LEADERSHIP
A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
BY
PASTOR SAM. OLA. BABALOLA
E-mail: pas_babalolatoye@yahoo.com
www.pastorsamolababalola.blogspot.cm
“The quality of your life will be determined by the depth of your commitment to excellence, no matter what your chosen field” – Vince Lombardi.
Text: Col.3:17 “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus”
INTRODUCTION: Can you imagine the honour it would be to end up on the list of the 100 great men out of billions who have ever lived on the surface of the earth? Who are these people, we wonder, and what made their influence so great? What had they done to become part of such an exclusive list? I want to believe these did their best. Their lives of influence and accomplishment radiated a desire to do their best in their field of endeavor. May the excellent God make us men and women of excellence in Jesus name.
WHAT IS EXCELLENCE?
Excellence is the maximum exercise of one’s gifts and abilities within the range of responsibilities given by God. Gary Irig. A call to Excellence (Wheaton, IL, Victor Books, 1995), page87. This definition keeps in mind that God is the one who determines the standard of excellence for us. God has given each and every one of us a different set of talents and abilities that is the reason the measure of excellence is unique for each one of us. And God expects you and I to be good stewards of those resources.
Therefore, we must see our lives as a stewardship from God and opportunity to fulfill God’s desires for our lives. How can this be? Let us look at how Jim George described the life that is committed to excellence. – It’s spelled E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-C-E.
E – Eyes the goal. – A man that is committed to excellence lives a focus life. Regardless of the distractions that come his ways, he concentrates on the matters that have the greatest importance. Philippians 4:13-14. What one grand goal will your life be known for?
C – Curious about the future – A man that is committed to excellent is a visionary. He is a forward thinker. ,a planner. He plans for the future in his personal, in his business life and ultimately he has plan for his future life in eternity. Therefore he will have a powerful and permanent influence on his generation because he able to see more and farther ahead than others .Such person is a man of faith, for faith is vision.
X – Excels at finding solutions. - A man of that is committed to excellence is a visionary. He is forward thinker. He is a planner. He plans for the future in his personal life, and ultimately he has planned for his future life in eternity. As a visionary, he will have a powerful and permanent influence on his generation because he is able to see more and farther ahead than others. He is a man of faith, for faith is vision.
L – Learns from everyone – A man that is committed to excellence has a passion for learning. He has an unquenchable thirst for growing, and he willingly seeks out anyone who can aid his thirst. He prepares himself for any task by researching, reading, and training. A man with a spirit of learning will encounter no hurdle he cannot overcome. It’s been said that continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field.
The passion for learning was a major element in the powerful influence of Henry Stanley, who lived in the 1800s and started his life with every disadvantage you could think of. He was deserted by his mother when he was only two and raised in a “poorhouse.” Stanley could have excused himself (like most do!) from any opportunity to live a life of excellence. Yet with a passion for learning, he went on to become a missionary and explorer in Africa, a member of the British parliament, and was knighted in 1899.
L – Loves to take risks – A man that is committed to excellence is not a fool… but he is also not afraid to take risks. He simply will not settle for security and comfort. He is willing to break with convention if he believes that to be the will of God for his life.
E – Endures opposition – A man that is committed to excellence is willing to endure pain, suffering, and persecution in order to accomplish God’s demands on his life. He will persevere through all obstacles and opposition. We’ve already considered the Apostle Paul’s life of adversity – the prisons, the beatings, the treachery, the persecutions (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). “Yet,” as is written, “from such rocky soil grew the fruit of his ministry. Adversity builds character, perspective and vision into the life of a leader.
N – Names failure a learning experience – A man that is committed to excellence has Resilience…with a capital R! He is able to bounce back after what seems to be a failure. He uses his failures as learning experiences. Every step is a step forward. And no defeat is final. Each time I think of this quality of excellence, I think of Thomas Edison, the great inventor of the light bulb, who endured 10,000 tries before he invented the incandescent lamp.
C – Convinced of what he is doing – A man that is committed to excellence has conviction. Anything he believes to be the will of God is entered into with the full force of his being. Therefore he can endure great difficulty and adversity in the course of completing the task. His confidence is not in his limited abilities, but in God’s ability to work through his limited abilities. As martyred missionary Jim Elliot exhorted, “Live to the hilt any situation you believe to be the will of God.”
E – Envisions a higher purpose – A man that is committed to excellence has a sense of God’s calling on his life. Whether he is a minister, missionary, a mason, or a meter reader, he does his work as though doing it for the Lord (Colossians 3:23). He is compelled to live out every area of his life to the maximum (to the hilt!) for God’s glory and the good of others.
CONCLUSION: Excellence! Brethren, don’t leave home without it! Endeavor, by God’s grace, to live each day to its fullest, to live each day to its maximum, to live excellence. And that, of course, is going to take commitment. As Vince Lombardi said, “The quality of your life will be determined by the depth of your commitment to excellence, no matter what your chosen field.” Remain blessed!
LEADERSHIP
THE VALUE OF VISION
BY
PASTOR SAM. OLA. BABALOLA
E-mail: samolababalola@gmail.com
”You can seize only what you can see”- John C. Maxwell
Hab 2:2-4 “Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (NKJV).
INTRODUCTION: One of the qualities of a good leader is vision. It is every thing for a leader. Vision is utterly indispensable. Why? Because, it leads the leader. Vision paints the target, sparks and fuels the fire within, and draws him forward. Vision is also the fire lighter for others who follow that leader. John Maxwell says “Show me a leader without vision, and I will show you someone who is not going anywhere. At best, he is traveling in circles.”
A good example of a leader with vision is our father the in Lord, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, who, between years 1980 and now, by the grace of God, turned a thick jungle to a city. It is through this vision that we have The Redeemed Christian Church of God in over 130 countries now. This is a vision par excellence. In 2 Samuel Chapter 5 from verse 1 to 12, David’s vision energized the Hebrew nation far beyond anything King Saul had ever imagined. Let us look at what David’ vision did for Israelite nation:
· Vision unites.
According to verse 1 to 3 all the tribes and all the elders came together for the first time. David realized his dream of a united and very (viral) strong nation he so boasted of in 1 Samuel 17 before he crushed Goliath
· Vision provides a centre for leadership.
In verses 4 and 5, the Bible says “David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years”. (NKJV). Here we discovered that David began his reign from Hebron, but desired to unite a divided land and lead from Jerusalem.
· Vision dominates inner conversation.
David’s vision focuses his men as they got nearer to Jerusalem, according verses 6-8. Note that, all of us in indulge in “inner conversation”.
· Vision inspires greatness.
King David’s vision to take Jerusalem set him and the people on fire and that made them realize that great goal in unity. No wonder Jerusalemwas named "City of David”. Please, read 2 Samuel chapter 5 verses 8 and 10.
.
· Vision attracts others to the leader.
In verses 11 and 12 the Bible tells us that once King David had taken Jerusalem, others began to join the cause. Realized vision earns leader followers
CONCLUSION: Do you have vision for your life, family or you ministry? If not, then you need to go to the Almighty God in prayer. This will definitely propel you to the greater height. And if yes, then ask God to grant you grace to turn your vision to realty. Always remember that a leader without vision will remain in one spot without any significant impact, also remember the vision is for an appointed time and it will come to pass. I pray the Almighty God will grant you a clear vision and the grace to turn it to reality, so that you will affect your generation positively in Jesus unbeatable name.
A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
BY
PASTOR SAM. OLA. BABALOLA
E-mail: pas_babalolatoye@yahoo.com
www.pastorsamolababalola.blogspot.cm
“The quality of your life will be determined by the depth of your commitment to excellence, no matter what your chosen field” – Vince Lombardi.
Text: Col.3:17 “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus”
INTRODUCTION: Can you imagine the honour it would be to end up on the list of the 100 great men out of billions who have ever lived on the surface of the earth? Who are these people, we wonder, and what made their influence so great? What had they done to become part of such an exclusive list? I want to believe these did their best. Their lives of influence and accomplishment radiated a desire to do their best in their field of endeavor. May the excellent God make us men and women of excellence in Jesus name.
WHAT IS EXCELLENCE?
Excellence is the maximum exercise of one’s gifts and abilities within the range of responsibilities given by God. Gary Irig. A call to Excellence (Wheaton, IL, Victor Books, 1995), page87. This definition keeps in mind that God is the one who determines the standard of excellence for us. God has given each and every one of us a different set of talents and abilities that is the reason the measure of excellence is unique for each one of us. And God expects you and I to be good stewards of those resources.
Therefore, we must see our lives as a stewardship from God and opportunity to fulfill God’s desires for our lives. How can this be? Let us look at how Jim George described the life that is committed to excellence. – It’s spelled E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-C-E.
E – Eyes the goal. – A man that is committed to excellence lives a focus life. Regardless of the distractions that come his ways, he concentrates on the matters that have the greatest importance. Philippians 4:13-14. What one grand goal will your life be known for?
C – Curious about the future – A man that is committed to excellent is a visionary. He is a forward thinker. ,a planner. He plans for the future in his personal, in his business life and ultimately he has plan for his future life in eternity. Therefore he will have a powerful and permanent influence on his generation because he able to see more and farther ahead than others .Such person is a man of faith, for faith is vision.
X – Excels at finding solutions. - A man of that is committed to excellence is a visionary. He is forward thinker. He is a planner. He plans for the future in his personal life, and ultimately he has planned for his future life in eternity. As a visionary, he will have a powerful and permanent influence on his generation because he is able to see more and farther ahead than others. He is a man of faith, for faith is vision.
L – Learns from everyone – A man that is committed to excellence has a passion for learning. He has an unquenchable thirst for growing, and he willingly seeks out anyone who can aid his thirst. He prepares himself for any task by researching, reading, and training. A man with a spirit of learning will encounter no hurdle he cannot overcome. It’s been said that continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field.
The passion for learning was a major element in the powerful influence of Henry Stanley, who lived in the 1800s and started his life with every disadvantage you could think of. He was deserted by his mother when he was only two and raised in a “poorhouse.” Stanley could have excused himself (like most do!) from any opportunity to live a life of excellence. Yet with a passion for learning, he went on to become a missionary and explorer in Africa, a member of the British parliament, and was knighted in 1899.
L – Loves to take risks – A man that is committed to excellence is not a fool… but he is also not afraid to take risks. He simply will not settle for security and comfort. He is willing to break with convention if he believes that to be the will of God for his life.
E – Endures opposition – A man that is committed to excellence is willing to endure pain, suffering, and persecution in order to accomplish God’s demands on his life. He will persevere through all obstacles and opposition. We’ve already considered the Apostle Paul’s life of adversity – the prisons, the beatings, the treachery, the persecutions (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). “Yet,” as is written, “from such rocky soil grew the fruit of his ministry. Adversity builds character, perspective and vision into the life of a leader.
N – Names failure a learning experience – A man that is committed to excellence has Resilience…with a capital R! He is able to bounce back after what seems to be a failure. He uses his failures as learning experiences. Every step is a step forward. And no defeat is final. Each time I think of this quality of excellence, I think of Thomas Edison, the great inventor of the light bulb, who endured 10,000 tries before he invented the incandescent lamp.
C – Convinced of what he is doing – A man that is committed to excellence has conviction. Anything he believes to be the will of God is entered into with the full force of his being. Therefore he can endure great difficulty and adversity in the course of completing the task. His confidence is not in his limited abilities, but in God’s ability to work through his limited abilities. As martyred missionary Jim Elliot exhorted, “Live to the hilt any situation you believe to be the will of God.”
E – Envisions a higher purpose – A man that is committed to excellence has a sense of God’s calling on his life. Whether he is a minister, missionary, a mason, or a meter reader, he does his work as though doing it for the Lord (Colossians 3:23). He is compelled to live out every area of his life to the maximum (to the hilt!) for God’s glory and the good of others.
CONCLUSION: Excellence! Brethren, don’t leave home without it! Endeavor, by God’s grace, to live each day to its fullest, to live each day to its maximum, to live excellence. And that, of course, is going to take commitment. As Vince Lombardi said, “The quality of your life will be determined by the depth of your commitment to excellence, no matter what your chosen field.” Remain blessed!
LEADERSHIP
THE VALUE OF VISION
BY
PASTOR SAM. OLA. BABALOLA
E-mail: samolababalola@gmail.com
”You can seize only what you can see”- John C. Maxwell
Hab 2:2-4 “Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (NKJV).
INTRODUCTION: One of the qualities of a good leader is vision. It is every thing for a leader. Vision is utterly indispensable. Why? Because, it leads the leader. Vision paints the target, sparks and fuels the fire within, and draws him forward. Vision is also the fire lighter for others who follow that leader. John Maxwell says “Show me a leader without vision, and I will show you someone who is not going anywhere. At best, he is traveling in circles.”
A good example of a leader with vision is our father the in Lord, Pastor E.A. Adeboye, who, between years 1980 and now, by the grace of God, turned a thick jungle to a city. It is through this vision that we have The Redeemed Christian Church of God in over 130 countries now. This is a vision par excellence. In 2 Samuel Chapter 5 from verse 1 to 12, David’s vision energized the Hebrew nation far beyond anything King Saul had ever imagined. Let us look at what David’ vision did for Israelite nation:
· Vision unites.
According to verse 1 to 3 all the tribes and all the elders came together for the first time. David realized his dream of a united and very (viral) strong nation he so boasted of in 1 Samuel 17 before he crushed Goliath
· Vision provides a centre for leadership.
In verses 4 and 5, the Bible says “David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years”. (NKJV). Here we discovered that David began his reign from Hebron, but desired to unite a divided land and lead from Jerusalem.
· Vision dominates inner conversation.
David’s vision focuses his men as they got nearer to Jerusalem, according verses 6-8. Note that, all of us in indulge in “inner conversation”.
· Vision inspires greatness.
King David’s vision to take Jerusalem set him and the people on fire and that made them realize that great goal in unity. No wonder Jerusalemwas named "City of David”. Please, read 2 Samuel chapter 5 verses 8 and 10.
.
· Vision attracts others to the leader.
In verses 11 and 12 the Bible tells us that once King David had taken Jerusalem, others began to join the cause. Realized vision earns leader followers
CONCLUSION: Do you have vision for your life, family or you ministry? If not, then you need to go to the Almighty God in prayer. This will definitely propel you to the greater height. And if yes, then ask God to grant you grace to turn your vision to realty. Always remember that a leader without vision will remain in one spot without any significant impact, also remember the vision is for an appointed time and it will come to pass. I pray the Almighty God will grant you a clear vision and the grace to turn it to reality, so that you will affect your generation positively in Jesus unbeatable name.
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