Eagles In Leadership

Elbert Hubbard has written, “The man who is anybody and who does anything is going to be criticized, vilified, and misunderstood. That is part of the penalty for greatness, and every man understands it; and understands, too, that it is no proof of greatness. The final proof of greatness lies in being able to endure continuously without resentment.”

In today’s episode, “Will You Stand for Jesus?” Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Transformation Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California shows us that when we speak up for Jesus, it is quite possible people will censure us – tell us to be silent and threaten us with physical harm to get their way.

Let’s listen in now as Pastor Matt shows us how James and John, like Jesus, model the path to take when others attempt to silence our witness.

A woman stands before judge and jury, places one hand on the Bible and the other in the air, and makes a pledge. For the next few minutes, with God as her helper, she will “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”

She is a witness. Her job is not to expand upon nor dilute the truth. Her job is to tell the truth. Leave it to the legal counsel to interpret. Leave it to the jury to resolve. Leave it to the judge to apply. But the witness? The witness speaks the truth. Let her do more or less and she taints the outcome. But let her do that–let her tell the truth–and justice has a chance.

In today’s episode, “Are You Offended by God’s Truth?” Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Transformation Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California reminds us that our task in this life is to witness of God’s work and words to those around us and graciously accept the outcome as part of God’s will.

Let’s listen in now as Pastor Matt encourages the congregation in Palos Verdes to speak God’s truth … and let people choose to believe it or not.

Transformation is the ‘end-game’ of all of God’s work … to be made into the image of Jesus Christ, His Son is both God’s deepest desire and goal for our lives.

In today’s episode, “Are You Enjoying God’s Refreshing?” Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Transformation Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California explains this process of transformation from Acts 3.

As Dutch Sheets explains in his book, The River of God, “though true repentance and turning bring forgiveness, God’s goal is much loftier than this. He’s shooting for transformation. When we receive revelation from Him, enabling us to see our conditions from His perspective, this unveiling also reveals His grace and redemption to us. We see our need, but we also see His provision. The exposing and humbling of self with the counteraction of God being exalted allows the release of grace. His grace than empowers and enables us to effectively “turn and go the other way.”

In his book, The Unquenchable Worshipper, Matt Redman tells us, “One of the Hebrew words for praise, hallal, means to be clamorously foolish or mad before the Lord. (That’s where we get our word “hallelujah.”) In a “reasons to be passionate” competition, the church of God should come behind in this area. Isn’t it time we saw a bit more holy mayhem in our worship?”

In today’s episode, “Are You Amazed by God’s Power?” Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Transformation Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Palos Verdes, California asks us two vital questions, “What has God healed you of?” and “How are you showing your amazement?

For more information check out our website at eaglesinleadership.org.