Monday, December 28, 2015

Leadership Lessons from the Books of Acts



Acts 27
A LEADER IS A PROBLEM SOLVER
One of the most important characteristics of a Leader is to resolve problems. Problem Solving in any organization or a group is always required. As Humans are fallen and have imperfections in all and everything we do, we need God’s grace and guidance to be perfect. Constant learning, commitment, desire and honesty in doing God’s Will for our life is very important to be more like him. A Leader’s perspective in resolving issues in a situation starts with an insight, vision that no one else could have seen/thought.

Leader asks a lot of questions before even finding solutions to the problems:

The important 5W’s helps the leader in this process of finding the solution.

The Why? Where? When? What?

The Situation: Paul along with 276 members in the Ship, that went from Crete to Cauda. The Ship was about to sink because of the strong wind that kept blowing, and they finally gave up all hope of being saved.

A LEADER IS A VISIONARY

Sinking boat is an example for a problematic position of a project or a group.
A failed project of a group, profits sinking down and losses are unavoidable, A hopeless situation. In the above case where Paul was travelling the situation is even worse that not even life was guaranteed.

Paul stood up and reminded them that they should have listened (To stay back in Crete). But still he encouraged then to “Cheer up”. He literally asked them to “Cheer up”, asking then to eat and be nourished rather than giving them some vague ideas about life and death. Paul straight away went to the point of the issue – ie. LIFE. Paul envisioned about the loss (v.22 But now I beg you to cheer up, because you will be safe. Only the ship will be lost).

A LEADER IS A PRIORITIZER
Life is more important than any other material things. Paul valued life more than the ship and all the materials in it. Jesus said, in Matthew 6:25 “I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing?”

In Matthew 10:26-31 Jesus again explains about the worthiness of life more than Sparrows and Grass on the Fields…

In Matthew 12:11 – Jesus explains to the Pharisees about the worthiness of a human more than Sheep…


A LEADER IS AN OPPORTUNIST
Every Leader will think these few questions before he acts. Remember A good Leader will never reacts to a situation, but he will only Act. He pro-actively planned for every situation and circumstances.  

The Questions that Leaders have in their mind or they ask about themselves are:
Whom do I belong?

God???


What do I do?

If I belong to God, I will do only Godly things.

Why do I do what I do?

I do it because of the Love of God.

Where do I go?

I believe in the promises that Jesus has made, that I will be along with him in eternity, in heaven.

Because great plans only becomes great when they are put in to practice not how well it is said, but done. Paul did it.

Great Leaders are not only great planners, but great executers. Strategic Execution is as much important as Strategic Planning, as most of the plans remains as a plan itself very few gets executed.


He prayed and broke the bread... 

PRAYER

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Sunday, December 13, 2015

The Birth of Jesus

The Birth of Jesus Christ is a miracle. The Virgin Birth. But Mary - Mother of Jesus and Joseph, the father had to go through a lot of struggle when Jesus was about to be born. They could not find any Inn or a place for the delivery. They traveled through lots of places and found no place for the baby Jesus, finally they laid down on a manger.


Luke 2New International Version (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.




There are some valuable and important aspects of learning on the birth of Jesus Christ. God chose Jesus to be born of this family (Phil 2), this shows his humility, obedience and acceptance of God's command. Mary was obedient to the God's instruction, Joseph also obeyed the God's command which was in the dream.


Matthew 8:20New American Standard Bible (NASB)

20 Jesus *said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the [a]air have[b]nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
The rejection at the doors of the people, probably this could have led Jesus to say “The foxes have holes and the birds of the [a]air have[b]nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
This Jesus said when one of the scribe came and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go....

18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea. 19 Then a scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.



The restlessness and frustration of life has caused many to say that the things that happen to them are injustice, the things that they won't deserve. But the very fact of life in itself is a gift from God, who are we to say what we need to get and what we should go through, but to praise him forever for who he his, for what he has done on the cross.


1 Peter 3:18-22New American Standard Bible (NASB)

18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the [a]spirit; 19 in [b]which also He went and made proclamation to the spiritsnow in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the [c]water.21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God [d]for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.





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Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Jesus - Light of the World



Jesus is the true light. This is not only the light that we understand of the physical nature, The electromagnetic radiation within a certain portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, emitted through a process which makes things visible on those which it emits, but it is he light of mind - Giving us clear directions (As Jesus said he is the Way), the light of heart - Giving us understanding who he is (The Truth) and the light of life (Life).

Jesus encourages anyone who follows him to reflect his image (Gen 1:27 - So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.


Jesus says even greater thing you could do:

John 14:12-14New International Version (NIV)

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

We do everything what the Father has told us to do.

John 5:19New International Version (NIV)

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself;he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

Father is "The Father of Lights"

James 1:17New American Standard Bible (NASB)

17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or [a]shifting shadow.



Matthew 5:14-16New American Standard Bible (NASB)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a [a]hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a [b]basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

John 8:12New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Jesus Is the Light of the World

12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”


Light is not the electromagnetic radiation or any other scientific explanation, it is not a verb or a thing, but it is a person, in the person of Jesus. Since he is the God - Who created everything in his image and through him:

Colossians 1:16New American Standard Bible (NASB)

16 For [a]by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.


Jesus created us in his image - (In the image of God), Jesus wants us to understand that we are his image and wants us to follow his foot steps.


Psalm 119:105King James Version (KJV)

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.










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