I remember one of my mentors saying many times that you can talk about change, plan change, sing about change, think about change but change is not change till it is change.
The word Repent in the bible has an interesting meaning. Let's break the word down.
Re- To return
Pent - To the top (Pentagon, Penthouse)
Repent means to return to the top or the previous order. Another word we see in the N.T is Renew. Renew means to return to what was in the beginning. To return to what Adam had before sin. Let's go back to the garden and see what Adam had.
* Power and Dominion
* Ability to create and multiply perfection.
* Ability to name then animals and creations (whatever he called it, it became). In other words He had heaven's weight and authority behind his words (Heb.11:3).
* Accomplishments without sweat of the brow (Grace)
* Perfect peace and harmony
* Everything was under his feet, never allowed things to get on the top of him.
If you are going to go back to the top, be the head and not the tail, above only not beneath, the lender and not the borrower, it will require a change of your thinking. If you keep doing what you have always done, you will keep getting what you have always got. I call this being stuck. You will stay where you are until you make up your mind to change, do whatever it takes to move out of deadness and routine into an exciting life filled with adventure.
Here are some more lessons I am learning from "Who Moved My Cheese"?
* Entitlement is when you expect everything to come to you, in the Church we call this name it and claim it, blab it and grab it. The promises of God are never placed in your mouth but they are always within your reach. God told Joshua, Moses my servant is dead, now therefore arise (Joshua 1:1-2). He was saying the old way of doing things is dead, stop worshipping your past successes and position yourself for God to do something new. God is bored with the last thing you accomplished. he is daring you to believe Him to do something no one has ever done (Eph. 3:20). Quit putting God in a box.
* God also told Joshua wherever your feet tread I have given it to you. For example, if you receive a word or a promise that you will have a best selling book, don't just stand there and say shabba, shabba, shabba, go out and buy yourself some paper and pens and start writing. Start where you are with what you have. I know people who received a promise from God years ago but they are still standing in the same spot, sitting in the same chair, living the same old routine. Put your feet on your promises and plans and with one step at a time you can go anywhere and do anything! (Man, I felt that)
* What causes you to resist change? Is it pride, comfort, ignorance, laziness, fear of failure? You must take a risk and step out into the unknown. How do you know if a promise or word is from God. Hebrews 11:1-2, tells us that faith is the substance and evidence of things not seen. In other words, when you hear a promise and faith rises up in you, the faith in you is the evidence that what you are believing for is already yours. If you don't have faith for it, it isn't yours. I have seen people try to copycat something that someone else accomplished and they failed miserably. Why? Because they didn't have the faith for it.
* Great accomplishers are people who get the faith and step out into the impossible. I call this crazy faith. People are looking at you and saying I can't believe you are going to do that... This makes you peculiar, weird, strange, but it is also what separates you from average and mediocre.
* You are not entitled, you have to create your success by God's grace. No great person has ever done anything great without work. People look at Tiger Woods and say man I wish I could play like him. They go out and buy Tiger clothes, drink Tiger drink, hit the tiger balls with a tiger club but they don't get Tiger results, why? They haven;t done the tiger work.
All of us have what is called a gift cluster. This is comprised of:
Natural abilities
* Michael Jordan wasn't lucky, he had natural abilities. If you are 5'3 and you weigh 135 pounds you probably won't play in the N.B.A. He took his natural ability and through hard work perfect his abilities. What is it that you are naturally good at? What are you passionate about? What do you spend most of your time thinking about?
Acquired Skills
* This is what you are not necessarily good at but you can learn to improve. This could be people skills, communicating, organization, team leading, handling your money... This comes through books, attending seminars, talking to coaches in your field... You take the primary thing you are good at and you compliment it with acquired skills. This is becoming an expert in your field.
Holy Spirit Empowerment
* After you have discovered your strengths, applied yourself to learning necessary skills, and developing a plan of success, then God's anointing (empowerment) (grace) comes upon you and causes you to exceed your natural abilities. The anointing makes you look better than you really are. You give what you have to God and He multiplies it.
One last thing, refuse to allow people to draw a circle around you and define your future. People who do great things have to leave the crowd of approval and comfort and be willing to be lonely because they are walking in an arena of faith and expectation that others can not and will not understand. Listen, if God tells you to do something, it does not matter what someone else says. They are not God and your destiny is not in their hands. They can not curse you or hold you back. Go after what God has said to you. You may hit some bumps in the road and experience some setbacks but in the end you will live the life God planned for you.
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Monday
"My Favorite Lady"
Before I continue to talk about change, I would like to honor a true Proverbs 31 woman. She is my wife, my best friend, my lover and my partner in ministry and so much more. She is the most unselfish person I know. Years ago when I traveled as an evangelist all over the world she supported me without ever complaining. I was gone for most of four years straight during that time. I was scheduled to preach many times for a weekend and would end up staying at one Church preaching for weeks every night (one Church for 7 weeks). I would call home and inform my wife that the Pastor had requested I stay another week, she would support me and encourage me although I was ready to go home (She stayed with our four daughters). Here is some of the things she represents to me.
* Loving and compassionate
* Diligent, hard worker yet she never complains.
* Giving
* Doesn't gossip but speaks positive about others, even when they don't.
* Positive influence of others
* Non religious (not just going through the motions)
* Amazingly creative (wait till you see some of the things she is working on).
* Patient (I'm not)
* Powerful communicator of God's word, with a prophetic in season anointing.
* Non judgmental of others (I'm tired of the Church's self made rules), she loves people for who they are.
* Unbelievable mom, because of her all five of are girls are wonderful (4 in school make A honor roll).
* Futuristic, is always planning ahead.
* Amazing writer and author.
She has at times been looked down upon because of the priority she places on her family and home. She has refused to allow the ministry to become more important than her family. Because of her faithfulness God is going to reward her with a world wide impacting ministry, in fact He already is.
Doors have began to open for her to minister in major women's conferences. I am so proud of her. One am honored to return the favor by supporting her in the doors of opportunity that God is opening for her. Tara, you are the best!
* Loving and compassionate
* Diligent, hard worker yet she never complains.
* Giving
* Doesn't gossip but speaks positive about others, even when they don't.
* Positive influence of others
* Non religious (not just going through the motions)
* Amazingly creative (wait till you see some of the things she is working on).
* Patient (I'm not)
* Powerful communicator of God's word, with a prophetic in season anointing.
* Non judgmental of others (I'm tired of the Church's self made rules), she loves people for who they are.
* Unbelievable mom, because of her all five of are girls are wonderful (4 in school make A honor roll).
* Futuristic, is always planning ahead.
* Amazing writer and author.
She has at times been looked down upon because of the priority she places on her family and home. She has refused to allow the ministry to become more important than her family. Because of her faithfulness God is going to reward her with a world wide impacting ministry, in fact He already is.
Doors have began to open for her to minister in major women's conferences. I am so proud of her. One am honored to return the favor by supporting her in the doors of opportunity that God is opening for her. Tara, you are the best!
Friday
"Who Moved My Cheese"
"The next generation product almost never comes from the previous generation." —Al Reis
"To reach people no one else is reaching, we must do things no one else is doing" —Craig Groshel
300,000 unchurched people within a 10 mile radius of Buckhead Church (170,000 North Point, 35,000 Browns Bridge). I don't want this to ever stop bothering me. The more successful you are, the more you'll feel good about who IS coming instead of who is NOT coming.
"Become preoccupied with who you haven't reached as opposed to those you are trying to keep." —Reggie Joiner
"What do I believe is impossible to do in my field, but if it could be done would fundamentally change my business?" —Future Edge
_The revolution that video preaching has created, allowing leaders to be separate from communicators.
_Existing (but dying) churches that own real estate need to give it up to new churches that are reaching a new generation.
-You have to have both hands up and a blindfold on if we're taking over" (Andy on converting existing churches to our model.)- Pay attention to the people who are breaking the rules. Who has the biggest church in America? Oprah. 3 million people and no parking problems.
What's in decline? Where are we having to manufacture energy?What would fresh eyes see? What would they set out to do?
"When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near"
Don't let success or momentum overshadow your vision. Keep the vision out in front."There has to be something that breaks your heart, that reflects the broken heart of God.
" —Andy Stanley"We could give away free gas (referring to the political issues in the news) all summer long and it wouldn't stop one husband from leaving his family. What we have to offer is the most important answer for life's questions." —rough quote from Andy Stanley
I am reading a book that has been in my library for some time but I never read. In fact I am not even sure where it is right now. One of my mentors in life and ministry sent it to me, it is call "Who Moved My Cheese".
I read it in one sitting without stopping and as I was reading I wrote thoughts all over the pages. Man, did God ever speak to me through that book. It should be a required reading for all Church staff. I want to share some of the thoughts with you.
* Most people are afraid to let go of the old cheese (ways of doing things) but if you don't let go of the old, you can't grab the new.
* If you refuse to change you become extinct and a museum of what has been.
* Smell the cheese often so that you know when it is getting old. In other words what you don't access will regress (go backwards).
* Those who eat the cheese (success) are those who imagine it when it is still far away. They can smell success before they step into it.
* Whatever your dream is you must visualize on a daily basis.
* Most people are afraid of change because they ask what will I lose? The proper question is what will I gain?
* If you don't enjoy the journey, you will not have the strength to finish the journey.
* It is safer to take a risk and search in the maze then to remain in a cheese less situation.
* Your behavior follows your beliefs. Most try to change the behavior but the behavior will not change till your belief system changes. If you have a mindset of poverty and you win the lottery, withing a short period of time you will be broke again.
* Timing is important to change, if you wait too long, the door of change will close and you will be locked in you present from your future.
* Successful people anticipate change, plan for change, and ride the wave of change.
* Don't worship the brook that God uses to bless you, it will eventually dry up and you will have to move to the next thing. Some people are still sitting at the brook waiting for God to do something, when God said through the brook it is time to move on.
To be continued tomorrow (Man this book is off the chain).
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
"To reach people no one else is reaching, we must do things no one else is doing" —Craig Groshel
300,000 unchurched people within a 10 mile radius of Buckhead Church (170,000 North Point, 35,000 Browns Bridge). I don't want this to ever stop bothering me. The more successful you are, the more you'll feel good about who IS coming instead of who is NOT coming.
"Become preoccupied with who you haven't reached as opposed to those you are trying to keep." —Reggie Joiner
"What do I believe is impossible to do in my field, but if it could be done would fundamentally change my business?" —Future Edge
_The revolution that video preaching has created, allowing leaders to be separate from communicators.
_Existing (but dying) churches that own real estate need to give it up to new churches that are reaching a new generation.
-You have to have both hands up and a blindfold on if we're taking over" (Andy on converting existing churches to our model.)- Pay attention to the people who are breaking the rules. Who has the biggest church in America? Oprah. 3 million people and no parking problems.
What's in decline? Where are we having to manufacture energy?What would fresh eyes see? What would they set out to do?
"When your memories exceed your dreams, the end is near"
Don't let success or momentum overshadow your vision. Keep the vision out in front."There has to be something that breaks your heart, that reflects the broken heart of God.
" —Andy Stanley"We could give away free gas (referring to the political issues in the news) all summer long and it wouldn't stop one husband from leaving his family. What we have to offer is the most important answer for life's questions." —rough quote from Andy Stanley
I am reading a book that has been in my library for some time but I never read. In fact I am not even sure where it is right now. One of my mentors in life and ministry sent it to me, it is call "Who Moved My Cheese".
I read it in one sitting without stopping and as I was reading I wrote thoughts all over the pages. Man, did God ever speak to me through that book. It should be a required reading for all Church staff. I want to share some of the thoughts with you.
* Most people are afraid to let go of the old cheese (ways of doing things) but if you don't let go of the old, you can't grab the new.
* If you refuse to change you become extinct and a museum of what has been.
* Smell the cheese often so that you know when it is getting old. In other words what you don't access will regress (go backwards).
* Those who eat the cheese (success) are those who imagine it when it is still far away. They can smell success before they step into it.
* Whatever your dream is you must visualize on a daily basis.
* Most people are afraid of change because they ask what will I lose? The proper question is what will I gain?
* If you don't enjoy the journey, you will not have the strength to finish the journey.
* It is safer to take a risk and search in the maze then to remain in a cheese less situation.
* Your behavior follows your beliefs. Most try to change the behavior but the behavior will not change till your belief system changes. If you have a mindset of poverty and you win the lottery, withing a short period of time you will be broke again.
* Timing is important to change, if you wait too long, the door of change will close and you will be locked in you present from your future.
* Successful people anticipate change, plan for change, and ride the wave of change.
* Don't worship the brook that God uses to bless you, it will eventually dry up and you will have to move to the next thing. Some people are still sitting at the brook waiting for God to do something, when God said through the brook it is time to move on.
To be continued tomorrow (Man this book is off the chain).
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
Thursday
"How to Handle Criticism" (Perry Noble)
My guest blogger today is Perry Noble. I will be back tommorrow.
Perry Noble dot com
Five Phases In Dealing With A Critic
Posted: 08 May 2008 06:01 AM CDT
I had lunch with JR Lee. a church planter from the great state of Georgia last week, and we began the topic of how I deal with criticism. I’ve been very transparent here on this site about my struggles in the past…but I shared some things with him that I don’t think I’ve ever put into words…so I will try it here.
In my opinion–there are basically five phases in dealing with a critic.
#1 - The Explanation Phase
Early on in the days of NewSpring Church I honestly felt that if I could sit down with the people that were critical of the ministry that the Lord has called me to do that I could reason with them and help them to fully understand why we did ministry the way we did it.
It didn’t take me long to realize that most critics don’t want an explanation…they want an argument. They want the chance to shame you, to speak down to you, to tell you how right they are…and how much you suck dirt!!! I tried the explanation phase for a short while…but it was fruitless and pointless.
#2 - The Argument Phase
The next phase is the one where I tried to argue with everyone…I mean EVERYONE who had a negative word to say about the ministry. This was dangerous for me because I developed an “us versus them” mentality and began to think that everyone who wasn’t doing ministry like us just wasn’t doing ministry.
The Apostle Paul warns in II Timothy 2:23 not to have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments…and it took me a long time but I finally realized that the arguments I was involved in were both foolish and stupid…so I moved past that phase and moved to…
#3 - The Anger Phase (aka…the Punch Someone In The Throat Phase!)
There was a period in my ministry (December 2005 until March of 2007) where I was letting anger get the best of me. I was allowing myself to be controlled by it. I was spending most of my time trying to respond to my critics rather than really listening to the Lord…and it damaged me emotionally and spiritually.
Paul warns in Ephesians 4:27 NOT to give the devil a foothold…but I ignored that warning and allowed it anyways.
I won’t go through all that Jesus had to do to pull me out of this phase…but I will say that Craig Groeshel was a MAJOR instrument that God used to free me up from this attitude. I remember him saying once at a round table, “Some of you in the room (and he looked at me) are beating up hundreds, possibly even thousands, of people in your church up every week just because of one e-mail from a negative person.”
Church leaders…DON’T ALLOW satan to control you through your critics…the price is too high…AND, you spend all of your time on defense rather than on offense!!!
#4 - The Ignore Phase
This is where I am right now…I ignore critics. I don’t read their blogs…I don’t receive their e-mails…and this either does one of two things to them…
First of all–it REALLY ticks them off…but then second of all…they usually go away. Seriously, if you refuse to put fuel on the fire they start…it will eventually go out.
I love what Nehemiah said in Nehemiah 6:1-4 when his critics tried to get him to take his eyes off of the work, “I am doing a great work…and I cannot come down.” That has actually became a rallying cry around our office…people actually say to me, “Hey Pastor P–stay on the wall…don’t come down.”
I will admit that it’s hard at times…but…by not getting into arguments with critics…it has set me free in a major way.
(I will ALWAYS listen to someone who loves Jesus and loves me…but I will never listen to a blogger who has no life OR someone who sends in an email with a fake address…I don’t have time for them–and neither do you!)
#5 - The Compassion Phase
I am almost here…not quite. (Just being honest.) I wrestle with this. I see in Luke 15 when the prodigal son comes home and the older brother doesn’t come in the house to meet him that the Father goes outside and pleads with the older brother to come in.
I think we are called to do the same because…in that story…it would seem that the oder brother (who was the critic) was just as lost as the younger one.
Jesus dealt with this as well…He did weep over Jerusalem…but He also turned over temple tables. There IS a time to respond in boldness…but there is also a time to respond with compassion because, well, people just don’t understand.
Compassion does not mean trying to explain to them…or even exchanging emails with them…but praying for them (NOT the Psalm 3:7 prayer) and asking God to allow them to come into the house and celebrate what He is doing–even it it isn’t their style.
I’m almost here…and, with God’s help, maybe one day I will be! (Once again–just being honest!)
Perry Noble dot com
Five Phases In Dealing With A Critic
Posted: 08 May 2008 06:01 AM CDT
I had lunch with JR Lee. a church planter from the great state of Georgia last week, and we began the topic of how I deal with criticism. I’ve been very transparent here on this site about my struggles in the past…but I shared some things with him that I don’t think I’ve ever put into words…so I will try it here.
In my opinion–there are basically five phases in dealing with a critic.
#1 - The Explanation Phase
Early on in the days of NewSpring Church I honestly felt that if I could sit down with the people that were critical of the ministry that the Lord has called me to do that I could reason with them and help them to fully understand why we did ministry the way we did it.
It didn’t take me long to realize that most critics don’t want an explanation…they want an argument. They want the chance to shame you, to speak down to you, to tell you how right they are…and how much you suck dirt!!! I tried the explanation phase for a short while…but it was fruitless and pointless.
#2 - The Argument Phase
The next phase is the one where I tried to argue with everyone…I mean EVERYONE who had a negative word to say about the ministry. This was dangerous for me because I developed an “us versus them” mentality and began to think that everyone who wasn’t doing ministry like us just wasn’t doing ministry.
The Apostle Paul warns in II Timothy 2:23 not to have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments…and it took me a long time but I finally realized that the arguments I was involved in were both foolish and stupid…so I moved past that phase and moved to…
#3 - The Anger Phase (aka…the Punch Someone In The Throat Phase!)
There was a period in my ministry (December 2005 until March of 2007) where I was letting anger get the best of me. I was allowing myself to be controlled by it. I was spending most of my time trying to respond to my critics rather than really listening to the Lord…and it damaged me emotionally and spiritually.
Paul warns in Ephesians 4:27 NOT to give the devil a foothold…but I ignored that warning and allowed it anyways.
I won’t go through all that Jesus had to do to pull me out of this phase…but I will say that Craig Groeshel was a MAJOR instrument that God used to free me up from this attitude. I remember him saying once at a round table, “Some of you in the room (and he looked at me) are beating up hundreds, possibly even thousands, of people in your church up every week just because of one e-mail from a negative person.”
Church leaders…DON’T ALLOW satan to control you through your critics…the price is too high…AND, you spend all of your time on defense rather than on offense!!!
#4 - The Ignore Phase
This is where I am right now…I ignore critics. I don’t read their blogs…I don’t receive their e-mails…and this either does one of two things to them…
First of all–it REALLY ticks them off…but then second of all…they usually go away. Seriously, if you refuse to put fuel on the fire they start…it will eventually go out.
I love what Nehemiah said in Nehemiah 6:1-4 when his critics tried to get him to take his eyes off of the work, “I am doing a great work…and I cannot come down.” That has actually became a rallying cry around our office…people actually say to me, “Hey Pastor P–stay on the wall…don’t come down.”
I will admit that it’s hard at times…but…by not getting into arguments with critics…it has set me free in a major way.
(I will ALWAYS listen to someone who loves Jesus and loves me…but I will never listen to a blogger who has no life OR someone who sends in an email with a fake address…I don’t have time for them–and neither do you!)
#5 - The Compassion Phase
I am almost here…not quite. (Just being honest.) I wrestle with this. I see in Luke 15 when the prodigal son comes home and the older brother doesn’t come in the house to meet him that the Father goes outside and pleads with the older brother to come in.
I think we are called to do the same because…in that story…it would seem that the oder brother (who was the critic) was just as lost as the younger one.
Jesus dealt with this as well…He did weep over Jerusalem…but He also turned over temple tables. There IS a time to respond in boldness…but there is also a time to respond with compassion because, well, people just don’t understand.
Compassion does not mean trying to explain to them…or even exchanging emails with them…but praying for them (NOT the Psalm 3:7 prayer) and asking God to allow them to come into the house and celebrate what He is doing–even it it isn’t their style.
I’m almost here…and, with God’s help, maybe one day I will be! (Once again–just being honest!)
Wednesday
"Proud Father"
Is has been a interesting transition from the deep south to Chicago. Here are a few of the changes we have experienced.
* Crazy Weather!
* Extremely cold (Freezer Burn)
* From Southerners to the entire planet (nationalities)
* Great food (smell it everywhere)
* People not as friendly
* Traffic
* Did I say traffic?
* High Gas prices (almost $4.00)
*Tight space (I can shake my neighbors hand out my window)
* Lack of parking
* Crazy drivers (they pull out in the middle of the road)
* Da bears and cubs...
* Much more
The most radical change has been that when we talk to people some laugh at the way we talk (southern drawl). I always thought we talked normal, but they see us as from another planet. In spite of our strange way of talking (again I think it is normal), my daughter Haley was chosen by the school to represent the entire school for Earth Day. She is speaking in front of the entire school today representing the south (ha!) What can I draw spiritually from this? I'm glad you asked.
1 Cor 1:26-31
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God -- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption -- 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." NKJV
God chooses the things that we consider foolish to confound the wise.
* God chooses the unlikely. Whoever you would pick, no not him.
* God chooses those nobody else picks (least likely to succeed).
* God chooses the failures, those who are down and pulls them up to display His power.
* God picks the impossible to display His power, so that He gets all the credit.
* If you are last, God will take you from the back and walk you to the front and say there is my grace.
If you are facing a impossibility and everyone has counted you out, watch out you are a prime candidate for God to turn your life around and show you off to the world.
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
PS- Did I say I'm proud of Haley (you go girl!)
* Crazy Weather!
* Extremely cold (Freezer Burn)
* From Southerners to the entire planet (nationalities)
* Great food (smell it everywhere)
* People not as friendly
* Traffic
* Did I say traffic?
* High Gas prices (almost $4.00)
*Tight space (I can shake my neighbors hand out my window)
* Lack of parking
* Crazy drivers (they pull out in the middle of the road)
* Da bears and cubs...
* Much more
The most radical change has been that when we talk to people some laugh at the way we talk (southern drawl). I always thought we talked normal, but they see us as from another planet. In spite of our strange way of talking (again I think it is normal), my daughter Haley was chosen by the school to represent the entire school for Earth Day. She is speaking in front of the entire school today representing the south (ha!) What can I draw spiritually from this? I'm glad you asked.
1 Cor 1:26-31
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God -- and righteousness and sanctification and redemption -- 31 that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD." NKJV
God chooses the things that we consider foolish to confound the wise.
* God chooses the unlikely. Whoever you would pick, no not him.
* God chooses those nobody else picks (least likely to succeed).
* God chooses the failures, those who are down and pulls them up to display His power.
* God picks the impossible to display His power, so that He gets all the credit.
* If you are last, God will take you from the back and walk you to the front and say there is my grace.
If you are facing a impossibility and everyone has counted you out, watch out you are a prime candidate for God to turn your life around and show you off to the world.
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
PS- Did I say I'm proud of Haley (you go girl!)
Monday
"Why Do People Talk About You?"
Prov 6:12-19
A worthless person, a wicked man,Walks with a perverse mouth; 13 He winks with his eyes,He shuffles his feet,He points with his fingers; 14 Perversity is in his heart,He devises evil continually,He sows discord. 15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly;Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.
16 These six things the LORD hates,Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look,A lying tongue,Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans,Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies,And one who sows discord among brethren. NKJV
It is the enemies primary job to create scenarios on the outside that are contrary to the picture of possibilities on the inside. In fact he wants you to believe that what God told you on the inside is a lie. The bible tells us to let God be true and every man a liar. This tells me that what is on the inside of you is not lying, but what on the outside is lying. You need to point your finger that the circumstances that have been fabricated by the enemy and declare boldly, you can't hold me.
Secondly, when a manufacturer makes a claim about a car that is will go from 0-60 in in 30 seconds (Shazam!), they will put it through a series of tests to validate the claims that they have made about the vehicle. In other words a great demand has to be placed on the car because the manufacturer knows the potential that is under the hood. When God makes a claim about you that you are more than a conqueror, you make not be conquering at the moment but God is making a boast of you because He knows the potential that is in you. This means that when God gives you a word such as He did with Mary who was 15 at the time, on the outside she is surrounded by impossibilities, on the inside nothing is impossible with God. Let me break this down.
Nothing (No Rhema), No freshly spoken word from God
Impossible - To be without ability or power.
No word from God lacks the ability or power for its own fulfillment.
So why do people talk about you? (Even in the Church)
* They have been assigned by the devil. (messengers of satan the accuser of the brethren). Most of the time they are cloaked in religious garments.
* They are insecure in themselves and are intimidated by your potential.
* They don't who they are or what is inside of them, so they try to sabotage your potential. They don't have anything better to do with their time.
* They feel bigger by trying to make you smaller.
* They are deceived.
* Everytime they talk about you, they become smaller and you become bigger.
I remember Mike Murdoch telling me a story that he was sitting around a table with other ministers and the entire time they were talking about people (negative). He got up, excused himself and walked out!
I have seen through the years I have been in ministry this happen many times. They are so consumed with destroying you, that they don't realize they are on the devil's payroll.
1 Peter 12-15 tells us that when they talk.
* God's hand comes upon you.
* Blessings are multiplied in your life.
* God accelerates the timing of your promise.
* God rests upon you as a tent of Favor and blessing.
So let them talk! And as my dad said many times, "Son, if you can't say anything nice about them, don't say anything at all."
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
*
Here is some things I have learned about why people talk about you.
A worthless person, a wicked man,Walks with a perverse mouth; 13 He winks with his eyes,He shuffles his feet,He points with his fingers; 14 Perversity is in his heart,He devises evil continually,He sows discord. 15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly;Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.
16 These six things the LORD hates,Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look,A lying tongue,Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans,Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies,And one who sows discord among brethren. NKJV
It is the enemies primary job to create scenarios on the outside that are contrary to the picture of possibilities on the inside. In fact he wants you to believe that what God told you on the inside is a lie. The bible tells us to let God be true and every man a liar. This tells me that what is on the inside of you is not lying, but what on the outside is lying. You need to point your finger that the circumstances that have been fabricated by the enemy and declare boldly, you can't hold me.
Secondly, when a manufacturer makes a claim about a car that is will go from 0-60 in in 30 seconds (Shazam!), they will put it through a series of tests to validate the claims that they have made about the vehicle. In other words a great demand has to be placed on the car because the manufacturer knows the potential that is under the hood. When God makes a claim about you that you are more than a conqueror, you make not be conquering at the moment but God is making a boast of you because He knows the potential that is in you. This means that when God gives you a word such as He did with Mary who was 15 at the time, on the outside she is surrounded by impossibilities, on the inside nothing is impossible with God. Let me break this down.
Nothing (No Rhema), No freshly spoken word from God
Impossible - To be without ability or power.
No word from God lacks the ability or power for its own fulfillment.
So why do people talk about you? (Even in the Church)
* They have been assigned by the devil. (messengers of satan the accuser of the brethren). Most of the time they are cloaked in religious garments.
* They are insecure in themselves and are intimidated by your potential.
* They don't who they are or what is inside of them, so they try to sabotage your potential. They don't have anything better to do with their time.
* They feel bigger by trying to make you smaller.
* They are deceived.
* Everytime they talk about you, they become smaller and you become bigger.
I remember Mike Murdoch telling me a story that he was sitting around a table with other ministers and the entire time they were talking about people (negative). He got up, excused himself and walked out!
I have seen through the years I have been in ministry this happen many times. They are so consumed with destroying you, that they don't realize they are on the devil's payroll.
1 Peter 12-15 tells us that when they talk.
* God's hand comes upon you.
* Blessings are multiplied in your life.
* God accelerates the timing of your promise.
* God rests upon you as a tent of Favor and blessing.
So let them talk! And as my dad said many times, "Son, if you can't say anything nice about them, don't say anything at all."
Blessings,
Craig Sloan
*
Here is some things I have learned about why people talk about you.
Friday
"Get Out of My Garden"
Prov 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence,For out of it spring the issues of life. NKJV
Solomon admonishes us to guard our heart for out of it flows the issues of life. Why?
* Most of your issues don't come from the devil, they come from you.
* If you let hell get in your life, then you will have hell in your life.
* Everything that comes into our life comes as seed, if we allow the seed of unforgiveness, frustration, bitterness, fear to get into our heart then our lives will be encompassed with the fruit of what we allowed in.
* Adam was given the responsibility of guarding the garden, He had victory in every arena of his life, it was a perfect place until he allowed the serpent to come into his garden. I think it is interesting that after Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, she handed it to Adam, which tells me he was there all the time. He was not guarding his garden.
* It is not our wives responsibility to guard the atmosphere of our home. We need men to become the doorkeepers of our homes. If you don't want it in your lives, don't let it in your home. Paul tells us don't give place to the devil (not even a peep hole).
* If a robber wants to break into your house all he needs is an opening. Once he is inside he has access to any room in your house. Spiritually speaking when we allow the robber to have access in our lives through any opening, he can wreak in any area of our life.
* Divorce is not the result of a big thing most of the time, it is the results of a seed (something small) such as lack of time spent together, loss of respect for each other, not putting God first in your home). A criminal is not the result of something but but a person who is the product of seeds that were sown in his childhood.
* The word heart in the Hebrew is from a root word that is a picture of a garden. The writer is saying guard your garden for out of it flows the issues or circumstances of your life. We reap what we sow. What you allow in as a seed will produce fruit in your life.
* I am not a garbage dump for you to pour all your negativity and gossip into. I remember when me and my wife were counseling a couple and they began to bring an accusation against a leader, my wife slammed her hand down on the table and said "Not in my house". Some of you need to do this!
* Your outer world is a mirror of your inner world. In a book titled "The Tipping Point", the author explains how to lower crime in a city. He explains that gangs are attracted and migrate towards areas where the grass is unkempt, there is trash, windows broken... The reason he explains this happens is because the gangs assume that because of the appearance of the properties and homes that no one cares and that no one is in charge.
If you don't take charge of your garden someone else will. Monitor what you are allowing in your heart (also mind). If you let trash in, then you will have trash out. Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
What have you allowed in your garden?
What issues are you dealing with as a result of not guarding your heart and mind.
Who have you given your ears to? What you hear, determines where you will end up in life.
Is your life unorganized on the outside because your inner world is unorganized?
Ask God to uproot everything in your heart that has caused your issues. Ask Him to forgive you of allowing satan into your garden, and to give you a new garden (Psalms 51).
Blessings,
Craig
Solomon admonishes us to guard our heart for out of it flows the issues of life. Why?
* Most of your issues don't come from the devil, they come from you.
* If you let hell get in your life, then you will have hell in your life.
* Everything that comes into our life comes as seed, if we allow the seed of unforgiveness, frustration, bitterness, fear to get into our heart then our lives will be encompassed with the fruit of what we allowed in.
* Adam was given the responsibility of guarding the garden, He had victory in every arena of his life, it was a perfect place until he allowed the serpent to come into his garden. I think it is interesting that after Eve ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, she handed it to Adam, which tells me he was there all the time. He was not guarding his garden.
* It is not our wives responsibility to guard the atmosphere of our home. We need men to become the doorkeepers of our homes. If you don't want it in your lives, don't let it in your home. Paul tells us don't give place to the devil (not even a peep hole).
* If a robber wants to break into your house all he needs is an opening. Once he is inside he has access to any room in your house. Spiritually speaking when we allow the robber to have access in our lives through any opening, he can wreak in any area of our life.
* Divorce is not the result of a big thing most of the time, it is the results of a seed (something small) such as lack of time spent together, loss of respect for each other, not putting God first in your home). A criminal is not the result of something but but a person who is the product of seeds that were sown in his childhood.
* The word heart in the Hebrew is from a root word that is a picture of a garden. The writer is saying guard your garden for out of it flows the issues or circumstances of your life. We reap what we sow. What you allow in as a seed will produce fruit in your life.
* I am not a garbage dump for you to pour all your negativity and gossip into. I remember when me and my wife were counseling a couple and they began to bring an accusation against a leader, my wife slammed her hand down on the table and said "Not in my house". Some of you need to do this!
* Your outer world is a mirror of your inner world. In a book titled "The Tipping Point", the author explains how to lower crime in a city. He explains that gangs are attracted and migrate towards areas where the grass is unkempt, there is trash, windows broken... The reason he explains this happens is because the gangs assume that because of the appearance of the properties and homes that no one cares and that no one is in charge.
If you don't take charge of your garden someone else will. Monitor what you are allowing in your heart (also mind). If you let trash in, then you will have trash out. Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
What have you allowed in your garden?
What issues are you dealing with as a result of not guarding your heart and mind.
Who have you given your ears to? What you hear, determines where you will end up in life.
Is your life unorganized on the outside because your inner world is unorganized?
Ask God to uproot everything in your heart that has caused your issues. Ask Him to forgive you of allowing satan into your garden, and to give you a new garden (Psalms 51).
Blessings,
Craig
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