Holy Spirit – Page 4 – Removing Barriers Releasing Potential

A Winning Attitude

In the book of Numbers chapter 13 & 14 we read God ordering Moses to choose 12 leaders from each tribe and send them to spy on the land of Canaan. Moses instructed them to find the nature of the country, its population and military strength, degree of fertility and physical security. He also asked them to bring some of the fruits that grow there. (It was the season when Grapes were beginning to ripe) Twelve spies spied the land and their observations were same. They found that the land is rich and fertile, (Numbers 13:23-27) and that the inhabitants of Canaan are stronger and they live in cities that are very large and fortified, (Numbers 13:28-29).

But this is where the similarities end. Chapter 13 says except for Caleb and Joshua every one else had already thrown up the cards. Why did the spies act so weirdly? They were controlled by their defeated attitudes. When you perceive something in a certain way it is called your personal attitude. There are defeating attitudes and Winning attitudes.

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Empowerment 2 ~ Entrenched in Bunkers

Last time I introduced the “Empowerment (Trust) Matrix this week we will briefly look at the first quadrant “entrenched in bunkers”.

The Empowerment (Trust) Matrix

Low trust Entrenched in bunkers Caged Eagles

High Trust Flying Blind ~ Empowered Individuals

Low Enablement High Enablement

As leaders within the church we need to recognise those who appear to be in entrenched bunkers and begin the engagement process. These individuals are recognisable as they hide within the church, they may have been hurt by others in the past and their behaviour is perhaps viewed as marginal not able to offer or expected to do much and thus they are left on the fringes.

Hey! where are you going?

Do you know where you’re going, are you sure?

Most people if asked will convince you they have a plan and they know where they are going. However when you ask some people, I’m sure they will say “well I have a rough idea, but not sure how to map it out”.

That’s the reality for many people as they walk through life without knowing where they are going, how will they get there and what will it look like when hey arrive. So I guess very few people have some sort of plan, seriously this was the case for me many years ago. So what happened, well firstly I worked with my wife in our consulting business and in that process I came across a simple 4 step process that effectively changed my thinking and also I came to know our Lord Jesus.

What would be our reaction if those we asked said simply “Yes” God directs my path! I am fairly sure many will would look perplexed, bewildered smile and say oh! Either ask ok great but what are you doing with your life or simply say “that’s fine” and walk away thinking wrong thoughts, how mad, how odd what a strange person.

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Habits ~ Make winning a habit

Lesson from the bible from, Proverbs 23v19: Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:

A habit implies a doing unconsciously and often compulsively e.g. he had a habit of tapping his fingers. Therefore a habit is a recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behaviour that is acquired through frequent repetition.

Shake it off and take a step up.

When your leadership A.S.K. (Attitudes, Skills & Knowledge) are questioned shake off the dust, learn the lesson from the farmer and donkey.

‘One day a farmer’s donkey fell into an abandoned well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway; so it just wasn’t worth it to him to try to retrieve the donkey.