PRESSING THROUGH! by Rodney Francis

When we look more closely at where many Christians are at in 
their lives, and what they are (or are not) accomplishing, we 
realize that we do have to keep encouraging one another to enable 
us to fulfil the calling and purpose of God for our lives. He has not 
called us to walk and live in defeat; to be discouraged; to give-up 
and become negative and defeated about life generally. Jesus 
came to give us much more than that! He came to give us "Life, 
and life more abundantly ("super-abundant, excessive, above the 
ordinary measure")" (John 10:10). Know that the life Jesus gives 
us is so totally different ~ and far better ~ than any other kind of 
life that can be found this side of eternity. Do not forget that.

Far too often we give in too quickly. If it does not work out exactly 
right the first time, we often do not try again, thinking that it is not 
God's will for us, or that the devil is trying to deceive us, etc. Faith 
is something that causes us to press onwards, upwards and out-
wards ~ to persevere and to press through until we see the required 
result. I am reminded of what Elijah said to his servant in 1 Kings 
18:43-46. Elijah had declared that "there is a sound of abundance 
of rain" ~ but there was no evidence at all of any clouds or signs 
of rain (after three-and-a-half years of no rain - James 5:17-18). 
He sent his servant up a hill to look for the clouds. He returned 
with a negative word ~ there was nothing to be seen. Elijah was 
not to be put-off by that report and sent him again, even seven 
times! Six times there was nothing to be seen. Maybe Elijah had 
got it wrong? But no! On the seventh time the servant came back 
with a report of a little cloud in the sky the size of a man's hand. 
That was all Elijah needed. He jumped into action and it was not 
long before the sky was black with rain clouds and heavy rain 
began to pour down. He prevailed!

We, too, need to have the word of the Lord in our hearts in such 
a way that we know it is God. Often, when He speaks to us, there 
is no physical or outward evidence that it is so. But faith comes 
with the voice of the Lord, and when we choose to press on through 
regardless of what our mind tells us, other people tell us, circum-
stances tell us, etc., we will find that we inherit the promises. They 
will come to pass! Know also that God uses these "delays" to work 
something precious into our spirits, so that we are prepared and 
equipped for even greater things ahead. We have to be refined for 
His purposes. It is easy to give up, but giving up does not 
accomplish anything in God.

Naaman the Syrian was told by Elisha to go and wash seven times 
in the Jordan River. It offended him and touched his pride, causing 
him to "storm off" in indignation. But when he humbled himself and 
did as the prophet declared, he was healed of his leprosy. I am 
simple enough to believe that if he only dipped five or six times, 
he would not have been healed (see 2 Kings 5:1-14). He had to 
persevere in spite of his pride and arrogance. God used it to humble 
the man and cause him to acknowledge that there is no god like
Elisha's God.

CONSIDER JESUS

We are exhorted to be like Jesus and to "lay aside every weight, 
and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with 
endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the 
Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set 
before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has 
sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him 
Who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest 
you become weary and discouraged in your souls" (Hebrews 12:1-3).

Christianity is a marathon race, not a sprint. It calls for endurance 
("to stay, stand fast, continue, abide; to remain behind after others 
have gone; to keep one's ground, hold out; a brave bearing up 
against sufferings" - Bullinger's); it is keeping focussed and 
keeping going in that which God has called us to. "And let us 
not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap 
if we do not lose heart" (Galatians 6:9-10). If Jesus Himself needed
to endure, then so do we. Have we got our eyes focussed on what 
is ahead, or are we allowing present, natural, negative circumstances 
to discourage us and make us give up?

WHAT has GOD PROMISED YOU?

What has God promised you that is yet unfulfilled in your life? Have 
you given-up on it, thought it was too difficult, caused too much 
criticism and opposition against you, etc.? What God promises 
He desires to deliver on. He wants to fulfil His sure promises in your 
life. Be encouraged to pick up those promises again and to press 
on until you see the victory. Know that He does not change His 
mind about you. Do not allow negative thoughts, things, people,
circumstances, criticisms, opposition, persecutions, etc., rob you 
of the blessings of a Super-Abundant God Who wants only the 
very best for you. Press in and press through until the victory is 
yours! It is so worth it and you will accomplish so much more as 
you keep pressing through, enduring and not giving up on that 
which God has promised YOU! That is our experience and 
testimony in The GFM Ministry. As we come to the completion 
of 50 years of operation, pressing through and enduring many 
things, we have something definite to show for it all. We are so 
grateful to God for the many thousands of lives that have been
impacted by the Holy Spirit over those years. You can accomplish 
great things too! Whatever you do, do not give up!...

-Source-

http://www.gospel.org.nz/

Leaders Are Built Through Fire

Leaders are built through fire - like steel is made hard in the fire, like gold is purified in the furnace, like carbon is formed under pressure into diamonds.

Pressure reveals the impurities in one’s life so they can be dealt with. It is far better to put the emerging leader under pressure before he is given significant responsibility and authority than to wait until the time when failure under pressure will destroy both the leader and those with him. Therefore, the leader development process can intentionally put the participants under a certain amount of pressure to squeeze heart contaminations to the surface so they can be revealed, confronted and removed.

Significantly, the formation of diamonds from carbon requires three things: (1) extreme pressures, 100 miles or more deep under the earth’s surface, (2) high temperatures, 2000 degrees Fahrenheit or more, and (3) time, diamonds are formed very slowly.

Of course, this is not only true for leaders; this is how God deals with all of us. He has always used suffering as a vital part of the Christian life.

For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, (Phil. 1:29)

If we suffer, we shall also reign with him... (2 Tim. 2:12, KJV)

...now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith...may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Pet. 1:6-7)

Please notice that Peter not only refers to persecution here, but to “all kinds” of suffering.

...those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. (1 Pet. 4:19)

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Pet. 4:12-13)

In particular, suffering is a vital part of leadership. Godly leaders know that sufferings can build spiritual maturity, brokenness and genuine faith in God; thus, they do not shy away from the cross in their lives.

Paul’s cry was:

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Phil. 3:10-11)

Look closely: Paul said, “I want to know...the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.” Paul actually desired to suffer with Jesus! This was not because he enjoyed pain in some perverse way, but because he knew that the greatest place of union with God is found in the dark shadows of rejection and suffering. Paul knew that we only find God’s deep presence when we have been united with Him in His sufferings and death. Paul knew that the cross precedes the crown, darkness precedes glory, brokenness precedes true victory, death precedes true life.

If you want to lead well, this is your path!

The above is adapted from Building Leaders by Malcolm Webber.