Developing Kingdom Leaders – Tom Yeakley

Taking the Mystery out of Leadership

Archive for the tag “dependence”

26 Aug 2024
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Is God Alone Enough?

We hear a lot today about the immense importance of ‘community’ in the life of a follower of Jesus. And if by that we mean our connection to the broader Body of Christ and our part in it as we live and labor for Jesus then there is merit in this. But I’ve begun to wonder if we are striving to find something in our ‘community’ of believers that God does not intend? Are we looking to others to meet needs that only God alone can?

It would seem that for many life is teetering on disaster if we can’t connect with our friends daily. We have to check in with those we ‘do life with’ to know how it goes, but maybe more importantly, so we can tell them how it’s going with us. We must gather physically or electronically, plugging in our emotional and sometimes our spiritual umbilical cords seeking soul nourishment to be able to make it through life’s challenges. But it often seems to be a gathering of two ticks in search of a dog!

I don’t believe Christ is calling us to be hermits or live isolated, cloistered lives. We are to be in the world and not of it, being salt and light. We are reminded not to give up meeting together that we may stimulate one another towards a life pleasing to God. (Hebrews 10:25) But are we striving to find in others what only Christ can deliver? Is fellowship with the living God, our Creator enough? Or is it God plus my worship music, my fellowship with others, my beautiful surroundings, my financial security, or even my ministry activities for Him?

Now some will point out that when God created Adam He did say, “It is not good for man to be alone,” and thus He created a woman. But we must be careful not to conclude from this narrative that God’s calling to singleness is in some way less than or incomplete when compared to those who He calls to marriage. Singleness or those married believers who lose a spouse are not in any way lesser than or missing out, for God alone is enough for both.

Allow God to meet your every need. Cry out to Him to fill your cup until it overflows. Find your everything in Him and then join with Paul in saying, “For me to live is Christ.” (Philippians 1:21) For He and He alone will meet your every need.

Posted in #1 KNOW- How a Leader Thinks, #2 BE - Who a Leader Is and tagged , , , , , , ,
29 Jan 2024

God Eats Pressure for Breakfast!

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NIV

Note that while Paul was in the midst of carrying out his God-given mission he found himself in the midst of severe trials. This was not due to any disobedience, lack of faith, or poor decision making on his part. These troubles were all part of God’s good plan for him and his team (note the use of ‘we’). 

Paul describes these difficulties in the province of Asia (primary city, Ephesus) as bringing “great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure.” Note the qualifiers he uses: ‘great pressure’ and ‘far beyond’ what was possible to endure in his own strength. This was a very, very difficult time for them. And then, he adds how they felt about it all, “we despaired of life itself… we felt we had received the sentence of death.” He did not want his readers to miss how bad things were. They had assumed that this was the end – they were preparing to die. 

And then the shift in narrative comes, “But this happened….” Paul is now writing having come through the ‘valley of the shadow of death’ and is reflecting on what God had done. He now sees that God had allowed these extreme trials to force more dependence on Himself rather than their own abilities and resources. God, who does raise the dead back to life eternal, handles all threats easily for they are not threats to Him. Nothing is too hard for Him (Luke 1:37). God eats pressure for breakfast!

So, are you facing challenges that are stretching you far beyond your ability to endure? May it force you to your knees in dependence, keeping your eyes fixed upon Him. Hebrews 12:1-2

Posted in #1 KNOW- How a Leader Thinks, #2 BE - Who a Leader Is and tagged , , , , ,
05 Jun 2023

“I Am” All You Need

The Lord is continually seeking to remind us to depend upon Him. He states and restates that “I am” all that you need in life and leadership. Trust in me!

Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.'” Exodus 3:13-14 ESV

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 2 Corinthians 1:8-9 ESV

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:35 ESV

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 ESV

Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” John 8:58 ESV

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. John 10:9 ESV

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11 ESV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live… John 11:25 ESV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 ESV

So, how is your dependence on the great “I Am?”

Posted in #1 KNOW- How a Leader Thinks and tagged , , , , , , , , ,
03 Jul 2017

Dependence or Independence?

“And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.”      Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence

In Congress  July 4, 1776

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…

Tomorrow is the celebration of Independence Day in America – when America’s Founding Fathers declared the 13 colonies’ independence from Great Britain.  For Americans this day reminds us of our country’s heritage and the fact that many risked and sacrificed much for the freedom that we now enjoy.

But for those who claim to be disciples of Jesus Christ there is no personal independence day.  Rather we celebrate our total, moment-by-moment  dependence upon Him.  For God does not want independent children.  He wants dependent ones.

Independence is a mark of standing upon your own two feet – saying that you are capable of governing your own life without the guidance or help of others.  This type of attitude is found in the world, but not in the Kingdom.  For citizens of the Kingdom of God know that we are Created beings who draw our very breath because our Creator wills it.  We are constantly leaning into Him who made us for strength, help, protection, guidance, and provision to live each day.

Therefore, we boast in our weakness, for then the power of Christ is evident in our lives (see 2 Corinthians 12:9).  This attitude is counter-intuitive to the world’s values.  The reality of our dependence on Him causes us to celebrate for He is faithful and will never leave us.

So, how is your attitude towards Him who made you?

Posted in #1 KNOW- How a Leader Thinks, #2 BE - Who a Leader Is and tagged , , , , , , , , , , ,

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