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Influencers Weekly Devotional

Friday, June 14, 2013

Knowing and Doing God's Will

Rocky Fleming

“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Phil. 2:13 (ESV)

“Do I believe that Almighty God is the Source of my will? God not only expects me to do His will, but He is in me to do it.” Oswald Chambers – My Utmost for His Highest

It is an amazing thought to know what God's will is for your life and to be about the process of living it out. If you can get to that point with God's will for your life, I believe life will become very satisfying and fruitful for you. Therefore, it is something very important to pursue, wouldn't you agree? Even so, there are some terrible perspectives of God and what His will is for His followers. We need to separate these false perspectives by the truth of who God is, and how discovering His will for our life is found. For instance:

I have heard many people say over the years that they would do God's will if they could only know for sure what it is. So they live is a timid waiting state, hoping they can read a letter sent from Heaven, or a dramatic “sign” that tells them the undeniable, clear will of God for their life. Is this you? If it is, forget it. You will not discover God’s will for your life this way. There is another way.

Is stepping out in faith too uncomfortable for you and instead you have your fleece out waiting for a sign so you will not have to play a guessing game with faith? Sometimes I see people so paralyzed with fear of being out of God's will that they live somewhere close to legalism and fear that God will punish them if they step out of line. Can this be God's will that we live in this kind of fear of Him, and become so tied up with the dos and the don'ts of life that we are afraid to live life fully? Is this the Shepherd King we read about in the Bible who guides us and comforts us with His rod and staff, and not one who beats us up with those things? No, that is not the Lord Jesus being described. That description of God sounds unkind, even ruthless to the people who simply want to live obediently to Him. I don't believe God deserves this kind of perspective of Him, for it is certainly not Him. But, unfortunately there are those who see God this way and even call themselves His child. Oh how they are missing the truth about God and His will for their life. You will not find God or His will for you, with this perspective of Him.

I know very few people who can say that they are for sure are living in God's will for their life, and that the steps they are taking will lead them to every aspect of God's will for their life going forward. But there are some people like that around us. I know they are rare to find, but they are out there and they are people who are really impacting their world around them because they are living out God's will for their life. They are in the center of their “sweet-zone”, for God put them in that place. They are people who are actually living in God's will so thoroughly that they are even lining up with their next life steps that move them to other aspects of God's will for them. You know His will for us is fluid, and is often a changing proposition with God and His child? If we are committed to God, then it is His choice what His will for us becomes. All I can say is that the man or woman who is living within God’s will for their life is comfortable with change or staying put, for it is God’s will for their life we’re talking about. It is a great place to be, no matter where it is, as long as it is God’s will for us. Now here's the good news to you. This could be true in your life right now and in the future, if you really want to follow God's will for your life. Do I have your attention?

How can I make such a bold claim that you too can discover for sure, God’s will for your life? I can do so for I do not make this claim on my own authority, but on the authority of the word of God. If you will look closely at the Philippians passage above, you will note that it says that it is actually God in us to will and work for His good pleasure. Chambers connects the dots that it is actually God in us who is doing His will that He has established for our life. Wow! Think about that. How can we insure that we are doing God's will in our life any better than by God Himself working it out? Takes a lot of pressure off doesn’t it? But, let's not absolve our self of personal responsibility too quickly. There must be a stipulation that we must include? What is it? I believe it is mentioned in the scripture we’ve referenced. The scripture points out that it requires God in us to do His will. To understand this as it is intended, I believe this teaching must be connected with Christ's teaching on abiding in Him to grasp what it means to have God in us working out His will in us. Abiding in Christ is the perfect picture of God in us, doing His work in us and through us. It is this close proximity with Him, this symbiotic relationship with Him that creates the dynamic that His will can be carried out through us as naturally and seamlessly as breathing in and breathing out. It is this “oneness” with Him that enables His voice to be heard, and His wisdom to be expressed through our life. This answers the question as to how God is in us, and how He takes us to the place we would call “His will.” And, this abiding in Him is an essential part of the equation in discovering God’s will and future will for our life. Otherwise, if we are not abiding in Him, we are open to a lot of speculation and interpretation about what God's will for our life truly is. This can explain the questions and the uncomfortable pressure we place on our self to know God's will. That is why the question is in us in the first place. However, when we abide in Him, the question is answered. We are doing the Father's will when we abide in His Son. This proximity then enables God's will to be further expressed without the stress manmade rules place on us, and being over burdened with things God would not have us carry. This is where I take you back to my very bold assertion that it is possible to do God's will all the time. But, it requires that we abide with Him all the time and obey what He instructs us to do when He shows us a step to take, to be in His will at all times.

I have never been more convinced as I am now that what has been missing in the Body of Christ in America is the intimate abiding relationship with Christ. When this is found, God’s will for the Church will be enabled, and the dynamic of the Church being alive in Christ will be seen. The Church in this country will be about the will of the Father, and not contrary to it as we are seeing. When we begin to abide in Him and allow Him to do His will through our lives, there will be an awakening in The Church as we’ve never seen before.

I have also never been so convinced of the passionate mission of Influencers than I am now, which is to make disciples of Christ by getting them in close proximity with Him. I believe that we are following the lead of God in taking His family back to Him. It is His will that we are doing. This is His work. I know this, and have no doubts about it. So, I can declare in truth that if you desire to be part of a ministry, and support such a ministry that is totally committed to knowing and doing God’s will, join with us and help us make disciples, so that He can do His work through them. If you want to be trained to use our curriculum, we have trainers standing by to help you. Contact us, and we will get you in contact with them. If you have special interest in ministries that deal with prisoners, consider supporting our efforts in making disciples of the incarcerated men we are working with. A great work is being done in prisons by Influencers as you read these words. Help us fund the free curriculum we provide those prisoners. If you have interest in foreign missions, we have work going on in the Middle East, Africa, South America, and Brazil. Our curriculum has been translated in these languages and is being used there to make disciples. Next week we will have missionaries in Turkey being trained to make disciples using our curriculum. We have many places of work going on in foreign lands, and this ministry is funding all of them without charge to them. But, we need financial help to fund this work, and we need your investment if you are interested in helping us make disciples in those foreign lands. Your investment in any area of this ministry will help us make disciples and allow God to do His work through us. So clearly said, we need your help, and ask you to pray about how you can be involved.

Back to you and God’s will for your life. You do not have to ask the question anymore about God’s will for your life, if you really want to know it. Go and abide in Him, and you will discover it. If you do not know how to abide in Him, we will show you how. That is what we do. But, do not put it off. It is just too important for you to put this need aside any longer. Now is the time to make your way to the Inner Chamber of the relationship with God He wants to give you. Don’t put it off. He is waiting for you.

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Pray for Rocky Today

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Hi Men,

I'm sending this email to alert you to the fact that Rocky Fleming is having some major surgery today and I know he would appreciate your prayers. He is having his hip replaced and the rod in his left femur repaired or replaced. Hopefully this will lengthen Rock's leg and allow him to walk normally, which hasn't been the case for 14 years. This is his 14th surgery on the leg. Pray that all will go smoothly, that the surgeon will be on the top of his game, as well as the anesthesiologist and all attending. Pray that his post op and recovery will be blessed by the Lord, that his pain will be minimized, and that he would have a successful result , and that this would be the last surgery he will have to endure. Also pray for his wife Sallie as she cares for and nurses Rocky back to health.

Thanks guys. I know Rocky will appreciate your prayers.

Now, to Him who does exceeding abundantly above all we ask....

--Pete

Category: Influencers Prayer

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Stories of Influence- Corporate Executive Wants Fruits of the Spirit

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Greg was climbing the corporate ladder of a Fortune 100 company. He was a “good ol’ boy” who was also very intelligent and sharp. He was good at business, and he was willing to do whatever it took for the sake of the company. He had a wife and four boys, and he was a pretty good family man, though the international travel his company demanded did not afford him much time at home.

God first got his attention at a Promise Keepers conference in 1996. One of his managers invited him, and he only went to appease his boss. His quick innovative mind was plotting all the ways he could escape the stadium once he got there. Miraculously, God reached down from Heaven, in the midst of all the noise and all the distractions in Greg’s mind, and touched his heart. He gave his life to Christ in the stairwell of a crowded football stadium.

Things began to change in this fast-paced man’s life. He began to hunger more for God’s Word. He began to look at his whole life differently. However, time marched on, and the business pressure was not going to stop. God started opening his eyes, though, to other Christians who worked at his company, who were in his midst. When he heard Promise Keepers might be coming to his part of the country, and a group of Christian businessmen were heading the charge, he was all in. He was asked to lead the effort and soon found himself in prayer meetings about this upcoming event. His spirit was opening up more and more to the Holy Spirit.

Not too long after the PK event, Greg decided to leave Corporate America to become an entrepreneur. He was tired of all the travel, and he wanted to be closer to his family. God’s Spirit was changing his perspective. As he was beginning to read God’s Word with new eyes, he couldn’t get away from the concept of the “fruit of the Spirit.” He was baffled by how love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control could be present, all at once, in a person’s life. He longed for these attributes, but he didn’t really know how to attain them.

About that time, a man gave him a “Journey to the Inner Chamber” book, and told him about this movement of men going on right in his neck of the woods. As Greg began reading the book, he believed this might be the answer he was seeking. He immediately joined a Journey group, and for the next several months, he poured himself into God’s Word, journaling and seeking the Spirit. He was truly becoming a different man from the hard-driven corporate executive he had once been.

In the middle of all this, his new business was struggling to make it. Setback after setback occurred, and financial challenges forced Greg to lean on the Lord like never before. Just as in the Journey book, where it describes the Workout Room as a place where the trials of life test the faith concepts we are learning at the Banquet Table, Greg was being pushed and stretched in many, many ways. He also learned the value of having brothers to walk alongside you in the battle. He had always been very independent, not a man to ask for help, but The Journey opened his eyes to another new concept: Christian community. Brothers were praying with him, encouraging him, sharing Scripture with him and checking on him regularly. Greg also began to open up more and more to discuss spiritual topics with his wife. They both started seeing God’s fingerprints on every aspect of their life.

God did not solve all of Greg’s problems overnight, but He carried him through them all. Greg soon brought The Journey to his church and shared the process with many more men. He saw the power of “abiding with Christ” to get to the Fruit of the Spirit. This had been the missing ingredient in his faith experience all along. He also felt a calling to our Prison initiative and for the past few years, has been driving 4 hours each way to help lead a Journey Group at Cummins Prison. Greg is now on the Influencers Cabinet and is using his leadership skills to help guide this ministry into the future.

Category: Stories of Influence

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Influencers Weekly Devotional

Friday, June 07, 2013

In His Presence

Rocky Fleming

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say,The Lord is my helper;I will not fear;what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6, ESV)

Although the scripture I have included above speaks to a disciple of Christ about keeping ourselves free from the love of money, there is another main point I want to draw from this scripture. It is the promise that the Lord is our helper, and He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Do you believe this promise as if it was made directly to you? Do you trust His presence when you are in a firefight with temptation, discouragement, and when the pressure is on you to trust yourself or another person more than God? If you do remember He is present, you will understand the tremendous benefit of this assurance as you weather your trial. If you do not remember this, you might understand why you feel so isolated and alone, and feel that no one hears your prayers, or comes to your aid. I learned first hand how easy it is to become discouraged when this assurance is forgotten. Before I get into that, let’s talk about the dynamics of war, as we can learn a lot about how an army is defeated, and how we as Christians can also be defeated. But we can also learn how to stand firm when assaulted by the enemy of our soul.

When Desert Storm was waged against the Iraqi military, there was an interesting strategy employed by the USA and its allies. The Iraqi army had already dug into the desert sands of Kuwait for several months. They had their tanks buried, their bunkers dug and fortified, and their communications network setup so that the troops could receive orders and strategy from their commanders back in Iraq. This was an army trained to work as a unit, and under the ultimate command of their dictator, Saddam Husain. It is true they were a formidable force in the region at the time, for they had a large arsenal of tanks, guns, planes and supplies. Our armed forces didn’t really know what they would face until they got into the battle. They only knew the confident bantering of Husain and his puppet generals had their army believing they were invincible. But when that voice of those leaders was no longer heard, things began to change in the confidence of the troops in the field. How was the voice cut off? The first thing that was done when Desert Storm was launched was to blow up the communication towers and network. From that point on, it went down hill for the poor Iraqi soldiers who were in those tanks and dug into the bunkers in Kuwait. The bombardment was relentless and when it was finally halted, thousands of Iraqi troops emerged with white flags over their heads. Many asked why our forces waited so long to halt the air and tank assault, for they had been ready to surrender almost from the time they lost communication with the encouraging words of their commanders. First strategy of war … cut off communications with the Command Control Centers. It is the same with a follower of Christ when he is under attack. When the voice of God is distant or hindered in our life, the enemy begins his work big time.

The scripture I’ve referenced assures a disciple of Christ that God will never forsake nor leave His child, and that there is no force that can prevail over God. This gives us confidence to face our battles and not be afraid. But what happens when our communication lines are down, and keep us from hearing the Lord? Like any soldier in any army, we will eventually fall into discouragement, despair, and often give up trying to fight back. We just get worn down and forget Who stands beside us. We begin to think we are all alone, that no one cares, that God does not hear our prayers, and there is no help coming. It happened to me recently. In fact, I even cried out to God in prayer one night and said to Him that I had known the enemy was coming with his assaults of temptations to me, and I had asked God for days and weeks when I saw it coming to help me stand strong. Still, I kept getting hit with a barrage of challenges to fall into a deep dark place with the enemy. I fought with every ounce of courage and energy in me to resist the Accuser’s voice of slander toward myself and other people, to resist his threats of danger to my family and myself, and to resist his words of discouragement with being a failure or a fraud. You name it and I got hit with it. But, some of those arrows hit me and hurt me. When I prayed and complained to the Lord about feeling all alone in the battle, it was after having emerged from a difficult attack and feeling like a battered Iraqi soldier in Kuwait after a relentless air attack, who hauled himself out of a bunker, wounded, battered, shocked, and discouraged. That was me. But then I read and remembered the promise of the scripture above and the dynamics of how warfare is waged. It came to me that the enemy first cuts off the communication lines and the army then becomes divided, discouraged and eventually defeated. My communication lines had been cut down, for I had been challenged by my normal listening to the voice of He who is able, He who is standing by me at all times, and He who will always prevail. How did this happen? The answer? I just got too blame busy. Here is how it happened:

The last few months I have been in one “good thing” after another. A lot of traveling, a lot of ministry, a lot of work, but this busy activity had taken me away from my routine of getting alone with God each morning and hearing the voice of my Commander. They were all good things. But I was challenged in having alone time with the Lord, getting into His Word, and simply tuning in to hear His voice. Other people and their needs came first. My work and ministry is about people, about pouring into them, and about leading them by serving them. So, there was a lot of me giving out, but very little of me drinking in, and like the Iraqi soldier cut off from his commander’s voice, I too was cut of from my King’s voice because of these distractions. I realized what had happened when I journaled through the Hebrews 13 scripture and made personal application of it to my life. I could see clearly what happened. I also saw another special revelation. The fact is I was wounded, tired and depleted from my battles, but, I was still standing. Although beat up, I had weathered the onslaught, and this could have happened only one way. I was able to resist the Oppressor because God was indeed standing with me the whole time, defending and protecting me, even though I didn’t think He was there. There is no way a man by himself can stand against evil. He just doesn’t have the capability of doing it. I know this, and the fact of my experience with the success of standing firm, authenticates the promise that God made when He said He would never leave me nor forsake me. This revelation then went to another as I asked, “Then why did I feel so all alone? What could I have done differently that would have kept my eyes on Christ rather than the evil man?” Well, the most obvious answer is the priority that I must maintain to hear God’s voice by spending time in His Word, and being in fellowship with other believers who do the same. That is a good way. Being too busy with other things that keep me from doing this is just too busy with life. So making this a priority is necessary. I think good Christian praise and worship music helps me hear God’s voice, and encourages me as well. These are things I want to get back to becoming consistent in my life. But, there is one thing I can do at all times, even if I am challenged with the time issue because of the other things. I must make my stand to do this everyday. I must make it my habit to remember that God is with me. God is with me. God is with me at all times, in all seasons, and in all circumstances. There is never a time or place that He is not with me. This should be on my mind in the morning, all through the day, at night when I go to bed, and if I wake in the middle of the night, then, as well. I practice my belief and trust that I am in the presence of Almighty God, especially when I fall under the assault of the enemy like I did before, but really, at all times. Then I am able to confidently say and believe:

“The Lord is my helper;I will not fear;what can man do to me?”

So men, make that plan yours as well. Take courage right now and stand strong, for God is with you. That fact alone will give you the courage to face anything that comes at you today, and in the future. HE IS WITH YOU! AMEN?

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Influencers Weekly Devotional

Friday, May 31, 2013

BUSY

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said,

"We can't keep Christians from going to church.

We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Savior. Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken.

So, let them go to their churches; let them have their potlucks, BUT steal their time, so they won't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. This is what I want you to do," said the devil. "Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout the day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"It will be easy," said the devil. "Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade their wives to go to work for long hours and their husbands to work 6-7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles.

Keep them from spending time with their children. As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!

Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or CD player whenever they drive, and tempt them to get DVD players for their kids even in their cars and vans. Have them keep the TV, VCR, CD's, and PC's going constantly in their homes and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays fast-paced music constantly. This will jam their minds and break their union with Christ.

Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services, and false hopes.

Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what is important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives.

Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night. Give them headaches too! If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere.

Have the husbands neglect their wives and children, and convince them that their busyness and daily sacrifice of working so hard to give them a better lifestyle is worth it. That will keep the husbands in trouble with their wives and they'll feel unappreciated and give up.

It gets easier. Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their vacations exhausted. Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead.

KEEP THEM BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

And when they meet for spiritual fellowship in their small groups, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences. Let them talk, talk, talk, but don't let them pray. A prayer at the beginning and the end is a Christian thing. No worries there. But keep them talking about the Bible or anything else to fill their time, but don't let them leave time for prayer.

Crowd their lives with church involvement and so many good causes that they have no time to seek their power from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."

"It will work!"

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there, having little time for their God or their families. Having no time, energy, or credibility to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge.

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your grand." Ephesians 6:12-13

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

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Stories of Influence- Prisoners Set Free Through The Journey

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Come on in. Have a seat and relax. Listen to a story of how God is meeting men through The Journey and taking them to new heights. We are truly part of something special that God is doing, and we need to tell the stories. "Every man has a story and every story is worth hearing." In addition to the Influencers Weekly Devotional, you will receive a "Story of Influence" each week. Be encouraged. If you would like to submit a story, email it to information@influencers.org.

When Rocky Fleming led the first Journey Group, he envisioned this being a great tool for American men in the Marketplace. To his astonishment, it has spread beyond the United States, beyond the Marketplace, beyond Men. It seems God likes the message of His children abiding with Him, and he wants all to find Him through The Journey. One place we definitely never thought there would be Journey Groups was in Prison. However, we have found that men in prison are not much different than men anywhere else. There are hungry men who are looking for answers. They are looking for a deeper walk with Christ.

One of our leaders in Arkansas has been helping to start Journey groups at Cummins Prison on Arkansas. He recently asked the men to write letters, talking about the impact of The Journey in their lives. Here are some of the quotes:

"I have experienced more growth in my walk since I began this Journey. Now, I know that this is a life journey for the rest of my life. This process has been a tremendous blessing to me." Orville

"I didn't think God even cared for me since I'm in prison, and I didn't think He would forgive me for what I had done. I know now that I can trust Him and that He loves me, as well." Jerry

"I was distraught, lonely and scared, not to mention angry at myself for screwing things up. I beat myself up every day over the choice I made that got me here. My self-worth was next to nothing. I felt like I let myself, my family and God down. I started attending The Journey group and quickly found that God knows about me, God cares about me, God is willing to get involved in my problems and intercede on my behalf, and God is able to do anything about what I am facing." John

"It is going to be a better Journey day by day because God is awesome and he is now in control of my life." Jason

"I see my love for others is stronger and truer to form. My joy is greater, especially in bad times. All the fruits are growing in me, with greater outward flow. I believe the longer I walk this Journey, the greater that Christ shall shine forth out of me." Joseph

"I enjoy the fellowship of the group members. There is a spiritual connection that has developed over time that I attribute to the work of the Holy Spirit." Henry

"Before I came to prison, I was in bondage to sin. The devil had so many different strongholds on me that I didn't know the truth from a lie. I have always been a child of God, but I didn't know who I was. The devil tried to claim my life, but God didn't let him have me. He pulled me out of darkness by allowing me to come to prison. It wasn't something that happened overnight, but over time, God pulled me closer and closer to him." C

"I've been in so many programs, but none like this one. I believe this is God's will, not only for my life, but for everyone. Abiding in Christ is the key to living a Christian life. It's not about me. In fact, I've come to understand what it means to be poor in spirit. It means I have nothing I can do for the Lord- nothing I can say, nothing I can give (other than my heart)" Mike

"I must confess that in the beginning, my flesh rebelled against The Journey process. I fought against every aspect of the program. I made excuses such as, 'I'm too busy. It's too basic. I'm going to the yard. It's too nice outside to go.' These excuses were pure fleshly rebellion. But by the grace of God, I had a persistent friend who kept encouraging me to continue. The Journey process is far more than just another Christian group program. It aids the growing process. It makes you evaluate your walk with Christ. I encourage any and all to take a Journey and become part of the family of Influencers." Jeff

"The Journey is a place of refuge, an area of growth, an invaluable resource in a place where darkness and despair is the norm." Troy

"I found myself in a relationship with Him like I have never experienced before. At one point, I got scared at how much I grew, and I tried to bail out of the Journey. But God used the other brothers in the group to help me realize the fear I had and to pull through it. I am so glad I did, as I feel like now I have started something that will be used throughout my life." Robert

"Journaling is a great tool that was overlooked by me because I have always thought such work was for women. Man, how wrong was I! Journaling gives that quality time that Jesus deserves and looks for. Even in prison, things can be fast-paced, but this tool allows you to slow down and get the quality time in." La Quince

"My Journey has taught me to be humble and to give of what I have to the people around me. And to be thankful for what I have. That's how Gabe gave his life and possessions. Give and God will bless you for it." Louie

"I found that intimacy with God that I was looking for. Now I am a child of God. I used to curse every other word, but now that I got my relationship with God, they are 98% gone. I am more humble and patient and eager to learn more about God each day." Terry

The stories of transformation for men in prison go on and on. We are so blessed to bring hope and freedom to these men. If you are interested in bringing The Journey to a prison in your area, send us an email at information@influencers.org.

Category: Stories of Influence

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Influencers Weekly Devotional

Friday, May 24, 2013

Conquered

Rocky Fleming

“And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” Revelations 12:10-11 (ESV)

About 30 years ago I heard a popular preacher teaching on Ephesians 6:15 about the shield of faith, and the “flaming missiles” that the “shield” catches and extinguishes. He said, and I agree, that those missiles mentioned are thoughts that the enemy sends our way. Have you ever wondered how you can be going along with life and suddenly a thought of anger, or lust, or fear, or jealousy, or harsh or suspicious feelings toward someone can suddenly come upon you? Have you asked what those thoughts produce in you? Do they lead to despair or judging someone, and to sin? Better believe they are not from God if they do, and the thoughts may very well might not be originating in you, especially if there is accusation of someone involved. Those thoughts can often come from the Accuser, and he is very good with spinning an evil lie against someone, even if it is when the focus is on your own failures. There is a reason he has been given the name Accuser, which is mentioned in the Revelations passage I have quoted. With Satan, the Accuser, it started in the beginning of mankind when he accused God of being a liar, and tempted Adam and Eve to sin. He has been accusing God and His family ever since, and it requires that we take up our “shields” and extinguish the flaming missiles he throws our way. Are you getting under the protection or the shield, or do you keep getting hit because you don’t know how to use it, or you don't realize you are in a spiritual battle? If it is the latter, this devotional is written to you.

I will be honest and tell you that I have been under attack from the Accuser for a while lately. Therefore, I am being educated through personal experience with how these accusations work, and it has made me more aware that a lot of the spiritual warfare we battle with starts within our thoughts, as the Accuser whispers his accusations. To reinforce this statement, can you think of any sins that we commit that do not start first with a temptation to sin, and did the temptation to sin not start with a thought before it became reality? Therefore, it is within our thoughts that a spiritual battle begins, and ends, if we are willing to draw a line there, and wage war against the Accuser who tempts us. This is where we need our greatest assets for this battle, which are the shield of faith and theword of God, or best said, the shield and the sword. But we must know how to use these assets, for obviously they are metaphors for something other than objects of ancient warfare. I think we can see in the passage above what the metaphors are referencing if we look carefully. But, let’s first consider the various ways the Accuser whispers his words.

I have discovered that the most obvious form of accusation from the enemy toward someone else comes in the form of slanderous thoughts about the person. These thoughts can vary from suspecting wrong behavior to wrong motives. These thoughts can convince us that we know a person’s heart, even though only God can know for sure what goes on there. These slanderous thoughts, if we agree with them, then proceed to the next step in going public, as we follow up by speaking slanderous words about the person, and our sin is then activated. However, since we are so convinced that someone else’s behavior is wrong, (for like I said the Accuser is real good with what he does), we are convinced that our slander of the person is justified and we do not see what we have done as sin. Listen: Slander is sin no matter how you figure it. Can you see how we are duped by the Accuser to think that someone else is wrong when we listen to him accusing someone, but how it is really designed to draw us into sin, and the Accuser accomplishes his work? Furthermore, if we do not recognize what has happened in the process, we will wallow in our own un-confessed sin, and we then become the target of the Accuser for someone else, as he uses us to tempt that person. Oh how devious the Accuser is, and if we allow him to influence us, we will be led into a dark place with him. So how do we conquer his voice when he tempts us with accusations, as with any other temptation? In the passage above we read that he is conquered, “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” I believe we are told in this passage that there three actions on our part will cause us to resist him. They are:

The blood of the Lamb- When Jesus conquered death with shedding His blood on that cross, He also conquered the effects of sin in our life. He also conquered death for us, in that through Him we have eternal life. Much more, He conquered the Accuser, and set captives free for those of us who believe in Jesus. It is the authority of Christ's shed blood for us, and being redeemed by it that we are set apart and included in His family. Satan no longer has supreme authority in this world. He is conquered, and he is reminded of it by the authority of Christ. He will still have his way with it, for the world is still under his influence, for a while. But for those of us set apart by the blood of the Lamb, we are under the authority of Christ, and His blood is a reminder of this fact to the Accuser. We need to remind him of it, and that is where the next point comes for helping us resist him.

The word of their testimony: This is an interesting statement. In it we see that it is our word (spoken) confessing what we believe and whose authority we live under (testimony) that we remind the Accuser who we are, who he is, and put him in his place. It is to declare to him that he is under the authority of Jesus Christ because of the shed blood of the Lamb, and that we as God's child are under His protection. We tell him this, and remind ourself, and he is conquered, as the scripture declares.

They loved not their lives even unto death: Many times you will hear the leadership of Influencers and myself speaking of personal abandonment and absolute trust in Christ. Another way of saying this is to die to self, and live obedient to Christ, by trusting Him in the deepest possible way. I have heard that the most dangerous warrior on the battlefield is one who is willing to die for what he believes in. It is this man who has already died to what he wants personally, in order to follow a greater cause, and this makes him a dangerous, courageous, frightening, combatant. This passage is speaking of just such a man who loves Christ more than himself, and would rather die living right before Him, than live a life that follows Satan. It is this man who stands in the face of the Accuser under the authority of Christ, and the Accuser of all the things I have mentioned, and then backs his words up by a life that is fully committed to Christ. This is the man the Revelations passage is speaking of. This is the man who will conquer the Accuser's voice when he come knocking.

Men, this man can be you. Start now using the process I have just given you that is taught in scripture. When you do so, you are holding up the “shield of faith” mentioned in Galatians 6, and it is this shield that is able to protect you from the arrows of the enemy of your soul. This shield will extinguish them all.

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Stories of Influence-Veteran Pastor Blessed by The Journey

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

John had been a pastor for over 35 years. He was leading a small church which was stuck in many of its old traditions and ways. As a result, it was struggling to reach new people and younger families. John was unique in that he was humble and realistic about the situation, and he was open to all sorts of innovative new ideas. He was a good preacher, and he had a very kind heart. He and his wife would pray over and over again for God to send harvesters into his field to help them reach their community.

John loved being a pastor. He had heard stories of pastors burning out and leaving the ministry, and he could not understand this. He truly loved teaching and preaching God's Word and shepherding His flock. There was a time in his career at another church, where he got caught in the middle of some church politics, and he lost his job. He found himself working in a factory to pay the bills. It was a very humbling experience, but during that time, he discovered how much his heart still yearned to be a pastor. So, despite the small numbers at his current church, he was thankful to be used by God.

He was approached, one day, by a much larger, more contemporary church about the possibility of joining forces. The larger church wanted to help John's church and at the same time, reach this community where John's church was located. John prayed about this possibility and believed this opportunity was an answer to his and his wife's prayers. He began to meet with the pastor of the larger church, as well as other ministry leaders. It was so refreshing to come alongside believers in a true "Kingdom" effort.

One of the men invited John to join a Journey group during the same timeframe. Immediately, John loved The Journey. He had taught his congregations about abiding for many years, but this was the first time he ever saw a group of men diving deep into this principle. He saw a transparency and an authenticity like he had never seen in a group of Christian men. In the middle of The Journey, John's church decided they did not like his idea of merging with the larger church. All of the sudden, they decided John was the problem, and things began to go south. After some difficult conversations, John decided it was best if he resign. His heart was broken.

John's Journey Group rallied around him. They prayed for him, they cried for him, and they made sure his financial needs were met. Whereas he felt so rejected by the group of people to whom he had been so devoted for years, he found unconditional love in this group of men with whom he had only recently become acquainted. It was a very difficult time for John, but his Journey group helped carry his burden. He prayed for God's next step in his life. He was trusting God like never before.

Then, he got a call from the large church. They wanted to hire him temporarily as one of their pastors. He was so excited, but he wondered if he would fit into this staff of mostly younger ministers. Most of these pastors could be John's kids. He dove into the challenge with unrelenting faith and a heart for ministry. It wasn't long before this church realized the value of John's wisdom, his Biblical knowledge and the depth of his experiences. They hired him full-time, and he became a huge blessing to this church and to this staff. John never envisioned himself being on staff of a large, contemporary church, but he was so thrilled to see all the lives that were being touched.

The Journey reinforced to John the crucial truth that if we abide in Jesus, He will bear much fruit in our life. John even wrote some curriculum for his new church about Abiding. He is now the Care Pastor, but he is also a champion for The Journey at his new church. He has led a few groups now, and he continues to see its power. He says that for years, he had been looking for something for men, and he had tried every program that came out. The Journey was what he was waiting for all along.

John's story is a great reminder that we never outgrow discipleship in our Christian walk. We always have much more to learn. The Journey is a group of men walking closely together with the Lord. Whether they are seasoned pastors or new believers, new fruit is born as we walk together. We pray more pastors will allow Influencers to come alongside them to help them and their men.

Category: Stories of Influence

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Stories of Influence- Veteran Pastor Says The Journey is Most Powerful Tool for Men Ever

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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Influencers Weekly Devotional

Friday, May 17, 2013

Quiet Time

Rocky Fleming

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)

“I have finally made it to this time and place, and I can connect with the Lord on a deeper level.” Have you ever breathed those words or thoughts to yourself when you finally were able to have a “quiet time” with the Lord? They are escaping my lips as I write this. After a tremendous leadership conference in California that kept me busy, and being with our grandchildren for a visit following the conference, I have found such a place and time in a coffee cafe near their house. I had to leave their house, and the wrestling matches that become the norm to go to this place. Those things that I took a short hiatus from are wonderful, and are a gift from the Lord to this granddaddy. But, when I go too long without the close contact I experience with the Lord in my Q.T., I find myself impatient and lose the joy the moments with those children bring to me. In fact, it's not just with them, just doing life without my alone time with the Lord, makes me tend toward falling back to old tendencies of the flesh. I need time with Him so I will remember to “take up His yoke and learn from Him.” (Matthew 11:29)

Why is having a consistent quiet-time important to me? How do I see it? Honestly, I have more balance in my view of it now, because early in my adventure into daily quiet-times I became legalistic with the importance of it. I'll never forget the time my wife interrupted me when I was trying to have a quiet-time and wanted to talk, for she was having a bad day with our small children and some challenges we were having at the time. Instead of embracing the interruption as God orchestrating another agenda for me to serve my wife, I laid into her with some unkind words about her coming between God and me. I see it clearly now. She didn't come between God and me. My legalistic, performance driven, hardness of heart was coming between God and me. God revealed this to me not by the quiet-time that was interrupted by my wife, but the one that was interrupted by Him. When I connected these dots with the good quiet-time that followed, I realized that I had become a hard-hearted Pharisee with something meant to be freeing and liberating, and would enable His characteristics in me, if I understood a key point about why I have the quiet-time in the first place. The key point I was missing is mentioned in the passage from Zephaniah that I have listed above. Let's look at it:

Notice a critical connection with God's ordained quiet-time for His child rather than the one we create for ourselves. What is the difference? Is it what we give to Him in our quietness before Him, or is it what He gives to us in the quietness we receive from Him? In this passage, we read that God will quiet us by His love. He will rejoice over us with gladness. He will exult over us with loud singing. Now surely we are to understand these things He does as metaphors of truth. However, we can read in them clearly that God has affection for us. He loves being with you and me. In fact, He delights in it. He is so delighted, His Spirit moves over us and in us, as He sings over us. In this action on His part, He imparts to us critical assurance of His presence. When we play our part, and calm ourselves long enough to listen to Him, and overcome the hindrances in the way of our intimacy with God, as was the case with the way I treated my wife and my perspective of quiet-times then, God is able to “quiet” us with His love. This “quieting” transforms us from a legalistic agenda for our quiet-times to love driven joy in connecting with Him. This “quieting” imparts to us not only the basic assurances we need to boldly live our life, but also the wisdom for carrying out the purpose God has given to us. This “quieting” makes us into men after God's own heart, and elevates us from the forces that drag us down, to men who mount up with wings like eagles.

Yes, having a consistent quiet-time, preferably daily, is like eating life sustaining food for me. However, sometimes the distractions I am dealing with keep me from being able to get alone with the Lord and eat from the feast, and I have to allow the spiritual nutrition I received from the last one to sustain me for a while. Therefore, I don't worry and stew over missing a Q.T. as I did when I was legalistic about them, for missing some is going to happen. But, when I begin to show signs of the flesh creeping into my life, I know I need time with the Lord, and it needs to be a priority to go there. Believe me when I say this to you; everyone around my life needs for me to go there, and they know the difference in the man who comes from the Inner Chamber, and the one who needs to be abiding in that place.

As a mentor, I encourage men toward an intimate, abiding relationship with God. I will say clearly that my ability to effectively mentor a man is directly related to my own quality time alone with God. I lead men to understand this critical connection with God by my own dependence and priority in going there. Otherwise, I would be an inauthentic representative of this truth, along with missing the power to influence other men. The truth is, I encourage a man to journey to this place with Christ for I know it will be life changing for him, and is deep down a core need that exists within him, whether he knows it or not. It is easy for me to make this connection, for with my own life as an example, I know a man who went into the Inner Chamber, and the one who emerged from it. If God can do with this man what He has done, and with what He had to work with, I know that He can help any man who walks this earth, no matter where he lives or what his circumstances, to become a man after His own heart. That is what happens when God “quiets us with His love.” We become like Him.

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