REAL 50: Leading by example

By Innocent Niyongabo

BFI REAL Burundi

Good leaders must lead by example.

By walking your talk, you become a person others want to follow. When leaders say one thing, but do another, they erode trust--a critical element of productive leadership. Here are 10 of the many ways to lead by example.

1. Take responsibility. Blame costs you your credibility, keeps team members on the defensive and ultimately sabotages real growth. 

2. Be truthful. Inaccurate representation affects everyone. Show that honesty really IS the best policy. 

3. Be courageous. Walk through fire (a crisis) first. Take calculated risks that demonstrate commitment to a larger purpose. 

4. Acknowledge failure. It makes it OK for your team to do the same and defines failure as part of the process of becoming extraordinary. 

5. Be persistent. Try, try again. Go over, under or around any hurdles to show that obstacles don’t define your company or team. 

6. Create solutions. Don’t dwell on problems; instead be the first to offer solutions and then ask your team for more. 

7. Listen. Ask questions. Seek to understand. You’ll receive valuable insights and set a tone that encourages healthy dialogue. 

8. Delegate liberally. Encourage an atmosphere in which people can focus on their core strengths. 

9. Take care of yourself. Exercise, don’t overwork, take a break. A balanced team, mentally and physically, is a successful team. Model it, encourage it, support it! 

10. Roll up your sleeves. Like Alexander the Great leading his men into battle, you’ll inspire greatness in your company

REAL 49: About the insight Who Jesus is! By Fabrice Bizimana

By Fabrice Bizimana

Thank you Dr Josimar for your insight about who is Jesus's personality. 

When I was reading your posts I realized the heavenly mind and culture that was in Jesus. 

He knew his identity but instead of boasting or demonstrating his power and glory he chose to be humble. 

I LEARNED THAT KNOWING AND DISCOVERING OUR IDENTITY OR WHO WE ARE SHOULD NOT LEAD US INTO BOASTING, LOOKING DOWN OTHERS OR REJECT PEOPLE. 

 Jesus set a good example of how a king, a master, a leader should treat his people. A king must be at service of his people washing their feet. In order to wash somebody's feet you need to bend down. It's a position of humility. 

Jesus was born in a village, in a simple family and grew up working as a carpenter because Jesus values each life, every person, every work and business. 

He could be a scientist and bring innovation that none has ever thought here on earth because he is very smart. 

His mission was not to show us up but his mission was to love us all, value each of us and show us acceptance no matter where we are from, our background, our education, our believes, our position in the society. 

He set a good example so that everyone may follow him. 

He was so encouraging to his disciples. 

He said whoever that believes in him will do the works he has been doing, and they will do even greater things than these. He was a perfect leader. 

JESUS BELIEVES IN US. HE DOESN'T SEE US AS WEAK PEOPLE. 

HE BELIEVES IN EVERYONE'S ABILITY.

HE NEEDS US TO BECOME HIS PARTNERS IN HIS KINGDOM AND TO COLLABORATE. 

HE NEEDS US TO KNOW THAT THROUGH HIM EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

REAL 48 - Do you see a man who excels in his work?

“Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22:29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

How will we be successful in business?  Will it be because we are Christians?  Or will it be because we work hard at what God has gifted and purposed us to do?

Many Christians think that God is going to make them successful. That they are blessed and that money is going to flow in simply because of Jesus!

While it is true that you are blessed to know God and that He is for you and not against you. This does not guarantee your success!  Here the writer in Proverbs asks a question. Do you see a man who excels in his work?

The word "excell" in the Hebrew means to be prompt or on time!  We have talked about this in previous posts. Sometimes success is being on time and prepared to work. 

I just started a new business and I receive leads on people who are interested in hiring me to perform a service for them. If I do not answer their call immediately, guess what happens?  Someone else calls them and I lose their business. 

Excelling in our business requires us to be:

On time
On task or prepared to work. 
Respectful 
Honest
Trustworthy

These are all characteristics of a person who excels in what he does for business. You must be excellent at what you do or someone else will do it better and replace you. When you work to excellent at what you do in business your customers will see your example and will want to use your business because they know they will be treated right, receive what they paid for and can trust that the work will be done on time. 

When we work like this we reflect the character attributes of God!  People see God in us!  This is how we earn the right to share about Jesus!  This how we receive even greater blessings from the Lord because we have excelled at what He has given us to do!  This is how we fulfill our purpose on the earth and impact our communities with sustainable transformation!  God honors your excellence in business and promotes you to stand before kings, leaders, and people that will further help you, as you pursue God and your purpose!

Be excellent at what you do and you will be amazed at how people will want to know about the God whom you serve. Solve their problem and they will listen to what you have to say!

Be a Soulutionist!

Have a blessed day!
Dr. Taylor

REAL 47 - Who would illustrate better Jesus, how he did look like whenhe lived in Israel 2000 years ago?

What picture would represent Jesus better when he fulfilled his ministry among the people in Jerusalem? 

What I want to know is in your opinion which of those men would better illustrate Jesus when he lived among his disciples in Israel?

The pictures are posted here for illustration purposes only! 

“Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. “Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.” Mark 6:1-3 NIV

Jesus went to his hometown and visited a synagogue on Shabbat. There was nothing special about his appearance, nothing fancy about his clothing or anything that people would think of him as a priest! He was so normal that people from his hometown began to ask:  Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” 

Jesus was not a member of the synagogue neither he was one of the priests of the temple in Jerusalem. 

And he lived among the people, ate the same food they ate, he drank the same wine, he walked in the same open markets, he took baths at the Galilee sea. 

He dirtied his feet on the same land that camels trod and he blurred with mud the tips of his gown walking the streets after the rain.

He was the same looking carpenter guy who crossed many cities, yes he visited houses and public places as a common man, one of his kind among all other Jews. 

He was so normal and used clothes so regular that Judas had to kiss him to appoint him to the soldiers who he was. 

“Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The men seized Jesus and arrested him.”

Mark 14:44-46 NIV

Why Judas needed to kiss him? To identify him among his friends. 

I am challenging you to look to Jesus in the narrative of the Gospels to find a simple man among his countrymen. 

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” John 13:3-5, 12-17 NIV

If Jesus would come to your town today who would be carrying his suitcase? Who would serve him a better meal than to the other disciples? Who would give him the best bedroom of the house?

From what and how I know Jesus he would be one carrying your suitcase.  He would not eat a better meal than the other disciples! He would share the best to everyone around him! He would refuse to sleep in a better bedroom knowing his disciples would be in a less comfortable place! 

How am I sure Jesus would do what I just said? Because he would have not taught what he did not lived!

 “Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

Mark 10:42-45 NIV

We have to break the patterns of the world among us in the church! Yes, we can honor our pastors, evangelists and elders. We can give our best to the ones we esteem! But we can't forget “‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’” Matthew 25:45 NIV

Yes, we can live in good houses and eat the best of the land as the fruit of our labor!! But when we are together there is no greater one among us. When we are in Church there should not be special places for any of us.

“The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight. “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing their way into it.” Luke 16:14-16 NIV

Maybe I may feel very special before God like a son that is so loved by my Heavenly Father. However what I can not forget is that each one of my brothers and sisters are also so loved as well by our Heavenly Father. Yes, each of them are also very special!

Please, let us all learn with Jesus who is humble and simple! He still is! He changes not! Let us value what He values and let's us break free of all the flatteries and folly of this world. We are His people! We are the flock of His pasture!

JSalum

Burundi nation needs prayer and actions. By Mathias Ntakarutimana

Burundi nation needs prayer and actions. 

By Mathias Ntakarutimana

REAL Burundi

It is good to hear that the active youth can be together for the same purpose of possitive transformation.

Change takes time to appear is such country of Burundi  in which we are, but change will take place.

 I have full believing that the tears shade on the cheeks of many parents and many children will be taken away and time of laughing will come, time of abundant havest in country will come back. 

Hope is still there to the tree which was cut and to grow from up roots. 

This is our time for us all to arise for our nation, everyone realize what he is created to do.  

I see in dream the new Burundi of new minds of Burundians, 

Burundi needs God, Burundi needs prayer.  

Burundi needs me Burundi needs everyone of us.

Support: moreinternational.org www.yousephdaniel.com

#REAL #jsalum #championswithdestiny #kingsnet #BFI

Twelve secrets of triumph By Azarias Nkengu

Twelve secrets of triumph

By Azarias Nkengu

REAL Burundi

First secret:

In order to be a winner,you must give your heart to Jesus, and accept salvation and forgiveness of sins.Rom 5:1,and heed the calling he makes in his word" My son,give me thine heart,and let thine eyes observe my ways.prov 23:26 every morning,we are provided a new opportunity to express our gratitude and loyalty to His,so love him.

2nd secret:

Put God first. (math6:33), in the decisions you make, all of God's assured promises will become our own.

3rd secret:

Accept our human impotence and unite ourselves with Christ, trusting in his grace every day.john15:4,5

4rth secret

Search the scriptures, the word of God.,daily.. Acts17:11,learn to fear Gid,keep his word,and out it in practice. Deut17:19

5th secret

Pray always,Daniel prayed 3 times a day,why not you? Dan 6:10 

Lots if prayer=lots of power.few prayers= little power.

6th secret

Faith.

Without faith,it is impossible to please God,thus resting and believing, we have peace with God.

7th secret: attend the meeting of the body of Christ- the church.faith cones from hearing God's word ROM 10:17

8th secret:

Forgive and love Colossians 3:3-14

9th:Follow a good partwber-Jesus in obedience and submission to his father by keeping his commandments. Salvation is promised to those who obey hebr5:8,9

10th secret

Bear a testimony unto others of the wonders and miracles that the almighty God gas done in your life. Acts 13:47,begin sharing with others every thing that you have learned todayvand you will receive the benefits

11th secret

Let  us maintain ourselves firm,without wavering, and in those moments of weakness, seize the promises of God expressed in Hus word (hebr19:23) 1corinthians10:13

12th secret

Trust and allow Gid to work in you.he provides assurance that we wiklvnit lack the strength to come out victorious and that he will work in us both to wilkvand to do.hecwabtsvys to be happy. Then be a winner.

BFI -Burundi Friends International champions are meeting in Bujumbura

SPECIAL REAL REPORT

BFI -Burundi Friends International champions are meeting in Bujumbura for a Conference (June 17 & 18, 2016)

Organizers Innocent Niyongabo and Karorero and others leaders like  Jean Marie Nizigiyimana are talking about vital issues for community transformation: importance of Volunteering, how to start from zero and be a hero, communication as one of the components of Entrepreneurship, How to do savings, apply for loans and how to pay them back and about Inner healing and forgiveness.

Support: moreinternational.org & www.yousephdaniel.com

#jsalum #championswithdestiny #kingsnet #REAL

REAL 46: Who is the holy one here?

Let me ask you the same question I have asked before? Who is the holy one here? 
😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😳😇😇😇😇😇😇

The holy face is this one 😳

One of the meanings of holy is to be set apart, separated from. The distinguished face among all those faces is 😳 

In our mindsets related to spiritual stuff are pictures, forms, ideas of angels, nice faces, people on their knees, that were impressed on us by religious backgrounds. 

God choose a carpenter to reveal Himself in the world of business. 

I probably would never choose a farmer instead of a preacher behind a pulpit to portrait someone spiritually.

What face would represent Jesus if you were able to see him eating with sinners and tax collectors in the town of Betsaida in the first century? Who can represent God here? 
😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇🙂😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇

We would have used other faces to represent sinners and tax collectors! 👹😡😤😵😲😫😩😖 But never 😇😇

This is just a simple exercise to make you think. From what I know about Jesus and having spent almost 50 years walking with Him I am 100% he would never use those faces to represent sinners and tax collectors and he would not like this one 😇 to illustrate him. I mean he would use this one 😇 to engage with many people. But I am 100% he would like us to use this one 😄 this one 😀 this one 😃or this one 😂 to illustrate Him.

The impression you make of God is how you see Him in your heart!

Be blessed! Oops! Sorry! Be a blessing! 

JSalum

Oops! Jesus interrupted me while I was driving and he said: I like this one, Josimar, better 😜 And he laughed! 😂😂😂😂

REAL 45: What this has to do with REAL?

What this has to do with REAL - Relationship, Empowerment, Advancement and Leadership 

I think that relationship with Jesus is only formal and religious for people who don't know Him well. It seems that we act in a certain way when we are in church and in a different way when we are doing business. 

I don't say this in general terms, but I would like to encourage you to be just YOU when you pray and say whatever you like to say to Jesus. 

I myself say anything I want. Some of my brothers and sisters would be very offended if they hear me talking to Jesus privately. 

One thing I know Jesus likes a lot to hear me saying what I really think and I mean it, because you know I can't hide anything from Him. And my relationship with him must be uniform all day long. I don't change the tone of my voice when I pray! He would think I am crazy! 😀😀 I am just who I am wherever I go. And I don't pretend to be spiritual with him and anybody else, because I am not!

I am really empowered when I am who I am. Because Jesus empowers me and not a performance of me. Life is not a theatrical drama or a comedy I have to pretend as it is real. It is real! Jesus made me to be who I am and he is changing me to be like him until I ultimately be Him with all my brothers and sisters. This is true empowerment!

I can't advance pretending to be somebody-else. I can't progress out of an impersonated person that I am not. Why look so spiritual in church when in a classroom or in my work environment I am another person? 

Jesus is transforming my life and giving me the fruit of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit for my daily life. Where I need most the gift of discernment of spirits and revelation is on my job site than in church. I pray more in tongues when I am working than when I am in church. I pray for people to get healed much more in restaurants, hotels, workplaces, schools and in the streets than in churches. I am making more disciples today on whatsapp than in church. Can you believe it?

Leadership has to do to who I am and how I relate to the Lord more than anything else. And how I relate to others is immediately impacted by my relationship with Jesus. More I have fellowship with Him much more people come to me to hear a meaningful message that really reflects Jesus.

I see Jesus and I perceive Him very close to me, always accessible, always ready to talk and listen, alive right here by my side. 

I don't see Jesus seated on the Throne very far in heaven, I mean, he is seated on the Throne, I see, but as I knell down he stretches his left hand and pulls me up for a talk. And I marvel at his feet as I look up to His face and he is always smiling and happy and full of joy for being my King and Friend! 

I pray you get this right!

Josimar Salum

REAL 44 - THE CALL TO CHANGE By Graham Jones

THE CALL TO CHANGE

By Graham Jones 

Visit his website at www.gjm.org

Jesus is all about change! From the very outset Jesus came preaching repentance, which means change. Repentance is to turn from one thing to another, to stop looking at things from a human perspective and begin to look from above, to look from God’s viewpoint. In the sermon on the Mount Jesus said five times:

“You have heard it say this………But I say to you this…..”

Jesus does not call us to reformation, he calls us to transformation. He calls us on a journey to “follow me,” he calls us out of one life into another. We can only communicate God’s transformational power to others when we have experienced it ourselves. We can only communicate God’s transformative power to others to the measure that we have experienced it ourselves.

I believe that the most important key to our experiencing change, is for us to understand that God never changes. In an ever-changing world, it is hard for us to grasp to reality of an eternal God who is constant, consistent and unchanging. The church world has portrayed a God who never seems to be sure what he thinks and feels about us. When we are uncertain of who God is and how he sees us, we quickly reach a ceiling in our capacity to embrace transformation. Religion says that God’s relationship with us depends on our performance. The bible says that God’s relationship with us depends on his faithfulness and his unchanging character.

2 Timothy 2:13

If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

We need to embed this glorious truth in our hearts that God is our rock, he never wavers in his love and commitment to us. Jesus does not love us based on our performance or growth. God loves us based on his character and faithfulness.

THE OBJECTIVE AND SUBJECTIVE

There is both an objective and subjective part to our walk with Jesus. To walk by faith is to walk in the objective word of God which never changes. When we walk by faith we walk on something that is more solid than the ground on which we stand;

Matthew 24:35

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

There is also a subjective part to our relationship with God. We do not have a relationship with a God who lives by impersonal principles like the laws of physics. We walk with the bridegroom God who wants to woo and romance us with his passionate love. We have a warm Father who delights to know us and like any good father loves spending time with his children.

GLORIOUS CERTAINTY

The key to walking out these two realities is to recognize that both are true. God is unchanging in his character, his faithfulness, his values and his word; and yet his is capable of applying all of those unchanging realities to each individual person and in each individual circumstance in a way that is personal, precious and unique.

He invites you today to know him, to rest in absolute certainly about who he is and how he feels about you. He invites you to explore his glorious personality, to place a demand on the truth you know and see it blossom into experience. He invites you to climb aboard the glorious rollercoaster ride that is life in the Spirit, to lean not on your own understanding and dance on the water with him.

Respond, enjoy, explore, delight.

REAL 43 - WHAT JESUS LOOKS LIKE?

WHAT JESUS LOOKS LIKE?

Dr John Eckhardt

Hello, REAL participants. Good to finally be with you.

I thought it good to comment on what Jesus 'looks like', as he is the standard to whom we attain, and the image that we are being conformed to by Holy Spirit (according to Romans 8).

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:14, 16-17, 29-30 NIV

The Gospels reveal Jesus as a King, Warrior, Sage and Lover. As such, Jesus the Christ is the exact representation of Father, in whose image and likeness Adam/Eve were originally fashioned.

“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,” Ephesians 4:11 NIV

The goal of the 5-fold ministry, according to Ephesians chapter 4, is to equip and ready us until we all attain... to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Which means until we ALL look like  God's first born son in His fullness as the Christ. (Incidentally, this is MY definition of Christian. Also note that it is free from any religious connotations).

This is about being 'little christs' in the Kingdom of our Father.

A king exercises dominion by blessing and ordering. As a citizen of God's Kingdom and member of the royal family, this is both my privilege and responsibility.

And so it is with the Sage, Lover and Warrior.... as Christ is all 4 of these, so am I. Not my religious make-up... but my in Him reality!

Luke 2:40 says "the Child continued to grow strong in wisdom, and grace was upon Him..."

It is encouraging that Jesus grew in wisdom, because we too must grow to become the sages we are born again to be.

By the age of 12, adulthood in the Hebrew culture, when young Jesus was considered to be a man, He had reached a stature of wisdom where he surpassed the sages of His day. (The scribes were the sages, expert seasoned lawyers and judges of the day). 

“After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:46-52 NIV

Holy Spirit is fashioning us into the likeness of the fulness of Christ, a Sage, the embodiment of all wisdom and understanding. 

You may not consider yourself very wise today, but that does not change the fact that Holy Spirit is working overtime to make you like Jesus the Christ. Let's be patient and press in all the more for wisdom!

REAL 42 - There will be one Shepherd and One Flock: A long conversation on pastors, churches and flock abuse!

There will be one Shepherd and One Flock: A long conversation on pastors, churches and flock abuse!

MJ =  You are right, there is also a conflict between young leaders and those old Pastors!  Many Pastors when they see a young leader growing they become jealous and they fear that they may replace them. Sometimes they can stop a young leader from going to study theology or leadership in America or Europe thinking that when he comes back he will replace them. And that is a big challenge for the spiritual growth of those young leaders here and you imagine how the church will look like tomorrow.

Paul Taylor = Amen!  Let me say this. We have the same problems in the US. When I was a young man my Pastor tried everything to discourage me from going into the ministry. When God began to bless me he became jealous. 

Pastors say they want unity, but they refuse to unite because of fear of losing their sheep.  The problem is two fold. One they do not believe in the Kingdom of God. Two they are afraid of losing their income and have become hirelings. 

It is very sad, but I have been there. Only revelation will set them free from fear of being replaced.

J Salum = There are no senior pastors in the NT not even many churches in a city much less denominations! To be a pastor "a solely" monarch of a "church" is a sin! The existing situation is not so simple! The church systems of today promote this kind of reality!

Paul Taylor = It is a system that is broken. I have no issue with someone being paid to Pastor or preach. That is not the issue. The apostle Paul taught that a man is worthy of his hire. It is when they control people in fear of losing their income that causes the problem.  If a pastor knows that God is his provider and he works to build the kingdom of God, discipling the people to use their gifts, I have no problem with what he is doing. Where you worship is not important!  May God raise up men and women who are true pastors and care for people.

JSalum = Yes but if a pastor is hired he is a professional of the faith! If you preach the Gospel you can live by the Gospel! Yes, you may have a salary, but in the NT there were not employees of the Church! But the system has individual pastors pastoring specifics churches who are not the CHURCH OF GOD in a city Because there is only one Flock and one SHEPHERD! 

Individual pastors. Who are they today? Pastor Joe is a pastor of the Church  of God! Pastor Brain is a pastor of Fire of God Church and pastor Moses is the pastor of Church of Saint John! These are all sin! And they hate each other and fight each other! 

Let us read some Scriptures:

 “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— TO ALL IN ROME  who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 1:1, 7 NIV

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, TO THE CHURCH of God IN CORINTH , to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:”

1 Corinthians 1:1-2 NIV

“Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by a man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers and sisters with me, TO THE CHURCHES  in Galatia:”

Galatians 1:1-2 NIV

GALATIA was a region with many cities!

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, TO THE SAINTS which are IN EPHESUS, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:”

Ephesians 1:1 KJV

“Paul, and Silvanus, and Timothy, unto THE CHURCH of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 1:1 KJV

“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;”

Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18 KJV

The word Church is Singular, in Ephesus!

“And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders (presbyters, the pastor)  of the church.” Not of the churches of Ephesus

Acts 20:17 KJV

“Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”

Acts 20:28 NIV

There is just a flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. (With S plural) BE SHEPHERDS  (plural) in one city, together, one Presbytery ONLY ONE of the CHURCH of GOD not churches 

The churches are not part the Body of Christ! The Church is the Body of Christ! 

Mathematically is like this: Ephesus  = 1 = Church = Rome = 1 = Church = 3 gathered in the farm around Rome = 1 = Church = The Church! 

And we went far away from THE CHURCH to become what Christians are today! Fragmented! And if they are not ONE they are not the Church!

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

Ephesians 4:2-6 NIV

There are many men of God pastoring the flock of God but a large number of them are wolves.

“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.”

Acts 20:29-30 NIV

“In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”

2 Peter 2:3 NIV

There is a version that says "these will make merchandise of you!"

“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”

1 Peter 5:1-4 KJV

The flock of God! Pastors have no sheep! We have no disciples! JESUS SAID: FEED MY SHEEP! 

We make disciples for JESUS! 

“So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

John 21:15-17 KJV

Feed MY sheep! Jesus said three times! FEED THE FLOCK OF GOD!

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Let me challenge you all to look at John 10! And you will see how John 10 is related to what we are talking here!

We have learnt that the devil came to kill, steal and destroy! 

But did you notice that in John chapter 10 Jesus does not mention the devil even once? 

Did you notice that according to Jesus who came to kill, to steal and to destroy are the mercenaries that came before HIM? 

““Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 

The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 

But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 

Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. (JESUS was talking to the Pharisees indeed!!!)

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 

All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. (THOSE PHARISEES WERE BEING CALLED BY JESUS AS THIEVES AND ROBBERS AND THE SHEEP DID NOT LISTEN TO THEM)  

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “

(The thief - who is the thief? The thief! So obvious the answer!!!)

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 

The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. 

(THE HIRED HAND IS NOT THE SHEPHERD) 

So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 

The man (not the devil) runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. “

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 

I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. 

They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. THERE SHALL BE ONE FLOCK AND ONE SHEPHERD!

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.””

John 10:1-18, 25, 27-30 NIV

I can go on, I humble myself before the Lord, I will tell you that you will not find anyone on the NY That is named a Pastor! You find apostles, prophets, evangelists and teachers but not one pastor! 

And you shall know Jesus (THE TRUTH) and THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE! 

PS: When in the NT the words church, pastors, overseers, bishops, presbyters, elders and others related words were used what the people who received the letters from Paul, John, Peter and others did understand? Not what Calvin, Luther, Strong, Pope Francis and others understood! Here is the key for extending the conversation!

Do you really want to change?