It’s sad to say that we’re nearing the end of our teaching of the S-P-E-A-K Principle, a concept we’ve been exploring this month. This morning marks the beginning of our fourth week, with a focus on the letter “A.”
S – Story. P – Passion. E – Encourage the passion. A – Affirmation. K – You’ll have to wait until next week, sorry, can’t spoil it!
Affirmation can sometimes feel unfamiliar in today’s generation. It’s a two-way awkward street – both giving and receiving. Last week, we discussed the importance of encouraging people in their godly passions, motivating them to pursue what God put on their hearts.
But today, we’re shifting the spotlight away from passion. I want you to concentrate on affirming the person, not their aspirations.
I’ve discovered that affirmation helps individuals see in themselves what they can’t see, or better yet, what God sees in them.
That’s why it’s crucial not to solely focus on people’s shortcomings but to highlight their great qualities.
Constantly pointing out their mistakes can lead them to view themselves as failures, a perspective that doesn’t align with God’s vision for them.
Your words hold the power to transform the atmosphere and unleash God’s prophetic potential for your future.
Most people deal with negative thoughts, confusion, and disbelief. These can be altered by the influence of your words.
When someone believes they’re a failure, you can stand by their side and tell them, “No, you’re not,” and speak truth into their lives. This not only shifts the negative energy in the environment but also transforms their attitude.
This is the beauty of coaches, teachers, and even pastors. They have daily opportunities to infuse positive affirmation into people’s lives, changing the trajectory of their lives and thought patterns.
The truth is, regardless of our job titles, we all possess the power to affirm. As parents, we can affirm our children; as bosses, we can affirm our teams; as co-workers, we can affirm our colleagues – the list is endless.
Seek out those you can uplift, and when someone shares something positive about you, accept it graciously. Don’t downplay their compliment. You are worthy of love and affirmation.
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. – Proverbs 16:24
I hope you had the chance to savor the fall weather despite your busy weekend schedule and prior commitments.
As I’ve been sharing with you, there’s a principle I believe in that’s aimed at fostering connections and building relationships, something particularly crucial in these times of post-pandemic isolation.
The enemy would love nothing more than for us to feel isolated and to distort our passions. That’s why today, I want to discuss “E” for encourage.
Encouragement, I believe, is one of the keys to the vitality of life. We all crave encouragement, whether it’s from our parents, friends, or bosses. Passion may be what motivates us to rise in the morning and persevere when we feel like giving up, but encouragement provides the comfort and boost we need because it reassures us that we’re not alone.
In a world where passions can be twisted or dimmed, it’s essential that we encourage those with Godly passions to continue the good fight of faith, to uplift them, build them up, and cheer them on. That’s my life motto, my goal, and my calling whenever I interact with people, as I know many find themselves in situations where courage wanes.
Throughout the Bible, we see God and the disciples encouraging the church, new believers, and prophets in the Old Testament. The number of times we read God saying, “Do not be afraid, but be courageous, for I am with you,” is astonishing.
Just as it was then, we now need that same encouragement from our fellow believers. We need to understand that we are not alone, that God is with us, and that we can face the challenges with courage and keep our passion ablaze for God’s will.
So, how can you uplift someone today? How can you build them up? How can you cheer them on? It might be through a kind word, getting down in the trenches with them, or standing by their side, cheering them on until they cross the finish line.
One of the most beautiful aspects of sports is having a team or teammate. When a game is close or tough, we come together and encourage each other. Just by hearing a teammate say, “You’ve got this,” we find the strength to persevere. Whether we win or lose, we have a coach encouraging us afterwards, about the great game we played.
In the same way, we have a coach, our God, encouraging and coaching us through this race in life until the day we meet face to face, and we are each other’s teammates! Let’s finish the race!
Romans 12:6,8
v.6 “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us”… v.8 “if it is to encourage, then give encouragement”
Hebrews 10:25
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
1 Thessalonians 5:14
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
Last week, I introduced the S-P-E-A-K Principle, with “S” representing Story. Learning someone’s story signifies our care and creates connections that build relationships.
Today, let’s dive into the second part: “Passion.”
The “P” in “speak” stands for passion, which is vital because it unlocks purpose and destiny. Passion often reveals a piece of our life’s puzzle.
Unfortunately, the devil often targets our passion, seeking to hinder our purpose. This connects deeply with our relationships. Understanding not just someone’s story but also their passions is crucial.
Many people are on the brink of giving up on their callings because external factors have eroded their passions. This is where we step in to reignite their aspirations and infuse purpose into their lives. We are meant to fulfill our purposes together; we need each other.
When the body of Christ comes together and shares their gifts, unity and strength prevail. Sharing passions with one another creates motivation and ignites a deeper hunger for what we love.
Many need their passions to be rekindled, and they require support, needing our belief, encouragement, and guidance. To accomplish this, we must first know their passions.
Today, let’s learn what excites others, discover the gifts God has placed within them, and help guide them in the right direction. We encounter not only people with diminished passion but also those whose passion has been distorted by the enemy. We have the opportunity to disciple and steer them back on the right path. Let’s take action today!
Nevertheless, it is good to be zealous if it serves a noble purpose—at any time, and not only when I am with you. – Galatians 4:18
It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. – Titus 2:12-14
Since the pandemic, I’ve witnessed a need for human connections. Even though the pandemic occurred a couple of years ago, its effects linger.
Many people were left with deep loneliness due to the loss of loved ones or the extended periods of separation. It created a rift in our relationships, and I believe it’s a divine call to bridge that gap, not only with those we already know but also with strangers.
That’s why this week, we’re launching a new series to help us foster and develop both existing and potential relationships. This series is guided by a 5-step principle called the S-P-E-A-K principle, where “S” signifies “story.”
How many people do we know by name but do not know their story?
While many have heard my own story of the grace God has shown me, God has dealt with me about the importance of inquiring about others’ stories.
This not only opens the person’s heart and deepens our understanding of them but also reflects care and compassion, laying the groundwork for meaningful relationships.
In today’s world, people long to be heard and acknowledged, offering an opportunity for us to truly know others by listening to their stories.
1 Corinthians 13:1 reminds us, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” The principle I’m sharing with you is meaningless without the love of God at its core.
God’s love should be the driving force in every relationship you nurture, motivating your actions and underpinning your words.
I challenge you to discover someone’s story. Listen attentively, and perhaps, in return, share your own story and pray for them.
We were created for relationships; we need one another!
Two weeks ago, when I arrived in Kona, Hawaii, I couldn’t help but be amazed by its natural beauty – the vast oceans, majestic volcanoes, and lush tropics.
Now that I’m back home in Oklahoma, I gaze out my window and witness the unique beauty of this season here as well.
During this time, a verse from Genesis 8:22 has been on my mind: “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”
It’s a reminder that everything in the heavens and the universe, according to God’s creation, is deemed “good,” each with its own purpose and cycle. There’s always a time for planting and a time for reaping, for cold and heat, and so on.
This cycle ensures we always have provision, and it runs deeper, rooted in a special purpose. Just like apple seeds produce apples and tomato seeds yield tomatoes, each of us is a part of God’s beautiful creation with a unique purpose and assignment.
Perhaps you’re thinking, “That’s pretty simple, Brother Mikel.” But have you pondered this about yourself? You, too, are a unique part of God’s good creation.
Taking it a step further, God has bestowed upon you and all of us a special purpose and calling, as outlined in His Word. Our foremost purpose is to love God and in response to that love, to love others. To grow closer to our heavenly Father.
Moreover, understand that He has a distinctive plan for your life, encompassing your day-to-day activities and your future. This plan involves encounters with people, opportunities, and tasks, all with a purpose, whether we comprehend it fully or not.
Recognize that we constantly operate on “kingdom time.” While we’re here on this Earth, we’re here for a reason on an assignment for the Kingdom of God, which we’ve been graciously included in.
You, my friend, are part of something vast and profound, greater than both of us. Let’s embrace this purpose together and live it out to the fullest!
A word that God has been dropping in my heart as we enter this Fall season is courage.
The first day of Fall lands on the same day every year, but it still tends to sneak up on us. We get wrapped up in back-to-school activities, work, and life’s challenges, but before we know it, we’re surprised that the heat has ended.
This got me thinking: we are often surprised by the challenging season we are in, but God is never surprised.
The people you’ll meet, job offers, the new life you bring into the world, even the shortcomings. None of it caught God by surprise.
As we enter into Fall and its challenges, I want you to remember to respond with courage. With Christ on your side, you can handle every opportunity and obstacle that comes your way with a Holy boldness.
My encouragement to you in this new season is:
See the beauty within the opportunity, work, or challenge.
Remember your worth and handle it with courage.
True courage comes from the core of who you are. And you develop your courage with the Word of God. The Word gives you the strength to make up your mind and act by faith – moving boldly.
Supernatural courage comes from who you are in Christ, the real you, as you act in line with God’s Word.
The key to courage is not waiting for the moment to come and expecting you to respond with great courage. Instead, you have to meditate on God’s word day and night, getting it in your heart. As Romans 10:17 tells us, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”
Build your faith through God’s Word daily, so when the moment comes, you will respond with faith and courage, not intimidated by the obstacle or opportunity but rising up with great boldness.
Your boldness comes from Him! It is rooted in your relationship with God, so you know you can do “all things” through Him.
Stay in God’s presence, stay in the community of the church, and stay in His Word. You’ll find great courage rising as you know you are covered by God’s hand and the community of our church family.
2 Chronicles 19:11 says, “And take notice: Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king’s matters; also the Levites will be officials before you. Behave courageously, and the LORD will be with the good.”
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