Revised

DECISIVE

Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions...
1 Kings 18:21

Elijah was a person of Experiential Action!

He was always on the move with a plan! Now he is in a position of Leadership and he is trying force feed a decision with some very complacent people. (in his mind)

Elijah was saying, the reason you are miserable and depressed is because you are in the gap of indecision... you can't hide out on this one Fathers, Mothers, Children.... You must make a decision! (accusing)

There was no Response! All them kept playing XBOX, watching TV, club soccer, planning for parties etc...

Elijah being the Leader he was took matters into his own hands. (He doesn't know it yet but his frustration is because he can't control everyone).

He knew the hot buttons of his customers! (actually God knew and revealed them to him). He knew they needed to see a mighty work of God to respond! Remember, he thought he was the only one on planet earth living a righteous life. (LOL... Later God corrected him)

I think he thought his zeal for God was so Awesome that he just wanted everyone to follow suit. Why can't they see what I see?

Well, the Lord took an Elijah problem and turned it into a God Solution!

You see God had something bigger and better for Elijah's Leadership! God was going to do a mighty work through Elijah before their eyes. By doing this the people will see progress in Elijah's ministry and it will recruit a response from the people.

How about us? In the home I get reminded all the time that I am trying to control things to much. When we sit down for a meal I want everyone to be on the same page as me and talk about God etc...

When I come in the house I expect everyone to be as fired up and as motivated as I am to win! I guess I can say I have all the right intensions but really that doesn't matter! When I try to force feed people it just doesn't work..... "But I just know if they knew and experienced what I did then all their problems would go away." LOL...

This is called the Fix It Mentality!

Isn't this what Elijah was doing? I'm not Elijah but I think I get the point. Did this stop Elijah from continuing to pursue the enemy to protect his people?

No! He just had to go it alone! Maybe that's the point!

We need to quietly lead with no expectations on others while we go after God's goals in our own lives. When the timing is right everyone will feel the motivation and do it on their own terms.

Does that leave me off the hook though? No way! There is a reason why people are not buying in. It is my responsibility to do the proper planning to prevent a non response!

Jesus said:

• They will know you are on My Team by your love for one another.

• Servant Leadership is the greatest in His Kingdom!

• Learn of My ways!

• Seek First God's Kingdom

• Be willing to lay your life down for them...

• ______

Really one word sums it all up:

TRUST

Have I earned their Emotional Trust? No

Now it is on me. I must Accept this in a non emotional way and be Decisive about winning their Trust!

When that happens there is true Progress that leads to Motivation that is lasting and Powerful!!

How about you? Have you tried to force feed people like I have? If so read this passage a few times and let it sink in!

As a leader Decisiveness for the group is good in the proper context but when it comes out of no where and I haven't read my family correctly it can really bring things to a scratching hault.

However, when the team feels Progress on their own it drives a Decisive Motivation in each individual one at a time. This is what we see with Elijah's story!

JUST GO!
A LITTLE PROGRESS = MOTIVATION!

RICK