Visionary Leadership and the Common Wealth
We need Visionary Leaders that will work cooperatively with all the leaders of other countries, states, and major regimes,to deal with the common enemies of humanity.
Common enemies like greed and injustice homeless,that breed hatred represent a costly, deadly, trio we must effectively deal with together.
We can work together with other countries to develop new global economic policies that will empower and make much more self-reliant the economies of each country.
Men of Vision.Dr Sammy D.James
A wise man once stated, "Men of vision do not look through the eyes of today, but they look beyond tomorrow." Those who look through the eyes of today can only see their world crumbling around them. All they see is a government who no longer cares for the people, run by politicians instead of statesmen, whose only interest is padding their own pockets. These will say anything and make any promise to be reelected.
Those who look only with the eyes of today see an economy embroiled in debt with no hope for a future. Many only see a nation whose moral values are that of an alley cat. Their future looks dim and hopeless.
But men of vision who look afar off can see their hope is not in a failed world system. Their hope and future is in an everlasting God and His eternal Kingdom.
The Scriptures give us two reasons why people perish. By the Holy Spirit anointing, the prophet Hosea wrote:
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." Hosea 4:6
God's creation man is destroyed (will perish) for lack of knowledge. The question then arises: "Why do God's people lack knowledge?" It is because they have failed to read and take heed to His Word. There is a Bible in every home, but many go unopened because they are too busy with the cares of this life, and have no time for God and His Word.
Hosea records, because they have forgotten the law of God, He will also forget their children. This consequence is evident in the children of today who have no knowledge of God. Because the knowledge of God has been neglected in their training, they have no fear of God.
The all-wise Solomon gives us the second reason God's people are perishing:
"Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." Proverbs 29:18
God's people are perishing because they have no vision beyond today. This is why Jesus informs us:
"Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." Luke 21:26
Those who see through the eyes of today can only see corruption, strife, and lawlessness. Because of this they have no hope. Young children die of heart attacks and teens commit suicide because even they can see what is ahead of them - - - and they do not want to face what they see.
Hope has all but faded from our present day society. Those who are in power have no solutions to the problems the world faces. So, those who are living in fear and with no hope continue in the direction the rest of mankind is heading.
If we are to have hope, we must look at the promises. We must develop Spiritual eyes to see beyond today and tomorrow. Jesus informed John on the Isle of Patmos:
"And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." Revelation 21:5
Jesus stated, "Behold, I make all things new." When Jesus said all things, He meant all things. Four times in the book of Revelation, Jesus stated, "I am alpha and omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." There was nothing before Him, and He will be the end of all things. The truth of the matter is, He is not only the beginning and the end, He is everything in the middle. He is our all in all.
God has promised to make all things new, but first judgment must be poured out on this wicked, sinful world. The prophet Jeremiah prophesied what the earth will be like at the end of God's judgment. Jeremiah was the weeping prophet. Why did Jeremiah weep? It was because God showed him the end of His judgment. Jeremiah cried out:
"My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents poiled, and my curtains in a moment.
How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet? For my people is foolish, they have not known Me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge." Jeremiah 4:19-22
Jeremiah was given a glimpse of our day, and he was pained in his spirit when he saw the world and God's people in the hour in which we live. He was given eyes to see the destruction we are beginning to witness all over the earth with fires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, erupting volcanoes, earthquakes upon earthquakes, wars and rumors of wars, and one destruction after another.
Jeremiah declared that God's people are foolish. The word foolish means "one who despises wisdom, one who mocks judgment, one who is quarrelsome."
Jeremiah also stated that God's people are sottish. The word sottish means "fools." Today God's people have no vision for the future. They do not understand, nor do they have knowledge. As Hosea stated, this is why God's people perish.
Jeremiah was shown the finality of God's judgment:
"I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light." Jeremiah 4:23
This was exactly the condition the earth was in, in Genesis:
"And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep." Genesis 1:2a
Now we know why God must make all things new. At the end of His coming judgment on this sinful, wicked world, God is going to begin His creation process all over again with those who remain. Jeremiah continues:
"I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by His fierce anger. For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end." Jeremiah 4:25-27
God states there was no man. The word man is Adam. All those who have not dealt with their old, sinful Adam nature will not be part of God's renewed earth.
Jeremiah states, ". . . the whole land shall be desolate, yet God will not make a full end. . ." . God has a people who are His overcomers who have overcome the old, Adam nature. These are those who will inherit God's renewed earth. Jeremiah concluded:
"For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it." Jeremiah 4:28
The heavens above will be black. The prophet Isaiah prophesied that the sun and the moon would be darkened, Isaiah 13:10. Joel also prophesied this in Joel 3:5. Matthew and Mark recorded Jesus' words that the sun and moon would be darkened. Both Matthew and Mark declare when this will happen:
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:" Matthew 24:29
This event will take place immediately after the tribulation which is God's wrath, and as Isaiah recorded:
"The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again." Isaiah 24:19-20
Isaiah prophesied the earth would be utterly broken down, and clean dissolved. The phrase clean dissolved means "to split, to crack." The phrase the earth is moved exceedingly means "to totter, to shake, to be dislodged and to slip."
Isaiah continues to inform us the earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and will be removed. What could make the earth act in such a fashion? As we consider the earth in its present condition, we can understand this phenomena. Science tells us the earth sits at a twenty-three and one-half degree angle from true north and south. How did the earth get in this odd condition? Men of vision inform us that at the time of Noah's flood, God shifted the earth, throwing the waters that covered the earth to the poles where it froze instantly. This is why explorers found mammoths and saber tooth tigers frozen in the ice. These animals were frozen instantly, yet still had green grass and daisies in their mouth and in their stomachs.
So what does this have to do with what Isaiah prophesied? Well, we hear about the polar ice caps melting, and how the weight of the ice holds the earth in is present position. So, when enough of the ice caps melt, the earth will move again to its upright position. It will reel to and fro, or wobble on its axis. This will cause the condition which Israel described. The earth will totter and shake causing great earthquakes. It will be dislodged from its present position which will cause the earth to crack and split. The waters of the earth will be moved. Jesus revealed this to John on the isle of Patmos at the opening of the sixth seal:
"And I beheld when He had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places." Revelation 6:12 & 14.
Again, we see the sun being blackened, and the moon looking like blood. We also see the mountains and islands being moved out of their place. How do you move mountains and islands? An island is a mountain surrounded by water. So, when the earth comes to its upright position, and the waters are moved, then the mountains will be surrounded by water, and will become islands, and the islands will become mountains, because the waters moved. Isaiah continues:
"Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously." Isaiah 24:23
This is the day God's men of vision are looking for, when the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, Revelation 11:15. God also revealed many wonderful things to the prophet Joel:
"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;" Joel 2:1
The trumpet represents the prophetic voice, and the prophetic voice is letting all the inhabitants of the land know the Day of the Lord (God's judgment) is nigh at hand. Joel continues:
"A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations." Joel 2:2
The day of God's judgment is a time of darkness, gloominess, and thick darkness. It is the day when the light of God's truths will vacate the earth. It is when man chooses to live like animals, instead of walking in the light of the glorious gospel of truth.
But God has a people of vision who are viewing the morning, the new day, spread upon the mountains. This is God's prepared and overcoming army. These are a group of great and strong people. Joel tells us there has never been a people like this before - - - who have the Kingdom within and who are ready and able to bring His Kingdom rule upon the earth. Let's continue to look at the revelation of Joel:
"A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them." Joel 2:3
This great army is in the midst of the fire of God's wrath. This fire is before them and behind them. But the land before them is like the Garden of Eden. These men of vision are not looking at the situation around them, but they are living by their vision - - - the vision of a renewed earth in which they will rule and reign. Even though the earth is going to become a desolate wilderness in God's wrath, these men of vision are looking to God's promise that, "Behold, I make all things new," Revelation 21:5. Joel continues:
"Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array." Joel 2:5
Joel speaks about this strong people being in battle array, or they have on their battle armament. Paul explained our armament is not physical, but Spiritual:
"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." Ephesians 6:14-17
God's strong people who are arrayed for battle are those who will be able to stand in the coming day of battle, because they are Spiritually ready for any circumstance. They have put on God's truth and His righteousness. Their feet have been shod with the gospel of peace. They have their shield of faith and helmet of salvation. Their sword is the Word of God. Joel informs us:
"And the Lord shall utter His voice before His army; for His camp is very great: for He is strong that executeth His Word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?" Joel 2:11
God is mustering His army today. The Apostle Paul informs us what we must do to become part of this overcoming army:
"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." II Timothy 2:3-4
We must endure hardness, which means we must suffer trouble and endure affliction. This is why one of the fruit of the Spirit is longsuffering. We must also have love, joy, peace and the other fruit of the Spirit. During the coming time of trouble and affliction, the fruit of longsuffering will be one of the most important fruit in our lives.
Those who are part of God's overcoming army will not allow themselves to be entangled with the cares of this life. This overcoming army of men of vision see the sword coming upon the land and are preparing themselves physically, mentally, and Spiritually for the job ahead. Joel reveals the operation of God's great army:
"They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on His ways, and they shall not break their ranks:" Joel 2:7
These will not break their ranks because they will know their place. Those who are high and lifted up in self will not be part of God's army. Any army can only have one head, and our head is Christ Jesus.
They shall run like mighty men, and climb the wall - - - or they will be able to overcome any obstacle put in their way.
They shall march everyone on His way. This is a Spiritual army, and the only way they know to march is by the orders they receive from their Master and King, Christ Jesus. Joel continues:
"Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in His path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded." Joel 2:8
Joel proclaims, ". . . neither shall one thrust another." The word one is the Hebrew word ISH and means "man." The word thrust means "to vex or oppress." And the word another means "a brother or brethren." This Scripture is stating that these men will not vex or oppress their other brothers who are in God's army. Those in God's army will be endowed with peace and tranquility.
Those in God's army will walk everyone in His path. All God's army will walk in the path God chooses, neither looking to the right or to the left.
Joel informs us when God's army falls upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. No physical weapon will have any effect on God's Spiritual army. The prophet Isaiah speaks of God's overcoming army:
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord." Isaiah 54:17
Every weapon of war is formed, and no weapon of war that man has formed will prevail against God's army. These promises have been made to all Gods' men of vision. Every tongue that rises up against God's army will be condemned.
God's army will be able to turn the words of their enemies, back upon their own heads. This is the heritage of those who are going to become part of God's army. Looking again to Joel, we discover the ministry of God's overcoming army:
"They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief." Joel 2:9
These are God's ministering army. These are God's two witnesses who will minister during God's three and one-half years of His wrath. [see "The Two Witnesses" by George Kirkpatrick]. Paul wrote of these in his letter to the Hebrews:
"Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Hebrews 1:14
Those who run to and fro in the city will climb upon the houses and enter into the windows as thieves to minister to those who are heirs of salvation. These heirs of salvation are those who love the Lord, but have been robbed of their inheritance in God by the weak and beggarly church system who are still entangled with the cares of this life. But God is going to send His messengers (His angels) to them, that they may hear the true Word of God.
Joel informs us further what we can expect of God's army, and the time of their ministry:
"The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:" Joel 2:10
The earth shall quake before them and the heavens shall tremble. The prophet Haggai revealed this time of shaking:
"For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;" Haggai 2:6
Again we see the time frame God revealed through the pen of Joel. This is the time when the sun and the moon and the stars will be darkened. We need to ask ourselves, "What will cause the sun, moon, and stars to become darkened, and what will the time frame we are to look for?" Joel reveals:
"The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come." Joel 2:31
These are the same words Jesus used to describe what will happen before the great and terrible day of the Lord. Joel also reveals what will bring this about:
"And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke." Joel 2:30
God is going to show wonders in the heavens. There will be blood, fire, and pillars of smoke. When we think of fire and pillars (or columns) of smoke, what do we think of? This is evident in nuclear explosions. But Joel reveals this fire and pillars of smoke will be in the heavens (in the atmosphere). Russia has armed outer space with nuclear weapons, and have positioned these weapons close to our satellites. If they would detonate these weapons, what would happen? Carl Sagan, the world famous physicist stated, "If a medium range, nuclear weapon were exploded in the atmosphere, it would cause giant windstorms on earth - - - as much as three thousand miles an hour - - - causing the dust and debree to blacken the sun, moon, and stars for up to a year." Carl Sagan called this `Nuclear Winter'. The prophet Isaiah described such a time:
"Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it." Isaiah 47:14
Peter, who was given the keys to the Kingdom, also described this time:
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" II Peter 3:10 & 12
What else will take place when these nuclear weapons are exploded in the atmosphere? Not only will we have giant windstorms, the temperatures of the earth will rise, causing the ice caps to melt even faster. Coast lines will be flooded. Then the earth will let go out of its place and come again to an upright position.
Joel prophesied there would be fire and pillars of smoke in the heavens. Peter asks the most important question:
"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness," II Peter 3:11
The word conversation means "way of life." What should men of vision do? Joel informs us:
"Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil." Joel 2:12-13
Men of vision who see afar off know these events will happen, and they have opened their hearts (minds) to God to prepare their lives to be part of His overcoming army.
Our God has been gracious and merciful to this sinful, godless world. He truly has been slow to anger. He is only holding back His wrath until He has a people who are without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blame, whom He can put in charge of His Kingdom. God makes many promises to this people:
"Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given to you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month." Joel 2:23
Joel writes to the children (sons) of Zion, those who have come to the high place in God. He has given them the former rain which is the first fruit anointing. This is the anointing that came on the Day of Pentecost. This anointing has been revealed many times: the outpouring in 1906, again in the latter rain movement, and again in the charismatic movement of the `sixties and `seventies. But these were only examples of the anointing that is coming on God's overcoming body (His true church). Joel continues:
". . . He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. Joel 2:23b
This will be the `double portion outpouring of the Holy Spirit', the outpouring of the Spirit without measure. This is the same anointing Jesus received on the banks of the Jordan. This anointing was also spoken of by the Apostle James:
"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and latter rain." James 5:7
The husbandman is Christ Jesus, and He awaits the precious fruit of the earth. He has long patience for it, until He can pour out upon it the early and the latter rain. The prophet Hosea goes even further to tell us when we can expect his outpouring:
"After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight." Hosea 6:2
The two days are the church age. The two days are two thousand years. It will be after these two days that God is going to raise us up, and we will live in His sight.
"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6:3
Those who follow on to know the Lord will be prepared for the morning, or the New Day, the glorious seventh day of God's creation. These are those who will receive the early and latter rain, double portion anointing. Many promises have been made to this overcoming people. Joel also prophesied of this time:
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit." Joel 2:28-29
God is going to pour out His Spirit abundantly, but this is not the end of the prophesy God gave Joel:
"And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and My people shall never be ashamed." Joel 2:25-26
What wonderful promises God makes to His overcomers. Those who only see through the eyes of today cannot understand why God's true people are not concerned about the future. To those whose hearts are failing them for the fear of nuclear war, the collapse of the economy, and God's soon coming judgment, there is no hope.
But, men of vision look to God's Word for their hope, and they believe God's promises, even though they may not see them. Their hope is in the Holy Spirit inspired words of Isaiah:
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, My servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, My servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, My servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed.
Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto My chosen: for the Lord God shall slay thee, and call His servants by another name:" Isaiah 65:13-15
Those whose hope and trust is in the Lord Jesus Christ have nothing to fear. These are the men whose vision is not based on what they see and read. Their vision is on what they know by reading and believing God's Word.
Peter quoted Joel's prophecy word for word concerning the multitude to the one hundred and twenty in the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost:
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Acts 2:21
But pay close attention to Joel's prophecy concerning these verses. What Peter quoted was for the church age, but what Joel prophesied was for the coming new day:
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call." Joel 2:32
There is a great difference between the word saved which Peter spoke in Acts 2:21, and the word delivered which Joel spoke of in Joel 2:32. The word saved in Acts 2:21 is the Greek word SOZO and means "to make whole, to heal, and to make safe." The word delivered in Joel 2:32 is the Hebrew word MALAT and means "to escape and to preserve."
Peter was speaking of the church age where the message of salvation was to be preached to all the nations of the earth. But Joel was prophesying concerning the saved, baptized, Spirit-filled, mature overcomers who will be delivered from the wrath. It is these mature overcomers who will inhabit the Kingdom and make up the Holy City, New Jerusalem.
Joel reveals ". . . for in Mount Zion and Jerusalem shall be deliverance." What was Joel speaking of when he used the names Mount Zion and Jerusalem? To understand this we must look at the words Jesus spoke to John on the Isle of Patmos:
"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads." Revelation 14:1
This is God's one hundred and forty-four thousand who have the Father's name written in their foreheads. This is the Zion, Joel spoke about - - - and the Jerusalem he spoke of is the New Jerusalem. Jesus also revealed:
"And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. And He carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God," Revelation 21:9-10
Jesus revealed to John that the Lamb's wife is the bride of Christ. The Lamb's wife is the New Jerusalem. The one hundred and forty-four thousand are those who will rule and reign in the Holy City. These are those who have been delivered. They are a separated people, men of vision who have their lives prepared. Jesus explained who these are to John:
"And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb." Revelation 14:3-4
As Jesus relates, these were not defiled with women. The church is described as a woman. The one hundred and forty-four thousand had not been defiled by the church system. These were virgins which means they were not defiled by the precepts and doctrines of men. These are men of vision, who only look to God and follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These are those who follow the words given to John by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:
"But the anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him." I John 2:27
These only operate their lives by the Spiritual anointing they receive from the Holy Spirit. As John revealed, the anointing teaches us all things. And, as we are taught of the anointing, we will abide (live) in Him.
As we continue to look at the revelation given to John, Jesus stated this is the firstfruit unto God and the Lamb. This is the Firstfruit Company which Joel revealed will be delivered. Let's look again at the words of Joel:
in the remnant whom the Lord shall call." Joel 2:32c
This is God's remnant church He is raising up in the wilderness. These are looking totally to God and His Word. These have no worldly ties and no affiliation to the adulterated church system. Again Jesus reveals:
"And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God." Revelation 14:5
The word guile means "deceit." There was no deceit in what they said, or how they lived. These will stand without fault before their God. What are the promises God has made to His men of vision?
"For the Lord shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody." Isaiah 51:3
The Lord will comfort Zion. The word comfort means "to have compassion." The Lord is going to have compassion on all her waste places. He is going to make her wilderness like the Garden of Eden.
Let's look at the words of Jeremiah:
"I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void: and the heavens, and they had no light." Jeremiah 4:23
The phrase without form and void means "a wasted wilderness." But, praise the Lord, men of vision will see beyond the wasted wilderness to God's glorious Kingdom. These men of vision are in the midst of the fire, but the land before them is as the Garden of Eden.
This is exactly what God revealed to Isaiah in Isaiah 51:3: Her desert places will be as the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will fill the hearts of the men of vision when they stand before the Lord with thanksgiving in their hearts.
We are coming very rapidly to the end of the age. Again, we relish the revelation Jesus gave to John:
"And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold I Make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son." Revelation 21:5-7
God is going to make a renewed earth, and this is the inheritance of the overcomers. This will be a renewed earth where they will live in perfect tranquility, and where sorrow and sadness will flee away.
This is why the men who have no vision can only see with the eyes of today. Their hearts are failing them for fear when they see what is coming upon the earth.
But, praise the Lord, the men of vision rejoice because they know what is coming - - - and what is on the other side of God's judgment.
There is still time to repent and rend your heart, and not your garment, Joel2:13.
Leadership is based on a spiritual quality; the power to inspire, the power to inspire others to follow.What makes a leader inspirational? The ability to inspire people to reach great heights of performance and success is a skill that leaders need. Passion, purpose, listening and meaning help make a leader inspirational. The ability to communicate that passion, purpose and meaning to others helps establish the inspirational culture of your organization. These points will tell you how to enable inspiration and motivation in the people you lead.
How Leaders Instill Inspiration in the People They Lead.
* The inspirational leader feels passionately about the vision and mission of the organization. He or she is also able to share that passion in a way that enables others to feel passionate, too. The nature of the vision and mission is critical for enabling others to feel as if their work has purpose and meaning beyond the tasks they perform each day. Sometimes leaders have to help their staff connect the dots by explaining this big picture to all. Communicating the big picture regularly will help reinforce the reason your organization exists.
* The inspirational leader listens to the people in her organization. Talking to people about your passion is not enough. To “share meaning” - my definition for communication - you must allow the ideas and thoughts of your staff to help form the vision and mission, or minimally, the goals and action plan. No one is ever one hundred percent supportive of a direction they had no part in formulating. People need to see their ideas incorporated – or understand why they were not.
* To experience inspiration, people also need to feel included. Inclusion goes beyond the listening and feedback; for real inclusion, people need to feel intimately connected to the actions and process that are leading to the accomplishment of the goals or the decision.
At a client company, we cancelled an annual employee event because of customer orders for product. Many people did not like the decision, but we involved the whole management group, the Activity Committee members and many other employees in the discussion about whether to cancel or re-schedule the event. The inclusion led to a compromise that, while not perfect, still enables a celebration and a positive motivation boost, yet allows the company to meet customer needs.
* Important to inspiration is the integrity of the person leading. Yes, vision and passion are important, but employees must trust you to feel inspired. They must believe in you. Your “person” is as important as the direction you provide. Employees look up to a person who tells the truth, tries to do the right things, lives a "good" life and does their best. Trust me. Your actions play out on the stage of your organization. And, your staff does boo and cheer and vote with their feet and their actions.
* Finally, an inspirational leader gives people what they want within his capabilities. (You can’t provide a raise in pay without company profitability, as an example, but you absolutely must share the rewards if the organization is doing well.) The inspirational leader also understands that, while money is a motivator, so are praise, recognition, rewards, a thank you and noticing an individual’s contribution to a successful endeavor.
Characteristics of a Successful Leadership Style
Much is written about what makes successful leaders. I will focus on the characteristics, traits and actions that, I believe, are key in this series of articles.
Choose to lead
* Be the person others choose to follow.
* Provide vision for the future.
* Provide inspiration. ((Current article - you are here.)
* Make other people feel important and appreciated.
* Live your values. Behave ethically.
* Set the pace through your expectations and example.
* Establish an environment of continuous improvement.
* Provide opportunities for people to grow, both personally and professionally.
* Care and act with compassion.
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