Rebuilding Confidence - The Path of Discipleship

 

A few weeks ago I had some extra time at the end of my work day so I decided to watch a few training videos about leading difficult people, building confidence in people and convincing others to follow your lead that you do not have any authority over in a team environment.

The segment that stuck with me, and that The Lord really stirred me to take notes on was: Levels of Confidence.

As I listened to the speaker teach it was very clear that what he was laying out was not only a template to train employees, but unknown to him I imagine, the way The Lord raises up His people and trains up His leaders.

Even deeper for me, I saw a path to freedom for those struggling with addiction, obsessions, abandonment, pain, the list could go on and on. I saw a safe road, escorted by loving and mature believers , where many people could be led safely to freedom

What I was seeing is The Path of Discipleship. What I was seeing is what is demonstrated in The life of Moses, Joseph, Paul, Peter, Mark, Timothy and really just about ever major leader servant in The Word.

As I list these , I want you to really think about each step. Each step is so important in order to move to the next step. Each step requires a mentor, a guide, a teacher to help those on the path, stay on the path. I ask that you pray for a few minutes before and ask The Holy Spirit to show you how you can either start on this path or start leading others on this path.

If you are a Pastor, or a councilor, ask The Lord if this may be a template for discipleship or counseling that He wants you to build a form and function around.

The key aspect to this, that The Lord spoke to me heart about, is the fact that this is a guided journey, with loving, caring, dedicated teachers and guides. Shepherds that are truly dedicated to discipleship. Shepherds that care more for the sheep that their own lives and comfort.

(My thoughts on each step will be in parenthesis) 

Shepherds like Jesus

Confidence Levels:

1. Confidence To Try:

    

      Goal is not necessarily to succeed, BUT TO TRY.

(This is quite possibly the most important step. We need to encourage people that freedom is possible, even guaranteed if they will just take the first step and start the journey with us, and not quit. Draw them from the place of fear and isolation into a place of trust and action.)

2. Confidence To Learn:

  The goal here is to learn and PROGRESS IN GROWTH:

( Line upon line, precept upon precept. Brick upon brick. Confidence not only to learn, but to be okay with the process of growth. To be given grace and mercy to trip, fall, mess up and get frustrated, with no condemnation or retaliation in the least bit. They are on an exciting and at times perilous journey, if they don't quit, they will make it.)

3. Confidence To Do:

  Based on competence and consistently doing.

   (Important transition step. Still learning, still slipping a bit, now it is time TO DO. Depending on the environment of the process whether training up disciples in a church or counselling somebody to break free from chains, many times they go hand and hand, the people need to start doing something to exercise their newly learned talents,abilities, gifts or freedom. This will be more institution based, competence based, but still a safe place to start doing, moving, exercising.)

4. Confidence To Teach

  Mastery, They now have the confidence to teach and lead others.

(This is the goal of Discipleship and Counseling, to raise a person up to the point that they can use all they have experienced and learned to lead others, mentor others, encourage others to take the first step to freedom and a life in the service of The Lord.)

Recap-

1. Confidence To Try:

    

      Goal is not necessarily to succeed, BUT TO TRY.

2. Confidence To Learn:

  The goal here is to learn and PROGRESS IN GROWTH:

3. Confidence To Do:

  Based on competence and consistently doing.

4. Confidence To Teach

  Mastery, They now have the confidence to teach and lead others.

Let The Called Our Ones Arise!!!

Words cant express the groaning of my heart. It seems there is none that understands, none that truly want to help. Some will see this as a complaint, some will see this as whining, but they would be,have been, so wrong.

I know what The Lord has put in me. I know that part of the right team, in the right atmosphere, we will be able to do amazing things and the joy in me will be as un-expressible by words as the groaning is now.

Sometimes people do not understand the pain they inflict when they ignore an email, disregard a text. Maybe they feel as if they are excused from the basic elements of covenant relationship. So tied up by protocol and the rules they put in place they don't even consider the personal lives and families that their man made , not spirit led, decisions have impacted.

So, for all who have felt this way. For all those in debt, for all those in mourning, for all those cast to the side.......

1 Samuel 22:1-2  (NLT)

David at the Cave of Adullam

22 So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there.

2 Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.

THE LORD SAYS: WELCOME TO THE CAVE OF ADULLAM!!!

I believe The LORD is making places for Ministers of THE LORD, who have been called by God, but discounted by man.

I believe He is making place to EMPLOY and DEPLOY them into place HE NEEDS them. Fret not my brothers. My God is about to make you one of HIS MIGHTY MEN!! Let the comfortable rest protected in their palaces and stay safe behind their protocols and walls.

You know you are called. You have known since you were young, but no door has opened , no place has been found for you to rest your head. Fret not, You King Is Calling!

I do not know how. I do not know when. I do not know the way He will open. But, He shall open the way!

1 Chronicles 11:10-37 New Living Translation (NLT)

David’s Mightiest Warriors

10 These are the leaders of David’s mighty warriors. Together with all Israel, they decided to make David their king, just as the Lord had promised concerning Israel.

11 Here is the record of David’s mightiest warriors: The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle.

12 Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. 13 He was with David when the Philistines gathered for battle at Pas-dammim and attacked the Israelites in a field full of barley. The Israelite army fled, 14 but Eleazar and David held their ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord saved them by giving them a great victory.

15 Once when David was at the rock near the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. 16 David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.

17 David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But David refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. 19 “God forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.

David’s Thirty Mighty Men

20 Abishai, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty. He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three. 21 Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.

22 There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. 23 Once, armed only with a club, he killed an Egyptian warrior who was 7 1⁄2 feet tall and who was armed with a spear as thick as a weaver’s beam. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it. 24 Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the three mightiest warriors. 25 He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard.

26 David’s mighty warriors also included:

Asahel, Joab’s brother;
Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem;

27 Shammah from Harod;
Helez from Pelon;

28 Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa;
Abiezer from Anathoth;

29 Sibbecai from Hushah;
Zalmon from Ahoah;

30 Maharai from Netophah;
Heled son of Baanah from Netophah;

31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah (in the land of Benjamin);
Benaiah from Pirathon;

32 Hurai from near Nahale-gaash;
Abi-albon from Arabah;

33 Azmaveth from Bahurim;
Eliahba from Shaalbon;

34 the sons of Jashen from Gizon;
Jonathan son of Shagee from Harar;

35 Ahiam son of Sharar from Harar;
Eliphal son of Ur;

36Hepher from Mekerah;
Ahijah from Pelon;

37 Hezro from Carmel;
Paarai son of Ezbai;