Story: <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cNeil Marten, a member of the British Parliament, was once giving a group of his constituents a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament. During the course of the visit, the group happened to meet Lord Hailsham, then Lord Chancellor, wearing all the regalia of his office. Hailsham recognized Marten among the group and cried, “Neil!” Not daring to question or disobey the “command,” the entire band of visitors promptly fell to their knees!\u201d<\/p>\n

True leadership is obedient leadership, not emotional. Obedience is an act of faith. Disobedience is a lack of faith.<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Quote: \u201cRationalization is one of the biggest obstacles to obedience.\u201d<\/p>\n

What makes a person an effective and consistent leader?\u00a0Obedience!<\/p>\n

Story: Traveling to GLC to learn what God had to teach me only to realize that my lesson lay in learning from my wife: \u201cBe consistent.\u201d In other words: \u201cBe obedient.\u201d<\/p>\n

After 2 years, Jesus sent out the disciples in pairs without him, to practice what He had been teaching and showing them.<\/p>\n

Mark 6:6b-7 \u201cThen Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.\u201d<\/p>\n

After Jesus sent them out, they came back, gathered around Jesus in a group and reported to him all they had done, not how they felt about what they had done during the time they were doing it.<\/p>\n

Luke 9:10a \u201cWhen the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done.\u201d\u202f\u00a0They taught what they learned from Jesus.<\/p>\n

Not old sermons they learned from Rabbis stuck in Judaism. They were obedient.<\/p>\n

Jesus was interested in finding people whom he could teach to obey who then unsentimentally would teach others to obey (Matthew 28:20), as opposed to those who were independent or controlled by their emotions.\u00a0 He knew how deceitful feelings and the heart are.<\/p>\n

Does your discipler address you as independent? Controlled by conviction or emotion?<\/p>\n

Jeremiah 17:9-10 \u201cThe heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
\n\u2018I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

God rewards our conduct, our obedience, not our feelings.<\/p>\n

That is why he called us to:<\/p>\n

Luke 9:23-24 \u201cThen he said to them all: \u2018Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

God took out many great leaders because they could not master their emotions.<\/p>\n

You have a choice when it comes to your emotions. \u201cYOU CAN MASTER THEM\u201d … \u201dOR BE MASTERED BY THEM.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n
1. Saul – felt like he could filter direction and instruction, spin the facts of obedience to make himself look good in front of those he led (1 Samuel 15).<\/li>\n
2. Korah – felt that God was not in control of his movement, that he knew who the leader should be because he felt like Moses was harsh (Numbers 16).<\/li>\n
3. Judas – felt like Jesus’s way of being poor and sacrificial was not what God wanted for people who followed him (John 12: 1-6).\u00a0(Too many special missions)<\/li>\n
4. Eli \u2013 felt like it was easier to let his kids lead him.\u00a0 This in-turn led to the downfall of Israel and his own death (1 Samuel 2:12-25).\u00a0 Satan has a carefully designed plan to destroy the role of the father. This was his plan from the beginning.<\/li>\n
5. Absalom \u2013 felt self-centered, self-willed, self-righteous, and extremely entitled. He also embraced undealt-with resentment, which led to full-on rebellion and the death of thousands (2 Samuel 15).<\/li>\n
6. Satan \u2013 felt proud of his beauty. He became proud and felt like he was not getting enough attention or praise from those around him, so he took a third of Heaven away from obeying God (Ezekiel 28: 14-17).\u00a0(Recent events)<\/li>\n
7. Cain – when God challenged Cain about his emotional anger, God said, \u201cYOU MUST MASTER IT.\u201d \u00a0The fact that God said \u201cyou must\u201d means \u201cyou can\u201d because God doesn\u2019t lie. \u00a0All things are possible with God.\u00a0Genesis 4:6-7 \u201cThen the Lord said to Cain, \u2018Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.\u2019\u201d<\/li>\n
8. Uzzah- felt that \u201cA new way to do things\u201d was best. This is what is called deadly disobedience. (1 Chronicles 13:9-12)<\/li>\n
9. Balaam- felt resistant to listen to God. He was tempted by the promise of fame and riches. Balaam asked God a second time if he should go with the king\u2019s messengers after God had already given him clear instructions. God was angry and sent an angel to kill him, though he was mercifully spared, thanks to his donkey.<\/li>\n
10. Lot\u2019s wife- felt like she \u201cHAD TO LOOK\u201d at the destruction when God clearly commanded her not to \u201cview\u201d the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19:17). This is much like the church\u2019s direction to delete slanderous emails, Facebook posts, etc. One peek can take you out! The first person in the Bible that received a death sentence from God for disobedience was Lot\u2019s wife. She\u2019s also one of the only people Jesus says to remember.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    As leaders you will struggle with many emotions.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

    A. Why do I have to be a leader?\u00a0Why haven\u2019t I been given more to lead?
    \nB. Why do I have to be more Godly than others?\u00a0Why can\u2019t I be more Godly?
    \nC. Why do I have to be responsible for others\u2019 sin?\u00a0Why are these people making me sin?
    \nD. Why do I have to be challenged harder than others?
    \nE. Why do I have to give up what I want to do for the sake of others?
    \nF. When is someone going to love and give to me the way I do to others?
    \nG. It is unfair that people are so critical of me.
    \nH. I have been unfairly treated, especially when I do so much.
    \nI. I am a failure, I always feel like I am doing something wrong.
    \nJ. I am different, people do not like me.<\/p>\n

    The list is endless.<\/p>\n

    Point 1. UNGODLY EMOTIONS AND FEELINGS AND HOW YOU GET THE HEALING.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    You must recognize them as sin and convince yourself they are sin or you will not try and change them.<\/p>\n

    If you feel justified in your feelings, then you will never truly try and change them, because you are holding on to the fact that they are true.\u00a0 Your truth becomes “the truth.” \u00a0IT\u2019S TRUE WHAT YOU FEEL, BUT FEELINGS ARE NOT THE TRUTH. Our perception of a situation is our reality, it is what we hang on to, so we must change our perception of the situation.<\/p>\n

    Biblically, this is called repentance, from the Greek word “metanoia,” meaning to change your mind.<\/p>\n

    Butterfly analogy: metamorphose – the caterpillar rearranges its cells to become something else.<\/p>\n

    When we study the Bible with people to become Christians, this is exactly what we call them to. Yet somewhere along the way, we can feel like it is unfair when we get challenged just as hard as we challenge someone to become a disciple.<\/p>\n

    Most of discipleship is helping people to see their sin. This does not change them, but it gets them to realize they need to change.<\/p>\n

    Here are some of the scriptures that help me break through my ungodly thinking or help me not to blame others for my situation and own my sin.<\/p>\n

    \n
    1. Moodiness – Proverbs 18:1 \u201cAn unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.\u201d \u00a0When I am unfriendly, it is because I am being selfish. \u00a0It has nothing to do with others.<\/li>\n
    2. God hates pride – Proverbs 8:13 \u201cTo fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.\u201d\u00a0God hates it when I am proud. I am in a state of hate with God pulling away from me.<\/li>\n
    3. I don’t trust God – Luke 18:29-30 \u201c\u2019Truly I tell you,\u2019 Jesus said to them, \u2018no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.\u2019\u201d<\/li>\n
    4. Give up home, love of parents, love of children for sake of Kingdom is the key being for the Kingdom.<\/li>\n
    5. Being considerate – 1 Peter 3:7 \u201cHusbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.\u201d\u00a0If I am challenged on being inconsiderate, it should not surprise me as men are.\u00a0 So, I need to just be humble.<\/li>\n
    6. Criticality towards leadership – Acts 23:5 \u201cPaul replied, \u2018Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: \u2018Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.\u2019\u2019\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       Criticality is simply faithlessness cloaked in a fine sounding argument.<\/strong><\/p>\n

       Some of you may have different scriptures:<\/p>\n

       Luke 10:41-42 \u201c\u2018Martha, Martha,\u2019 the Lord answered, \u2018you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed\u2014or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

       Philippians 2:14 \u201cDo everything without grumbling or arguing.\u201d<\/p>\n

       Ephesians 3:20 \u201cNow to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

       2 Corinthians 10:5b \u201c\u2026we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n

       Point 2. STOP BEING STRANGE, DECIDE YOU\u2019RE GONNA CHANGE.<\/strong><\/p>\n

       Write down exactly what you are being asked to do. Go to God until you change your heart.<\/p>\n

       This is different to going out to talk about your feelings with God, to complain or to pray without the intention to change your heart.\u00a0 This will lead to more a lack of repentance and often bitterness.\u202f\u00a0You can wind up leaving a prayer to God more bitter than when you started. Why? You\u2019re not going to God to change, you\u2019re still acting strange.<\/p>\n

       Example:\u00a0The endless complaints to God about my marriage.<\/p>\n

       This is what Gethsemane is all about.\u00a0You pray to do God\u2019s will.<\/p>\n

       Mark 14:32-36 \u201cThey went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, \u2018Sit here while I pray.\u2019 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. \u2018My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,\u2019 he said to them. \u2018Stay here and keep watch.\u2019
       \nGoing a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. \u2018Abba, Father,\u2019 he said, \u2018everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

       There it is, not what I will, but what you will! Prayer helps you do the will of God.<\/p>\n

       Examples.<\/p>\n

       1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prayers in the graveyard in Portland
       \n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prayers on Mt Tabor
       \n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prayer that helped me marry Michele
       \n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Prayers that stopped me from loving impurity (beating on the ground in Terwilliger)<\/p>\n

       I need consistent large amounts of powerful prayer to keep my sinful nature at bay.<\/p>\n

       Hebrews 5:7-8 \u201cDuring the days of Jesus\u2019 life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

       Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

       We all want to have deep loving relationships with others, but sin damages those relationships, leaving us lonely and often feeling isolated from God. The first step is learning to obey God’s teachings.\u00a0 Only then will we go on to have deep and sincere relationships.\u00a0Disobedient disciples usually are not close to others.<\/p>\n

       1 Peter 1:22 \u201cNow that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

       Learn to master your own emotions, give to God and others, forcing selfishness from your heart.\u00a0 Then you will see your relationships with God and others blossom into deep and fulfilling relationships.<\/p>\n

       This is seen clearly in marriage.\u00a0 When you focus on changing you, then your spouse starts to blossom.<\/p>\n

       Acts 20:35 \u201cIn everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: \u2018It is more blessed to give than to receive.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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