assignment | Revelations From The Road

Circle of Influence

April 27, 2013 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given April 24, 2013

Influence is defined as, “The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something.” The Urban Dictionary defines circle of influence as, “People you know whom you may receive assistance from or give assistance to.” So, if we combine those two definitions, we get a group of people that may look to you for help or that you can choose to help; people you can have an influence on.

Today, let’s think about your Circle of Influence. Who is in that circle? Who do you have an influence on? Your family, friends, co-workers, fellow students/teachers, neighbors, acquaintances? And what influence are you having? Good…bad? If you’re a man, your Biblical responsibility is first to your family; your spouse and children. But we all have an influence on others. So think about your daily activities. What influence are those activities having on those in your circle? What influence should they be having? Are you trying to have a positive influence on these people? Do you need to change something?

Consider something else. Each day you encounter people who are not inside your circle but who step inside for a time. The checkout person, someone you meet in the grocery aisle, a stranger who comes to your place of business, someone who speaks to you at the ballgame or someone new at church. You can have an influence on them for this short time. What influence will it be?

A final way for you to influence others are the people who are not in your circle, nor do they step into your circle for a time, but are those who are outside looking in. These are the people who just notice something you do or something you say as you go about your daily business. It has been said, “You are the only Bible some people will ever read.” You can have an influence on people you don’t even know about. People are watching…what are they seeing?

Today, look inside your circle and determine to be a positive influence on those who are there. Pay attention to those who step into your circle and do the same. And realize that just by your actions and words, you are influencing others. Be a good influence and reflect the image of God. “In everything set them an example by doing what is good.” (Titus 2:7).

5 Steps To Receiving From God

January 12, 2011 by Bill 1 Comment

Given January 2009

Are you a spiritual receiver? Do you receive anything from God? Having played sports in high school and watching football on TV for years, I see this spiritual receiving in similar fashion to a football receiver. God has lots of good stuff to get to us but we need to be prepared to receive it. “But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9). So, how do we receive these things that God hath prepared for us?

1. First, we have to be on His team…we have to get saved. We cannot receive from God until we are one of His own and that’s as simple as believing in our hearts and saying with our mouths that Jesus is our Lord.
2. We have to work hard to get into the game. That involves getting in spiritual shape through Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. That means we learn the plays; all the “plays” are found in the Bible and by reading them we learn how to execute on the field. And, as in sports, we have to practice. The Bible says, “Be ye doers of the Word and not hears only,” (James 1:22). What we learn we must put into practice by doing it.
3. We have to overcome the opponent. As always, we have an adversary who is trying to block our path and keep us from receiving. But, Luke 10:19 says that, “I have given you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing will, by any means, harm you”. This is something we have already received so we need to use it.
4. Get your hands up. A football receiver can’t catch the pass with his hands at his side, he has to reach up to receive. So it is with spiritual receiving. We need to be in the position to receive which the play book will dictate but when we’re in the right loction, we need to raise our hands to receive. Another benefit of raising our hands is that it is the position of praise which is pleasing to the coach, (Master, God).
5. Receive. And when you’ve done all these things, you just receive what God has made available to you, score for the team, and enjoy the rewards with your teammates.

Now keep in mind however, we don’t always catch the pass and even if we do, we don’t always score. Jesus said that in this world we would have trouble but don’t worry, He’s already won the game. (John 16:33). Follow these steps to begin receiving from God or to receive more of what He has for you. But we have to dedicate ourselves to God and the team; we can’t just come to practice or the game when we don’t have anything else to do. God has to be No. 1. Yea team! Let’s go!

I’d like to hear your thoughts on receiving from God. Please share what God has sent you. Be blessed!

Five Steps to Success in 2021

January 8, 2011 by Bill 1 Comment

Given January 1, 2011

I found this post that I wrote ten years ago and thought it would be appropriate to re-post for this year. Take heed as we enter into 2021.

Now that we are in the second week of 2011, many of us have had a chance to forget our New Year’s resolutions or are not doing very well with them. May I suggest some things that just came to me one morning as I was in my devotional time. There are many more things that can contribute to our success in the coming year but these five are the first that came to me.

1. Prioritize the things in your life. Most of us have way too many “things” in our lives that demand our time and energy and many of them are a waste. Seriously look at these “things” and prayerfully place them in order of their eternal importance. You might list them on paper.
2. Ask God to heal you of your “I problem”. Many of us think too highly of ourselves and much of our conversations and prayers include the word “I”. “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.” (Romans 12:3). It’s not about us but about God.
3. Get out of debt! We can’t be of much use to the Kingdom of God if we are obligated to the world’s financial system. The Bible says, “Owe no man anything but to love one another.” (Romans 13:8). Especially in these economic hard times, if we are indebted to the system, we are controlled by it. You might not be able to be debt free in a year but you can begin and you will see that when God sees your faithful intentions, He will help you.
4. Read your Bible, learn what it says, and do it. All the answers to life are contained in God’s Word. We have to read and study it with prayer and the revelation of the Holy Spirit. We cannot be successful without it.
5. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you as well.” (Matthew 6:33). This says it all. If we seek God and His holiness, putting all other things in a lower priority, He will be pleased and actually give us all those other things we need. We will also find out that needs and wants are different and should be prioritized accordingly. However, if God is first, He will give us many things to enjoy as well, (1 Timothy 6:17).
* And, I will add one more. Pay attention to your health. God has a plan for each of us based on the giftings He’s given us but we will be limited in what we can do if we’re in poor health. It’s hard but, as with anything God assigns us to do, He will help us. Get in shape and be strong!

As I mentioned earlier, there are numerous other things that will help us be successful in the year 2021. I’d like to hear from you readers; what things do you think we can do as Christians to insure success this year?

Heaven’s Agent

August 7, 2010 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given July 22, 2009

During my morning devotion, I was praying and telling God I wanted to be pleasing to Him this day. I realized that because I am a Christian, the people I know expect me to present myself in a Christ-like manner and people that don’t know me also may notice how I act if my behavior is noticable, either good or bad. So I made a declaration this morning that, “I am a representative of the Most High God; Heaven’s Agent”. Everywhere I go, everything I do, to all the people I interact with, I would do my best to represent my God well and be pleasing to Him. I would show the love of God in whatever circumstance I found myself in and to whomever was looking. That’s a daunting task!

Jesus told his mom When He was 12, “And he said to them: How is it that you sought me? did you not know, that I must be about my father’s business?” Luke 2:49. Even as a boy, Jesus knew He was supposed to be about His Father’s business. We are too. When we got saved, God became our father, we’re in His family, and have responsibilities in that family just like children do in their earthly families. However, just as in earthly families, some kids do not follow through with their chores but still expect all the benefits. It doesn’t work that way. The Father still loves them but they won’t get all the rewards of the, “good child”.

God is looking for a few good men, women, and young people who are willing to be Heaven’s Agent; those who will do their best to represent their Father well and be a positive witness to the lost and discouraged. These Agents will help God to accomplish His will on the earth. “If my people…will seek My face…then I will…” 2 Chronicles 7:14. Picture it this way; there is a big farm wagon full of God’s people and a pastor is up front trying to pull the wagon by himself. One saint in the wagon decides to be Heaven’s Agent and jumps out of the wagon and helps the pastor pull. Then another decides he/she is H.A. and joins them. Soon several are helping pull the wagon and it’s moving forward for God. Sadly however, many stay in the wagon and allow themselves to be pulled along.

I say every day, “Lord, what is my assignment today? How can I serve you?” Admitedly, I do not perform perfectly every day and fall down some but my Father is there to help me up as I repent and ask His forgiveness. I want to be a representative of the Most High God. How about you?

God’s To-Do List

December 22, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given August 2, 2007

Has God ever told you to do anything? You know, when you get that “feeling” you need to speak to or apologize to someone or the preacher’s sermon convicts you to do something. I have actually written some of my things down so I’ll be reminded every day. The Holy Spirit reminds me as well.

On this day, God gave me a revelation of just how important this is for me. During morning prayer, I was asking God for something, I think, like for more influence or power in an area of service. I was wanting a promotion to another level of Spiritual effectiveness. The Spirit responded with something like, “What about the things I’ve asked you to do?” It brought to my mind when a teenager asks his dad to borrow the car and dad says, “Have you cleaned your room yet? Have you taken out the trash? Do those things first, then you can have the car.” I think it’s the same with me and you and God.

God has a plan for each of us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11. And, His plan involves some obedience and action on our part. I don’t think God will fully do what He’s got planned for us until we do what He’s asked us to do. What has God asked you to do? What things do you know in your heart you should be doing?

Maybe we’re satisfied with where we are in life. Maybe we don’t want a promotion in the Kingdom. But if we do, God wants to use us; to move us up in His Kingdom. But it’s like training for a desired position. We are tested at every level and must pass the test to move up. There are things we must do in order to be promoted. “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22. Yes, we may have our to-do list but it’s not too important compared with God’s. His list for us comes with guarantees too. If God asks us to do something, He will give us what we need to be successful. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31. So, what has God asked you to do? Go for it!