Youth Summit/Conference Workbook by Focus Media

Greetings! The Next Generation Leadership of Pentecostal Tabernacle would like to thank you for your partnership in Youth Empowerment Summit 2008! Our determination is to use this summit as a means to further evangelize our communities’ unsaved youth and strengthen the faith of believers. We endeavor to use this medium to draw the line of spiritual demarcation expressing the crucial need for separation between the church and the world and redeem the valuable time that has been allotted for the rescue and restoration of lost souls. It is with this understanding that we have prayerfully selected our Summit focus: “Drawing the Line – Redeeming the Time.” We would like to say a special word of thanks to our Pastor & First Lady for entrusting us to lead this generation. We would also like to thank our Summit Speaker, Pastor John Russell, for embracing the vision and accepting the challenge. We ask that you continually remain in prayer with us for the manifestation of God’s perfect will in this venture. May God’s best be yours! Maintain Victory, Dwayne Stewart Pentecostal Tabernacle Intl Minister of Youth It is in the powerful and saving Name of Jesus Christ and an expression of gratitude that I greet you! Thank you for participating in this year’s youth Summit. In this 21st century, very little is done with spiritual motive or even a righteous, yet logical conviction. The world in which we live is a melting pot of confusion. It is clothed with ‘displayed positive initiatives’, but the majority of those initiatives are infected with selfish, lustful motives at the core. You can lay the pieces of almost any current event’s puzzle out on a table, and based on your perception, you can discover the driving agent. Here are a few: pornography on TV and the internet, children having children, children being disobedient to parents, passive agreement to homosexuality, the promotion of pre-marital sex, sexual abuse, fraternity/sorority idolatry, politically correct speech (lying), and last but not least: Jesus Name, water-baptized, Holy-Spirit filled, tongue-talking Christians becoming indecisive on core Biblical principles. Young people today constantly complain about peer pressure, but they are mostly given other extra-curricular activities and taught resistance strategies. These are definitely necessary, but there is a sure agent of change that we need. That is, a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Mankind was created with a need for relationship, for which we’re all searching. Though, being able to relate with another person is necessary, it is only through a developing relationship with Jesus we can overcome today’s struggles and apply for residency in Heaven. Today, we are all at the fork in the road. The next turn we make is very important. Making a positive decision isn’t good enough. Living as a normal, considerate citizen of your country isn’t good enough either! Turning around is great, but we must turn to Jesus. Let us Draw the Line today, laying aside every weight that holds us back, and Redeem the time by running with patience looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith! Kirby D. Trim Pentecostal Tabernacle Intl Assistant Minister of Youth

Table of Contents 7. 8. 11. 12. 14. 16. 19. 21. 24. 25. 28. 30. 33. 34. 35.

Access Denied Thursday Evening Summit Notes Pages Scripture Readings: 2 Corinthians 4 & Ephesians 6 Politics: What does it mean for us as Christians? Christian Humor Friday Evening Summit Note Pages Drawing the Line Redeeming the time Saturday Evening Summit Not Pages Back to Basics - An Account of a Young Single Mother Suunday School Note Pages Youth Missions - Jamaica Sunday Morning Note Pages Contact X-Change/Summit Resources Running the Race - Testimony by Kris Hilliard Sunday Night Note Pages

Speaker’s Bio Pastor John Russell

Summit Speaker Alexandria, LA

John Russell, the outstanding player on the 1987 Class 4A All-State basketball team from Airline High School in Bossier City, had given up on life. It was a wintry Sunday night in 1997 in Alexandria, and he was a shivering vagabond, tired of sleeping under bridges and eating out of dumpsters and smoking cigarette butts retrieved from ashtrays. A life spiced with some successes but riddled with disappointments stemming from alcohol and drugs and fornication had come to this: a fatherless child with a B.A. degree who had spurned invitations to try out with NBA teams, was a homeless dope addict on top of the Jackson Street Bridge and ready to jump. As he looked at the dark, rolling waters of the Red River, he didn’t think he had much to lose. Everything he owned, he was wearing -- sweat pants, a T-shirt and tennis shoes. His family in Bossier City had run him off, tired of his stealing, his attitude, his rotten lifestyle. I wanted to kill myself, and I leaned over, but the hand of God pushed me back,” Russell said. “That was my first encounter with God.” Eight years after that bleak episode, a well-scrubbed and fashionably dressed Russell sat by a computer behind a huge desk in an elegant office at the Pentecostals of Alexandria Church, where he was hired last May as the church’s pastor for the multicultural second-hour youth group -- the first black to be hired to a full-time staff position at the church. He is working for the church where people of all colors and ethnic backgrounds warmly welcomed him when he was a foul-smelling, disheveled wretch. He sometimes uses his basketball skills to lure others into the fold. After feeling God’s saving hand that night, he said he was “led by the Spirit” to Huey P. Long Hospital in Pineville, across the river and down the road from the place where he had last worked, cleaning beds after surgery at Rapides Regional Hospital. He’d since had another relapse with drugs and been evicted from his apartment, and he lost his furniture and his truck. “I had no connection back home, but my mother’s voice came to me,” he said. “She said, `The Lord didn’t bring you this far to leave you.’ In the hospital, I called on the Lord. I screamed, `If there is a God, help me!’ Right then, I heard a lady on a telephone, with her back to me, telling someone, `You need to send him to the Grace House, a homeless shelter for men.’” Soon, directions to

Russell was on the Pentecostal

the phone to Jerry Rollins of the church, where he walked that night

Grace from

House, who gave him Huey P. Long Hospital.

“John came to us through the (Pentecostals’) Grace House,” said the Rev. G. A. Mangun, the church pastor, “and he truly is a trophy of grace. He began to consecrate his life and said he wanted to go into ministry, and we worked with him. With what the Lord has done with his life, we felt he’d be a great addition to help us. We’re taking our church to the streets, and he has come from those streets. He has an insight to help us to minister to those kinds of people.” “I work with our SPOT (Spreading the Power of Truth) basketball team for the local neighborhood kids,” said Russell, who, despite being highly recruited out of high school went to Bossier Parish Community College for two years because he did poorly on the ACT test. He then went to the University of New Orleans to play for Coach Tim Floyd but soon quit in a huff of rebellion and pride. He then went to Park College of Parkville, Mo., and led the team to the NAIA Tournament, and earned his degree there. Mike McConathy, the head basketball coach at Northwestern State, knew Russell, but wasn’t aware of the alcohol and drug problems he started having while living with his first wife, Russell said. “He was like a father to me, and he was determined to get me to go to NBA tryout camps, including one with the Portland Trail Blazers, but I refused all opportunities because I was indulging in alcohol and finally crack cocaine.” He admits that adultery ended his first marriage and for a while he was on the Ark-La-Tex “Most Wanted” list and once spent 30 days in jail. His first stab at rehabilitation brought him to Central State Hospital in Alexandria, and he has been here since. Russell has spoken to the NSU basketball team, along with many other groups, about the dangers of the vices he embraced and about how the burgeoning growth of fatherless families is a “dagger to our society.” Although he doesn’t coach the SPOT basketball team (for youngsters 12-18), “I go see guys in neighborhoods and I play them (in basketball competition),” he said. “I lure ‘em in (to the team) to get close to Jesus.” Russell is married and has two adopted children, and he runs the Pentecostals’ House of Mercy and is an assistant at Grace House, and he does a prison ministry in LaSalle Parish every Monday. He said his change of lifestyle has rekindled relationships with his family in Bossier City, and he said, “I never would’ve got my life right without this church.” It was at the church, he said, where his father, a former whoremonger who deserted his wife and five children, came to see about his son’s drastic change, and rose from a wheelchair during a service and walked to the front of the chapel to repent. The vagabond had finally found a home, and his wayward father had turned away from sin and repented to the Heavenly Father. “I’m not worthy to be in this office,” Russell said, pondering the incredulity of his current place in life. “I’m one big miracle, a miracle of God.”

Access Denied by Eivee Jordan Sometimes living a consecrated life for Jesus, that is holy and acceptable to Him seems like a life filled with a lot of “thou shall nots.” There are so many restrictions, limitations, and boundaries to abide by. In fact, between the Books of Genesis and Deuteronomy, there are approximately 613 commandments which are divided into 248 positive commands and 365 negative restrictions given to man. Adhering to restrictions is a concept that was created from the beginning is an increasingly depleted paradigm in most churches. The first time a restriction is in the biblical story of creation. Although Adam and Eve were given both provision, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil served as a symbol

of time and is mentioned purpose and of restriction.

It might have seemed that Adam and Eve’s lack of access to the tree of knowledge of good and evil was an unnecessary restriction, but God intended for man to remain innocent. Adam and Eve were never to have the great burden of making hard life decisions; they were never purposed to deal with worry, anxiety, or fear. Adam and Eve, out of disobedience, ate of the fruit, knew they were naked, and were ashamed. Nevertheless, the Lord, as an act of redemption, clothed their shame. It also seems that exiling Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden was an act of punishment for their disobedience, but we should not be too hasty to think so. After Adam and Eve sinned against God, there was a great consequence to them as well as the creature used by Satan (Genesis 3:14-19). Now that Adam and Eve had sinned, two things were likely to have occurred: (1) they would have been tempted to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil again, and/ or (2) Satan would have deceived them into eating of the tree of life, which provides eternal life (Gen. 3:22). I surmise that Adam and Eve were denied access to the Garden of Eden for their own protection. Through his deception, Satan stole Adam and Eve’s innocence and killed the covenant relationship that God had built with man. His final goal, like today, would have been to destroy them eternally. Satan’s purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). God has given us freewill and through Jesus we have access to covenant relationship with Him: this relationship that was once inaccessible because of the fall of Adam and Eve. The restrictions that are incorporated in our walk with Jesus are not to deny us pleasure, but to keep us from harm, for the Lord will not withhold any good thing from us (Psalms 84:11). The lines of boundary that are drawn are not just to keep us in, but to keep things out. I am therefore persuaded that the suffering of not being able to know this world cannot be compared to the glory that God wants to reveal in me and in us. The most important question now is, are you?

Sermon Notes Pastor John Russell

Summit Speaker Alexandria, LA

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Sermon Notes Pastor John Russell Summit Speaker Alexandria, LA

Scripture Reading

Politics

What does it mean for us as Christians in Drawing a Line? By Brenda-Lee Miller

After two years of campaigning and almost five billion dollars in campaign expenditure, the United States of America has elected a new president. We all are happy that there will be no more political ads, no more campaign phone calls or get-out-the-vote knocks on the front door. As for the results of the election, not everyone is happy. It is safe to say that some Christians are supremely thrilled, while others are abjectly disappointed. How is it that the response is so different in people who share a singularity of mind and purpose? The answer could be that we have neglected some very fundamental principles that should guide our response to world events. Let us attempt to use this historic occasion in world history to once again draw the line of demarcation regarding some of these principles that should govern the Christian’s reaction. The first and most important principle is that our God is sovereign. He is the God of every nation. Despite our reactions to the election results, our God was not amazed. The result of this election has been known to our sovereign God from the beginning of time. Our God has always been and should always be the source of our joy, peace and contentment. We must once again affirm that our trust resides only in Him and not in any man or earthly entity. Once we acknowledge that our God is sovereign, the next affirmation should be that we are sojourners in the earth. “But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.” Philippians 3:20 NLT It is only right to acknowledge our citizenship to the countries of the world and seek to perform our civic duties, yet we should never forget that we are primarily citizens of heaven. We are emissaries in the earth. Our identity as Christians supersedes any other identity; gender, race, political affiliation, socio-economic status, or national origin. Any event or allegiance must be evaluated based on its impact to the Kingdom of God (not the kingdom of man) and our relationship with our master. With the firm assurance that our God is sovereign and that we are citizens of heaven, we must be committed to the primary mission for which we were called. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…” Matthew 28:19 NLT While we recognize the importance of politics and economics, these issues have the ability to divert our focus from the mission that we have been given by God. No political ideology should drive a wedge between a Christian and another. We are called to be salt and light in the world; shining examples of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Whichever political party holds power in the White House or in Congress, in the midst of economic crisis or prosperity, in times of war or in times of peace….the mission is still the same. So where should we draw the line? Some Christians may say that we should never be involved in politics or other worldly issues; others say that we should be actively engaged in the political fight. Whatever decision is made, the objective should always be to glorify our sovereign Lord Jesus Christ, affirm our allegiance to Him, and fulfill our mission in the earth. There is no better way to accomplish this, than to exercise one of our principal civic duties as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven; to pray! “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks. Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, for He wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and people. He is the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message that God gave to the world at the proper time.” 1 Timothy 2:1-6

ChRisTIan HumOR

ick Call A young boy called the pastor of a local “corner” church to ask the pastor to come by to pray for his mother who had been very ill with the flu. The pastor knew the family and was aware they had been attending another church down the road. So the pastor asked, “Shouldn’t you be asking Brother Simon down the road to come by to pray with your mom?” The young boy replied, “Yeah, but we didn’t want to take the chance that he might catch whatever this is that Mom has.” Matter of Perspective Three preachers sat discussing the best positions for prayer while a telephone repairman worked nearby. “Kneeling is definitely best,” claimed one. “No,” another contended. “I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven.” “You’re both wrong,” the third insisted. “The most effective prayer position is lying prostrate, face down on the floor.” The repairman could contain himself no longer. “Hey, fellas, “ he interrupted, “the best prayin’ I ever did was hangin’ upside down from a telephone pole.” More than Asked For Johnny, a very bright 5 year old, told his daddy he’d like to have a baby brother and, along with his request, offered to do whatever he could to help. His dad, a very bright 35 year old, paused for a moment and then replied, “ I’ll tell you what, Johnny, if you pray every day for two months for a baby brother, I guarantee that God will give you one!” Johnny responded eagerly to his dad’s challenge and went to his bedroom early that night to start praying for a baby brother. He prayed every night for a whole month, but after that time, he began to get skeptical. He checked around the neighborhood and found out that what he thought was going to happen, had never occurred in the history of the neighborhood. You just don’t pray for two months and then, whammo- a new baby brother. So, Johnny quit praying. After another month, Johnny’s mother went to the hospital. When she came back home, Johnny’s parents called him into the bedroom. He cautiously walked into the room, not expecting to find anything, and there was a little bundle lying right next to his mother. His dad pulled back the blanket and there was -- not one baby brother, but two!! His mother had twins! Johnny’s dad looked down at him and said, “Now aren’t you glad you prayed?”

1) Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children. 2) The outreach committee has enlisted 25 visitors to make calls on people who are not afflicted with any church. 3) Evening massage - 6 p.m. 4) The Pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning. 5) The audience is asked to remain seated until the end of the recession. 6) Low Self-Esteem support group will meet Thursday at 7 to 8:30 p.m. Please use the back door. 7) Ushers will eat latecomers. 8) The third verse of Blessed Assurance will be sung without musical accomplishment. 9) For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs. 10) The Rev. Merriwether spoke briefly, much to the delight of the audience. 11) The pastor will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, “Break Forth Into Joy.” 12) During the absence of our pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege of hearing a good sermon when J.F. Stubbs supplied our pulpit. 13) Next Sunday Mrs. Vinson will be soloist for the morning service. The pastor will then speak on “It’s a Terrible Experience.” 14) Due to the Rector’s illness, Wednesday’s healing services will be discontinued until further notice.

Sermon Notes Pastor John Russell

Summit Speaker Alexandria, LA

Sermon Notes Pastor John Russell Summit Speaker Alexandria, LA

Steps to Effective Evangelism

by jesusblogger February 16, 2008 4:31 pm

The job of the evangelist is to spread ‘the good news’, from the Greek ‘euaggelion’. William Barclay in his excellent work ‘New Testatement Words’ gives the etymology of the term ‘euaggelion’. Initally, it was the reward a messenger received for bringing good tidings. However, over time it came to mean the ‘good tidings’ themselves. The euaggelion was something a man was tasked with, it was laid upon you, not chosen. For example, a slave bringing good tidings of his generals victory to a town. Likewise, the gospel is not something we have a choice in sharing, before His ascension Christ laid the responsibility of spreading the euaggelion (good news) on us. The good news we are to share is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ that has brought salvation to all men, in a nutshell it is the message of John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten Son…” 1. Know your audience and tailor the message to them, don’t just do things the way you always do. Take the gospels as an example of this, there are 4 accounts each tailored to a specific audience, addressing the needs of each group. But the message remains consistent (i.e. Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the World). 2. Be led (Acts 16:6, 9-10). Paul wanted to go to Asia but the Spirit forbade Him. He was led to Macedonia (Europe) and that’s where the ministry was effective. Likewise, Philip was led into the desert to the Ethiopian (Acts 8), it seemed crazy to leave a thriving Samaritan revival and go into a desert of Gaza, but that’s where he was led and as a result the gospel travelled down into Africa with the Ethiopian. 3. Be burdened. According to 1 Cor 13 the gifts work by love. Without love and a burden for souls we won’t reach them. 4. Preach Jesus. Be single minded in your message. It should be Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Don’t preach your pastor, your church rules, politics or anything else - focus on Jesus and esp. what He has done / means to you. 5. Be empowered (Acts 1:8). Without the indwelling Holy Spirit you can not be an effective witness for Christ. 6. Be agreed. Imagine if Peter & John did not agree at the Gate Beautiful, imagine if Peter wanted to go to get some cash, while John wanted to pray for him. Thanks be to God they both said: silver and gold have we none, but such as we have we freely give, rise up and walk in Jesus Name. Make sure you are walking with people who agree on doctrine when you go out to share the faith. 7. Have faith (Mark 16:16-18). Believe that souls will respond to the call. There’s nothing worse than an unbelieving evangelist… why bother? The excuse that ‘we told them so they can’t say they didn’t hear the gospel on judgement day’ simply is not good enough. Everyone won’t respond positively to the call, but as good stewards we should be of the view that with God NOTHING shall be impossible.

Drawing the line

Redeeming the Time by April Hall

Drawing the line, redeeming the time….sounds cliché right? In a time when society is looking for another theme-based sermon or a great line for a t-shirt, it is important to really understand what this actually means for the believer. I, as well as most young people, see the blur that is prevalent for almost every issue. We now have ministers promoting tolerance for homosexuals and churches changing their fundamental beliefs so that they can be “all-inclusive”. It is with this awareness that we must truly decide to draw a definitive line in the sand and stand up for what is right. One of our theme scriptures states that we must “come out from among them and be ye separate” (2 Corinthians 6:17). Every time I read this scripture, the word conviction is brought to mind. The American Heritage Dictionary describes conviction as “a fixed or strong belief.” In order to draw a line in the sand, you must take a moment and really think about your personal convictions and how they influence the decisions you make. I am not speaking about the things that you do not participate in because your pastor told you not to or the things you do not do because your parents told you should not. I am talking about the issues of your life that you refuse to waiver on NO MATTER WHAT! It is time for our generation to stand up for Christ, draw the line, and set clear convictions for our lives. This goes beyond what we do when we step through the doors of our church for weekly service, but we must also do this when we are walking out of the sanctuary and into our jobs, schools and homes. Once this has been done, we can then begin to redeem the time. In essence, we will be able to devote more time to reaching souls and making a difference in our world. I know that when I leave this Earth and stand in front of the judgment seat of Christ, these small sacrifices will be more than worth it. I am so excited about seeing my blessed savior’s face and being able to hear Him say “Well Done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into my rest.” I want to stand out. I am ready to be peculiar and unique. If it means that I can not be friends with everyone, I am willing to make that sacrifice. If it means giving up some friendships, I am willing to do it. If it means giving up some of the pleasures of this Earth, I am ready to give it up. Now the question is, are you?

Sermon Notes Pastor John Russell

Summit Speaker Alexandria, LA

Sermon Notes Pastor John Russell Summit Speaker Alexandria, LA

Back 2 Basics An Account of a Young Single Mother

By Kylah Amber Ashe

I have recently dedicated myself to getting back to the basics, by returning to God and making the sacrifice, and conscious effort to attend church services in order to be fed by the Word of God. The past few weeks have been very trying for me, as for many. But part of the most trying has been the response to my coming back to church. Not so much in regards to hospitality but more so to my situation. Yes, I wandered from the covering of the church. Yes, I got involved in things young people donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the maturity to handle. Yes, I got pregnant at a young age. And yes, I am a young single mother struggling to make it. A deep thought came to my mind when I contemplated these statements. Looking at my life from the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s viewpoint, I am right on track. I fit the statistic of a young black woman who grew up in a lower middle-class home, which lacked the support and guidance to successfully raise the confident Christ-filled woman that my trials have raised me to become. However, from the Christian viewpoint, I am too young to be a mother. By taking this realization into consideration, I now understand the reactions I have received. I make no attempt to justify my wrongs, because even from that mistake, I have received the blessing that is my child. Even with that recognition, I yearn for the peace and comfort that I once had in the Lord when I was a young lady. It is because of that desire for contentment that I maintain my focus on Jesus. There is sunshine after every storm! This present test will leave me better in the end. The message that I have to share is to not only bring the young people in to the church as young as possible but to keep them there. As Brother Dwayne alluded to one Wednesday night during bible study, it is very difficult to get those who grew up in the Word, and strayed away, back into the Word. And for those who have wandered and are longing to come back, it is never too late. No matter what your situation or circumstance, God has the answer. As I search for the answers to many circumstances in my life, I pray that God will continue to cover me and guide me to raise a Christ-filled child. I pray that God will continue to cover us and guide us toward the path He has for us.

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Youth Missions

Was I here for this mission, or was this mission here for me? Countless times during my week long stay in Browns town, Jamaica, I was bombarded with feelings of inadequacy. There were points when I couldn’t help but think that this assignment was too great for me. As a child, the stories of people who came home from foreign missions always intrigued me, but I never thought I could be used in such a capacity. After ministering in the first service of the church’s youth week, I hit an all new low. I felt unusually empty, disconnected, afraid and lonely all at once. I asked God why He brought me all this way just to leave me. As I picked up my bag to leave the service, a young man named Chris asked me if I had a moment to spare. I consented and waited to hear what he had to say. He began by thanking me for coming and then said, “I believe God brought you here just for me. Just to see another young man standing and proclaiming the word of God has given me courage to keep coming.” Instantly, I felt my worth returning… I felt remembered… I felt God assuring me that this mission had purpose. I thanked Chris for his comments and thanked God for sending him to me as I committed to prayerfully rise to the occasion. Later that week, Chris stopped me again to share an analogy that the Lord gave him about the power of being deeply rooted. He explained that some people are like bamboo. They take a while to develop roots, and during that period it appears that there is no growth. On the surface you would probably question the seed, but the important thing is to appreciate the process because it is crucial to growth and longevity. His encouragement was to me, through God, and the message I clearly received was that I was called in this season and through this assignment to grow. The trip was life changing, and the memories I have will not soon be forgotten. Monday afternoon on a winding country road heading to church, the pastor pointed out an image that brought to life a thought which changed my concept of position. There was a large hole in the side of a mountain that was excavated with a colorful sheet hanging from it. The pastor told me that there is a man who made the cave his residence over 30 years ago. What an ingenious thought! My mind began racing as I considered the severe climatic experiences that destroyed costly structures on the island and took many lives, and this man still maintained a secure dwelling! It was then that the Lord began revealing spiritual truth through a man I aspire to be like but whose name I may never know. The truth is, whether you survive the storms of life is determined by your connection to the rock! People tend to get alarmed by a storm when the structure is threatened. If you are fearful of your safety, you begin making a plan for evacuation and retreat to a safe place. Your position will determine your survival. I encourage you today that if you desire to survive, you must position yourself in the rock.

Sermon Notes Pastor John Russell

Summit Speaker Alexandria, LA

Sermon Notes Pastor John Russell Summit Speaker Alexandria, LA

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The

Heart & Power of a True Leader By Mary-Ann Fraser

The heart and power of a true leader is derived from the fact that in any form of leadership, there is a leader but then there’s a true leader. What differentiates a leader from a true leader? Well, unlike a leader, a true leader does not just direct and give instructions but also has a heart that can empathize with the people he/she leads and the power to be persistent in this calling. In the bible there’s one main character who demonstrates for us the heart and power of a true leader. Of whom will be the highlight of this article. It is a man of whom we speak consistently and his name is none other than Moses. Throughout the book of Exodus, we will read exactly how God chose, called, prepared and ordained Moses to be a leader for the children of Israel. You will first observe that in order to be a true leader [for God]; you don’t need to have a perfect look, perfect voice, perfect friends, perfect family history etc. What you need is a willingness to trust and obey the voice of God and the knowledge of how to communicate with Him. The heart and power of a true leader is in his ability to trust [rely/depend on no other source but God]. Psalm 84: 12 says, “Oh Lord of hosts, blessed [happy] is the man that trusteth in thee.” Trust bears fruit of beneficence. His level of obedience in God shows how much he trusted God. Saying that you trust God and constantly disobey Him is as having “faith without works,” (James 2:20). A true leader knows that his steps are ordered by God and therefore has an open ear to His voice. God speaks in various ways such as: through His word, prophesy, dreams, visions, during prayer etc. A leader who does not obey God’s voice may not know where he’s going and definitely how to get there. Leaders must trust, listen and obey God’s voice. Had Moses ignored and disobeyed God’s voice he would not have received the power or experience the glory of God. Exodus 33: 18 Moses said Lord, “I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” Verse 17 shows that Moses found grace in God’s sight and as a result God showed him His glory. Obedience is a definite in experiencing God’s Glory. Finally, a true leader must also know how to reason with God. Reasoning is a mean of communication that involves expressing and enquiring; not just for oneselve but also for those whom he/she leads. A leader is not yet a true leader until he’s able to empathize with his followers. Examine Moses’ leadership and how he reasoned with God for mercy on the Israelites after they made the molten calf (Ex. 32:1114). Had not Moses empathize with them he would not have known how to reason with God. The simple act of communicating and reasoning with Him can move mountains and bring glory to our lives.

Sermon Notes Pastor John Russell Summit Speaker Alexandria, LA