Leadership Volume III By Dr. Brain J. Bailey

"The Lord is a God of love; and He is looking for love. He is looking for the "Abrahams," those who are faithful friends of God, who know His ways, who are strong in Him, and who will raise up a godly seed--teachers of righteousness who will turn many to righteousness."

# 153

Something I learned tonight in my studies:

There are 153 references to Zion in the Bible (the same # of fish Peter and six other disciples caught and brought to Jesus)

153 is a product of 17x9.

17 - A separation from evil and a joining unto righteousness
    10 - the keeping of the Law

     7 - perfection or completion
9 - The fullness of the gifts and fruit of the Spirit.

I never had a favorite number before, but call me crazy I found one tonight and it's #153 :-)

I John 3:20-22

"For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight."

My Pastor brought this verse out in our Sunday evening service. It was the Lord speaking right to me with this verse. Our hearts are so condemning, but God is not a condemner but an He is encouraging. He get into a snare or a trap on a road path and we put ourselves down. God is biding us to stand up, telling us it's okay, and wants us to press on.

When this verse talks about "heart" it's not talking about our physical heart, but our spiritual heart. One thing my God has taught me about the spiritual heart is that what is in it comes up to our mind and what is in our mind we tend to speak.

The next time you go through a trial and find yourself condemning yourself and putting yourself down. Say this verse to yourself!

God IS greater than our heart! Do you believe this?!?! If God encourages us to press on, then be encouraged and press onward.


God Bless!

Romans 12:6-8

‎"Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching; Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness."

Staying Hydrated in the Word

I just returned from my missions trip to Shiroles, Costa Rica. While I was there the Lord taught me a lot of things. One thing I'd like to share is on hydration. For those of you who have never been to Costa Rica or may not know much about this country, here are some brief facts about the climate. The nation's climate is classically divided into two major seasons: rainy and dry. The dry season runs from January through May and the rainy season from May to November and December. Locally, the seasons were named by the early Spanish colonizers, who compared them to their own Mediterranean climate, calling the dry months "verano" or summer, and the rainy, grey and gloomy months "invierno" or winter. It is interesting to note that some of the coldest temperatures are registered during the early dry season or "summer". Lastly, it is very easy to lose your hydration even during the rainy season. While I was in Costa Rica, I did not keep up on drinking water and so I became dehydrated.

The Lord taught me a valuable lesson through this experience. The lady missionary informed me that most Americans live on a mild dehydration and they don't realize it. The thing that Jesus spoke to me is that, many of His people are living on a mild dehydration of His Word and they don't realize it. I was amazed when Jesus opened my eyes to see this. It is so very important, especially in this day and age we live in, to stay hydrated in His word.

Revival is drawing near and God needs a prepared people. Those who are ready, properly equipped for their calling, prepared, and hydrated. You cannot win anything if you are dehydrated, weak, and unfamiliar with the equipment you are to wear and use. Before and during revival many people are going to have their eyes opened up to how thirsty they are. We are to have enough in ourselves so that we are able to be full cisterns; ready to be used to pour out into the lives of those who are lacking. They aren't going to know what they are lacking and so we, God's people, will need to help them and supply them with what they need.

People who don't know or understand things will be coming into the church and we must be prepared. If we are empty vessels, then it only makes sense that the Lord cannot use us. We want to be prepared vessels that the Lord can use continually.

How do we make sure that we are hydrated and prepared vessels for the Lord? By setting a pattern of filling ourselves up before each day begins, allowing God to pour that water out to other people throughout the day, filling ourselves up with pure worship, allowing God to pour that out. Listening to contemporary music and ready the modern fantasy books are just like one drinking a cup of coffee. When you drink coffee there is a lot of water that exits your body. The same happens to our spiritual body when we listen to modern music and read modern books. Maybe you are reading God's word daily, but what are you also taking in that counteracts it?

I share this with you because I want to encourage everyone to stay hydrated in the Word of God daily! Help each other to set a pattern and to stay on that pattern. There's times where I need reminded to drink water and that applies also in our Spirit lives. Learn from our Master, apply to your life, and then go and teach others what you have learned. There are battles and if you find the battle is to strong for you to fight, then cry out to God for His grace to drink of His word.

God Bless!