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Kingdom News

Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever.… (Matt. 6:13)
Volume 2, Issue 8 August 2008

The Leadership Corner


If Jesus is the Answer… Leadership Living, Inc.
What are the Questions?

Many of us have perhaps heard the phrase,


“Jesus is the Answer.” But have you ever Sometimes We Need to Eat the
wondered … “the answer to what?” While it
Word
may sound strange, it is a reasonable question.

There are many questions for which Jesus is the


I recently taught a class about how
Answer.
believers can effectively communicate
with God using an analogy of the five
• If the question is.... With so many religions,
physical senses (sight, smell, touch,
and other systems of belief, in the world today;
how can one know the way to God? hearing and taste). Many of us have
The answer is … God’s testimony of experienced hearing the word of God,
Jesus; “This is my beloved Son, in whom but then had problems with applying it
I am well pleased. (Matt 3:17 KJV) to the day-to-day challenges we faced. I
• If the question is.... Why is there so much have been in that situation more times
darkness and death in the world today? than I care to remember. However, at
The answer is …in the words of Jesus, “I one point in my life God helped me to
am the light of the world … but men love understand how to successfully use His
darkness rather than light because their Word as a tool to address the various
deeds are evil.” (John 9:5; 3:19 KJV) issues I face.

And there are many more such questions. God told me that in order for me to
However, the question I’d like for us to focus on apply His Word to specific situations or
If Jesus is the Answer … Continued on page 3 issues I would need to eat the word. He
said it’s not enough to hear it. Instead,
I would literally have to chew on the
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
instructions He gave me. God reminded
1 If Jesus is the Answer … me that when I chew natural food, I put
it in my mouth and grind it with my
1 Leadership Living teeth until its composition is conducive
4 My Own Journey to Victory
to what my digestive system can
handle. For example, I like apples. But,
6 Summary, Etc.

Copyright© 2008
Kingdom News Page 1 of 6
Leadership Continued from page 1

I cannot swallow one whole. I have to as I could for about forty minutes.
grind it with my teeth (or another tool) Then, three fourths of the way through
so that I can consume it. God said I the tape, the speaker said one sentence
have to learn to do the same with His that suddenly made me know how to
Word if I want to be truly nourished by approach the book. The Holy Spirit
it on a case-by-case basis. immediately began ministering to me. I
ran through the house and grabbed a
He went on to say that in order to eat pen and pad of paper. I wrote exactly
His Word I would have to take His what the Lord was telling me to do.
instruction and feed it to any Now, I have what I need to proceed
concerns, worries, or questions (my with God’s original instructions.
teeth in the spirit realm) I have. I
would then chew the word until I This happened because I chewed
gained an understanding of how the (engaged in detailed discussion with
instruction would work in a given God sharing my concerns and questions
situation. This simply meant that I about what he’d told me to do) God’s
would have to discuss my concerns word. Through this process God was
and/or questions with God until I had able to break His Word down until I
received an adequate level of could digest it. When that happened the
specificity regarding how to apply His word became sweet to my taste, yes,
Word to my situation. You see, I need sweeter than honey in the comb
God to be very specific in terms of (Psalms 119:103 KJV by reference).
what he wants me to do. Once this
happens I am able to swallow (act on) Has God given you any instructions that
the instruction I have received. you need to chew on?

Let me give you a real-life example. [] LL []


God recently told me to start working Leadership Living, Inc.
on my next book, a memoir. Not a Joyce M. White, MSW – CEO
problem. He gave me the title. I
For additional information you may contact us at
conducted my research, but then I got leadershiplivinginc@yahoo.com
stuck. I didn’t know what angle I 
should use. So, for a few days I didn’t
pursue it. God then reminded me that
I was supposed to be working on this
book. It was at that point I had to DIAMONDS
chew (engage in detailed discussion
with God about his instruction to me)
His Word. I let God know my Emotional torment, even spiritual oppression, is
challenge. Then, in the next couple of the consequence of unforgiveness.
days He told me to listen to an old
tape from a noted speaker. It is Forgiveness and reconciliation bring peace.
important to understand that the tape
he told me to review had nothing to do -- G.D. Kinnaman
with the topic of the book. At any rate,
I was obedient. I listened as patiently

Copyright© 2008
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If Jesus is the Answer … Continued from page 1

in this edition is
Jesus Christ paid that penalty, for us. He gave His
• How bad is sin, really? life for us; that He might give His life to us. We
are able to avail ourselves of this great gift, by
In an age such as this, where we’re being lead to faith in His sacrifice. When we recognize that the
believe that we cannot help but sin; and that God penalty of our sin, is far too great for any of us to
created us and certainly understands that we are pay; we can then appreciate how vast is the love of
human. It’s difficult, at best, to wrap the mind God for us.
around the gravity of sin; in all of its
abominableness. How do we get an God extended His love to us; in that while we
understanding of sin; that makes us feel the same disregarded Him; and may even have disdained
way about it that God does? We seem to have Him; He gave His Son to die for us; so that we
become too comfortable with the presence of sin might be reconciled to Him … so that we could be
in our lives. And thereby, have forgotten to saved from His wrath. Scripture teaches that by
retain God’s perspective on the matter. If we one man’s offense (Adam) the penalty of death
have somehow accepted that there will always came upon all men …. (Rom. 5:8-10 KJV
be some “known,” (un-repented) sin in our life; paraphrased) The truth of this reality is usually a
we are not seeing things from God’s perspective. “sticking point” for many. Some rationalize that it
We don’t appreciate God and don’t love Him is inconceivable that Adam’s sin could have had
equitably, because we do not see the greatness of any substantial affect on his prodigy. Why is it
His work through Christ. We think little of our inconceivable? Is it equally inconceivable that a
sin and lightly excuse it. I don’t mind sharing mother, who abuses drugs during her pregnancy,
that this is a most deceitfully dangerous mindset. could give birth to a baby who is predisposed to
drug addition; through no fault of its own? Now
The scriptures, teach us that God’s hands are not at some point (age) in that person’s life the
shortened that He cannot deliver us; neither is responsibility of dealing with that predisposition to
He dull of hearing whereas He cannot hear our drugs; passes from the mother to the child. Then it
prayers (Isa. 59:2 KJV paraphrased). But is no longer the mother’s fault that the child (when
because of our sins and iniquity He will not hear grown) is a drug addict. The same can be true of a
us, nor will He regard our petitions. Please do person born into poverty. At some point it
not mistakenly think that He was referencing the becomes the responsibility of the person to want to
ungodly. He was talking to His chosen … Israel. change.
The same is true for us today. If we retain sin or
iniquity in our heart, God will not hear us. (Ps. Our predisposition to choosing sin (Adam’s gift to
66:18 KJV) us) was tolerated, by God, until just beyond
Calvary. For without the shedding of (Christ’s)
God has gone to “great pains” literally to make it blood God could not forgive/remit sin. (Ref. Matt.
known to us that sin, is an infinitely grievous and 26:28; Heb. 9:22) After Calvary, each person
most malicious error. From a legal perspective, became responsible for their own sin; thereby
if you want to know how the law estimates the becoming accountable to God and subject to the
gravity of a crime, simply look at the penalty wrath of God if we persist in sin. As believers, we
assessed for its violation. have an obligation to forbid sin from reigning in
us. We are obliged to not be victimized by its
If the question is … How bad is sin, really? demands; nor are we to concede to satisfy its
The answer is … Calvary was the penalty for appetites.
sin. Sin is so abominable and detestable that
God … did not spare His own Son…. (Rom. One day we will each stand before the judgment
8:32 KJV by reference) seat of Christ. We’ll have to give an account of
ourselves to God. (Rom. 14:10, 12 KJV

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If Jesus is the Answers … Continued from page 3

paraphrased) My Own Journey to Victory


How do we stand before a Holy God on the Day of By David L. White
Judgment? The answer is Jesus. Believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ, cease from sin. <>KN <> Warning: This article will be considerably
different from what you are accustomed to
JoAnn C. White, sMHG hearing from me. Bear with me as I display a
bit of transparency.

This article deals with an issue that is prevalent


JEWELS among men; and as such, it is my prayer that
men will especially benefit from the reading of
it. Before I share my journey, I must note that
of late my prayer to God has essentially been,
The-devil-made-me-do-it philosophy of “Lord, turn up the heat on Your refining fire,
burn my impurities off, rip the works of the
life is not biblical. In fact, this is one of flesh from me, destroy the bond between me
Satan’s schemes. If he can get you to and my idols (the things that I used to cling to
blame him for your inability to resist that dishonored God), tear this filth from me
temptation then he has gained a great and replace it with Your righteousness.” Yes,
victory. He is more than willing to take these are the words I used in my petition
the blame if it means you will not change. before God. I intentionally used this harsh,
firm, tough, almost frightening language
If you don’t take responsibility for your because I knew that sin and righteousness are
response to the temptation, you will never so diametrically opposed that there can be no
overcome it. easy way to displace sin with righteousness.

No one makes me feel the way I do—not I have learned that the forbidden things that we
the guy at the newsstand, not my wife, not treasure most deeply will inevitably require the
most violent removal; because they have
my children, not my neighbor, not my become so much a part of us that they must be
boss. Not even the devil! I make me feel amputated.
the way I do. And it is impossible for me
to overcome temptation if I am blind to This is my journey to victory in the area of
myself. Therein lies the mastery of the sexual sin. Now let me describe the problem in
tempter, which is why James writes, “But terms of process, pattern, effects, and
revelation/victory.
every man is tempted, when he is drawn
away of his own lust, and enticed.” (James The process, by which I was deceived, was
1:14 KJV) this: I would encounter a stimulus (whether
audio-based, visual-based, or thought-based).
Taken from Overcoming the Dominion of Darkness by Gary D. This stimulus would remain in my mind; like a
Kinnaman (p96-7) video or song stuck on replay. It would not go
away. And then the “battle” would begin,
accompanied by clouds of mental chaos. On
one hand, I am tormented by this persistent
“stimulus.” On the other hand, I am reminded
of the commands and promises of God. I
knew them pretty well. I knew which

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… Journey to Victory Continued from page 4

scriptures to quote. There I was in the middle was already aware of this scripture. But I had
of a war. In the words of Paul, “I found there a never quite seen it like this…
law, that when I desired to do good; evil was
ever present” (Rom. 7:18-21 by reference). I now see it as a DIRECTIVE (a command) from
The provocative stimulus is warring against the all-knowing God of heaven and earth. HE is
the declarations of the things of God. telling me to not let sin reign.

The patterns of behavior that I engaged went The truth of this directive came crashing down on
like this: I would encounter “the stimulus.” I me like a bolt of lightening; it struck as follows. (I
would fight; I would fall; I would regret; I have a 5 year old daughter named Kayla; whom I
would repent. The next time it changed to: cherish.)
stimulus, fight, fall, repent, regret. Then this:
stimulus, fight, fall/regret, repent. Then: This is the graphic picture that was painted
stimulus, fight, regret, fall, repent. I had begun for me … “There is a man that was
to regret even before the fall occurred; which lingering around the neighborhood
made me feel totally powerless, essentially I watching you and your beautiful daughter
became a victim. My talk with God regarding go for walks, play in the yard, etc. He is
this became “Lord I know that all power to fixated on her; and decides he has to have
overcome this is Yours. You said that sin her. On night, he breaks into your house
should not have dominion over me.” I don't with all intents and purposes of violating
doubt one bit that You have given dominion to your daughter. You awake during the
me. “Why, then, do I feel like a victim if I break-in, you see it’s him, you know he's
have dominion?” God's response sounded like been looking at your daughter, you know
this “...” his intentions.” Here is the meat of the
revelation, “… would you tell him “stop,
The effects were as follows. The effect of the this is illegal; you're not supposed to be
pattern was that I felt like a victim. I felt that doing this; I have dominion, thus said the
no matter what I did I'd fall. The effects of the Lord, thou shalt not...?”
process were that I felt that the Word of God
was having no effect on the situation. I My mentor (in painting this gruesome picture) goes on
declared, and declared... and fell every time. I to say, “Would it even cross your mind to try and
felt that I had no hope, even in repenting, since negotiate with this irrational person? What is even
I would be back here within the next day or so the likelihood that he will live to see tomorrow?
“repeating and repenting.” My mindset You wouldn't let him usurp authority (reign) over
became one of asking “Why?” “Why would I your daughter in this situation. You would kill
repent for something that I know I'll be back him. It wouldn't matter if he was 6'10” 275 lbs
here “repenting” for tomorrow, or the next and all muscle; he would not see tomorrow, would
day?” Though I did repent every time; it he?” Almost enraged, I replied, “NO! Absolutely
became harder and harder to say the words, to not!! He would be dead, not questions asked.”
ask for forgiveness, and resolve not to do this Now granted it wouldn't be easy per se; but it
again. The last time I had repented the enemy would be done. Overcoming sin is not easy; but it
said “hah...yeah right.” I almost believed him. is not optional once you determine to live for God.
All that is left to do is to kill this thing. This spirit
The revelation/victory came when I was of sexual sin had been walking into my house with
talking to my spiritual mentor about this. We one in the chamber and giving me the gun, saying
read and discussed Romans 6:10-12 (KJV) “put it to your head and pull the trigger.” And I
focus on v12. “Let not sin therefore reign...” had been saying “…thou shalt not … it is written
As you can see from my reference above, I … and thus said the Lord,” all while putting the

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… Journey to Victory Continued from page 5

gun to my head anyway and pulling the trigger.


(Not any more.)
SUMMARY
There are spiritual laws revealed in creation.
When God made plants and animals to reproduce
after their own kind; they are not the only things If Jesus is the Answer ... What are the Questions?
that produce after their own kind. This same law .
is true for Sin and Righteousness. Sin will always God has gone to “great pains” literally to make it
bring forth more sin and righteousness will always known to us that sin, is an infinitely grievous and
bring forth more righteousness. This I know from most malicious error. From a legal perspective, if
experience; each time we fall into sin, it becomes you want to know how the law estimates the
easier to fall, more difficult to stand. Each time gravity of a crime, simply look at the penalty
we stand and resist the temptation to sin, it assessed for its violation.
becomes easier to stand. James 1:22 (KJV) says
“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only;
deceiving your own selves.” Whenever we fall The Leadership Corner –Leadership Living, Inc
into unrighteousness we say in our actions that sin
is more powerful than righteousness. Our behavior Many of us have experienced hearing the
misrepresents that Satan is more powerful than word of God, but then had problems with
God. All of this is deception. Our minds will applying it to the day-to-day challenges we
begin to accept this sin; and thereby accept the faced.
concept that sin is somehow more powerful than God helped me to understand how to
righteousness. We as Christians know that God is successfully use His Word as a tool to
all-powerful; that righteousness will always and address the various issues I face.
eternally be more powerful than sin, that
righteousness will always prevail. This is the very
My Journey to Victory
reason why God can never fail; because He is
infinitely Righteous, and therefore Omnipotent by Overcoming sin is not easy; but it is not optional
virtue of His Righteousness. Knowing this truth, once you determine to live for God. All that is left
sin should never be allowed to reign in our lives; to do is to kill this thing.
because it would separate us from God, and
thereby render us powerless. This is my journey to victory in the area of sexual
sin.
Knowing the truth makes us free!!! <>KN<>

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Enjoy them and share them at your leisure.

Editor: JoAnn C. White, sMHG KingdomNewsletter@yahoo.com

Copyright© 2008
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