The Three Vocational Attributes And Expected Behaviors Of Authentically Born-Again Christians

Ok so as I was moving through this message, I could see that there wasn’t enough paper in a small forest to document all of the things that I wanted to share about us Christians manifesting the traits of soldiers, athletes, and farmers. Oh, I know I could do one message per discipline batch, but I think it would lose something in the splitting up of these disciplines. So, what that means is that I will be referencing a lot of scriptures by their verse but not placing the actual scripture within this message. No problem though because you can and actually should be jotting them down as you move through the message so that you really get into the deep water. Yes, it is a shameless plug for the podcast, but also a truth. You can see how this works in Ezekiel (Ezek 47:3-5). All right here we go:

Matt 9:35-37 - 35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

Look at what Jesus, that is our King and Priest was doing while His disciples were with Him. They were probably helping but I imagine the spiritual and ministerial workload was phenomenal considering the newness of Jesus ministry and the absence of anything in the way of schools or churches that could assist in equipping the new harvest and making disciples. And I say that, assuming that, if those institutions miraculously appeared that they would actually be assisting in making disciples which is not so much the common case in today’s world. I also say that considering how little we focus on equipping and making disciples today. Disciples, so that you have a more current or accurate understanding of the word, is to develop life-learners. A thing that is most rare in these days even though we have the educational institutions that we have. It would seem that they reproduce parrots more than they do life-learners, but this is not that so I get back to the other.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:14

Hello, this is Ken Your Podcast Preacher. Welcome back to my podcast, Deep Waters. This podcast is brought to you by Applied Strengths Ministry, where we believe working together on our strengths is the effect of working out the will and calling of God in and through our lives. Thanks for joining me. Let's open up in prayer. Blessed be the God and Father of your Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as he chose you and him before the foundation of the world, that you should be holy and without blame before him in love, having predestined you to adoption as a Son or daughter by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, which He purposed in Himself, to the praise of the glory of His grace, and which He made you accepted in the beloved. In Him ye have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound towards you in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to you the mystery of His will, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times, He might gather together, in one, all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth in Him. I ask that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, and knowledge of the mystery of Him. Add to the deepest knowledge of Him that you are willing and able to receive, that the eyes of your understanding would be open wider, and that you would be enlightened to who he is, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in you, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power towards you, who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, that he would grant that you would be strengthened with might through his spirit in the inner man, hidden through your spirit and heart, and that you would be able to stand against your flesh, this world, and the devil, in and through any and all temptations. I pray that your love may abound more and more in all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense until the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ of the glory and praise of God. I ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will and all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, being fruitful in every good work, strengthen with all might, according to his glorious power, in all patience and long-suffering with joy. Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints who walk in the light. I pray that your hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love and unity, and that you would attain to all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which is given to each of my listeners by Christ Jesus, that you are enriched in everything by him, in all utterance and all knowledge, so that you do not come short in obtaining or operating in your calling and purpose, nor in using any spiritual gifts or talents, eagerly waiting for the continued revelation of our Lord Jesus, who will confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the near coming day of our Lord. God is faithful by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus. Okay, so now therefore, my sisters and brothers in Christ, when things get tough, think about whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and whatever things are of a good report. If there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things alone. I pray that in these very days that you would let your love be without hypocrisy, hate and loathe what is evil, cling to what is good and righteous, be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another, not lagging in diligence, fervent and fully engulfed in spiritual fire, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, walking in the peace of God, patient in tribulation, continually steadfast in prayer, distributing to the needs of the saints, that is each other, and that you would be given the hospitality. May the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like minded towards one another, according to Christ Jesus, that we learn to be of one mind, in one accord, operating completely and fully in love and unity, always striving for the working out of God's specific will for each of our lives, while working in partnership with each other within the church and the Holy Spirit, as he manifests his miracle signs and wonders through the daily activities of our ministry and kingdom work, and while we also go out preaching the gospel and word and deed. Let us love and serve one another, our enemy, and those who wouldn't expect us to do so, considering each person better than ourselves. Bind up any words or thoughts that are contrary to the love of God, or which would set you back in your Christian walk. Step out in faith today and walk with God, being assured that nothing will separate you from him as long as you abide in him. Call those things that don't exist as though they do. Remember he that is in you is greater than he that is in the world. Be more than a conqueror today, submitting to the will of God in everything. Let each of us express uncompromising love towards one another in humility while maintaining a teachable spirit. I pray that God will give you the revelation within this message that He intends you to receive with the understanding. Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. The title of this message is The Three Vocational Attributes and Expected Behaviors of Authentically Born Again Christians. Okay, so as I was moving through this message, I could see that there wasn't enough paper in a small forest to document all of the things that I wanted to share about us Christians manifesting the traits of soldiers, athletes, and farmers. Ah, I know I could do one message per discipline batch, but I think it would lose something in the splitting up of these disciplines. So what that means is that I will be referencing a lot of scriptures by their verse, but not placing the actual scripture within the message. No problem though, because you can actually and should be jotting them down as you move through the message, so that you can really get into the deep water. Yes, it's a shameless plug for the podcast, but also the truth. You can see how this works in Ezekiel forty seven three five. Alright, here we go. Matthew nine, thirty five through thirty seven. Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is truly plentiful, but the laborers are few. Look at what Jesus, that is our king and priest, was doing while his disciples were with him. They were probably helping, but I imagine the spiritual and ministerial workload was phenomenal, considering the newness of Jesus' ministry and the absence of new anything in the ways of schools or churches that could assist in equipping the new harvest and making disciples. And I say that, assuming that if those institutions miraculously appeared, that they would actually be assisting in making disciples, which is not so much the common case in today's world. I also say that concerning how little we focus on equipping and making disciples today. Disciples, so that you have a more current or accurate understanding of the word is to develop life learners, a thing that is most rare in these days, even though we have the educational institutions that we have. It would seem that they reproduce parrots more than they do life learners. But this is not that, so I get back to the other. So Jesus stated the laborers are few, that is to say, the soldiers, the athletes, and the farmers, or the disciples that lack the attributes of soldiers, athletes, and farmers, are few who are available to help with such a great harvest. Think about God, that is Jesus saying such a thing, and imagine, if you will, the depth of that scripture. We are to make disciples or learners, and a few are called to equip the saints for the work of ministry Ephesians four, eleven through seventeen, and Matthew twenty eight, nineteen through twenty. Can we say these things another way? Yes, we are to recruit those in whom believe in the cause of Jesus in its entirety in order to train them to be life learners in the things of God, kingship, and but specifically in the things of spiritual warfare, priesthood, so that they can be a soldier who is trained as hard as an athlete does, who trains to be the top competitor, as well as to be a strategic thinker as a farmer, so that they end up with a proper crop in their harvest, which is ultimately to be revealed in eternity. Revelations one six, chapter five verse ten, and chapter twenty six, first Peter two nine, and Exodus nineteen six. Now let's talk about each of the three attributes expressed in that statement, which is the soldier, athlete, and the farmer, and see if I am just south wind of the truth or if I am hitting on an eternal truth, which should, in our life down here on earth, be manifestly present in and through the very life of every person who calls themselves a Christian. James one twenty two and chapter two verses fourteen through twenty six. I want to define in a general way what the great attributes of a soldier, athlete, and farmer are, according to Google, so that we have a baseline. This is strange. For example, when we think of a soldier that is in the natural, a soldier is a fierce fighting machine trained to eliminate a threat, many times and when necessary permanently. But we are not of the mindset of the crusaders of the eleventh and thirteenth century, are we? Whereby it is thought that they went about killing people who rejected Christ. Well, so did they? Yes, during the first crusade ten ninety six through ten ninety nine, crusaders killed thousands of Jews and Muslims, frequently offering the ultimatum of conversion to Christianity or death. While motivated by a desire to reclaim the Holy Land, many crusaders, particularly in Europe, viewed non Christians as enemies of Christ, leading to brutal massacres and forced conversions. Interesting that the Christianity of the days mirrored the radical Islamic behaviors, in which they did and do the same thing today. Since the days of Jesus we are to be soldiers made from a different caste, made from a different mantle, so that we pray for the lost, we preach to the lost, but we don't remove them from life, considering salvation as not a gift forced on anyone. Ephesians two, eight through nine. The Bible states we have weapons, but that they are not tangible like bullets and bombs, because, well, we are not fighting against other humans, but against a supernatural element that we cannot see, but when paying attention, we can see their manifestation by the acting out of those who reject God and have voluntarily made themselves a host to one of those invisible supernatural demons. Yes, we may as well just go there, as we already be there. Now but we understand that we are equipped, empowered, given authority to resist the devil and demons of this world. And but are we void upon our enlistment of the armor of God, weapons, and Bible? And tossed into the field ill equipped? Not in a church that clearly follows the leading of the Holy Spirit, and instead follows the culture of the day. In all three vocations, soldier, athlete, and farmer, we are to be equipped through the fivefold ministry, Ephesians four, eleven through sixteen, and in making disciples or life learners, Matthew twenty eight, nineteen through twenty. The soldier Second Timothy two, one through four. You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses. Commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. Philippians two twenty five. Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Ephroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need. Philemon one two to the beloved Aphelia, Archipus, our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house. Whoever goes to war at his own expense, who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit, or who tends to a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock. Okay, so we move on to define in a general way what the great attributes of a soldier are, according to Goul, so that we have a baseline of what this looks like. Great attributes of a soldier include unyielding loyalty, discipline, selfless service, and physical slash mental toughness centered around the core values of honor and integrity. They must possess resilience, adaptability in complex situations, and the ability to work effectively as part of a team, while maintaining courage under pressure, and a strong ethical dedication to their mission and comrades. I hear in that definition that they are to be emotionally mature and not spiritually wine babies, walking and thinking in the flesh. Galatians five, thirteen through eighteen, first Corinthians three, one through three, and Ephesians four, fifteen through sixteen. Key core values and character traits, loyalty and duty, bearing true faith to the Constitution, unit, and fellow soldiers while placing the mission first. I'm going to interrupt that definition with another definition. Loyalty in the Old Testament is primarily framed as covenant faithfulness in Hebrew, emphasizing steadfast devotion to God and to others. Key examples include God's promise to maintain loyalty to those who obey. Deuteronomy 9 7. Joshua was called to serve the Lord alone, Joshua 24, 15, and the loyal commitment of Ruth to Naomi. Key Old Testament themes and passages regarding loyalty, covenant loyalty. This represents God's steadfast love and faithfulness to his people, often despite their unfaithfulness. Jeremiah 9 24, Psalms 103, eleven through twelve. The Shema, loyalty to God alone. Deuteronomy six five calls for loving God with all one's heart, soul, and strength, which is interpreted as total loyalty. Human relationships and integrity. Proverbs three three advises never let your loyalty and kindness leave you, highlighting loyalty's connection to wisdom and character. Narrative examples Joshua twenty four fifteen, the challenge to choose whom you serve, emphasizing loyalty to God over idols. Ruth one sixteen through seventeen, a profound expression of human loyalty between Ruth and Naomi. Second Samuel fifteen twenty one. Hushai's pledge of allegiance to King David. Hosiah, the entire book illustrates God's loyalty to a disloyal Israel. Key Hebrew words for loyalty Hesed, steadfast love slash loyal love emphasizes active covenantal loyalty. Hemina, faithfulness slash firmness, emphasizes stability and reliability. Okay, so back to the definition of a soldier. Integrity and honor, acting with honesty, holding oneself to high ethical standards, and adhering to the soldier's creed. Selfless service, placing the needs of the unit and the nation above personal gain. Personal courage, overcoming fear to perform one's duty, including moral courage to do what's right Second Timothy one seven and Joshua one six through seven and verse nine. Operational and mental capabilities, discipline, consistently acting professionally, following orders, and maintaining high standards in training and daily life. Resilience and toughness, possessing both physical stamina and mental fortitude to withstand extreme stress and fatigue, adaptability, flexibility in thought and action, allowing them to excel in rapidly changing or dangerous environments, teamwork and communication, operating effectively within a team structure, relying on and supporting fellow soldiers, practical skills and attitudes, dedication and initiative, commitment to the mission, being a finisher, and taking initiative when required. This gets rid of the idea that church hopping is okay. Attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in tasks, which is critical for safety and operational success, and lifelong learning, being coachable, technically proficient, and eager to improve skills. These characteristics are often developed through military training, fostering a never quit attitude. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed. We are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed. We are like soldiers in that we are wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Matthew ten sixteen. You can perform a small study into how serpents are stealthy and act wise in their daily existence for a more fuller understanding of this scripture. We know how to armor up Ephesians six ten through eighteen. We know how to use the weapons of our warfare, second Corinthians ten, and we have spiritual gifts or weapons and ammo that reverse the effects of sin curses resting on this planet. The athlete Corinthians nine, twenty four through twenty seven. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run? But one receives the prize. Run in such a way that you may obtain it, and everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus, not with uncertainty. Thus I fight, not as one who beats the air, but I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, least, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. Second Timothy two five. You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses. Commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. And also, if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. twelve one through five. Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Yes, there will be some overlap between the characteristics of the soldier, athlete, and farmer, but that is because there is a lot of similar characteristics with these three, just like there is between Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Okay, so we move on to define in a general way what the great attributes of an athlete are, according to Google so that we have a baseline of what this looks like. World class athletes throughout history are defined by a combination of exceptional physical ability, intense mental fortitude, and a relentless, disciplined approach to their craft. Beyond raw talent, these individuals share common psychological and behavioral traits that enable them to dominate their sports and sustain success over long periods. Here are the key attributes of world class athletes categorized by domain mental toughness and psychology, resilience, the never say die attitude. Elite athletes view losses, injuries, and setbacks as learning experiences. They possess the ability to bounce back quickly, refusing to let failure define them, unwavering self confidence. They believe they will win, even in high pressure, unexpected situations. Jeremiah seventeen seven, Proverbs three twenty six, Hebrews ten thirty five, and Isaiah thirty fifteen. Okay, and so but I got to unfold this next confidence scripture whereby you can look up those I just included first John five fourteen. Now this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. Boys under stress, high performing athletes strive under pressure, using it as fuel rather than letting it paralyze them. Matthew six, twenty five through thirty four and Philippians four, six through seven. Okay, so but I cannot always restrain myself 'cause there are so many words that I want to define, so that we get to depth of what God is saying. So let's define the definition of perseverance. The Bible frequently commands perseverance, treating hard times as opportunities to build character, hope, and spiritual maturity. Key verses include James one, two through four, joy and trials, Romans five, three through five, suffering produces endurance, and Galatians six nine, not giving up. These passages encourage believers to hold on, promising reward and strength from God. Key biblical passages on perseverance James one two through four encourages joy and trials because the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Romans five, three through four explains that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope. Galatians six nine encourages not getting weary and doing good, promising a harvest if we do not give up. Hebrews twelve one through two tells believers to run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus. James one twelve states, Blessed is the one who perseveres. Under trial, they will receive the crown of life. And Second Corinthians four sixteen through eighteen encourages not losing heart, as temporary troubles achieve eternal glory. The purpose and encouragement, strength and weakness. Philippians four thirteen notes I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, endurance for salvation. Matthew ten twenty two says the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Dependence on God Psalms forty six one through two teaches that God is a refuge and a strength, a very present help in trouble. Not crushed. Second Corinthians four, eight through nine states that while we may be hard pressed on every side, we are not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair. Examples of perseverance in the Bible Job endured intense loss without losing faith. Paul endured persecution and suffering to finish his ministry. Jesus endured a cross for the joy set before him. Okay, so back to the key attributes of world class athletes. Optimal focus and the zone. They can tune out distractions, focusing entirely on the moment, a skill often developed through visualization and mental preparation, adaptability and evolution. As they age or face new challenges, they adapt their psychology and playing style to stay ahead of the competition. Behavioral traits and discipline, mastery of the mundane, they possess extreme self discipline, consistently doing the boring small things diet, sleep, routine training, that others neglect, even when no one is watching. Your character is defined mostly by what you do when no one is watching, and by when, in those moments, you forget that God sees all things, hears all things, and is in all things. Internal motivation, passion, their drive comes from within, a desire to be better than they were yesterday, or a desire to beat the competition, rather than just for fame or money. Coachability and humility. Despite their talent, the best athletes are open to constructive criticism, constantly seeking to improve and acknowledging that they do not know everything. Ephesians four eleven through seventeen, Matthew twenty eight, nineteen through twenty, and Luke five, thirty six through thirty nine. Goal oriented, they set long term, high level goals and break them down into actionable daily steps, using the smart goal process as one way to do this. Physicality and technical skill, high level physical competence. Depending on the sport, this includes exceptional speed, strength, power, endurance, or flexibility. Isaiah forty thirty one, Hebrews twelve, one, Romans five, three, Ephesians six, ten, and second Corinthians twelve, nine. Consistency, they deliver high performance results regularly, not just on rare occasions. Longevity, they maintain their peak performance over a sustained period longer than their peers. Movement intelligence, dexterity, the ability to solve motor problems, such as reacting to an opponent or handling an unexpected situation efficiently, culture and environmental factors, the killer instinct, the mental ability to make critical, often risky decisions at the critical moment to ensure victory. Support system successful athletes often have strong support from family and coaches, creating an environment that fosters dedication, such as in the case of many top badminton players. Summary of the elite athlete formula Ability plus hard work plus resilience plus mental toughness equals greatness. I, of course, would add a sustaining and intimate relationship with God through the blood and salvation of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit into that formula. The farmer Matthew thirteen verses one through nine and verses eighteen through twenty three. On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea, and great multitudes were gathered together to him, so that he got into the boat and sat, the whole multitude stood on the shore. Then he spoke many things to them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went out to sow, and as he sowed, some feed fell by the wayside, and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places where they did not have much earth, and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth, but when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away, and some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them, but others fell on good ground and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear let him hear. Verse eighteen. Therefore, hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who receives seed by the wayside. But he who receives seed on the stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. When tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who receives seed among the thorns is he who hears the word and the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful, but he who receives seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundredfold, some sixty and some thirty. And let us get into the defined attributes of a great and fruitful farmer. The most productive and fruitful farmers are characterized by a combination of strong business acumen, a passion for the land, technical expertise, and a commitment to continuous learning. Ah, let's cut to a scripture for a minute to support those statements. Mark four twenty six through thirty, and he said The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow. He himself does not know how, for the earth yields crops by itself, first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come. Notice that God calls the man, the farmer, to cast the seeds. Back to the definition. They do not just grow crops, they manage a complex, data driven business, prioritizing efficiency and sustainability to ensure long term profitability. Based on industry analysis, here are the key attributes of the most productive and fruitful farmers. Strategic business management, low cost producer mindset. Successful farmers understand that controlling the cost of production is critical, as they often sell similar products, meaning the low cost producer wins, eighteen. Financial discipline, they maintain high quality records, track inventories, and use accrual adjusted income to analyze profitability, rather than relying solely on cash basis accounting. Proactive risk management, they use diversification, crop insurance, and forward contracting to manage price fluctuations and climate risks. Clear goal setting, they maintain flexible business plans with long and short range goals, which are reviewed annually. High level technical expertise and innovation. They're early adopters of technology, they leverage precise agriculture, such as GPS guided equipment, drones, and data analytics to optimize input usage and increase yields. Focus on soil health. They are stewards of their land, utilizing cover crops, crop rotation, and reduced tillage methods to restore soil nutrients and increase long term resilience. Matthew thirteen, one through nine, and verses eighteen through twenty three and Galatians six, seven through nine. Data driven decisions. Rather than relying on intuition alone, they use soil mapping, yield data, and expert consultations, that is a seekwise counsel, to make decisions. Have you seen in all three of these definitions why God calls us to have all three of these types of vocational attributes? Personal attributes and work ethic. Passionate and tenacious, they have an unwavering love for agriculture, which provides the determination needed to persist through challenging weather, volatile markets, and long hours. Student mentality, they are lifelong learners who actively seek new information from university extensions, peer groups, and technical seminars. Luke five, thirty six through thirty nine and Matthew twenty eight nineteen. Adaptability, they are flexible in their approaches, capable of changing plans when situations arise, such as shifting market demands or environmental changes. Ecclesiastes three, through eight. Patience and long term perspective. They understand that building soil health and capital requires long term commitment, not just immediate gains. Galatians five twenty two through twenty three, Colossians three, twelve through thirteen, Ephesians four, two, and James one three through four. Operations and marketing, timeliness and organization. They plan ahead to ensure tasks are completed on time, minimizing crisis during critical periods like planting and harvesting. Excellent observation skills. They are great observers who notice subtle changes in their crops or livestock early. Genesis one eleven through twelve and chapter eight verse twenty two, Leviticus nineteen, nineteen, and Deuteronomy twenty two nine. Salesmanship, they are not just producers, but also active marketers who seek the most profitable opportunities for their products. Sustainability minded, integrated systems, they integrate crop and animal production, allowing them to make the best use of resources and reduce dependency on costly external inputs. Leviticus nineteen nineteen and Deuteronomy twenty two nine. Networking and community. They build partnership with local agricultural networks, suppliers, and other farmers to share knowledge and resources. In short, the most successful farmers treat farming as a serious profession, or office in the field that combines science, business, and stewardship. Speaking of stewardship, let's see what we can dig up about this. Matthew twenty five, fourteen through thirty. The Bible instructs believers to be good stewards, responsible managers of God's resources throughout both testaments, emphasizing stewardship of creation, talents, time, and money. Key passages include the parable of the talents, Matthew twenty five, fourteen through thirty, which rewards faithfulness, and Genesis one twenty eight, calling humanity to care for the earth. Key biblical stewardship verses stewardship of talents slash life as each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace four ten. Stewardship of money, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Stewardship of responsibility. Moreover, it is required in a steward that one be found faithful two creation slash work. The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it. Serving the master, whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Colossians three twenty three twenty four. Main themes in stewardship faithfulness over success. God requires that stewards be found faithful with what they are given. Accountability all will give an account of their stewardship to God Romans fourteen twelve. We Christians are like farmers in that we know times and seasons and the methods thereof Matthew thirteen, one through nine, and verse eighteen through twenty three, Ecclesiastes three, Daniel two, twenty one, Jeremiah five, verse twenty four, Genesis one fourteen, Psalm one hundred four nineteen, and Genesis twenty six twelve. We know what type of soil to plant in, what seeds to plant, Luke eight, eleven, by speaking and decreeing God's word, Job twenty two, verse twenty eight. We name our seed when we make an offering, as we cannot expect a harvest that we didn't intend on planting. Genesis one eleven twelve, and we know when to harvest. Ecclesiastes three, two, Mark four, twenty nine, and Exodus twenty three, sixteen, and when to seek labors to help us do that Matthew nine, thirty eight and Luke ten two. As athletes, we know how to discipline our bodies Corinthians nine twenty four through twenty seven, to keep in spiritual shape every day by exercising spiritual disciplines, such as some of those listed in the following list. A biblically supported list of spiritual disciplines focus on cultivating intimacy with God and spiritual maturity, rather than earning favor. Key biblical model disciplines include prayer, Bible study and meditation, worship, fasting, service, silence or solitude, stewardship, confession, and fellowship. Core biblical spiritual disciplines, Bible intake, study, meditation, and memorization. Engaging with scriptures is central for knowing God's will. Reading your Bible should be done as often as possible without neglecting the matters of life. As you do, things will begin to change in your life, such as unhealthy appetites, the loss of interest over time wasting habits, the language you use, the tonality of how you speak and address others, including your loved ones. Things really change just by reading the Bible. But now as you begin to apply it, as you begin to really enter into the freedom that reading it affords, you will begin to take a more proactive spiritual approach to the things in this life. The following scriptures will begin to come alive in your life. Mark sixteen, fifteen through eighteen. And he said to them, that is Jesus, go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe. In my name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues, they will take up serpents, and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover. Matthew ten eight, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Luke nine through two. Then he called his twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Prayer, conversing with God to align one's heart with his Philippians four, six through seven. You can be called to be an intercessory prayer warrior, which is distinguished by your propensity to pray and fast. Sometimes, as in my life, you can be called to pray for something in tongues, not knowing anything about what you are praying for. No worries, as this is my experience that God eventually showed me what I was praying for. And then there is a daily conversation we should all be having with God. Communicating with God is a great way to hear from Him. Communicating is praying and praying is communicating. And but also this is why you need to have your prayer language active. I have plenty of messages on tongues so that you can get a much deeper understanding of this ammo box that is your praying in tongues in those messages. Don't be embarrassed if you can't pray in tongues, but get to learn so that you can. Worship, expressing adoration of God, both individually and corporately. John four, verse twenty three through twenty four and Matthew four, ten. This is why it is important to screen the music that you listen to, all music, including even worship and praise music. Listen to what is hovering over the airwaves, waiting to drop the wrong seeds into your mind. Ephesians two and you he made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience. How did he get that position? Well, tradition states that Satan was a worship seraphim in heaven, and his name at that time was Lucifer. Ezekiel twenty eight, thirteen through fourteen. You were in Eden, the garden of God, every precious stone was your covering, Besardis, topaz and diamond, barrel, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your trembles and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers. I established you. You were on the holy mountain of God. You walk back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. So of course, he would corrupt music, as that was his initial calling that God had given him. Listen to the words of all music and be sure you are not agreeing with the music because it is titled Praise or Worship Music. Remember your spoken words are ammo, and you want to be sure that you load your spirit with the best ammo available. And don't panic if you used to sing really bad songs in your pre born again days. As of that event you became a new creation. Fasting, abstaining from food or other necessities to focus on God. Matthew six, sixteen through eighteen and Esther four, sixteen. I say be careful in this discipline. Why podcast preacher? Because I almost killed myself in one of my fasts. The truth is I can see it is that it is better to live a lifestyle of fasting than to set aside specific times for it. But and I say, but this doesn't mean that God won't call you to do it according to his good pleasure. No, but he is the one that gives you the grace to do it. Now in today's Laodicea and churchy mindset, many have been trained to fast things other than food. Now I don't know everything, but I could not find a fasting from TV or cell phones in the Bible. I know that they didn't have those time waster items in those days, but I'm only concerned about applying the fasting biblical model to everything, when in fact self control and dropping bad habits would take care of the need to temporarily stop what maybe should be stopped indefinitely. Let's see what a modern computer has to tell us about this important spiritual discipline. The Bible presents fasting as a voluntary spiritual act of humbling oneself before God to seek guidance, repent or mourn, rather than a forced commandment. It typically involves abstaining from food either partially Daniel one eight through fourteen or completely Acts nine, but the focus is on prayer, sincerity, and inner spiritual transformation rather than outwardly display Matthew six, sixteen through eighteen. Key aspects of biblical fasting purpose fasting is meant to draw us closer to God, to gain wisdom, seek protection, or repent of sins. Heart attitude. True fasting isn't just about avoiding food, it is about humility and as highlighted in Isaiah fifty eight, acts of justice, such as helping the oppressed and caring for the poor. Not a show. Jesus instructed that fasting should be done privately, avoiding a sad face or showy appearance to gain recognition. Matthew six, sixteen through eighteen. Types of fasting total fast, abstaining from all food and water, usually for a short time. A partial fast, limiting certain foods or types of food. Activity fast. While primarily about food, fasting can include dedicating time away from normal activities, such as sexual intimacy within the marriage, for focused prayer. When and what to fast, voluntary and personal. Aside from the Day of Atonement in the Old Testament, the Bible does not mandate specific days for fasting. Motivation matters. Fasting is not meant to change God's mind or earn favor, but to align the believer's heart with God's will. Modern application Christians often fast from food. Now this is a part where I really kind of disagree with, but can also fast from other things like technology or luxury items to focus on God. Now note that this states a modern day application. Is it good to set things aside? To hear or communicate with God uninterruptedly? Yes, but again food seems to be the method used in the Bible. Also keep in mind that if you endeavor to fast water, you had better know that God has called you to do this. And if you decide to go without food for long periods of time, again, God better be back of this, or you can get yourself into some serious trouble. I am speaking from experience. Am I trying to scare you from this very powerful bazooka level ammo? No, but really, I just don't want you to make the same mistakes I made when I was a young, immature Christian. Oh, I had some great things that came out of fasting, and I've shared that throughout some of my messages. So it's a great idea if you're interested. Start with a meal to get an idea as to what it feels like. Fill the time with intentional prayer and communicating with God and some Bible reading. Fasting and then sitting in front of a TV or sitting on your phone is not really the purpose of fasting. What the Bible says not to do hypocrisy, do not fast to show off your spirituality. Ritualism, do not treat fasting as a mere ritual while continuing to act in selfish or sinful ways. Isaiah fifty eight three. Neglecting obedience. Fasting is not a substitute for obedience and righteousness. Other fasting attributes are as follows service, serving God and others in humility. Silence and solitude, withdrawing from noise to be present with God. Mark one thirty five and Psalms forty six verse ten. Stewardship or giving, managing time, talents, and money for God's kingdom. Proverbs three nine and second Corinthians nine, seven. Confession, acknowledging sins to God, and trusted believers for accountability. James five sixteen and first John one nine. Fellowship, gathering with other believers for encouragement. Hebrews ten twenty four through twenty five and Acts two forty two. These practices or disciplines are not works to earn salvation, but habits of devotion, to prepare oneself to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. I would also add to this list to seek God's wisdom for specific things in your life. Fasting in this case shouldn't replace reading your Bible, but should complement it. God speaks and if we practice fasting properly, he will speak to you, and sometimes fasting makes your spiritual ears and eyes more sensitive. And one last thing, spiritual warfare may also increase, but as has been my experience, God walked with me right through every time the devil tried to interfere or to distract me from my focus on God. Jeremiah 29 13, 1 Chronicles 16 11, Deuteronomy 4 29, Isaiah 55 6, Acts 17 27, and Hebrews 11 6. We remain in training by listening and applying what we are being taught by the fivefold ministers. Ephesians 4 11 16. We are accountable to one another as disciples, James 5 16, and but also we should obey those in leadership, honoring them for their commitment to us. Hebrews thirteen seventeen. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give an account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. We are in time Delta Force Christians. We are called to be Olympian quality athletes, keeping in spiritual shape, so that nothing catches us off guard, for we know the strategies of the devil. Second Corinthians two, nine through eleven. We are high producing farmers, in that our fruit remains until it is right, and then we send it off into the field to do the same thing. In other words, we equip the saints for the work of ministry, Ephesians four, eleven through sixteen, releasing them in their spiritual maturity so that they can win souls. Proverbs eleven thirty. Equip them Ephesians four eleven through sixteen and disciple them Matthew twenty eight nineteen to maturity one through three. Second Peter one ten. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble. Now if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear? Keep in mind that scripture applies, even though you have the attributes of a soldier, a farmer, and an athlete working in your life. This too is not designed to scare you, but to give you strategies for taking your Christianity serious. Just because we said yes to Jesus doesn't mean it ends there. Luke fourteen twenty eight through thirty three, for which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it, least after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand, or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace, so likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has, cannot be my disciple. I know some of the scriptures included in this message are strong, but we are end time saints and have a serious work to do for our Lord and King before he very shortly returns. Revelation nineteen sixteen and first Timothy six fifteen. The following represents a small part of the benefits package Jesus gave us to use while on this earth. Philippians four thirteen I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Amo when shouted out four four. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Shouterly repeat it as he who is in me is greater than he who is in the world, which is why the next scripture applies to us as well. Romans eight thirty seven. Yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors, through him who loved us. Note the use of militaristic language in that scripture. Ammo when shouted out loud. We close with this and remember the spoken word is your spiritual ammo. The Bible is the logos, the written word of God, and the Rhema is the spoken word of God. It is your ammo that ensures victory, and like a gun that makes noise when it fires, your voice should make a noise when you pop off a few rounds of scripture, the applicable scriptures, meaning the scriptures that apply to your current situation. This is the wisdom of God. Mark 11, 22 through 24. So Jesus answered and said to them, Have the faith of God, for assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Yes, I modified, have faith in God, because it more accurately reads, Have the faith of God. Let's close and pray. May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before your God and Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Now may the God of peace, the one in whom we call wonderful, counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, may He Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. To our Lord of Lords and our King of Kings, to our high and lifted up great high priest, who has once and for all paid the price, that you might see and hear God, may He hear and respond to our prayers. To our God we stand in praise, He too always lives to make intercession for you while seated at the right hand of the Father. May the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do his will, working in you what is well pleasing in his sight. Through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. In Jesus' name, Amen. Well that's it for today. Remember it's not what you find wrong or disagree with regarding these messages, but what you can take away from it. Together we can do more to impact the kingdom than if we work alone. Let's flip the script and still kill and destroy the works of the enemy and create space for the light of light to shine through into people's lives. Find a seed and click on the like and subscribe button, repost on your social media platforms, and help us make disciples. Link this message out, or teach from it in your Bible study, life or cell group. And yes, even in your church, you can be assured it comes from one call to teach, and though imperfect, you have the word of God to use to test everything I say. Let's build this ministry together. Thanks and see you next time in Deep Water.