Mon.1.12.15...Focusing your Leadership

Perhaps you hadn’t thought of our M3 coaches training as leadership development, but it certainly is. That may be exciting to some and intimidating to others. Let’s begin by defining terms. If you had to boil leadership down to one word, what would it be? Dr. John Maxwell, author of several good books on leadership says it’s “influence.” That’s so good! But if you gave me two words, I’d say that leadership is “intentional influence.” Why? Well, anyone can influence another without being a leader. If a stranger gave you driving directions, telling you to turn around to get to where you needed to go, that person would only be exerting what I call, “incidental influence.” You’d never claim that person as a leader in your life, would you? But a true leader is committed to intentional influence. He’s not waiting around for people to ask him for directions, so he can influence them. He’s intentionally seeking to influence others. Put another way, the godly leader (coach/mentor) is committed to carrying out the great commission to influence others to know and grow in Christ who will then go reproduce other followers of Christ. (We'd say our co-mission is "to multiply MANLY men.")

For example, when Saul of Tarsus got saved, he was blinded by the light of the glorified Lord Jesus. Christ commissioned him saying, “I am sending you to them (the Gentiles) to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God…” Acts 26:18. Paul told many people to turn to the Light- to Jesus. Many did and claimed him as their spiritual father and leader. Why did Paul do this despite much opposition? Because he was commissioned and committed to an ongoing, intentional role of spiritual influence in others lives. An intentional or focused life is powerful. Think of how powerful focused light is- a laser beam can cut through hardened steel. We in M3 are seeking to be very focused on our commission- to open the eyes of the blind- to influence men who are blinded by the enemy. They are either blinded in their unsaved condition or they are blind as believers. They don’t see God’s plan for them to multiply their lives. So they sit blindly on the sidelines.

“Wait a minute Dave. I’m not a miracle worker like Jesus. Nor am I the apostle Paul to open the eyes of the spiritually blind. That takes the power of God.” Exactly! This is where life gets exciting. Manly men dare to step out in faith and do things that require God’s supernatural power.  Liberating men from the power of Satan is certainly not by our own power or godliness. But Christ has called us to co-operate with Him. As we share the word of God in dependence upon the Spirit of God, the Son of God transforms them into maturing saints of God. When we do our part, God does his part. When we don’t, for the most part, he won’t. 

Jesus asked a blind man, “What do you want me to do for you?” I laugh when I read that. It’s such a comical question in one sense. 

 Jesus knew full well the man was desperately calling out to him because he was blind. But perhaps we are blind to an important insight. Most men are blind to their blinded condition. It is only when they "see" that they can’t see that they call out, “Lord, I want to see!” Luke 18:41.  We need to help men see that they are blind, that there is so much more God has for them as men. We need to “bring them to Jesus” who can give them the vision he has for their lives- to be multiplying MANLY men (2 Tim.2:2).

(Before you start typing out your comments to each of the following 5 points, you’ll see at the bottom of them a summary that you can copy and paste, so you don’t have to keep scrolling back and forth. It's just to make it a bit quicker for you. Who loves ya? :)

1.-Write down the names of a few future protégés from New Life that you want to influence to become Multiplying MANLY Men. These would be men who are already saved but, perhaps aren’t yet seeing the vision God has for their lives- to multiply their lives into other men. They may be involved in good things, but the good is often the enemy of the great and the great commission. Pray fervently that they would see the opportunity with M3 and they would seize it. (You are a leader as you see what others don’t yet see- the multiplying life that God has for them- and lead them to it.) Note: Don’t worry if someone else on the blog already listed the same men you wanted to list. The more prayer power the better. And I will soon reveal how this will all work out credit wise.

Especially this week, pray and hunger that God would give you Power HOUSE men- Hungry, Obedient, Unstoppable, Strong in the Lord, Encouraging men.

2.-Read Paul’s testimony in Acts 26:1-23. Then write out on your MP3 card this powerful passage- “I am sending you to them (the Gentiles) to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God…” Acts 26:18. Then do the “Did it.” Seek to not only review this verse, but to memorize it over the next few days. So review it often. Repetition is the mother of learning.

3.-Share one thing that strikes you about what we have covered today.

4.- R? (I'm right proud of you when you right a wrong. I know it's not easy. Saturday, I was late getting home to take my wife and son to an event. She was upset. But hey, I was at a cemetery praying for you that God would give you Power HOUSE men. It was a powerful time! Ya, I know, that's no excuse. So I didn't give her such. Instead I asked her forgiveness. (But it's so much easier to make excuses and defend my wrong actions :) But have you noticed, it only makes things worse? Being defensive is really offensive. I'm happy to report I didn't have to sleep in the dog house.

5.-A? Since the last blog, did you A.S.K.- Ask, Seek, Knock? For example, did you fervently ask God to give you Power HOUSE men? Or did you earnestly seek that God would raise up forceful, determined men to seek first his kingdom and forcefully advance it? Did you knock on the doors of heaven that God would open up and give heavenly help against the forces of darkness that keep men blinded? Then simply put the letter A next to the number 5 on your response if you prayed earnestly in some manner like this. Please make sure you do so each day, for you will be commended daily for this. The enemy works extremely hard to keep us from warfare prayer, that’s why this is hard for us. And that’s why you will be awarded for fighting hard in this way. A= You Attacked. Attack! Make time daily to make war on the floor or wherever is best for you.

1.-Here are the names of a few future protégés I’ll be praying for.

2.-Did it! I copied down Acts 26:18 on my MP3 card and will work on memorizing it- it’s my commission too.

3.Here’s something that struck me from what we covered today-

4.-R?

5.-A? (I engaged in warfare prayer since I commented on the blog yesterday.)

Announcements
Wow, what a great first M3 meeting yesterday! You shine with your Unstoppable pins! Way to go! As you are faithful daily this month, you will be commended at our next month's meeting. (No, not with another pin. In a few years you'd have more stars than our flag. But you will move up a level for all to see.) And thanks again for hosting all of us Jack.

By the way, where should we have our next monthly meeting? I can't think of a more beautiful place to meet (and for free:) then back at Jack's. He is more than willing to host us again, and I heard a few of you say how nice it was to meet there. I know it's not close to your home, but it's like having our own mini-retreat center away from it all. So let's plan on meeting there again next month- Sunday, Feb.8th at 3:00 after the 1:00 DVD Bible study. I am open to other locations and times, so if you have suggestions, please email them to me. Thanks!

We especially want to welcome Kentrayle and Andy on board. God is going to use you to help make a great impact on many men as you grow with us. God bless you!

Kudos to those of you who invited men to come to our M3 meeting. There is high interest after they caught your enthusiasm. By the way, didn't Israel do a great job on the spot, sharing about M3? Wow! And congrats to you Israel on your engagement! Also congrats to Vince and his wife for a future M3 guy on the way :)

Also, you'll notice on our GREAT Scoreboard below that Eddie has been credited for helping to bring Kentrayle onto our M3 team. Way to go Eddie! You sure know how to pick winners! 

		G=God's Word	Right Wrongs	E	A	T=Team members recruited
		For Th.1.8.15
	Alpha Force
	Fire Team 1
1	Jack Rogers U.1	Y	R			2	Daniel & Roger
2	Daniel Contreras U.1	Y				1	Vince
3	Vince Diaz	Y
4	Roger Vinlasaca U.1	Y
	Fire Team 2
1	Israel Fuentes U.1	Y
2	Sam Vargas U.1	Y				1	Robert
3	Robert Roman	Y
	Delta Force
	Fire Team 3
1	Alvin James U.1	Y
2	Dave Heidekruger U.1	Y
3	Mike Pagan U.1	Y
4	Andy Scott	Welcome!
	Fire Team 4
1	Eddie Morales U.1	Y	R			3	Gary, Ismael, Kentrayle
2	Gary Remson U.1	Y
3	Ismael Andrade U.1	Y
4	Kentrayle Adams	Welcome!