The Six Benefits of Listening to the Lord!

Posted on July 9, 2020 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

“If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! Those who hate the Lordwould cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” (Psalm 81:13–16, NIV)

Asaph, the Psalmist, told the people of God that to listen to Him meant that they would FOLLOW the Lord’s ways. When they followed His ways, Asaph declared there were six benefits …

  • The Lord would subdue all their enemies (14)
  • The Lord would turn His hand against all their foes (14)
  • The Lord would cause those who hate Him to cringe before Him (15)
  • The Lord would punish their enemies forever (15)
  • The Lord would feed His people with the finest of wheat (16)
  • And the Lord would satisfy them with honey from the rock (16)

Since the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever, think of how His character never changes. this, then, is a great diagnostic passage for you and I then.

  • Are we really listening to the Lord?
  • Are we really paying attention to what He’s saying to us?

The answer is very simple to discover. According to Asaph, all we have to do is look for these six benefits in our personal lives.

May God subdue all your enemy and bless you with the abundance of His hand as you truly follow Him by obeying what He says and submitting to His plans for your life (Psalm 81.11-12).

What do you say?

Share your thoughts in the comments below … 

Posted in christian life, Discipleship, faith, Leadership Blog | 2 Comments

Hope For Today #160 – Making God’s Expansion Plans Our Top Priority!

Posted on July 5, 2020 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

There’s nothing better than going out to the garden and bringing in a basket of tomatoes, pulling some carrots, or bringing in some green peppers. Enjoying the fruit of one’s labor is what life is all about.

Hi there, I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today about the fact that we will have to make God’s expansion plans our top priority if we want to be effective and successful in this life!

Check out the podcast and listen by clicking the link below.

Hope For Today is a part of the ministry of Eagles In Leadership. If you would like to know more about the hope God gives and His abundant life through Jesus Christ, I would invite you to check out our website: EaglesInLeadership.org.

Just push the media button below to hear this encouraging message!

We are so excited about what God will do with us in 2020 – Our Year of Expansion!  We want to include YOU in that EXPANSION!

We hope you’ll consider going to Israel with the Eagles In Leadership! In early December of this year, we will be leading a tour throughout Israel! You have ALWAYS wanted to “walk where Jesus walked!” THIS is your opportunity! Just click the tab, Israel Tours, on the Eagles in leadership website for more details and a registration form.

And, if you are so inclined, sign up for more encouragement through notifications (Scroll to the bottom of any post and signup there!) of other blogs and podcasts while you are at the Eagles in leadership website.
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Hope For Today – God’s Expansion Plans As We Start Afresh!

Posted on June 28, 2020 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

As I asked people what they did when the lockdown was released, it was interesting to hear their responses. I was looking for the big plans that they had hoped and dreamed about. Most of the people responded about enjoying being back together with family, going to their favorite restaurant, and very ordinary things.

But God has left us alive for a bigger purpose, a grander mission, the one he gave us at the beginning of the year!

Hi there, I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today about the fact that as we start afresh on His expansion plans for our lives, God will outline our mission directives clearly and precisely!

 

Check out the podcast and listen by clicking the link below.

Hope For Today is a part of the ministry of Eagles In Leadership. If you would like to know more about the hope God gives and His abundant life through Jesus Christ, I would invite you to check out our website: EaglesInLeadership.org.

Just push the media button below to hear this encouraging message!

We are so excited about what God will do with us in 2020 – Our Year of Expansion!  We want to include YOU in that EXPANSION!

We hope you’ll consider going to Israel with the Eagles In Leadership! In early December of this year, we will be leading a tour throughout Israel! You have ALWAYS wanted to “walk where Jesus walked!” THIS is your opportunity! Just click the tab, Israel Tours, on the Eagles in leadership website for more details and a registration form.

  • And if you are ordained clergy and would like to go to Israel AT AN AMAZINGLY LOW PRICE THIS FALL, take a moment and go to our website – Eagles In Leadership .org– and message us concerning a ridiculously low price for an Israel tour!
And, if you are so inclined, sign up for more encouragement through notifications (Scroll to the bottom of any post and signup there!) of other blogs and podcasts while you are at the Eagles in leadership website.

 

 

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Eagles In Leadership Starts Radio Program in East Africa!

Posted on June 23, 2020 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

We are pleased to announce that Doc will be featured on the Born Word Radio Station, based in Kampala, Uganda, every Thursday and Friday evenings from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm time Thursday and Friday EAT (East Africa Time).

Eagles In Leadership was invited to the radio station earlier this month and Doc’s teachings will be featured there each week.

You can listen using this link: bornwordradio.caster.fm

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Hope For Today – His Expansion Plans Begin Afresh!

Posted on June 21, 2020 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Like a new calendar at the beginning of the year, there is something that stirs my heart when everything begins new.  One of the things that I love the most is when God gives a fresh word for a new season in my life!

Hi there, I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today about the fact that once God remembers us in the midst of our raging storm, His expansion plans for our lives will begin afresh!

 

Check out the podcast and listen by clicking the link below.

Hope For Today is a part of the ministry of Eagles In Leadership. If you would like to know more about the hope God gives and His abundant life through Jesus Christ, I would invite you to check out our website: EaglesInLeadership.org.

Just push the media button below to hear this encouraging message!

We are so excited about what God will do with us in 2020 – Our Year of Expansion!  We want to include YOU in that EXPANSION!

We hope you’ll consider going to Israel with the Eagles In Leadership! In early December of this year, we will be leading a tour throughout Israel! You have ALWAYS wanted to “walk where Jesus walked!” THIS is your opportunity! Just click the tab, Israel Tours, on the Eagles in leadership website for more details and a registration form.

And if you are ordained clergy and would like to go to Israel AT AN AMAZINGLY LOW PRICE THIS FALL, take a moment and go to our website – Eagles In Leadership .org– and message us concerning a ridiculously low price for an Israel tour!

And, if you are so inclined, sign up for more encouragement through notifications (Scroll to the bottom of any post and signup there!) of other blogs and podcasts while you are at the Eagles in leadership website.

 

 

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Peace and Quiet Lives!

Posted on June 16, 2020 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith
Isaiah 32:17 tells us that peace, quietness, and assurance are the effects of right living!

We all know that life is busy and hectic, and often we are swallowed up in it. However, there re many people who simply have no peace, no quiet and now assurance.

I remember one time some years back that one of the elders of my new church was walking through our home in our open house and he kept looking around and finally said, “There is so much peace in this house! Why is there so much peace in this house?”

Of course, he was testifying as the to opposite condition in his home. But I was surprised. I thought everyone enjoyed what we had. Yet, the reality is that they don’t.

So why do so few followers of Jesus have these in their lives?
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Preaching Without Accountability to a Righteous Lifestyle

Posted on June 15, 2020 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith
Isaiah 30:8-11 clearly shows us in the 21st Century that the rebellious children of Yahweh have always wanted pleasant preaching without accountability to a righteous lifestyle.

The question is, “Is that what I want?” If it is, I am rebellious!

These are strong words, but you can read the text for yourself and see …

“Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and note it in a book, that it may serve in the time to come as a witness forever;

  • for this is a rebellious people, 
  • lying children,
  • children who refuse to listen to the law of the Lord;
  • they say to the seers, “You must not see visions,”
  • and to the prophets, “You must not prophesy to us right things;
  • speak to us pleasant things,
  • prophesy illusions.
  • Get out of the way, turn aside from the path, let us hear no more about the Holy One of Israel.”” (Isaiah 30:8–11, MEV)
So, what are your thoughts?
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Hope For Today – God’s Expansion Plans Are About Thriving!

Posted on June 14, 2020 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Like in a hurricane or an earthquake, when everything around us is shaking and spinning and tearing apart, fear can grip us and terrorize us.  How we handle storms, like the global pandemic, reveals more about us, and our relationship with God, than we could have ever imagined

Hi there, I’m Dr. Matthew Lee Smith and I want to share some Hope For Today about the fact that even when our path seems unreal and without precedence, God can provide supernatural hope and help to accomplish the expansion plans He has given us.

 

Check out the podcast and listen by clicking the link below.

Hope For Today is a part of the ministry of Eagles In Leadership. If you would like to know more about the hope God gives and His abundant life through Jesus Christ, I would invite you to check out our website: EaglesInLeadership.org.

Just push the media button below to hear this encouraging message!

We are so excited about what God will do with us in 2020 – Our Year of Expansion!  We want to include YOU in that EXPANSION!

We hope you’ll consider going to Israel with the Eagles In Leadership! In early December of this year, we will be leading a tour throughout Israel! You have ALWAYS wanted to “walk where Jesus walked!” THIS is your opportunity! Just click the tab, Israel Tours, on the Eagles in leadership website for more details and a registration form.

And if you are ordained clergy and would like to go to Israel AT AN AMAZINGLY LOW PRICE THIS FALL, take a moment and go to our website – Eagles In Leadership .org– and message us concerning a ridiculously low price for an Israel tour!

And, if you are so inclined, sign up for more encouragement through notifications (Scroll to the bottom of any post and signup there!) of other blogs and podcasts while you are at the Eagles in leadership website.

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Is Your Praise and Worship Rocking The House?

Posted on June 12, 2020 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

Its very obvious that the Praise of Yahweh Rocked the Eternal Throne Room in Isaiah 6:1-4!

So, what about in our Houses of Worship?

For all too long we have been told to worship in quiet. As a pastor, I have been excoriated by members who don’t like the style, don’t like the energy, don’t like the volume … and who ALLOWED those drums and guitars on the platform?

I’m not advocating for loud worship all the time or for no reason. However, I am advocating for the removal of lifeless worship and the replacement with worship that stirs and is passionate and VOCAL!

Yes, read the text …

“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.

Above it stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

One cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

THE POSTS OF THE DOOR MOVED AT THE VOICE OF HIM WHO CRIED,, and the house was filled with smoke.” (Isaiah 6:1–4, MEV)

Now, we know this is just the PRAISE part of the worship! Imagine what happens when the music starts!

What are your thoughts?
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Is Our Joy Making Enough Noise?

Posted on June 11, 2020 by Dr. Matthew Lee Smith

When was the last time people OUTSIDE our building could hear the sound of our rejoicing far away WITHOUT AMPLIFICATION?

“And on that day they offered great sacrifices,
REJOICING because God had given them GREAT JOY.
The women and children also rejoiced.
THE SOUND OF REJOICING in Jerusalem COULD BE HEARD FAR AWAY.”
(Nehemiah 12:43, NIV)

What do you say?
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