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Asian Partners International, Inc.  //  www.apii.org

Now that the end of the year 2012 is fast approaching, we wanted to take this opportunity to thank each and every person who has supported this ministry. 

 

God is continuing to bless the church planting movement that is still expanding every week in North India.  God continues to add to their number daily (Acts 2:47).   The DNA of this movement has been passed on to over 50 other organizations in India, through leadership training initiatives.  Leadership training has also been conducted in more than 25 countries outside of India.  Our hope and prayer is that God will honor His children as they continue to obey the command to go and make disciples.  Join us in this prayer - that this movement of the Spirit is exactly what Habakkuk wrote about in Hab 1:5 - "Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."

 

We want you to know that we simply could not do it without your prayers, your concern for the lost, and your continued support.  You are a part of this movement!  Thank you from all of us at Asian Partners International.

 

Randy Cole & Coby Colley

 
You can visit our website at www.apii.org for more info. about Asian Partners International.
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Last chance to give for 2012 Tax-Deductible Donations
If you are interested in making a donation to Asian Partners International that will go towards your 2012 giving for tax purposes you can do so online by visiting www.apii.org/donate or by sending a check to:
Asian Partners International
PO Box 64419
Lubbock, Tx 79464

Your donation is tax deductible through API, a 501(c)3 Corporation and a 2012 Giving Summary & receipt will be mailed to you.  API is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). Being a member of ECFA ensures our financial accountability to you, our donor.

Viewpoint - December, 2012

By Randy Cole

 

This month, we conclude our series of discussions about Biblical Leadership.  Over the past 11 months we looked at Paul (Multiplication), Joshua (Influence), Moses (Sacrifice), Daniel (The Voice), Jethro (Intuition), Barnabas (Empowerment), Nehemiah (Navigation), Esther (Timing), Elijah (Attraction), the Apostles (Priorities), and Joseph (Process) as examples of leaders.  If you have missed any of these articles, please visit our website at www.apii.org for archived copies of previous newsletters.  Now, let's examine Respect as a leadership trait, using Deborah as our example. 

 

Deborah - Respect

People naturally follow leaders that they respect.

It's really hard to follow someone that you don't respect.

 

The leadership trait in the Scriptures:

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody." (I Thessalonians 4:11-12)

 

Let's examine chapters 4 and 5 of Judges with this leadership trait in mind.  Why was Deborah respected by the nation of Israel?

  • She was respected because she was the Lord's anointed leader. (Judges 4:4)
  • She was respected because she was a prophetess. (Judges 4:4)
  • She was respected because the Lord had blessed her with wisdom for settling disputes. (Judges 4:5)
  • She was respected because the Lord spoke through her.  (Judges 4:6,9)
  • She was respected because her prophesy was validated by God, and in an unexpected way.  (Judges 4:9,21-22)
  • She was respected because she had a God-sized vision.  How could Israel, with a limited army, and limited weapons, defeat an army equipped with 900 iron chariots on an open battlefield?  Only God could make this happen.  (Judges 4:6-7)
  • She was respected because she believed God.  (Judges 4:14)
  • She was respected because Israel witnessed God's mighty hand at work through Deborah's leadership and vision.  The combatants: 1) the Canaanite army of 900 chariots with many foot soldiers in reserve; versus 2) the army of Israel composed of just foot soldiers.  Under "normal circumstances" this should have been an easy victory for the king of Canaan. But God lured Sisera and the army of Canaan to the Kishon river.  (Judges 4:7).  Then a huge rainstorm caused the river to overflow its banks, miring the chariots in the mud. (Judges 5:21)  Without the significant military advantage of these chariots, Israel routed the Canaanite army. (Judges 4:15-16)  This is another ex ample of the truth in this verse: "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27
  • She had so much respect that the commander of the army of Israel - Barak - demanded her presence on the battlefield. (Judges 4:8)
  • She was respected as a victorious leader of the nation of Israel.  (Judges 4:23-24)

 

Respect is a timely topic in today's world, especially in a Christian context.  In America, this has become an even "hotter" topic, as the American Church seems to lose respect day by day.  What are we doing wrong?  How can we reverse this trend?  Let's examine Paul's teaching to the church at Thessalonica on this topic in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.  What does this passage teach us about Respect?

 

First, the targets of "respect" in this passage are those outside the church.  This teaching is focused on this question - How can we gain the respect of unbelievers?  What follows are three commands that we need to understand and obey so that we may win the respect of unbelievers.

  1. Lead a quiet life. 

This contradicts the world view of attraction and even addiction to entertainment and excitement. It could be said that excitement and entertainment are like a religion for many people today.  This religion has a god: Self.  This religion has priests: Celebrities. This religion has scriptures: Tabloids and entertainment news programs. This religion has places of worship: Amusement parks, theaters, concert halls, sports arenas; and televisions are little chapels.  The religion of excitement and entertainment seduces people into living their lives for one thing - the thrill of the moment. It begs the question - do unbelievers see any difference in the lives of Christians?  Or are we exactly the same? 

 

2.     Mind your own business.

 

This does not mean Christians should disassociate from the world.  It means that we should obey the commands that Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount:

    • Don't be judgmental. Matthew 7:1
    • Don't be hypocritical.  Deal with your own "business" first before pointing out faults in others. Matthew 7:5
    • Don't be condemning. Luke 6:37

3.  Work with your hands....so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

 

In my opinion, one of the major sources of disrespect for the church in this day and time is contained in this principle.  Our churches have lost the original vision and model of "church" as modeled in the book of Acts.

  • The apostles were "unschooled, ordinary men" (Acts 4:13). 
  • Paul was a missionary who supported his work by making tents.  2 Thessalonians 3:8 tells us that Paul "did not eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you". 
  • Churches in the first century were led by leaders who were bi-vocational.  Churches met in homes and shared everything together.  Churches in the book of Acts were Kingdom-focused.

 

Let's compare the principles of 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 in the following chart. 

Churches have a better chance for Respect when they have these characteristics.

Churches are probably Disrespected when they have these characteristics.

Where is the Focus? Are resources (time, money, and individual) targeted at meeting the needs of people who are outside the church walls?

Where is the Focus? Are resources (time, money, and individual) targeted for buildings, infrastructure, and programs for current church members?

How did Christ treat the "untouchable" people of His day? Can churches model this behavior by loving and accepting people for who they are, knowing that only the Spirit has the power to change a heart?

How did the Pharisees treat the "untouchable" people of their day?  Have churches become judgmental, hypocritical, and condemning, just like the Pharisees? (Luke 11:39-52)

Ministry is championed by ordinary people obeying and serving in extraordinary ways.

Ministries are controlled and conducted only by those that are properly educated, trained and approved.

Worship focuses on substance, not style.  God is the only one who is worthy of praise and worship. Repentance is the outcome.

Worship focuses on style, especially music style.  Churches have "stars" on their stages.  Excitement, attraction, and entertainment are the outcomes.

 

Have we lost the respect of an unbelieving world?  How can we change this to gain their respect?


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