Relationship between the disciples in this way. The attitude is to be servant of all. "You cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven unless you become like (the meekness of) a little child." (Matthew 18:3)
What should be noted is the significance of receiving a little child. If we receive a little child in His name, it is as though we are receiving Jesus. How we act and receive the humblest person or the most unlovable in the body of Christ may determine how we are able to "receive" Christ Himself. It goes back to our relationship, and including even the least of those around us. Each person is important to Jesus. Too often the abjectly poor, the unschooled, different classes and races are ignored. Those who ignore these, the least, may not be in the Body of Christ. So this first part is foundationally critical to establish as a base....the importance of the individual, relating to individuals in the Name of Jesus, what Jesus stands for.
Everything depends upon our relationship to each other. Where harmony prevails we know that God commands a blessing. "Where brothers dwell in unity, the Lord commanded the blessing..." (Psalm 133:1,3) We should be careful not to offend anyone, even the least or the most insignificant, and in the smallest matters. So we do not allow the smallest of offense to hinder the harmony we should hold up to maintain. All matters that create disharmony should be resolved quickly. When disharmony prevails, it prevents the power of Spirit to function fluidly. Condemnation is not a prerequisite of an individual. Every effort at reconciliation is to be made by the individual.
Too often we focus on the numbers (two or three) as the reason for the manifest presence of Christ. The critical issue is not the number, but the relationship between the two or three. It is easier to get harmony, too, between two or three than a mass of people. The real issue is: are we relating to each other? If not, the number means nothing. Most groups are really crowds. Most are there for individual interests. These groups are ineffective when relationship qualities are weak or don't exist. Spirit is neutralized and we do not see the benefits realized.
Note that action on earth is validated by action in heaven. This is the germ of truth for this principle. The key phrase to remember is when two or three are gathered together in my name. We involve heaven when we meet in His Name. (Matthew 18:20)
This truth is supported then by the promise in Matthew 18:20. This brings us to the universal principle in Spirit which opens the door for its Supernatural power. Our relationship to others On Earth Releases God's power in Heaven.
Why? Jesus also promises to be in our midst, In Spirit in our presence, when two or three agree. With Jesus right here with us, all the creative, healing, relational powers of God are in full operation, at work with and around us. This is A Super WOW, when we take a minute to contemplate the implications of this.
We can be sure when Jesus is in our midst, present with us, all of His wisdom for guidance is with us, loving forgiveness prevails, revelation is present, knowledge beyond our understanding comes to mind, and everything about God's literal creative powers is manifested. When Jesus, the Christ, is the center of our lives and in our efforts, we have all the potential of His manifested presence.
What builds relationships more than anything else... Forgiveness.
We are to forgive without limits (Matthew 18:21, 22) This is to be a permanent attitude. When in doubt ask for forgiveness. It takes a humble person to ask for forgiveness. It takes a person confident in the resilient power of the Spirit to seek forgiveness... even when it may be someone else's fault. We ask, and relationships are built around this one principle of Spiritual Power.
The spirit of forgiveness is permanent. No individual condemnation. No grudges. No personal recrimination. This spirit of forgiveness is of staggering magnitude.
The foundation for power then is ...
do the Father's will,
love vicariously and sacrificially,
and be humble and forgiving.
When we are attentive to the Name of the Lord and are honest in our good attitude toward and sharing with one another, we can expect God to be joined with us in our purposes. Private or selfish interest cannot play a part in our enjoying the privilege of being a part of the Body of Christ. The private interests of any one must be sacrificed to the community. We need each other.
The word "agree" originates from the word symphony. The word "symphony" implies a harmony being heard as in a great symphonic orchestra where every instrument is in perfect harmony. They are under the synchronized directions of the conductor, being subject to the refined signs of the conductor. The conductor keeps everyone in tune, at the right volume, and with the right emotional quality to get the message across.
This is what agreement is about. A depth of spiritual agreement is much like an orchestra. When meeting in His name and this level of spiritual affinity exists, we create the power of harmony where we then see the manifest presence of Jesus among us. This takes humility and forgiveness. Thus forgiveness is the essential component of harmony among believers.
To summarize chapter one of the Body of Christ, the fundamental Spirit that guides us manifests itself in the humility of a child, a willingness to learn, and forgiveness of Jesus Spirit that is at work in us.
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