Blog In Audio:
Greetings,
Leaders lead for eternal life. This is not to merely lead people to heaven, but to lead them to live their lives in a heavenly way. When we live in a relationship with God the Father through Jesus the Son, it empowers us to also live our lives as sons and daughters of God. The testimony is found in the life of the Spirit in and through our lives. Others can see the testimony of true life in our lives. As leaders, this is why we lead others. We lead them in knowing who God is and who they are as children of God. When we do this, we manifest the name of God to our families, friends, neighbors, and even our enemies.
John 17:6 “I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. 7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. 8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. 9 I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.”
Jesus prayed for His twelve disciples, that they would know the Father by seeing Him. He prayed that they would become to their world as He had become to theirs. When we know eternal life, we give life to those in our world. When we know eternal life, we are not easily shaken by the things that shake those who are afraid of death. By this we shine as light to the darkness. By this we offer hope to a world that struggles to hope. Jesus lived His life to open the door for us all to live our lives as He lived His as a man.
John 17:11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
We are in the world, but we are not of the world. It is not a matter of merely abstaining from worldly desires. It is a matter of indulging in a personal relationship with God as our Father and Jesus the Son. This is the testimony of eternal life. It is an increasing journey of increasing life. As leaders, we don’t lead for religious activities or religious works. We lead to bring those God has given to us to know God and live their lives in eternal life.
John 17:20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
We are sent to our world as Jesus was sent to His. He was sent to a few that He might be sent to everyone who would believe. He was sent as the Son to reveal the Father to those who sought to be with Him that they also might reveal the Father and the Son to those who seek to be with them. We are not sent to the world; we are sent to a few for the sake of the world. We are sent to live in eternal life and invite others to know this place of intimacy and life.
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
Donations can be made at the link on the home site of:
Checks can be made payable to House of Bread Ministry and sent to:
House of Bread Ministry, 3210 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98225
To avoid us paying a transaction fee from your donation, you can also set up a payment or an automatic payment from your bank to House of Bread Ministry. Just set it up as a ‘bill pay’ through your online bank account and your bank will mail a check to House of Bread Ministry. We will record your payment as a donation to House of Bread Ministry (E.I.N. 91-2009037) and we will send you a contribution receipt at the close of the year.
Our Ministry Information Is:
House of Bread Ministry
3210 Meridian St.
Bellingham, WA 98225-1728
