Increase Your Faith

Leaders can’t afford to make fools of themselves, gulping wine and swilling beer, lest, hung over, they don’t know right from wrong, and the people who depend on them are hurt. Proverbs 31:4-5 (MSG)

Pastor’s Commentary:

As modern day priests, each New Testament disciple is a leader (see 1 Peter 2:9 & Revelation 1:6). Consequently, we each have an obligation to set the proper moral example for those the Holy Spirit calls us to lead. We must be beyond reproach, men and women of integrity, and trustworthy. People should be able to determine the proper moral standard just by observing our lives. We can only provide that level of leadership in a context of holiness.

Strive to be a leader God can trust. Focus on doing what’s right as opposed to merely protecting your rights. We cannot afford to let God or His people down.

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…Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help. Proverbs 30:5 (MSG)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Selah. Pause and calmly think about this. What does this verse mean to you?

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The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that. Proverbs 29:25 (MSG)

Pastor’s Commentary:

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. (Matthew 5:11 NKJV)

It’s amazing that so many believers are so horribly affected by human criticism, especially since Jesus told us that such things would happen. He even instructed us on how to react to it. He said, “Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:12 NKJV) The only way we can rejoice during painful times like that is to have complete trust in God’s ability to shield us from harm.

Today’s Wisdom verse give us the Divine strategy that keeps us from the potentially disabling effects of human opinions. We are to put our trust in God. When we are affected by critics it is because we have trust in the ability of their words to harm us at some level or other. The Word tells us in Jeremiah 17:5, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord.’”(NKJV)

In other words, when we put more confidence in the words of our critics than we have in God’s ability to sustain us, it brings the curse into our lives.

Trusting in God and His Word brings us absolute freedom. Jeremiah 17:7 says, ““Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. (NKJV) Keep developing your faith in what the Lord says about you and ignore negative criticism.

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When the country is in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it— But it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out. Proverbs 28:2 (MSG)

Pastor’s Commentary:

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NLT)

Remember to pray for your country and its leaders today!

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If you care for your orchard, you’ll enjoy its fruit; if you honor your boss, you’ll be honored. Proverbs 27:18 (MSG)

Take care of a fig tree and you will have figs to eat. Servants who take care of their master will be honored. Proverbs 27:18 (GNT)

Pastor’s Commentary:

In today’s world which is overly focused on workers’ rights and trade unions, we hear little about honoring employers and holding them in high regard. Very often, particularly in America, those who create jobs and provide employment are villified and despised. Seemingly, all the recocognition is on the employee side of the spectrum. With this mindset, many show contempt for their bosses and are prepared to use threat and intimidation to get their way at work.

But, Wisdom tells us exactly what we need to do to get promotion, recognition, and bonuses. We must honor our bosses and employers. The Good News Translation says, “Servants [employees] who take care of their master [bosses] will be honored.” That’s the Word of God! Threats of strikes and filing bogus complaints get you nowhere. The One Who created all mankind knows how people react to honor; they in turn honor those who honor them and value their vision.

I can already hear the counter argument: “Pastor, you don’t understand! My boss is a tyrant who bullies everyone. I can’t honor him!” But Beloved, let’s see what the Scripture tells us to do in such circumstances.

It says, “You servants [employees] must submit yourselves to your masters [employers] and show them complete respect, not only to those who are kind and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. God will bless you for this, if you endure the pain of undeserved suffering because you are conscious of His will. For what credit is there if you endure the beatings [punishment] you deserve for having done wrong? But if you endure suffering even when you have done right, God will bless you for it. (1 Peter 2:18-20 GNT)

There are several key points in First Peter we must keep in mind:

1. It’s the will of God for us to submit ourselves to our employers and bosses and to honor them.

2. We are to show them complete respect regardless of how they treat us.

3. When we obey God’s will and potentially suffer because of our complete submission to His will on this point, God Himself blessed us.

In line with this, Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people. Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what He has kept for His people. For Christ is the real Master you serve. (GNT)

Beloved, let’s pray for our employers and submit to them. Let’s focus on honoring God by honoring them. This is the will of God and we will receive the commensurate honor we deserve in return.

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Don’t respond to the stupidity of a fool; you’ll only look foolish yourself. Proverbs 26:4 (MSG)

Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are. Proverbs 26:4 (NLT)

Pastor’s Commentary:

If I’ve learned anything, I’ve learned that some debates are a waste of time and effort, particularly debates with fools. Trying to teach a scoffer about the awesome Wisdom of God is both frustrating and unproductive.

In these last days, foolishness will be at an all time high. The Apostle Peter warned us writing, “Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires.” (2 Peter 3:3 NLT)

The only thing that helps such people is prayer. We have to make room for the Holy Spirit to move on their hearts. Only He can bring clarity to the heart of a fool.

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Like billowing clouds that bring no rain is the person who talks big but never produces. Proverbs 25:14 (MSG)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Sadly there are too many people around who are like the people King Solomon described in today’s Wisdom verse. They are alway “about” to do something and are seemingly experts on lots of subjects, but never close the deal, so to speak. These folks have nothing but hopes and dreams, but no manifestations.

The reason for this is there is a distinct difference between mere talk and confession. Mere talk is based on personal wishes and desires, whereas confessions are based on faith and utter trust in God and in His Word. Confession literally means to say the same thing, but there’s an added dimension to it, which is belief. Jesus said, “All things are possible to him who believes.” The power of production is in knowing what God says about you and your circumstance and building your faith in His Word to the point that you can confidently speak it forth.

Don’t be like so many blow-hards in society in general; always talking a good game but never accomplishing anything. Set your heart and mind to understand the mystery of confession.

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Strategic planning is the key to warfare; to win, you need a lot of good counsel. Proverbs 24:6 (MSG)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Strategic planning is the key to success in almost everything. God is the consummate strategic planner! The word “strategic” is a variation of strategy, which is the employment of a plan to achieve specific goals.

When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, God employed His strategic plan for a child to be born of a virgin and to ultimately take away the sins of the world. It took about 4,000 years to put the plan in place, but He did and it succeeded. The Bible is nothing more than God’s game plan for the successful implementation of His strategy to seek and to save that which was lost in Eden.

Since we are made in the image and likeness of God, we too need to operate as strategic planners. Unlike God Who does all things according to the counsel of His own will, we need wise councilors around us at all times to succeed. The Holy Spirit is the wisest of all, but He often leads us to other human beings because He has decreed that iron sharpens iron and that “he who walks with wise men will be wise…” (Proverbs 13:20b NKJV)

If you’re struggling to achieve your goals and dreams, it may be because you don’t have the right strategy in place. Seek God’s Wisdom by praying in the Holy Spirit and confessing His Word over your life. You will eventually gain the necessary insight into the correct strategic plan for your personal goal accomplishment.

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Buy truth-don’t sell it for love or money; buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight. Proverbs 23:23 (MSG)

Pastor’s Commentary:

On the list of things that King Solomon suggested to be pursued, truth is at the top. He instructs us to buy or acquire the truth. In the ancient Greek, one of the words often translated as truth, particularly in the New Testament, can also be translated as reality. In other words, pursuing the truth is more than getting the facts; it’s getting that which is real, and therefore eternal and unchangeable. Reality never changes!

How important is pursuing the truth? We need only read the words of Jesus to understand its potency. One day in prayer, He said to the Father, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth.” (John 17:17 NKJV) The truth or reality of God’s Word is what makes us holy, pure, and set apart from the world. Jesus also said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32 NKJV) In other words, pursing and acquiring the truth is what truly brings about freedom in life.

The Apostle Paul also gave us some insight into the importance of the truth. He said, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8 NLT) The first thing catalogued in this strategy for successful living is to fix our minds on what is true or real. Then, what is honorable, right, pure, lovely, or admirable will become conspicuous and useful.

Buy truth and don’t sell it! The best that life has to offer is found when you find the truth.

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Observe people who are good at their work-skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don’t take a back seat to anyone. Proverbs 22:29 (MSG)

Pastor’s Commentary:

Today’s Wisdom verse is an excellent confession to get in our hearts, minds, and mouths. Particularly as financial and economic judgement is being meted out in today’s global economy.

Confession:

I am good at my work. As a skilled worker, I am always in demand and admired; I don’t take a back seat to anyone.

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