Are You Honoring God?

18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.-1 Peter 1:18-19

Mankind thinks of silver and gold as valuable and precious. Peter gives this expository on how men and women were not bought and could not be bought by all the precious stones in the world but by the most valuable commodity in the universe, the blood of Jesus. As leaders in the body of Christ, we need to make sure that we don’t let the honor of God slip. The more corners we cut the less value we put on the Word, worship, and prayer; then the more there is no difference between how the world operates and the way the Church operates. The key to that is honoring God and maintaining that attitude of the heart that the blood of Jesus is still precious. Keys to honoring God.

1. Judge Yourself. Judge yourself and you won’t be judged. When you judge yourself, you are proactive about sifting and casting off sin. Realize when something of the enemy sets in and be quick to identify it, reject it, repent from it, and replace it with God’s Word. Saul was selected by the Lord to be King of Israel but he didn’t judge himself. He let pride and sin seep in, and he didn’t repent. In turn, God chose David. David sinned too but he was quick to judge himself and repent before the Lord. David was a man who wanted what God wanted. David understood that your offering/service has to cost you something. He was willing to offer to God his heart. He was known as a man after God’s own heart.

2. Have a Heart of Humility. God gives grace to the humble but He resists the proud. Don’t let bitterness and unforgiveness spring up and contaminate your heart. Be quick to forgive. Be quick to let resentment go. Cast that upon the Lord. A meek quiet spirit is precious unto the Lord. Jesus and Moses were both described as meek men. Have a heart of humility

Don’t be unwilling to do what others have done to be blessed-Pastor Keith Moore.

There are no corners to cut. You can’t fast-track a blessing with God. If you honor God then God will honor and increase you. The honor of God will not only be a blessing unto Him but it will in turn become a blessing to you.

3 Ways To Be A Better Giver: Leaders Are Givers

True leaders are givers. When you think of a great leader in history or even in your personal life I guarantee that they were givers. Think of Jesus. Jesus was constantly giving to others. His miracles always centered around giving to others. He gave through healing, through multiplying food, and much more. He gave through affirmation and encouragement. He gave through empowering His believers. He eventually would give His life away on the cross. Giving doesn’t have to be associated with money. Here is my list of how to be a better giver.

1. Your Time. Leaders should not overlook the value of quality time investment. Spending time with others is a vital investment in their growth and development. Giving your time demonstrates that you value others. However, leaders must balance generosity with prudence, as others may take advantage of their goodwill. Investing time is a powerful leadership approach and a testament to one's commitment.

2. Your Wisdom. Transferring wisdom, guidance, and experience is a powerful way to serve others. Sharing the valuable lessons learned through hard work, setbacks, and experience showcases generosity. Pinpoint those ready to invest in personal growth. It’s important to find individuals ready to listen and learn.

3. Believing in Others. When you demonstrate faith in others, it enhances their self-confidence. Recognizing and nurturing untapped potential in individuals can have a profound impact. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to have had several influential leaders who embodied this quality. One such mentor played a pivotal role in launching my leadership journey by inviting me to serve as a guest lecturer at a university, teaching leadership to foreign language postgraduate students. Although I lacked formal certification as a John Maxwell speaker at the time, his confidence in me provided invaluable opportunities to develop my public speaking skills on leadership topics. I hope to continue to build upon the foundation he established, continually refining my leadership and speaking abilities.
   

Two Keys to Finding Your Voice and delivering Your Message

As Christian leaders empowered by the Spirit, we are stewards of the most transformative message in history. The world's hope is found in Jesus Christ, and salvation is solely attainable through His grace. We are commissioned to share this message with the world, a task we approach with dedication at Imprint International. To effectively witness and deliver this message, two critical elements are required: credibility and adding value to others.

Credibility, as discussed in John Maxwell's 'The 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication,' is rooted in consistently living out our message. The mantra 'People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it,' coined by Simon Sinek, highlights the importance of authenticity. John Maxwell says, “Nothing is easier than saying words. Nothing is harder than living them out day after day.”

The second key involves adding value to others by embracing a balanced approach that values people and avoids extreme or diluted messages. This approach enhances credibility and prepares hearts to receive the gospel.

Two Keys to the Road of Influence

Group of friends

Leadership is influence. If you aren’t influencing others you are not leading anyone. How does the Christian create influence in a world that does not know or love Christ? Jesus gave us the answer: the straight and narrow life is the key to influencing others’ lives.

1. Love and Value All People. The Bible tells us that God sent Christ into the World because He loved the whole world—the Jew, the Gentile, those close to Him, and those who are far off. ( John 3:16-17 ) Jesus died for people you don’t like as much as He died for you. If you want to influence others walk in love as Jesus walked. ( John 13:35 ) Make a point to value others and you will gain favor and influence with them. You might even lead them to Jesus! People will follow people who value people. When you abuse others or use them you will never have an authentic influence on their lives. Have a ‘value others’ mindeset today.

2. Be Authentic. Be authentic with others to lead them. Don’t wear a mask. If you get egg on your face, admit it, apologize, and correct your words or actions. Jesus called out the hypocrites of his day. He modeled honesty and authenticity with others. He never wavered in his true nature. He represented the Father God in all He did and said. ( John 5:19-20 ) He loved everyone at all times even when it was inconvenient. He didn’t come with an attitude though He had rights as the Son of God. He never put on a mask or charade but was the exhibit of the Love of God on display in word, deed and miracle power.