TELLING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS

“As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with Him. But Jesus said, ‘No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been.’ So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.”  (Mark 5:18-20 NLT)

The healed man was called simply to say what he knew from his own experience. The man immediately did what he was told and influenced ten cities. Now that’s witnessing!

You don’t have to be highly trained to be effective, but you do have to be saved and excited about it. Sadly, the farther people progress from their initial commitment to Christ, the less they communicate the joy of salvation to those who know little about it. As they grow spiritually, they tend to spend more time in a Christian environment and less time among those who do not know the Lord. This isolation may be conducive to their own spiritual “sanctity,” but it does nothing for their calling to be witnesses.

A wise believer learns how to maintain a balance between being “rooted and grounded” in the fellowship of the Lord and His people, and “branching out” to those who need to know. The Lord may send us away from our fellowship experiences, as He did the healed man, in order to send us out to the “towns” within our sphere of influence. Yet, strangely enough, the more matured a believer becomes the more reluctant they may be to do it. That’s why we need to keep learning from those in our midst whose enthusiasm is contagious and whose love for the Lord and people is palpable. 

-- Stuart Briscoe in “Daily Study Bible for Men” 

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LET’S DO THIS TOGETHER

There are communal and public dimensions of the spiritual life that must be experienced and without which the soul is impoverished. David knew this, and accordingly he exhorted his friends, “Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness, let us exalt His name together.”  (Psalm 34:3)

There is a delightful naturalness about this exuberant invitation. When we are excited about something, we spontaneously want to share it. “Did you see that?” we ask those sitting around us at the ball game as an athlete shows extraordinary skills. Of course they saw it. We know they did, we just want to share the excitement. “Have you seen the latest movie?” we inquire. Why? Because we enjoyed it and our enjoyment is not complete until it is shared. So it was with David’s experience of the Lord. He was so excited that his excitement needed to be shared and thus multiplied. In effect David was saying, “Let’s do this together, and in so doing let us intensify the joy and multiply the blessing!” 

-- Adapted from Stuart Briscoe in “Daily Study Bible for Men”

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LEADERS FILLED WITH ENTHUSIASM – Part 2

Effective leaders’ hearts are filled to overflowing with contagious enthusiasm, which reveals their excitement toward, and commitment to, what needs to be accomplished. Enthusiasm builds enthusiasm in others and creates positive interaction…

An effective leader knows that enthusiasm can’t be faked. Phony enthusiasm is negative and de-motivates workers. The source of real enthusiasm is Jesus Christ. A Greek word for enthusiasm is en-theos, which means being full of God. When a leader is filled with God, he or she is full of authentic enthusiasm.

A Bible verse that fuels enthusiasm is “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV) 

-- Walt Kallestad in “The Everyday, Anytime Guide to Christian Leadership”

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LEADERS FILLED WITH ENTHUSIASM – Part 1

“Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men.”  (Colossians 3:23 HCSB)

The Buffalo Bills were playing the Houston Oilers in the first round of the Superbowl playoffs [in 1992] without their star quarterback, who was injured. By the end of the first half, the Bills were losing 35-3. But football history was about to be made.

In the second half, Frank Reich, the Bill’s backup quarterback, energized himself and the team with enthusiasm, and passed for four touchdowns. The Bills won in overtime 41-38. [At the time] it was called the greatest comeback in the history of the National Football League. The key to victory was Reich’s enthusiastic inspiration.

Effective leaders have learned that their own enthusiasm sets off in other people a chain of enthusiastic participation. Enthusiasm lights a fire under the soul, creates energy, relieves boredom, and helps us work with our whole heart. 

-- Walt Kallestad in “The Everyday, Anytime Guide to Christian Leadership”

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THE FIRES OF ENTHUSIASM

“As servants of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do,...”  (Ephesians 6:6b-8a)

Vince Lombardi, legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers, once told his players, "If you are not fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired -- with enthusiasm!" Nothing of substance can be accomplished without enthusiasm…

In the community of believers, people are motivated in different ways. It is a challenge for leadership to know how to kindle enthusiasm and maintain it… Wise leaders know how to keep the fires of enthusiasm burning while avoiding burning people out with exhaustion.

-- Stuart Briscoe in “Daily Study Bible for Men” 

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VISIONARY PLANS

"Where there is no vision, the people perish…" (Proverbs 29:18 KJV)

Vision. It is essential for survival. It is spawned by hope, sparked by imagination and strengthened by enthusiasm. It is greater than sight, deeper than a dream, broader than an idea. Vision encompasses vast vistas outside the realm of the predictable, the safe, the expected. No wonder we perish without it!

Ask God to stretch your vision today… to encourage you with visionary plans as you walk in His presence. 

-- Charles Swindoll in “A Quest for Character”

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CONTAGIOUS ENTHUSIASM

The day started out rotten. I overslept and was late for work. Everything that happened at the office contributed to my nervous frenzy. By the time I reached the bus stop for my homeward trip, my stomach was one big knot.

As usual, the bus was late -- and jammed. I had to stand in the aisle. As the lurching vehicle pulled me in all directions, my gloom deepened.

Then I heard a deep voice from up front boom, "Beautiful day, isn't it?" Because of the crowd I could not see the man, but I could hear him as he continued to comment on the fall colors, calling attention to each approaching landmark. This church. That park. This cemetery. That firehouse. Soon all the passengers were gazing out the windows. The man's enthusiasm was so contagious I found myself smiling for the first time that day.

We reached my stop. Maneuvering toward the door, I got a look at our "guide": a plump figure with a black beard, wearing dark sunglasses and carrying a thin white cane. Incredible! He was blind!

I slipped off the bus and, suddenly, all my built-up tensions drained away. God in His wisdom had sent a blind man to help me see -- see that, though there are times when things go wrong, when all seems dark and dreary, it is still a beautiful world. Humming a tune, I raced up the steps to my apartment. I couldn't wait to greet my husband with "Beautiful day, isn't it?"

-- Unknown, quoted by Barbara Johnson in So, Stick a Geranium in Your Hat and Be Happy!

 
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