COMMAND #9 PART 4 - FOLLOW ME AS I FOLLOW CHRIST

1 MONTH GOAL

  1. PREPARE ALL MEMBERS OF OUR POWER OF 12 TO COME TO SEPTEMBER 15TH MEETING.

  2. LET’S CONTINUE RECRUITING DISCIPLES. (Goal is to Complete level of leadership we are on.)


Today, we will continue to discuss how to build influence with our disciples. But first, let’s begin by each sharing something:

1. Something that went well this week, or…

2. Something that you learned this week.
How do you know someone has overcome something?

By their words and their thoughts.

Revelation12:11 NKJV And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony

Let’s continue sharing our testimony, because it helps others to overcome. We will answer 2 main questions today,


1. HOW DO WE RECRUIT DISCIPLES?

The ANSWER is: ASK THEM TO FOLLOW

Just like Jesus called his disciples to follow him, we are calling people to follow us. The call to follow is leadership.
No one will follow us if we don’t have any influence over their lives.

1 Corinthians 11:1-2 (MEV) Follow me as I follow Christ. 2 I praise you, brothers, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions as I delivered them to you.
A. WE’RE ASKING THEM FOR PERMISSION TO LEAD AND MENTOR THEM
The word Influence could be defined as: the capacity to produce effects on the actions, behavior, or opinions of others.

The second question we’re answering today is…

2. HOW DO WE BUILD INFLUENCE?

The ANSWER is: WE BUILD INFLUENCE BY GIVING THEM MERCY.

Give them a break when they make mistakes and fall short.
We need to use Mercy and grace when we are correcting them.

Remember the goal isn’t to change their behavior but change and win over their hearts. They need to know beyond a doubt that you are 100% for them even in their lowest moments.
After a fall or failure this is the best time to show them how much you really do care. Question: When was a time in your life you were shown great mercy?

A. JESUS COMMANDS US TO BE MERCIFUL. (Being merciful is being like God. The

more we are like God the more influence we will have with God’s people.)

Luke 6:36 (AMP) Be merciful (responsive, compassionate, tender) just as your [heavenly] Father is merciful. 37 “Do not judge [others self-righteously], and you will not be judged; do not condemn [others when you are guilty and unrepentant], and you will not be condemned [for your hypocrisy]; pardon [others when they truly repent and change], and you will be pardoned [when you truly repent and change]. The disctionary definition of Mercy is:

compassionkindness shown toward an offenderenemy,
something that gives evidence of divine favor
feeling of deep sympathy for someone and having a strong desire to help them.

Question: When was a time in your life you showed someone else great mercy?

B. GREAT LOVE AND GRATITUDE FOLLOW SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN SHOWN GREAT MERCY.

A person who should be punished, but instead is shown mercy, will be eternally grateful and totally won over.
They will get the message that you really love them, and as a result will allow you to lead them.

Luke 7:47 (NIV) 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.
Showing people mercy when they need it causes them to love you a lot.
There is no greater influence that we can have in someone’s life than love.

C. WE CAN HAVE A CULTURE OF JUDGMENT OR OF MERCY, BUT WE CAN’T HAVE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. (We can’t have both because they are two different seeds that produce two different harvests. We will never build influence with people that we don’t show mercy to.)

James 2:13 (EXB) 13 So you must show mercy to others, or God will not show mercy to you when he judges you [For judgment is without mercy to the one who does not act mercifully]. But the person who shows mercy can stand without fear at the judgment [But mercy triumphs over judgment].

D. MERCY CREATES AN ATMOSPHERE OF HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY. (Who wouldn’t want to be under a leader or organization that is merciful instead of judgemental?)

Question: Which would you prefer: a leader that is judgmental or a leader that is merciful?

Why?

Matthew 5:7 (ESV) “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
That word Blessed in the Greek is “makarios,” which means: happy, fortunate (receiving good from uncertain or unexpected sources), well off, prosperous.
Merciful people are happy and prosperous people.

Quote: “A merciful culture is a happy culture. A happy culture is a prosperous culture.” – Pastor MG