Am I Worthy of Jesus?

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Artwork courtesy of: en.wikipedia.org

Want to earn the loyalty of those you lead? Be loyal to them. For example, the Roman emperor Augustus Caesar was asked by a former soldier to testify for him in a lawsuit. The busy emperor assigned an assistant to go. But the soldier pointed to his battle scars and said he’d fought for Augustus in person. Augustus understood the lesson and did the same.

~ Adapted from Bartlett’s Book of Anecdotes

Loyalty is earned by being loyal. If we want to the loyalty of another, we ourselves must be loyal to them. To the level we desire loyalty we must provide it. In this great section on the commissioning of the Twelve for ministry, Jesus calls for the loyalty He provides to others.

The test of loyalty is sacrifice. One sacrifices for those they love. The greater our love, the greater our sacrifice will be. (John 15.13) We cannot claim a love we do not demonstrate. The truth of our love is always seen in the way it plays out in our relationships. Jesus calls for a greater loyalty to Him than we are to have to our biological family!

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:34–37, NKJV)

We imitate Jesus when …

  • We realize that loving God takes precedence over our own family, even those closest to us!

Jesus knows that many people have their priorities mixed up. For most of humanity, there are no relationships of greater importance than family. “Blood is thicker than water,” has been the common phrase for generations. Jesus would agree, as long as we place Him as our highest family member and our greatest relationship. He also realizes that commitment will create strain among those closest to us.

Jesus calls you to confess Him before everyone else. When you do that, you are ready to serve Him as His disciple

 

 

© 2012 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved. Not for resale.

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Episode 140 – Where Is God When Your Family Rejects You?

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Welcome to the Transformed podcast.

When your family rejects you, God is still with you! As the teenage Jacob shows us, God will show up, back up and take up our cause when we trust our lives to His care.

In today’s episode, Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Lead Pastor at Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California will guide us through 8 family videos from Jacob’s life, each showing us that no matter what happens in our lives, if we will truly walk with God, He will be with us!

This is quite an encouraging message for anyone who has struggled to know if God cares for them. So, let’s open our Bibles to Genesis as we seek to understand that God is With Us!

 

With that powerful prayer we begin our study, “God is With Us!” Sensing the presence of God is something that every Christ-follower truly seeks after.

If you would like to explore how to enjoy God’s presence, Dr. Smith has written a daily devotional book that will help you do just that!

In His Presence is a detailed look at walking with God through life’s ups and downs. Built around the premise that God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure, In His Presence helps you see that the life of abundance can only be enjoyed when we take everything to the Lord and walk every day at His right hand.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

Today’s episode was recorded in El Segundo, California and edited by Ryan Longsworth in Los Angeles, California.

And now, until next time, we are praying that you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

 

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Confess or Deny?

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 Artwork by godsbreath.wordpress.com

If Peter walked away from Christ and his friends (Matthew 26:56), THEN tried to follow Jesus at a distance AND also placed himself in a very unhealthy environment (Matthew 26:58) which led to him eventually denying Christ (Matthew 26:69-75) then the SAME THING will happen to us if we follow in those steps.

~ Perry Noble

Fear can have complete power over us if we are not careful! As Jesus explains to the twelve disciples at the official ceremony to authorize them to execute Jesus’ mission, it is the mission of the disciple of Jesus to confess Him to every person they meet, regardless of the power, persecution or pain they could inflict.

You know the scenario: You are put on the spot and your peers begin laughing about the “religious crazies” in the world. Then they ask you what you think. For a splitting moment before you answer you know you have a choice: You can gain friends by denying Jesus or you can lose friends by confessing Him. At least that’s the only two choices the devil wants you to think about. As we discover from the words of Jesus today,

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32–33, NKJV)

We imitate Jesus when …

  • We confess our love relationship with Him in front of anyone and everyone!

Life comes by confessing our love relationship with King Jesus! In that moment when you are put on the spot, will you react to the negativity and seek to keep your friends or will you respond with the passion of a life that lives in the unfathomable compassion of the Christ?

It is these moments that WHAT you answer and HOW you respond changes everything. From those who are skeptics or hostile to the Lord Jesus, you will most likely be persecuted. But from those who are genuinely friends, they will begin to put the pieces of your words of confession and  your grace-filled life towards them together. In those moments, witness is born!

Jesus calls you to confess Him. The people you encounter need Him. It’s a match made in Heaven!

 

© 2012 Dr. Matthew Lee Smith. All rights reserved. Not for resale.

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Happy New Year from Eagles In Leadership!

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

It has been a great privilege serving you in 2012!

Eagles in Leadership looks forward to helping you develop godly disciples who rise to the challenge of Christlikeness and become leaders in your ministry and organization!

Happy New Year!

From

Matt, Melodee, Tabitha, Mike and Ryne!

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Episode 139 – Where Is God As We Look Into the Future?

Posted on December 30, 2012 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Welcome to the Transformed podcast.

It’s the end of the year and the Mayan Calendar predictions (or interpretations) were wrong! We are still here!

So what is ahead for us as God’s children? What does the future hold? First, let’s talk a bit about 2013!

2013 is going to be amazing!

Well, let me qualify that just a bit …

2013 is going to be amazing –

 for those who will seek after God with all they’ve got!

According to Hebrews 11.6, 2013 will be amazing for you if you choose to: (1) Believe that God exists and (2) Believe that God rewards those who diligently seek Him.

For today, we want to move further into the future and again ask the question: Where is God as we look into the future?

If you will turn to Romans 8, Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Lead Pastor at Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California wants us to see that there are 4 emotional facts that should fill us and thrill us with hope! God is with us!

 

 

With that powerful prayer we want you to remember as you put up the new calendars, “God is With Us!” It is also our joy to wish you Happy New Year 2013! We look forward to another exciting year to share God’s Word and will with you!

If you would like to explore how to enjoy God’s presence, Dr. Smith has written a daily devotional book that will help you do just that!

In His Presence is a detailed look at walking with God through life’s ups and downs. Built around the premise that God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure, In His Presence helps you see that the life of abundance can only be enjoyed when we take everything to the Lord and walk every day at His right hand.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

Today’s episode was recorded in El Segundo, California and edited by Ryan Longsworth.

And now, until next time, we are praying that you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

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Merry Christmas From Eagles In Leadership!

Posted on December 25, 2012 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 

May God’s grace enfold you this Christmas as you celebrate His birth and may His favor reside upon you as you move forward making disciples in the New Year!

~ From the staff at Eagles In Leadership

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Episode 138 – Where Is God When the World Seems to Be Falling Apart?

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 

2012 hasn’t been a good year for many people. They say things are getting better financially, but few we know have felt the benefit. People are struggling and hurting.

If you know your Bible, it sounds a lot like the first Christmas!

We have GREAT NEWS! There is hope! There is HOPE! Let me say it one more time, “There is hope!”

Please, listen to today’s episode as Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Lead Pastor at Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California opens an old familiar text from the Word of God and causes us to consider 5 possible scenarios for your current life situation!

This is quite an encouraging message for anyone who is struggling with life right now and wonders if God cares for him or her? So, let’s open our Bibles to Matthew 1 as we seek to understand that God is With Us!

 

 

With that powerful prayer we want to say to you again, “God is With Us!” It is also our joy to wish you a very Merry Christmas 2012!

If you would like to explore how to enjoy God’s presence, Dr. Smith has written a daily devotional book that will help you do just that!

In His Presence is a detailed look at walking with God through life’s ups and downs. Built around the premise that God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure, In His Presence helps you see that the life of abundance can only be enjoyed when we take everything to the Lord and walk every day at His right hand.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

Today’s episode was recorded in El Segundo, California and edited by Ryan Longsworth.

And now, until next time, we are praying that you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

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Episode 137 – How Do I Overcome Satan's Constant Attacks?

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Welcome to the Transformed podcast.

Standing for Jesus takes a real man or woman of God. You can’t be a part-time Christ-follower, a “weekend warrior” for the faith of Jesus. Following Jesus is about a totally different lifestyle …and the lifestyle of purity, loyalty and integrity are demeaned on a daily basis from every side! How is anyone supposed to remain strong under such an assault?

In today’s episode, Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Lead Pastor at Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California will start this study by sharing the 4 critical understandings that are essential to preparing for the daily onslaught against the devil. He will then   show us that there are 7 constant activities that we must vigilantly maintain in order to overcome Satan’s Constant attacks.

As you can tell, this is a powerful and serious message. So, let’s open our Bibles to Ephesians 6 as we prepare ourselves to overcome Satan’s constant attacks …

 

 

As a result of this study, it is our sincere hope and prayer that you will experience victory over sin, self and Satan as you apply the Word of God to the very fabric of your life.

Perhaps you would like to explore the abundant life in more detail. Dr. Smith has written a daily devotional book that will help you do just that!

In His Presence is a detailed look at walking with God through life’s ups and downs. Built around the premise that God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure, In His Presence helps you see that the life of abundance can only be enjoyed when we take everything to the Lord and walk every day at His right hand.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

Today’s episode was recorded in El Segundo, California and edited by Ryan Longsworth.

And now, until next time, we are praying that you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

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A Great Opportunity for All Leaders at a Discount!

Posted on December 11, 2012 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

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Episode 136 – How Do I Gain Friends and Influence Enemies?

Posted on December 9, 2012 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

 

Welcome to the Transformed podcast.

As our world grows more polarized, we see the destructive forces of anger and bitterness manifested all too often.

In today’s episode, Dr. Matthew Lee Smith, Lead Pastor at Pacific Baptist Church in El Segundo, California will lead us towards a lifestyle whereby we can gain friends and even influence our enemies!

As we seek the wisdom of the Spirit of God today, Pastor Matt shows us that there are 4 vital mindsets to gaining friends and influencing enemies, as modeled by our Lord Jesus.

So, let’s open our Bibles to Philippians 2 as we seek to live by the Spirit of God on a daily basis …

 

 

Choosing selfless sacrifice over selfish pleasures is the constant issue of relational increase. As Pastor Matt prayed with the congregation today, it is our hope and prayer that you prayed with him for life change.

Perhaps you would like to explore the abundant life in more detail. Dr. Smith has written a daily devotional book that will help you do just that!

In His Presence is a detailed look at walking with God through life’s ups and downs. Built around the premise that God welcomes you into His presence with joy and pleasure, In His Presence helps you see that the life of abundance can only be enjoyed when we take everything to the Lord and walk every day at His right hand.

You can order a copy of In His Presence from Amazon by clicking the link on the side panel of the Eagles In Leadership website.

Today’s episode was recorded in El Segundo, California and edited by Ryan Longsworth.

And now, until next time, we are praying that you would be filled with the love of God so that you can demonstrate His love to the lost and dying in your city! God bless!

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