Click to download the audio version of “Holistic Education: Character”

This week’s of ILF Christian Education discussion is on Character. Character is what you are in the dark when nobody is watching you.

Attached herewith is ILF manual as a tool of reference with help of the exposition below to help with this discourse.

Character, which is our topic of discussion this week, can be defined as what makes a person distinct from others, often with a particular emphasis on moral qualities.

When we think of a person who has good character, we often describe them with terms like integrity, honesty, strong moral fiber, care and concern for others, and the like. Character is demonstrated in actions but true character resides in the heart.

Christian character begins with faith in Christ. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 116).

Faith is what separates Christian character from mere civility or secular morality. There are many reasons for a person to do an outwardly good or moral act (Matthew 546-48; 6; 711).

However, it is not solely the outward act that makes behavior godly, but the motive behind the act that matters. In Matthew 2327–28 Jesus said, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

True godliness includes both right action and right motive (Matthew 5—7). To have Christian character is to have a heart aiming to please and glorify God (1 Thessalonians 41; Colossians 323–24).

Christian character is the product of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who changes the believer’s heart from a state of stone-hearted rebellion and unbelief to warm-hearted faith and love (Ezekiel 3626). It is the Spirit of God dwelling in the believer’s heart that produces a love for God and others, as well as a desire to deny sin and self in order to please God (Romans 55; Titus 211–12).

It is the Holy Spirit that produces the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, long suffering, and self-control (Galatians 522–23). This fruit of the Spirit is what forms the foundation of true Christian character.

Because Christian character is the result of the Spirit’s work, it is forbidden and nonsensical to boast of it as if it were our own doing (Ephesians 29; 1 Corinthians 129–31).

Christians are to boast not of our own righteousness, which does not exist, but of the righteousness of Christ which we have received through faith (1 Corinthians 130–31; Isaiah 646; Galatians 321–22).

Having said that, we are called to walk in the Spirit and not quench Him (Galatians 516; 1 Thessalonians 519).

Although it is the grace of God that produces good works in us, we are still called to work with and not against the Spirit.

First Corinthians 1510 says, But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Because the Spirit of God lives in the Christian and provides the grace and power that make godly living possible, we are encouraged to make use of this great power (Philippians 212–13).

Second Peter 15–8 gives a list of things Christians should pursue that reflect godly character For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Finally, God uses our life circumstances to exercise the grace and faith He has given to us, thereby causing us to grow in Christ-like character.

One might say that Christian character is forged in the crucible of experience and affliction. Paul wrote in Romans 53–5, Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Similarly, in 1 Peter 16–7 Peter wrote, In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

In summary, Christian character is not to be confused with mere morality. Christian character is made possible only through faith in Christ. The Spirit of God is responsible for creating and growing Christian character. Christians are called to work with and not against the Spirit in this endeavor. God uses circumstances to refine Christian character.

This week’s Reflection

1. List down practical personal experiences which reflect Christian Characters in you that help the growth of self and be ILF operations.
2. What are the basic steps that lead to one having a Christian character?

I am filled with excitement as we enter this new chapter in leadership training. I find I am learning a great deal through the teaching of wise men such as Dr. Roland, Cyrus and Anthony. However, our purpose in these talks is not just to increase our knowledge of Christ, right living and/or leadership ability, but it is to call forth a specific active response to God in the way we live.

So, it is appropriate that our topic this week is on commitment. The subject of commitment runs through the whole Bible, and it lies at the heart of our relationship with God. Throughout the Bible we are given examples of God’s commitment for us and his call for commitment from us. As we learn of Jesus’ love for us, it will draw into further commitment to Him. This will impact the way we love, lead and respond in daily life.

The writer of Hebrews describes our Lord’s commitment and our response to Him in these words, “’I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. ‘” (Heb. 13:5-6).

All of the commitments we make should flow from the commitment God has first made to us. Once God committed himself to our highest good, his will toward us was sealed. God tells us that he is committed to all who are in Christ, and that our relationship with him will last forever. Jeremiah 31:31-36 shows us the covenant of commitment the Lord made with his people:

“This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. declares the Lord.”

In spite of the rebelliousness of the people of Judah, the Lord assured them through the prophet Jeremiah that he was committed to their ultimate good.  He says in Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

God’s Commitment to us is shown greatest in Jesus. The Bible tells us “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10). When we love God, it is “because he first loved us” as it says in 1 John 4:19.

The Bible tells us that “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13). That is the full measure of His commitment towards us, my friends.

As followers of Christ, the single most important commitment of our lives is to God. Any lasting success we experience as leaders will flow from that commitment. This is why the apostle Paul writes: Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The word “Therefore” points to all the apostle has written in the previous 11 chapters. In light of God’s mercy, which justifies, sanctifies and will someday glorify us, we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to him. In other words, we should allow God’s mercy to accomplish this additional work in our lives. We should let it drive us to absolute commitment.

We should be motivated by God’s Love to devote ourselves to him. When we take this step, we’re acknowledging Christ’s leadership in our lives. We sacrifice our desires and ambitions as we strive to align ourselves with God’s will. Once we do this, our talents and dreams will be surrendered to his purpose. And the more we give ourselves to him, the more he will bless and use us.

So my friends, what does this look like practically, in our everyday lives?

Well, I have been married for 14 years to my amazing wife Amanda. And our marriage is strong because we have made a commitment to each other. And that was not just a commitment made on our wedding day. It is something we must practice every day. We have to put each other’s needs before our own, we have to deny temptation, we have to demonstrate love, compassion and grace even when we do not feel it is justified.

The apostle Paul used the marriage relationship to illustrate our relationship with Christ (Eph. 5:22). “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.”

When we daily trust or yield ourselves to Christ, there is a true commitment just like in a healthy marriage.

The Bible tells us to “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Through the love of God, we are given greater capacity to love God and others. This will take the form of forgiveness, grace, sacrifice, joy, and service.

I want to end by sharing with you two markers of a committed Christian. I tell you these biblical truths not because I have obtained them. I need God’ grace as I fall short often. But I tell them to you because they will help all become more committed to our Lord and Savior as leaders, members of our communities, and followers of Jesus.

The first is a whole-hearted focus on the Glory of God:

The committed Christian is preoccupied and focused on the Lord’s glory. The very purpose for which we exist is to give glory to God, so it is right that this is the first mark of a committed Christian. The goal of our lives should be to live not for our satisfaction, but rather to give glory to God. As we focus on His glory, we will not be concerned with our own glory.  our motive, theme, goal, reason, and purpose is to give the Lord glory in everything we do. Our life reflects the attributes of God, and God is praised by the way we live. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us this, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

The second marker of a committed Christian is An Unfailing Love for the Children of God:

Not only is the committed disciple focused on God’s glory, but he also is filled with His love. Perhaps this distinguishing mark of the committed Christian is the most significant of all in terms of practical living.

Jesus tells us in His word that love would be their primary distinguishing mark: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” Those words of Christ had such a profound impact on the apostle John that he made them his life’s message. He repeated it in 1 John 3:11: “For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”

As believers in Christ, we have a new God-given capacity to love. What kind of love marks a true disciple? Jesus said, “Love one another, even as I have loved you.” That sets the standard high, doesn’t it? Jesus’ love is selfless, sacrificial, understanding, and forgiving. Unless we pursue a love is like that, we cannot demonstrate our commitment to Jesus fully.

Friends, would you take a moment and sit quietly before the Lord. Listen for His voice, His peace. Pray about your own personal commitment to Jesus and how that translates into your role in ILF, your community, your family. Then please respond to the group with God is speaking to you.

What is one way you can express your commitment to Jesus this week?

Click to download the audio version of “Holistic Education: Courage”

Hello friends.  I want to personally welcome all of you to our third leadership education session.

This week we are going to be looking at the important leadership principle of courage and risk taking.  We’ll look at God’s promises to us as believers and what it means to be both Christian men and women who take risks and who live with courage in our world today.

So, what is courage?  As I understand it, courage is finding strength in the face of something that might be frightening, causes pain or grief.  We are all faced with situations every day that force us to be courageous.  As a Christian, courage is the willingness to set fear aside and say or do the right thing regardless of the earthly cost.  Courage involves taking a risk and it is always produced by faith.  As Christians, we are called to be courageous for our faith.

Throughout the Bible, we read stories of men and women that displayed tremendous courage, taking risks in obedience to God.  Through each one of these stories, whether it is the story of Moses, David, Ester, Daniel, the Apostle Paul and many more, we see God’s promises displayed and in most of these stories we are given a guide as to where this courage came from.

In today’s lesson, I would like to spend some time in the book of Joshua.  To give you some context to the scripture we will read, Joshua has just become the new leader of the Israelites, following the death of Moses.  He is told that he will be leading the Israelites into the land that God had promised them.  In this passage, God is speaking to Joshua, encouraging him before the conquest of the Promised Land.  God is repeatedly providing Joshua words of comfort and encouragement to be strong and courageous.

Joshua 1: 5-9, says “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Why do you think God repeatedly asked Joshua to be strong and courageous?  You need to remember, Joshua and the Israelites were not warriors, but they were nomadic shepherds.  For Israel to go up against the opposition of the inhabitants of that land and then take the land that God had promised them, it was going to take great courage and faith that God would honor His promise to them.  In this text, I want to point out three things that God gave Joshua that can serve as a guide for each of us to live a life of courage.

First, God reminds Joshua that He is faithful to keep His promises.  In verses 5 and 6, God tells Joshua that He will be with him and that He will not fail him.  God had promised this land to the Israelites and there was no opposition that would keep the Israelites from obtaining this land.  God is the same today, as He was in the days of Joshua.  He is still faithful to keep the promises that He has given us through His word.

Second, God reminds Joshua the importance of meditating on His Word.  In verses 7 and 8, God instructs Joshua to stay focused and to NOT ‘turn’ from the Word of God.  He asks him to ‘meditate on it day and night, so that (he) you may be careful to do’ all that is written in it.  God is asking Joshua to be transformed by His Word, instead of being conformed to the world.  In the book of Romans it says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”(Romans 12:2).  When our mind is transformed by the Word of God, our heart longs for the things that God longs for.  It’s when we focus on the things of God and the desires of His heart, that our confidence grows, and we become more courageous to do those things God has called us to.

Third, God promises to be personally present with Joshua.  God lets Joshua know that just as He was with Moses, He will be with Joshua as well.  God doesn’t tell Joshua to go do this on his own, but NO, God tells Joshua that He will be with him every step of the way.  As Christians, we have God’s Holy Spirit living within us.  In the same way God was with Joshua as the Israelites were taking the land promised to them, God’s Holy Spirit is within us everyday to help us face situations that challenge us to take risks and step into courage.

As I reflect on this story from the Book of Joshua, I think the points God was speaking to Joshua then are just as applicable to our lives today.  Life is full of challenges and as believers we are frequently faced with situations that force us to take risks or step out of our comfort zone for God.  Courage involves taking risks and is always produced by faith.  As Christians, our faith is rooted in the Word of God and what it teaches us about God the Father, Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit.  Just as God spoke to Joshua, he is speaking to each one of us through His Word.   Just as the story of Joshua stated, God is (1) faithful to keep His promises, (2) He wants us to know Him more intimately through His Word and (3) He is always with us.

As you reflect on this lesson, sit quietly before the Lord and ask Him to reveal areas in your life where you need to exhibit more courage.  This is a safe environment to share your thoughts, so please send your responses to the group.

God bless each you this week!

Click to download the audio version of “Holistic Education: Dependence”

Good morning friends and thank you for joining us for another session in ILF’s Holistic ministry education. I like to start our time together with a prayer to invite the Holy Spirit filling this space as we discuss today’s topic and open our heart and mind to receive it in Jesus name. God bless you.

Before we start this week’s lesson, I like to share with you how proud we are of this amazing group of faithful believers and your hunger for learning and practicing God’s word everyday serving through ILF ministry.  Please know that we also are learning from you through each mature and heart felt commentaries that you share every week and we are grateful for that.

This week’s topic is *Dependence*:

When we talk about dependence, we usually think about strong characters in our lives who we often rely on. To describe their strength, we use phrases like self-sufficient, independent, capable and often idolize people who poses such qualities, like our parents, our political heroes, our friends, our spouse or even ourselves at times. And when they fall short of our expectation, we often plea our disappointment to God and pose the question *why*!

So why is it that people closest to us fail us, why the heroes in our lives fail us, why the sources of our trust, our strength, and our hope fail us repeatedly. We all have experienced that friends. It is an unavoidable notion that we will continue to struggle with if our dependence continually relies on the flesh and the world. *When our dependence relies on the created rather than the creator*.

I like to share a story with you: I knew a man once who was born and raised in a Muslim community, much like many of you. Through his upbringing, he experienced the injustice and the struggle of the world around him. Disappointed in God and in search for answers, he struggled to reconcile the unfairness and the hypocrisy of the mankind. An unhealthy journey that led him to a place where his disappointment turned in to resentment and his resentment to anger and his anger to defiance and ultimately denial of the existence of God, much less the fairness of God’s sovereignty. *That man my friends, was Cyrus Mafi who since was saved by the grace of God and the shed blood of Jesus Christ*.

Today, I’m still a work in progress. I am not where I want to be, but definitely not where I was either. Every day, I pray that the Holy Spirit will guide me in the freedom to share the love of a God who loved me first “_God who loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life_”. *John 3:16*

Friends, when our difficult circumstances involve betrayal or abandonment, it can be tempting to withdraw from others. But God demonstrates His own love and goodness through our love for each other  *1 John 4:12* says: “_No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us_”. When we commit to a community of believers, we may live imperfectly together while rejoicing in Christ’s perfection. We can be vulnerable and acknowledge our need for grace, rather than holding on to a mask of perfection. *It is in dependence on God where we can find accountability, maturity, and fellowship with others*.

As members of ILF ministry, we are to rely and depend on God and at the same time learn to lean on our brothers and sisters in Christ. After all, we are human, created in the image of God and designed for relationship, accountability, and discipleship;

And even though we fail to rely on God at times, we should take comfort knowing that He never fails to extend His grace to us through Jesus Christ  as Paul points out in *2 Corinthian 12:9* “_But he said to me_, “_My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness_.” _Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me_.

What a great testimony to the grace of God and the power of Christ – which is made perfect in our weaknesses. No matter what you and I are facing and no matter what tests and trials we may face, we have God’s full assurance that His grace is sufficient for all adversities that may face from time to time.

May we like Paul be able to boast all the more gladly in our own weaknesses and frailty, so that the power of Christ may rest upon us so that we can rely and depend on God’s saving grace in all circumstances.

As we close today’s session, it is our prayers and hope that as we gradually mature in the habit of reliance on God in our ministry, every failure along the way may bring another opportunity to rely on His sufficient grace. Even though, we may struggle in heart, body and mind at times, even though we may fail one another or our community at times, may our ultimate dependence on God be demonstrated through embracing His undeserved grace and never-failing love.

Would you a take a moment and meditate on this truth. Would you reflect on a time that you put your dependence on something other than God? What was the outcome? How did it feel? Did God’s grace intervein? How did that feel? And *how does the dependence on God is impacting your service through ILF ministry*?

God bless you all and looking forward to your commentaries.

In Sierra Leone, I have been hearing our people, both young and old, laments “I prefer dying proud in my poverty….”

In our environment, we see how most of us could become so proud that we would never take responsibility of our wrongs and seek to say ‘sorry’.

And over and over again, we have seen how such pride has led the great to fall.

Now, let’s see what the Bible says about pride and humility…

Proverbs 11:12: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

1 Peter 5:5: Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Our local setting sees humility as a weakness, and pride as a virtue and strength.

However, the Christian tradition unequivocally affirms that humility is a virtue. Christians did not invent humility as a virtue ― it is there in the Hebrew scriptures already ― but Christian scripture and subsequent Christian thought put humility at the centre of the moral life in an unprecedented way.

God develops humility in us through the gospel by presenting the humiliation of Christ to us. He also develops humility through the gospel by pointing out the greatness of our sins, revealing Himself and His holiness to us so that we can see the blackness of our sin in objective terms.

Brethrens in the ministry of ILF, real humility enables people to see real limits and accept others as their equal, or even their superior, in any given situation.

Humility is needed to lead because it helps us to trust — have faith— in others to do the work they have the potential to do.

The following are the attributes of Healthy Humility:

• They acknowledge they don’t have it all together…
• They know the difference between self-confidence and pride…
• They seek to add value to others…
• They take responsibility for their actions…
• They understand the shadow side of success…
• They are filled with gratitude for what they have.

As a partner in ILF,

1. How humble can we become to effect change in our community service?
2. What are the things we do, either consciously or unconsciously, that may constitute pride or humility?

Click to download the audio version of “Holistic Education: Integrity”

Good morning friends and thank you for joining us for another session in ILF’s Holistic Ministry Education. I like to start our time together with a prayer to invite the Holy Spirit filling this space as we discuss today’s topic and for our hearts to be open and our minds receptive in God’s vision for us individually, for our ministry and for the communities that we server in Jesus name. God bless you.

We will be talking about *Integrity* today and why it is one of the most important pillars for a believer and for us as the members of ILF ministry.

Dr. Roland shared with us about an incident that happened in Makeni a few weeks ago. The government decided to move a generator (that was the lifeline of the city) to Freetown and to power Lungi airport in preparation for reopening the airport (for air travel following the COVID-19 pandemic). This move did not seem welcoming to the locals and resulted in days long riot that costed hardship, anger, resentment and ultimately the loss of several innocent lives in the process. Even though, the act of temporarily moving the generator to Lungi seemed logical on the surface, but because of the past buildup of distrust, unkept promises and the lack of care by the officials, the end result was tragic

I’m not a Politian, nor do I want to take sides in this example Friends, but rather hoping to demonstrate the importance of trust and the value of integrity in our actions. We, as people want to know that our leaders can be trusted.  We want to know that leaders will keep promises and follow through on commitments.  *Promises and commitments are significant*, We live in a time and perception that ethics are optional depending on our current circumstances.  We often are more concerned with convenience and performance.  We talk up the importance of character, but we have the idea that when things get tough, the rules can be changed, and commitments and promises may be discarded as we will.

But the Bible makes clear just how important our promises are.  Throughout the Scriptures, *God focuses on the fact that he is a God who makes and keeps his covenants*, that he can be trusted.*1 Chronicles 16:15* says “_He (God) remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand generations_”.

God can be trusted because he is trustworthy.  His character is trustworthy, and his word is trustworthy. He is consistent, accountable and faithful, evident in the bible and the history of mankind. Do you think if the integrity was evident in the officials’ action in our example,  if the promises made to the people was kept in a consistent bases and if the character of the leaders had reflected a caring and compassionate leadership, would the outcome been different? I like to think it would, wouldn’t you? Friends, this example is not unique to Sierra Leone and your government officials. it is a hypocritical character flaw that we all try to overcome at times, sometimes with our good deeds, often with our good words. And that’s the point: it always comes down to the issue of character, *biblical integrity is not just doing the right thing or saying the right word*; it’s a matter of having the right heart and allowing the person you are on the inside to match the person you are on the outside.  This is how God is.  This is how his people should be. And this is what his goal is for us, nothing less. For our actions and behaviors to always match Christ’s character and nature.

Are we there yet friends? Do our actions always reflect the nature of Jesus? Does our behavior reflect Christ’s character? I don’t know about you, but (*If I’m totally honest*), *my answer is NO, NOT ALWAYS*!  *Even as a Christian, I have let more people down and have repented more often than I can count*

So, who can we trust?  We have let others down and been let down by others because there is often a discrepancy between what we claim and how we live.  *The answer is a simple one…GOD*, because he will never let us down, because he never changes.  His promises are as good as his unchanging character: “_Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever_” As the writer of Hebrews says in *Hebrews 13:8*.

Jesus does not change.  The Living God does not change.  His love, his truth and his goodness do not change or impacted by external circumstances or conditions. Therefore, God’s character and the promises he makes are always worthy of our trust and commitment.  He does what he says, and his covenant love is always dependable.

This is fundamental in order to know what we lean against, what we can trust in and what we can pursue with all our heart. *The integrity of a living God, his steadfast character and his unchanging standard*.  It is therefore for us as Christians and members of ILF ministry, to learn, understand and practice the Biblical teachings of a high and holy ethic. As Paul tells Timothy in *1 Timothy 4:15-16* “_Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.  Watch your life and doctrine closely.  Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers_”.

Friends, even though, we never attain perfection in this life, there should be a progress toward the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  We will never attain it this side of eternity, but there should be a visible progress, evident to others.  Notice the two things Paul asks Timothy to watch for: your life and your doctrine.  In other words, we need to pay careful attention to our behavior and our belief.  Make sure they match. And ultimately *Constantly examine our self to see whether our walk matches our talk*.

Would you meditate on that? Would you take a moment and reflect on a time where you let somebody down or let down by somebody? How did it feel? How did you reconcile the guilt and the burden, and did you experience the grace of God and the freedom in forgiveness in the process?

In the end, we become what our desires make us friends.  Who we become reveals what we really desire. I pray that The Lord will plant the desire for who we become, to reflect the Character of Jesus. And that our interaction with others, individually and through this ministry, reflect the integrity, the love and the grace that God pours upon us every day. And as a result, may we sense the overwhelming holiness of our Creator, his steadfast love for us and the freedom in abiding in his saving grace.

Amen and God bless, thank you for joining us and looking forward to seeing you next week.

Click to download the audio version of “Holistic Education: Leadership”

Hello Friends,

This is Anthony.  Can I first tell you that it is such an honor to be in a group such as this, that is seeking to grow in the Lord and draw closer Him.  My prayer for this community is that we would all grow closer to Jesus and put our full trust in Him.  That as we grow in our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, we would take all that we’re learning and all that Jesus is revealing to us, to go be a witness to the communities around us.

In today’s lesson we will be focusing on the topic of leadership.  Some of us are natural leaders while others are natural followers.  Regardless of what may be natural for you, each of us will have opportunities in our life to take on roles of leadership.  Some of you will take on the role of a Pastor, some may manage a business, some of you are, or will become Teachers, and many of you are parents or will become a parent someday.  In each of those roles there is either an individual or a group of individuals that need to be led or are looking for leadership.  The question then becomes, how will you choose to lead?  Today I would like to focus on 7 different leadership principles that Jesus Christ demonstrated during His ministry on earth.  I’m sure there are many more leadership principles that we can pull from Jesus’ ministry, but I think the following seven principles create a good model that we can all follow.

First, when we look at the life of Jesus, we can see that He led by example.  Jesus always led by example.  As a leader, it’s important to remember that the people you lead are looking for an example.  The further you go, the further they will go.  In John 13:15 Jesus says, “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.” (ESV).  What Jesus is saying here is, follow my lead!  You have seen what I have done, now you go do the same.

Throughout the New Testament, we see this principle of leading by example being taught and demonstrated by Jesus and the Apostles.  In 1 Timothy 4:12 Paul is writing to Timothy and says, “don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love and in purity.’  And in 1 Peter 5:3, Peter is reminding Pastors to lead by example.  It says, “not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.”  In other words, he’s reminding leaders in the church that it is their responsibility to lead by example.

The second principle we see when we look at the life of Jesus is that He helped those that followed Him find a greater purpose.  As we look at the life of Jesus, He seemed to touch people in a way that brought them to a new level of purpose for their life.  As a leader, we need to consider how we can work with those around us to help them find greater purpose.  You see, Jesus tended to stretch his followers and encouraged them to think bigger than what they even thought possible.  In Matthew 28: 19-20, Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Jesus is clearly asking His disciples to think BIG!  Bigger than their village, bigger than their nation.  He is asking them to reach ALL nations, but not by themselves.  He reminds them that He will be there to help through His Holy Spirit.  As a leader, helping those you lead find greater purpose and supporting them through their journey is so important.

The third leadership principle we see when we look at the life of Jesus is that He affirmed and encouraged people to reach their full potential.  Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.”  Jesus always saw people for who God created them to be.  He spoke encouragement and affirmation to His followers and reminded them that through Him, they have potential for great things.  In John 14:12, Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”  Can you imagine the looks on each of the faces of the believers that heard Jesus say this?  I don’t know for certain, but I can imagine they must have thought, “How can I do greater things than Jesus?”  Jesus was telling the believers, because you believe in Me, you will have access to so much more.  This was a promise and a word of encouragement to the believers then and believers today.  In the same way Jesus encouraged and offered affirmation, as leaders we want to make sure that we are also affirming those we lead.

A fourth leadership principle we see when we look at the ministry of Jesus is that He trusted people with responsibility.  Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”  If we want see people rise to the next level of responsibility, we need to make sure that we’re providing opportunities for people to grow.  1 Thessalonians 2:4 says, “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”  As believers have been entrusted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and have been given the responsibility to share it with those we encounter.  When you think about it, that’s a huge responsibility, but God trusts us to follow through with what He has asked of us.  So just as Jesus Christ gave us the responsibility of sharing His message with the world, as a leader we also need to trust those we lead with manageable levels of responsibility.

As we continue moving along here, the fifth leadership principle that we see through the life of Jesus is that He gave people honest feedback.  In Matthew 17:14-20 we read the story of a demon possessed boy that despite their efforts, the disciples could not heal.  When Jesus arrived at the scene, he asked the father to bring his boy to Him.  Jesus rebuked the demon and the boy was instantly healed.  Verse 19 of the passage says this, “Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked ‘Why couldn’t we drive it out?’ (referring to the demon) He (Jesus) replied, ‘Because you have so little faith.  Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard see, you can say to this mountain, move from here to there and it will move.  Nothing will be impossible for you.”  Do you see the feedback that Jesus provided here?   Jesus provided some upfront and honest feedback about what the disciples were lacking to be able to heal the demon possessed boy – they had a lack of FAITH.  But instead of dwelling on their lack of faith, Jesus goes on to tell them that if they can have faith even as small as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for them.  Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  Remember that when you choose to give feedback to those you lead, it needs to be honest, but also helpful for building up the person.

The final two principles are very simple, but no less important.  The sixth leadership principle we see in the life of Jesus is the principle of treating others as equals.  Jesus Christ demonstrated this so clearly when He said in John 15:15, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”  How amazing is it that Jesus calls those that know Him as friends?  As a leader, it is not our role to act superior to those we lead, but instead it becomes our role to help those we lead grow into the people that God has created them to be.  We are all different and have different giftings, but in the eyes of God, we are all sons and daughters.  It is important to lead from a stance of humility, ready to walk beside and support those you lead who are on their journey.

Finally, a leadership principle that we see in the life of Jesus, but also throughout most of the books of the New Testament is the principle that leaders should pray for those they lead.  This may be the most important thing we do as leaders!  Jesus demonstrated this in the 17^th chapter of Matthew where He prayed very specifically for His disciples, but also for all believers then and now.  We also see this demonstrated in the life of Paul.  After his encounter with Jesus, the Apostle Paul spent the rest of his life in ministry leadership modeling this principle of prayer.  Throughout his writings we see prayer after prayer for leaders, for believers, for regions that Christ would be glorified through various people and people groups.  Remember, as we lead, or are being led, it is so important to lift up those we are in relationship with, in prayer.

As we finish this lesson, I thought it would be good to ask each of you to spend some time prayer and ask Jesus to reveal areas in your life where you can become a better leader?  Are there parts of your leadership approach that you would like Jesus to help you work on?

I wish you all a great week and look forward to hearing from you!

God Bless.

Click to download the audio version of “Holistic Education: Obedience”

Good morning friends.

Whenever the apostle Paul would write a letter to a church, he began with this greeting: “grace and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” I would like to begin our time today with the same greeting, because in Jesus we have grace and peace in our lives! So grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ to each one of you!

Last week, our brother Anthony shared with us the importance of leadership and 7 principles of effective leaders based on the life of Jesus. One of the Bible verses he shared was John 13:15, in which Jesus says, “For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.” This is such a powerful verse and I would like each of us to memorize. Why? It because it is important and relates to every single topic we share in these leadership trainings! It is also important today for our topic as well.

Today we are talking about the topic of obedience.

I often think of children when I think about the need for obedience. In Ephesians 6:1, it states: “Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.” I can picture the children of Revive Christian school the many times I have visited when they come to the chapel and much like I see in so many of you, I remember Ms. Kadiatu powerful presence. I have never seen so many obedient children when someone enters a room!

But we can see that throughout the Bible, the topic of obedience is not just concerning children, but every one of us.

In Colossians 3:18, wives are also called upon to be submissive to their partners as this is fitting with the lord.

Husbands are asked to treat their wives with respect in 1 Peter 3:7 which says, “Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as partners and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers”

We see in Philippians 2:8 that even Jesus himself showed obedience when it says “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross.”

So let’s take a moment and talk about obedience in the Christian faith:

At the heart of what it means to be a disciple of our Lord is living in loving devotion to God. But if such love is real, the true test is obedience. Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Genuine love for Christ will always manifest itself in obedience to his will.

Now, does this mean that a Christian can and or will live a sinless life? Certainly not!  Neither does it imply that a believer will never disobey God again. Acts of disobedience will still occur. But the new birth as a Christian does give a new heart that desires to obey the Word. this is what God says:

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. (Ezek. 36:26–27)

Let’s call this a heart transplant, because now God causes the believer to pursue Spirit-energized obedience rather than sin. The Apostle John agrees when he writes, “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments” (1 John 2:3).

When Jesus preached, “Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14–15), this was issued as an urgent obedience. The gospel is more than an offer to be considered—it is a word from God to be obeyed. John writes, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life” (John 3:36). I want to be clear, our obedience of faith is not what saves us, faith in Jesus Christ is, but obedience reveals our faith to be genuine.

At the moment of conversion, we transfer our allegiance from our old master, sin, to a new Master, Jesus Christ. Paul explains this truth: “You who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, became slaves of righteousness” (Rom. 6:17–18). What this is saying is that everyone is a slave, either of sin or of righteousness. Before conversion, we were slaves of sin and lived in obedience to sin. But in accepting Jesus, we became servants of Christ and live in obedience to Him.

Throughout one’s Christian life,  the apostle John says that believers should continue to “keep his commandments.” the word “Keep”  indicates an ongoing obedience throughout the entirety of a believer’s life. All who are born again will pursue obedience to the end. And John did not just say keep one commandment, he means obedience to the full spectrum of the God’s requirements. Following Christ does not allow for selective obedience. Rather, we must obey all the commandments of God, not merely the easy ones.

When John says believers “keep” the commandments, I picture a guard or watchman watching over a priceless treasure. In like manner, the one who knows God will keep a sharp watch over all that His Word requires. The bible tells us that “his (God’) commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3), but they are a blessing (Ps. 1:1). Every step of heart-prompted obedience leads to experiencing abundant life in Christ. Conversely, every step of disobedience takes us away from the joy of divine goodness.

Now my friends, I know this often feels like a difficult task.

The main problem with obedience is that it is often viewed negatively. We view obedience as a forced, unwilling decision to do something we don’t want to do because we’re afraid of punishment. But that’s not the kind of obedience that’s in God’s Word. Obedience in the Bible means this: love + trust + action.

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15)

Obedience becomes easier with relationship. In fact, obedience is defined by a relationship, especially with God, built out of love. When a relationship is built out of love, it has trust that is sustained and nurtured by relationship.

I would like to offer two ways to grow in obedience to Christ. These are useful to me as much as anyone else as I am nowhere near perfect.

1. The first is that we need to abide in Christ, maintain our first love for Him. Abiding simply means having a life-giving connection to him. A branch is connected to the vine, and a vine to the branch. My favorite way to abide in Christ is to memorize scripture. At any moment I can take those bible passages from my memory and apply them to my circumstance. This is so helpful as I try to be obedient to God’ call on my life!
2. The second way to grow in obedience to Christ is to use the gift of the Holy Spirit. As you continue to walk in your faith, the Holy Spirit will guide you in making the most important decisions of life. He will also guide you in the daily, moment-by-moment decisions and actions of your life. All we have to do is ask.

Speaking of the Holy Spirit, Jesus says, “When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth…and he will tell you what is yet to come” (John 16:13). So the key to walking in obedience is through to the guidance of the Holy Spirit of truth. If you are willing to trust and obey God, God will reveal Himself to you more and more and direct your steps as a way of life.

Would you take a moment, pause the audio or stop reading for a moment, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Take a moment to remember that the Holy Spirit is living in you. You have access to everything you need to obey Christ in your life!

Thank you friends. I want to conclude this lesson by talking about how this applies to us all as leaders.

When Jesus began his ministry, Jesus began the recruitment of his disciples in a very simple and straight-forward manner. He said “follow me.” There were no discussions of rights or money, no arguments about who was in charge. Jesus led, and they followed. He asked, and they obeyed. As leaders, we have a God who is trustworthy, someone we can follow as we lead others. As we lean into him, we will have confidence instead of fear, we have a source of truth rather than simply our own opinions, and we have the power of Christ to love others we may not otherwise want to love. I am so proud of who each of you have become as you have grown in your faith in Jesus. Let us continue to strive to serve our wonderful God by walking in obedience to him, which the world will see and do much the same.

This has my prayer today, would you pray it with me?

Lord, help me to hear Your word and stay obedient to Your will. Like a Father helping his child cross the street, take my hand and guide me. When I fail, correct me; and forgive me so that I can grow to be Your faithful follower and a leader who reflects your character. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We love reading what God is teaching you, Please respond with what God is speaking to you this week and we look forward to another lesson next week.

Click to download the audio version of “Holistic Education: Christian Priority”

This week, we shall be discussing on “priority” in our ILF Holistic Christian Education

Many young Christian men and even some older Christian men struggle with knowing what things in life should be important to them.

What should your priorities as a Christian man be?

Even if you think you know what God says your priorities should be – how do you order your priorities as a Christian man?

First, let’s look at what a priority is….

What is a Priority?

A priority is something that is important to us, something that we care about.

If something is important to us, then we will show that by our deeds. For instance, the Bible tells us that if our faith is truly important to us, we will demonstrate that in our works.

“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. – James 2:15-18

To place God as the number one priority for our lives means that we make a conscious decision to set aside our own selfish desires and distractions and focus on the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

A formal analysis of the Gospels yields 8 priorities to emulate:

1. Healing
2. Love
3. Prayer
4. Confidence in the treasures in heaven
5. Oneness with God
6. Spreading the word
7. Innocence
8. Humility

With this in mind, here are some tips that can help you make God your first priority:

1. Start Each Day in the Word. Spending time in the Word each morning can help you to set your intentions for the day and align your plans with God’s.
2. Get Involved in a Christian Community…
3. Rest in the Lord.

Discipleship is learning from the One who called us to join Him on this journey; called us to learn, on this journey, how to live life in the Kingdom and seek ‘his righteousness’ (Mt 6:33) as the priority in life.

In reflecting on your Christian priorities, please tell us…

How do you order your priorities as a Christian?

Roland

ILF