Developing Kingdom Leaders – Tom Yeakley

Taking the Mystery out of Leadership

Archive for the tag “Trials of faith”

12 Aug 2024

Fear God, not People!

Then the angel of the LORD said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So he arose and went down with him to the king. 2 Kings 1:15 ESV

Twice before the wicked king Ahaziah had sent groups of 50 soldiers to capture Elijah as he sat on a hill and bring him back. And on each occasion the Lord had miraculously intervened with fire from heaven killing those who had come to take him captive. Now a third group of fifty soldiers arrives with the same intention, but having a captain with a different attitude. This captain pleads for the life of his men, asking Elijah to spare them and have mercy on him as well that they might not suffer the same fate as the previous two companies.

Now one might expect that God would once again do what He had done twice before – fire falls from heaven and consumes the soldiers. It makes sense. But this time God tells Elijah to surrender himself to the captain and willingly go with him. And God adds an interesting reminder for Elijah, “…don’t be afraid of him.” And so, Elijah got up and went down the hill with the captain and his men to the king. There Elijah faithfully delivers the message to the king that he will soon die because of his evil actions. And Elijah leaves the king unharmed.

God’s ways can change, but God Himself never changes (Malachi 3:6). It would be easy for Elijah to question why should I surrender the third time, when I know this captain and the king he represents have plans to harm me? God anticipates this response from Elijah and reminds him not to be afraid just because it’s a new way of doing things this time. He is capable of protecting Elijah using a variety of means.

Kingdom leaders must not be presumptive upon how God will act based upon previous experiences. God may continue to follow a previous pattern or He may change His ways. “Our God is in heaven and He does whatever pleases Him.” (Psalm 115:3) Elijah himself had been fed by ravens for a season and then was told of a change. He was to go to a widow who would feed him in the next season of his life.

The constant and dependable is God Himself and His Word. The ‘how’ of His actions are varied. Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV) says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Nothing that God directs us to do will be contrary to His Word, the Bible. Remember A.W. Tozer’s words, “Be assured that anything that comes to us from the God of the Word will deepen our love for the Word of God.”

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25 Mar 2024

Jesus and the Easy Button

Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” Mark 2:9-12 NIV

‘Easy’ means – to do without much labor. ‘Easy’ and ‘difficult’ are comparative words – easy compared to what? Difficult compared to what? In Mark 2, Jesus was being challenged about His ability to forgive sin. The context was could He heal a paralyzed man who have been dropped through the roof in front of Him. Jesus said, “Which is easier… Forgive his sins or heal his paralysis?”

Now had this been someone else, they probably would have said, “Which is harder…. or …. Which is more difficult…?” But Jesus said, “Which is easier…” He can say that because everything is easy for the Son of God! Nothing is difficult, hard, challenging, or even stretching. He’s God! Thus, His words are so appropriate – which of these two issues are easier? They are both easy for God! And so, to prove to those who were challenging His authority to forgive sins, He healed the paralyzed man with a word, “Take up your mat and go home.”

Kingdom leaders daily face difficulties and challenges that for us are stretching, hard, and sometimes bewildering as to the way forward. We must remember the One who walks with us. For Him these things are not difficult. Turn your eyes and mind towards Him for whom all things are easy. He has promised to never leave or forsake you (Matthew 28:20). Lean into Him and find Him faithful. Ask for His help.

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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 , , , , ,
21 Mar 2022

Personal Peace

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 NIV

From Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:24-27 we know that the storms of life befall the righteous and the unrighteous.  Those who hear and apply the words of Christ will be able to withstand these trials that assail our faith.  God promises peace in the midst of the raging storms if we trust in Him. 

Personal peace is an inner calm that comes from trusting that our heavenly Father is in control of our present situation.  It comes from knowing that nothing can happen to us unless God allows it.  Peace is rooted in knowing the love and goodness of God and continues to trust Him when life doesn’t feel good or make sense.

  • God promises us peace, a peace that will overcome our fears.  What is said about the peace of God the following passages? — John 14:27; Philippians 4:6-7
  • We can choose to trust God and have peace or believe what we see and give way to our fears.  What is said in the following passages about fear? — Luke 12:4-7; 1 Peter 3:1-6

Question to ponder:  What fearful situation are you facing where you can trust God and experience His peace?

Passages for further study: John 14:1; John 16:33

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