The Leadership Mind by Teddy A. Jones

The Pain of Victory By Napoleon BlackTEXT (1 Sam. 17:50) So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. NIV That's how David beat the Philistine—with a sling and a stone. He hit him and killed him. No sword for David! Message So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. NLT COMMENTARYDavid’s troubles were just beginning. It was a decisive and fairly easy victory, but it was a victory which turned someone into a lifelong enemy. This victory over Goliath led David into a battle with Saul which ended with the tragic death of Saul. It was a fight that David resisted to the last, but Saul was relentless in his pursuit of David. He just would not give up. What triggered it? A song the sisters sung intended for Saul’s honour, but which he understood to have been in praise of David – “Saul has slain his thousands and David tens of thousan...

Beware of Human Effort By Napoleon Black TEXT (Gal. 3:3) After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? NIV Only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren't smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Message After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? NLT COMMENTARY Sometimes, we look at the Galatian saints and are surprised that they could have fallen the way they did. The crux of the fall is found in this very verse. They fell into the old trap of self-actualization. They fell back into the trap of feeling that what was required was some real, good, old time, human effort to become what God required. There is that constant danger which challenges us, that we want to slip back into bad habits of trying to please God by our efforts, rath...

My ego is no longer central By Napoleon Black TEXT (Gal. 2:20) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. NIV Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central… Christ lives in me. Message I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]. it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; Amp. COMMENTARY The cross-centred life is more, much more than self-denial. It is self-replacement. It is the giving up of the self so that the Christ life may flow through us. The cross-centred life means that the power of self is broken, conquered and surrendered so that the power of the cross may become a meaningful reality. Paul says, “I no longer live!” It is both a bold and risky statement to make, for in it Paul is claiming that what people see flowing out of him is the Christ life – the life of the cross, not his life, not his will, not his decisions, not his attitudes,...

HEADING Respect the Youth By Napoleon BlackTEXT (1 Tim. 4:12) Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. NIV And don't let anyone put you down because you're young. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity Message Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. Amp. COMMENTARY Christian maturity cannot be measured chronologically. Some chronologically mature persons who are Christians may be spiritual babies and someone who is a believer and is chronologically young may well be a spiritual giant. Timothy was a young man, given a great task – to teach, to appoint leaders, to preach, to lead the church in Ephesus. He may well have been overwhelmed by people around him – his elders, the apostle John...

LAMPLIGHT DEVOTIONAL GUIDE“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” Psalm 119:105 (NIV). “Living From the Eternal Perspective”A Devotional FromPATHH MinistriesDATE:Thursday March 3, 2011 HEADINGThe Young Hears His Voice By Napoleon BlackTEXT (1 Sam. 3:10) The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” NIV Then God came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, "Samuel! Samuel! Samuel answered, "Speak. I'm your servant, ready to listen." Message And the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel answered, Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.. Amp. COMMENTARY Samuel was a child when God turned up in his life. Hither to this life-changing encounter he did not know the Lord. But God comes and instructs him to do something that one would have thought would only be asked of an adult. He was given a sha...

HEADING Help my son By Napoleon BlackTEXT (Mark 9:21, 22) And [Jesus] asked his father, How long has he had this? And he answered, From the time he was a little boy. 22And it has often thrown him both into fire and into water, intending to kill him. But if You can do anything, do have pity on us and help us. Amp. He asked the boy's father, "How long has this been going on?" "Ever since he was a little boy. Many times it pitches him into fire or the river to do away with him. If you can do anything, do it. Have a heart and help us!" Message Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us. NIV COMMENTARYThis young man has been in pain from his birth. Forces, not totally under his control, were out to destroy him from he was born. The forces tried various means as there was a vested interest in ...

LAMPLIGHT DEVOTIONAL GUIDE “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” Psalm 119:105 (NIV). “Living From the Eternal Perspective” A Devotional From PATHH Ministries DATE: Thursday, February 24, 2011 HEADING Doesn’t God Care about my Family? By Napoleon Black TEXT (2 Kings 4:1) The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” NIV One day the wife of a man from the guild of prophets called out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead. You well know what a good man he was, devoted to God. And now the man to whom he was in debt is on his way to collect by taking my two children as slaves." Message NOW THE wife of a son of the prophets cried to Elisha, Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. But the creditor has come to take my tw...