February 2019 - God Ideas and Witty Inventions

The message of the Gospel never changes, but the methods and strategies with which we deliver it do. We cannot continue to advance using only yesterday’s technologies.

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth…” - Is 43:18-19

Never Underestimate The Value Of Good Ideas

Successful businesses place high value on innovation. One good idea (or God idea) for a new outreach-oriented sermon series, a new strategy for making disciples, training leaders, running effective small group ministries, or raising funds - can be the key to your breakthrough. God has all kinds of great income-producing ideas, church growth ideas, church planting ideas, leadership development and world mission’s ideas, and He wants to share them with us.

"I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions"
Prov 8:12 KJV

Three Things That Foster Creative Ideas And Witty Inventions

1. Ask God Questions About The Specific Problems Or Opportunities You Face. This will help prepare your heart for an answer and help you to recognize it as an answer when it comes. Good ideas come from God, so ask Him for one. The world has been marvelously blessed by those who did. “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jer 33:3)
2. Expand Your Thinking Power. God gave us a brain, so let’s use it. Let’s expand it so we can recognize and take hold of the God ideas available to us. Take time to think about ways of doing things better. Ask yourself, “How can I do it better.” To become a good thinker - do more thinking! Great thinking comes from good, focused thinking; and once the ideas start flowing, they get better. Once they get better, creative and innovative ideas flood your mind. Make your mind work!
3. Create an atmosphere where people are not afraid to share their ideas. Most of the best ideas come together in a team environment. It’s called Creative Collaboration! Creative people encourage and provoke others to think outside of the box. (Prov 27:17) As a leader I’m glad I don’t have to come up with all the ideas. I just need to be able to recognize a good idea when I hear it.

One night a friend of John Kilcullen described something he overheard in a bookstore. A customer asked the clerk, “Do you have any simple books on Microsoft DOS? Something like DOS for Dummies? It was only a passing comment meant to be a joke, but it stuck with Kilcullen and he did something with it. He launched the “For Dummies” series of books. Some unknown customer had a good idea and didn’t even know it. But in the hands of a thinker, that good idea became a great idea. Then it became a bigger and better idea.

Lord, help us to know the next new thing that you have us, and give us the courage to do it!

Dr George Hill
Apostolic Founder and President of Victory Churches International

January 2019 - The Increase Of Gods Government And Peace

Isaiah 9:6-7 "The government shall be upon His shoulders and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, And of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end,"

Notice the order here: first government, then peace.

God is a god of order: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace” (1Cor 14:40,33) The opposite to order is disorder; disarray and confusion.

The function of human government, as instituted by God, is to: protect, punish and promote, for the greater welfare of the community. 1Cor 12:28 “God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments...”

When Godly authority becomes visible, it becomes desirable. Organizations with godly rules, principles, and policies create harmony and peace - in the home, the church, and the nation. “But I want you to know that the head of everyman is Christ, the head of the woman is man and the head of Christ is God.” (1 Cor 11:3) Stressing equality and responsibility is the key to mutual submission and working things out. (Eph 5:21)

Parents need to teach their children to obey Gods Word and to honor and respect those in authority. (Eph 6:1-3) Children can become evasive and deceptive if they are not confronted when they misbehave. Some parents protect their children when they should be correcting them. Discipline is essential! Strong judgement came upon Eli’s house, “Because his sons made themselves vile and he did not restrain (discipline) them.” (1Sam 3:13)

God always has a perfect balance between mercy and discipline, between the individual and the community. One rebellious person can infect and affect a family or a whole church. Real love will discipline the one to protect the many.

Paul asked the Corinthians, “What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?” (1 Cor 4:21) In effect Paul was saying, “Your behavior will determine my leadership style.”

The church and society have gone to the extreme on the feminine side of love - mercy and forgiveness; to the exclusion of the demands of a father for discipline - order, peace and productivity.

One of the principles of great faith is the understanding and acceptance of God’s governance. The centurion in Matthew 8 understood authority and expected it to work in a certain way - and it did! Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.”

The bottom line is that the more the government of God increases in our personal lives, our homes, our churches, and throughout our Victory movement – the more the peace of God will reign in our lives!

Yours for the increase of Gods Government and Peace!

Dr George Hill
Apostolic Founder and President of Victory Churches International