Grace Community Church

Managing Discontent

*The article below is was written/taught by Pastor Wayne Cordeiro at New Hope O'ahu for the School of Church Planters Class. (Notes transcribed by Trevor L Drinen)

Though out life we will need to be corrected, but we also have to develop an internal system to monitor our growth so we can correct ourselves.

            •           Privilege and Discontent

God gives us a great privilege and after a period of time - the privilege becomes an expectation.

When the expectation is not met, it turns into discontent.

Example:

We are hired / brought on staff, because someone believed in us. Someone gave us a privilege to work.  After a while, we get bothered by what we don't receive. A sense of discontent settles into and it's not because of anything that is justified, but because of something that is perceived - a perceived injustice.

Two basic types of offenses: 1) Perceived injustice.  2) Pure injustice.

Discontent will happen in life. It may be based on a pure injustice; however, a lot of it may be based on perceived in justice.

Usually, we will not be able to tell the difference between a perceived injustice — which is not a true injustice — or a pure injustice, which is the reality - at first.

Know they are both every bit as destructive, septic and toxic.

So, how does one manage discontent?
            •           Resilience and Complaint

Complain. We deal with it like a steam vent, letting it out a little bit.

1 Cor. 10:10 reads, “Nor grumble [complain] as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer."

When we complain to others, we cause their discontent to rise. They start to shoulder another’s offense.

Warning: Discontent can destroy a whole church because the level of discontent is managed wrong!

Individually you will come to the limits of your tolerance and you will find yourself unable to function - manage discontent.

How?

Starting place: "Cry out to God"

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit” -Ps. 51:10-12.

The psalmist says create a willing spirit, not a spirit of discontent, because we can be fueled by discontent. If we remove discontent incorrectly, it will come out in offense and bitterness.

Warning: Offense and bitterness are like drinking poison and excepting it to harm someone else.  

We take offense and bitterness with us though the wounds they create; unless, we learn to deal with discontent correctly.

How does this affect us?
            •           The Joy Factor

Neh 8:10 reads, “… the joy of the Lord is your strength."

How we handle trials is important because it is interconnected with our joy.

Solution?

            •           Biblical Resolution

Make time to pray daily.

Why?

Prayer shines a light on our discontent. It will distinguish what is perceived and what is real.

What happen then?

When discontent drops, our joy level increases.

So, what does prayer add / subtract?

Prayer is critical — not only does it bring honesty, it brings discernment. We can discern truth from error.

Here's where courage steps in

            •           Courage
Courage to reach resolution.

1st - Courage to allow God's Spirit to shine His light so that we are transparent (able to be honest with ourselves).

Transparency comes through prayer.

And then learning to appeal to those in authority or someone who can speak into our life.


Another thing needed to reach resolution is:
            •           Love

What?

Love what God is doing in our lives.

Love the good and the challenges - this stances allow us to be motivated and courageous enough to deal with things at hand.

Conclusion:
Somebody has to speak into our life and we have to be open. Then, and only then, will we understand courage and the love that constrains us. We will be able to manage discontent and increase the joy of the Lord.

By Pastor Wayne Cordeiro - New Hope Christian Fellowship

Living with Purpose

Living with Purpose
*The article below is was complied from notes / oral lesson with Commander Joe Keller at New Hope O'ahu. (Notes transcribed by Trevor L Drinen) (Primary reference source: FranklinCovey)
For years, I have made “to do” lists. They have kept me on target and I’ve saved hundreds of unplanned dollars. Ever gone shopping without one? The most devastating combination is … shopping at a grocery store while being hungry!

Life at its best has to be lived purposely.

Yes, that means planning something that seems seems so unpopular and even unspiritual!

But we are probably never closer to His image then when we live with purpose!

If God planned salvation before time even began, the least we can do is plan out our day!

Proverbs 16:9
The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

1. "to do's" & "not to do's"

When spare time is limited.

You have to put aside certain activities

Example:
"not-to-do" list
1. watching late night television.
2. watching early morning news.
3. late night snack: coffee / ice cream.

Not-to-do list help people not to get distracted and also assist with you living more purposely.

?What is your “not-to-do” list?

2. Learn to say “no”
Your daily choices will actually increase in value by saying, "no" to distractions.

This enables you to say, "yes" when it matters.

Build a “not-to-do” list. It will help you to live purposely.

And learn to say “no,” your “yes” becomes far more powerful.

The Gift of Listening

Sub-title: Individual's Often Speak In Modern Parable's

*The article below is was written/taught by Kiha Pimental at New Hope O'ahu for the School of Church Planters Class. (Notes transcribed by Trevor L Drinen)

Develop Listening

Listening doesn’t come as standard equipment. It’s got to be developed. We don’t always go to classes that teach us how to listen correctly. It’s got to be developed, and it can get dulled if we don’t keep it clean and distinct. The Bible not only tells us of not having ears, but also having ears that hear.

“So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him” (Luke 8:18).

He is saying that much of the abundance of your life, the fruit of success, your innovation and your ability to work with people will be determined by how you listen. God gave us two ears and only one mouth to remind us that we should listen twice as much as we speak. It’s how we listen, because often, we listen selectively, don’t we? God says to take care how you listen, because if you have wrong things inside, you’re going to hear wrong things from the outside.

We can have ears and not hear correctly. Or, the things that should be obvious are not. A lot of times, things will come to us, but not in the way we want to hear them. They will be couched, they’ll be silent and we have to be able to hear the message coming through.

Develop the Gift of “Ears That Hear”

1) Ask God for His Help

Start learning to listen by going God-ward—listening to God—because God is going to teach us how to listen to Him. Then, we’ll be able to sense the hurts and hear what’s going on through people and with people.

“Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law” (Psalm 119:18).

Behold wonderful things from the law of God, the Bible. He is saying that one of the best prayers to pray when you open the Bible is, “Lord, open my eyes. I need Your help so that I can hear what You’re saying and see what You’re saying.”

2) Look to Get to Know Jesus

As you read the Bible, you get to know more and more about the heart of God, the heart of Jesus.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about me” (John 5:39).

They more you get to know someone, if you hear something that doesn’t sound right because of the context of their heart, you’re able to interpret them correctly. If you don’t know somebody, it’s so easy to go off, wars take place, and you misinterpret and miscommunicate. The Lord is saying, “If you know My heart and you read a Scripture that’s a little tough to understand, you won’t come to some weird conclusion because you know My heart.”

3) Live Differently Because of What You Hear

This means that what God says starts to show results in our lives and starts to work its way into the very fabric of that which we are and our personalities start to change, little by little. In other words, God is changing us from glory to glory to His image. That’s the first hint that we’re starting to learn to become good listeners — when we start to live differently because of what we hear and what God has been saying as we sit at His feet.

Becoming a Leader at Home

*The article below is was written/taught by Pastor Wayne Cordeiro at New Hope O'ahu for the School of Church Planters Class. (Notes transcribed by Trevor L Drinen)

Timothy was one of the converts that came to know the Lord under Paul’s ministry. Timothy became not only a strong Christian, but he eventually became a pastor.

Timothy must have written to Paul one day and asked, “Paul, if someone wants to be a leader in the church, what do you have to do? What are the prerequisites of Church leadership?”

Paul responded to Timothy in a letter, the first of two that became known as “First and Second Timothy.” Here was Paul’s answer:

“It is a great trustworthy statement: if any man [or woman] aspires to the office of an overseer [or a leader] it is a fine work he desires to do. A [leader,] then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or [a fighter], but gentle, uncontentious and free from the love of money” (1 Tim. 3:1-3).

Paul said that one of the most important prerequisites for a leader happens before ministry in the Church ever gets started. It must first happen in the home.

Helping Everyone But Family

Howard Hendricks has written a book called Heaven Help the Home. It says:

“The chief job of the home is conceived by God. It is to train family members to live fruitfully in their home, in the church and in their community. If someone cannot function in his own home, he has forfeited the privilege of leadership in the church.”

That’s an excellent assessment: if a person cannot function in his own home, then he has forfeited the privilege of leadership in his church. It just makes sense!

Here are three building blocks to becoming a leader in your home:

1. I am developing wisdom

One of the building blocks in becoming a leader—whether in business or in your home—is wisdom.

“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding, it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches” (Prov. 24:3).

The Lord tells us it is by wisdom that a house is built. That’s clear; we all desire wisdom. But how do we go about instilling that in our homes?

There are step-by-step phases every leader must be sure are taken in their home. Each of these will help to build wisdom.

Phase One: Learning Right from Wrong

The Bible says that the Spirit of God is changing me “from glory to glory into His image by the Holy Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18). So the Holy Spirit’s ministry is to change you and me into His image. However, when I compromise God’s Word and cannot figure out what is right and wrong, then I have actually put the Holy Spirit’s ministry in my life on hold.

This is the first phase to establish in our own lives and in our homes. Once your home is clear on what is right and what is wrong, you’re prepared to understand the next necessary stage of wisdom.

Phase Two: Know What is Wise and Unwise

It is no longer an issue of whether it is right or wrong. In leadership, we must graduate from that to stage two. And the key to success is to be able to discern this: is it wise or is it unwise?

There are many things you can do in your leadership, but the true test of my leadership is whether I’m making wise decisions.

2. I have prioritized my relationship with my spouse

One of your most important relationships on this earth, if you are married, is your relationship with your spouse. There is no other that is more important.

It is a wise leader in the home that will not even joke about divorce. It’s not even in your vocabulary, plain and simple. I am encouraging each of you to cut the word “divorce” out of your life as well. It’s not even something you want to talk about.

When you get married and say “I do,” you are accepting the whole person. That’s quite a commitment! Yet, so many people jump into that commitment without even considering that. Soon, they find out the other person’s weaknesses and they realize they are in no way able to withstand and support them through it or work it through.

A word of encouragement to parents: As you show your children that you are willing to submit to God’s Word and pray for your spouse, your children will begin to see that people change. Do not change the marriage contract. Change the people that are involved in the marriage contract! And then you will begin to see God’s blessings in your life.

3. I am learning stewardship in my money

“He who is faithful in the very little thing is faithful also in much. If therefore you have not been faithful in the use [or stewardship] of unrighteousness mammon [or money], who will entrust the true riches to you?” (Luke 16:10-11).

Did you know that the way you handle your money is a way to determine if God can give you true spiritual riches? It is a testing ground … kind of like a boot camp.

So when does your faithfulness begin? When you get the “much?” No! God’s principle is that faithfulness begins when you have very little.

When does God say you are ready for true spiritual riches? You are ready when you show god that you are faithful in the use of finances.

My suggestion for those who want to steward finances well is to get help. Go to financial seminars. It’s surprising how many people who have struggles with money never ask for help in that area.

Finance, family and wisdom — these three are so important in becoming a leader at home, your first ministry. And as you establish a sure, strong foundation there, your reach in ministry will go much further into the world. But it all starts in the home … succeed there and you can succeed anywhere.