A Kingdom Leader is a humble servant of all those whom they lead. Jesus presented himself as an example of kind servant-hood. His selfless washing of the disciples feet presented the complete picture of servant leadership.
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![]() A Kingdom Leader is always sensitive to the needs of others. Cathy always reminds me that we must be flexible as we serve others. But a healthy leader is also aware of his needs while giving attention, love, and availability to others. Do you change your schedule to make yourself available to serve? Are you frustrated when you are forced to change your approach? Are you alert and constantly watching for needy people who can be served? Are you looking for new ways to connect with others? You see us pictured as we walk through the woods with a cheetah. He never stopped turning his head from side to side. He was constantly alert for another meal. But he also knows his limitations. He has a small window of 300 meters to catch another animal and then he must stop to recover his breath for thirty minutes! Ministry requires a flexible mind and continual self awareness. Do you need to change? Consider how God changes things. Revelation 21:5 (NIV84) 5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” God is not content to restore the world to its former glory. He wants to make everything new! Are you reaching others with the love of Christ or the judgement of the law? Do you participate in shooting the wounded or coming alongside and healing those who struggle? Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________ The Holy Bible: New International Version (Re 21:5). (1984). Zondervan. Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Photos taken by Cathy and Danny Sartin in Africa.Kingdom Leadership is written for missionaries and ministers serving our Lord in various parts of the world. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things . . . Psalm 119:18 (ESV)
2 Timothy 3:2 (NKJV) For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy The New King James Version (2 Ti 3:2). (1982). Thomas Nelson. There will be terrible times in the last days. Paul tells Timothy to mark this. . . to understand this . . . to warn him of the collapse coming at the end. Paul gave an extraordinary list of traits to watch for before the coming of Jesus for His bride. We focus on one word in verse two to highlight for today. V. Predictions of Faithlessness (3:1–9). 3:1–5. As in his previous letter, Paul warned Timothy about the collapse predicted for the last days (cf. 1 Tim. 4:1–3), a term which includes the entire period between the first century and Christ’s return. During this interim, according to the prediction, the world will see terrible times of societal degeneration. Paul gave an extraordinary list (cf. Rom. 1:28–32) of 19 general characteristics believers should expect. People will be: (1) lovers of themselves (philautoi, “self-centered, narcissistic”); (2) lovers of money (philargyroi; cf. 1 Tim. 6:9–10); (3) boastful—the outward manifestation of the fact that inwardly they are (4) proud (“arrogant”); (5) abusive toward others, which translates blasphēmoi (“blasphemers”). Litfin, A. D. (1985). 2 Timothy. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 756). Victor Books. 989 βλάσφημος [blasphemos /blas·fay·mos/] adj. From a derivative of 984 and 5345; TDNT 1:621; TDNTA 107; GK 1061; Five occurrences; AV translates as “blasphemous” twice, “blasphemer” twice, and “railing” once. 1 speaking evil, slanderous, reproachful, railing, abusive. Strong, J. (1995). In Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship. A clear connection exists between boastful and proud (verse 2). The former word alazōn includes ‘the bounce of swaggering’ (Simpson), while the other word hyperēphanos, when used in a bad sense, conveys the idea of haughtiness or arrogance. The word abusive translates the Greek word blasphēmoi, but points to evil-speaking directed against others rather than against God. The last three vices in verse 2 are all specific denials of definite Christian virtues (in the Greek they all have the negative a-prefix) bringing out forcefully the idea of militant moral perversion. The same evident reversal of moral values is also seen in five of the six vices mentioned in verse 3, the only word without the negative prefix being slanderous (diaboloi). The word translated unforgiving (aspondos) literally means ‘without a truce’, and therefore ‘implacable’. It describes an hostility so intense that a truce is impossible. Without self-control shows an attitude of mind that is dominated by outside influences, while brutal is the antithesis of what is civilized. The expression not lovers of the good really describes those who hate the good and have replaced it with something less demanding. Guthrie, D. (1990). Pastoral Epistles: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 14, pp. 174–175). InterVarsity Press. Lovers of self (φιλαυτοι [philautoi]). Old compound adjective (φιλος, αὐτος [philos, autos]), here only in N. T. Lovers of money (φιλαργυροι [philarguroi]). Old compound adjective, in N. T. only here and Luke 16:14. See 1 Tim. 6:10. Boastful (ἀλαζονες [alazones]). Old word for empty pretender, in N. T. only here and Rom. 1:30. Haughty (ὑπερηφανοι [huperēphanoi]). See also Rom. 1:30 for this old word. Railers (βλασφημοι [blasphēmoi]). See 1 Tim. 1:13. Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (2 Ti 3:2). Broadman Press. It has certainly become a challenge to speak directly from the Word of God without offending someone. May the Lord give you a seasoned tongue of tenderness, love and clarity. Encourage others around you! Cathy and Danny Sartin wwwdeeperstillmissions.com ------------------------------------------ Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Bible Nuggets are written for pastors, youth leaders and missionaries who desire to go deeper still in God’s Word. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. ![]() A Kingdom Leader has his heart and mind cultivated on a regular basis. The affairs of life are constantly tilling the soil of practical knowledge and application. The eyes of his heart are opened by the constant turnover of thought. The constant upheaval of life can make all of us weary. Does God bring issues into your life that turn your schedule upside down? Do you struggle to keep balance in your thinking, feeling and how you live at home? Do you find yourself in need of a break from the daily pressures? Are you making progress despite the blows to your carefully laid plans? Life always seems to have a new wrinkle that is given to help us develop wisdom. From the childhood of Jesus, God the Father was cultivating an instructed tongue. He specifically wanted him to know the words that sustain the weary. (See Isaiah 50:4-5) Hebrews 5:8 (NIV84) Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered The experiences of life can feel like constant cultivation of your mind and heart. But the turnover of thought reveals new seeds of thinking, feeling and behavior. It brings a new perspective and new results that can make you even more effective. See the cultivation as a blessing from God. The residents of Nazareth were amazed at the wisdom of Jesus. He was clearly skilled in the affairs of life. It was practical wisdom that came from the cultivation of his mind and heart. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________ The Holy Bible: New International Version (Heb 5:8). (1984). Zondervan. Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Photos taken by Cathy and Danny Sartin in Africa. Kingdom Leadership is written for missionaries and ministers serving our Lord in various parts of the world. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. ![]() God Provided! Pictured on the left are some members of a choir from a poor township called Zolani. They were given the opportunity to train at Khanyisa Mountain Lodge in Robertson South Africa back in the spring. You see them dressed in their best for a presentation. The director of the choir invited us to visit a rehearsal in the township. Odwa is a large robust man who was an original member of the Nelson Mandella Singers who toured nationally and internationally years ago. Music had shaped his life and he was working to provide a similar experience for the kids in the poor township. It was a rainy and wind-swept day as we drove into the Xhosa neighborhood. The simple homes were standing within feet of one another. We walked into Odwa’s cinder brick home that had been built in stages. The open interior had exposed rafters and a tin roof. Rooms in the house were eight-foot walls open to the roof. The simple furnishings were tightly fitted into a corner open to the kitchen. Odwa graciously invited us in to sit and greet one another. He shared some of his experiences from years ago. At the same time his deep and powerful voice was impressive. He then took us next door to an open room with no furniture where the choir had gathered out of the rain for rehearsals. There were over twenty young people tightly packed in a eight foot by twelve foot room. Odwa spoke in their native language of Xhosa, and they began to sing! What followed was amazing and inspiring! Dancing was carefully choreographed along with motions and a crisp piercing sound. No speakers or microphones. Discipline and careful consideration had been given to the musical parts and the presentation of the music. My mind went to a favorite song from Josh Groban. You lift me up to more than I can be. That was happening in this tiny room. This description doesn’t convey the magic and pleasure of the moment. When I walked away, I knew I had witnessed something very special. May God help us to encourage one another in a similar fashion. We certainly have faced tremendous uncertainty over the last three years. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com. _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. This on the field report is written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and our goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. ![]() The flying Cat! The African Lynx Our time in Africa has been wonderful. We have have seen hundreds of cats from lions . . . to leopards . . . to cheetahs. But the smaller cats have been very illusive. Pictured above is one shot of a caracal taken by a motion sensitive wildlife camera. This was captured on the guest farm of Amathunzi. Only once in ten years did we get a fleeting glimpse of this magnificent cat in the headlights of our car. The only signs of his presence would be paw tracks through the bush. He is even know to bury his scat to keep himself solitary during his nocturnal hunting. His power is reflected in it's ability to capture reedbucks over twice its size. He can capture springboks, steenboks, duikers, hares, rabbits and many rodents. The caracal has amazing speed and uncanny jumping ability that can reach three meters. The caracal is so quick that he can leap and capture birds as they leave a watering hole. It will sometimes capture two birds by swatting them with its large paws as they fly away. God's creativity is so diverse. We watched a neighborhood cat in our back yard. He hid among the flowers and attempted to capture birds coming and going from Cathy's bird feeders. He just didn't have the quickness, and jumping ability of the wild cat in Africa. Look around you and see some of God's design. It takes our breath away. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved. Spiritual Safaris are written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and its goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. ![]() Report from Africa #4 Cathy is sitting with the Options staff who work with pregnant girls in the Knysna area. We had several hours of sharing and opening the Word of God with this fun group of ladies. The last two weeks have been filled with one-on-one meetings along with small group meetings almost every day. What a joy it is to share in ministry and share our lives at the same time. As you can see there has been a tremendous amount of laughter, mixed with solemn moments and spiritual encouragement. We have found ourselves thrilled, challenged, and always brought to the throne of our savior with a spiritual focus. But there is one moment that touched our hearts deeply. We were in church with Philip and Elize. They had introduced us to their small group who share their lives and the gospel also. On that Sunday a man they had been building a relationship with came in his wheelchair. They had to pick him up and place him in his wheelchair and bring him into the service for the first time in his life. Cathy and I sat behind them and had front row seats to watch during the singing. He raised his hand and wanted to stand and sing with the crowd. He was unable to stand on his own. These two men lifted him and made it possible for him to participate in the worship of God. They held him up and could hear his broken voice calling out to God. Something special was going on! That moment reminded me of the four men who brought the paralytic to Jesus. They even pulled open the roof so he could be lowered to the feet of Jesus! When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, son your sins have been forgiven. (Mark 2:5 NIV) The faith of those two men lifting this man so he could sing was a powerful moment. Hope HQ and YFC Knysna is touching the lives of many. We are thankful to come alongside and encourage them! Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com. _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. This on the field report is written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and our goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. ![]() Report from Africa #3 This week will be a transition for us to the South African city of Knysna. We will be spending two weeks pouring into the lives of missionaries who we have a deep admiration and respect for their work. Pictured above is Cathy with one of the staff we met several years ago. This is an opportunity to go deeper still into their walk with Christ and their growth as leaders. They provide hope on multiple levels to the parched hearts of people who struggle to make ends meet in this beautiful city on the Indian Ocean. Led by veteran missionary Philip Schroder, he guides Hope HQ among needy families in the area. I think of it as the hope headquarters. It is a place where confidence grows, and people experience what it feels like to be loved and appreciated. My heart warms at the programs they conduct. They have Hands and Hearts workshop that is a trainee carpenter school. My father and grandfather were both carpenters. When I first walked into the building it reminded me of shop at school back in Jackson. They are learning practical skills that will support them and grow them for the future. They also have the Ithemba Skills Center for ladies. They design and make clothes using sewing machines that are provided. Both programs touch real life issues like dagga (a local issue) and drugs. They learn the foundations of faith in Jesus Christ and develop hope for the future. The flip side of Hope HQ is the local Youth for Christ Center. They run the Options Care Center for pregnant girls in the area. They have Team Khanya to minister in the schools and neighborhoods. Volunteers from Germany come and give a year of service to serve these kids. They have study clubs to help students with their schoolwork. Pray for us as we pour ourselves into these leaders for the next two weeks. Pray as our hearts listen carefully and our mind is laser focused on each person. May they go deeper still in their walk with Christ. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com. _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. This on the field report is written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and our goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things . . .
Psalm 119:18 (ESV) Boastful in the last days. 1–5 This be constantly knowing, that in the last days difficult times will set in, for men shall be fond of themselves, fond of money, swaggerers, haughty, revilers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, lacking self-control, savage, haters of that which is good, betrayers, headstrong, besotted with pride, fond of pleasure rather than having an affection for God, having a mere outward semblance of piety toward God but denying the power of the same. And these be constantly shunning. Wuest, K. S. (1961). The New Testament: an expanded translation (2 Ti 3:1–5). Eerdmans. People like to know the signs of the last days. Paul gives a powerful picture of godlessness in the last days. From The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text. The next layer of terms, working from both the beginning and the end of the list, focuses on pride and hostility toward others. Associated, therefore, with self-love is an attitude of arrogant pride and disdain for others. In the first two words of this layer, joined here as in Rom. 1:30, Paul describes these people as “boasters” (ἀλαζόνες, notice Pr. 21:24 LXX and the associated concepts there) and as “arrogant” or “haughty” (ὑπερήφανοι,** Lk. 1:51; Rom. 1:30; Jas. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5), i.e., as those who express their pride in both talk and attitude. Here again Paul mentions characteristics of the false teachers (cf. 1 Tim. 1:7; 6:4; see Trench, Synonyms, 98–102 on both words; Barclay, More NT Words, 85–89 on the second). The third word of this group, βλάσφημοι** (Acts 6:11; 1 Tim. 1:13; here; 2 Pet. 2:11), “evil speakers,” “slanderers,” is most likely used here of “abusive” speech against other people, just as the related verb and abstract noun are used elsewhere in the PE of an evil that Christians must avoid in their dealings with non-Christians (βλασφημέω in Tit. 3:2) and that is associated with the false teachers (βλασφημία in 1 Tim. 6:4). From the Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 88.220 ἀλαζών, όνος m: (derivative of ἀλαζονεία ‘pretentious pride,’ 88.219) one who is pretentiously proud and given to bragging about it—‘braggart, arrogant person.’ ἔσονται γὰρ οἱ ἄνθρωποι φίλαυτοι, φιλάργυροι, ἀλαζόνες ‘for there will be people who are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, braggarts’ 2 Tm 3:2. In a number of languages an arrogant person is described figuratively as ‘one who speaks big words about himself’ or ‘one whose mouth is too big for his body.’). From the Theological lexicon of the New Testament ἀλαζονεία, ἀλαζών alazoneia, boastful arrogance; alazōn, boaster mention as a third epithymia “the lust for riches or money,” it is precisely because he had his sights set on a more serious vice than the ostentation of the wealthy or their arrogance toward the poor. He contrasts with God the creaturely pride, the mastery of one’s own existence, of the person who decides and directs the course of his life without taking God into account.11 This “sufficiency” is the exact opposite of the absolute duty of worshiping God and serving God devoutly; it follows that this is something altogether different from the classical and profane alazoneia. This one word easily describes the attitudes we see in our world today. Go before our Lord in humility and worship. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com _________________________ Wuest, K. S. (1961). The New Testament: an expanded translation (2 Ti 3:1–5). Eerdmans. LXX Septuagint ** all occurrences of the word or phrase in the New Testament are listed or it is identified as a New Testament hapax legomenon ** all occurrences of the word or phrase in the New Testament are listed or it is identified as a New Testament hapax legomenon PE Pastoral Epistles Knight, G. W. (1992). The Pastoral Epistles: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 431). W.B. Eerdmans; Paternoster Press. m masculine Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). In Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 764). United Bible Societies. 11 This is the interpretation of J. Chaine, Les Epîtres catholiques, Paris, 1939, p. 164; R. Schnackenburg, Die Johannesbriefe, Freiburg, 1953, p. 114. Ἀλαζών does not occur in the papyri, but cf. P.Lond. 1927, 32 (Christian, mid-fourth century, H. I. Bell, Jews and Christians in Egypt, p. 111): τὴν τοῦ κόσμου ἀλαζονίαν ἀπεκήρυξας καὶ τὴν τῶν κενοδόξων μεγαλαυχίαν ἐβδέλυξας. Spicq, C., & Ernest, J. D. (1994). In Theological lexicon of the New Testament (Vol. 1, pp. 63–65). Hendrickson Publishers. Copyright © Danny Sartin. All Rights Reserved.Bible Nuggets are written for pastors, youth leaders and missionaries who desire to go deeper still in God’s Word. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. Report from the field!![]() Each day presents new circumstances and issues to work past. Yesterday started with a break down of a volunteer baakie (pickup truck in America). Cathy and I and two volunteers broke down beside the city dump coming out of Robertson, South Africa. We were twenty kilometers away from our farm. It is not the best place to be stranded on the road in Africa. One of the highlights of our time has been the Bible studies with the ministry volunteers. Pictured above is the current group who are completing a year of service among the farm children. My . . . are they a joy to work with! But they are also a delight to guide through God’s Word. Their questions are spot on. Their observations are sometimes a surprise to them. The basics of following Christ become alive, rich, and wonderful for application. After one study a visitor who claimed to not be religious said, if this is how your study the Bible then I am here! Their smiles say it all. We share the Bible, but we also share our lives with one another. Little by little we share a fresh layer of experiences with one another. They drop by our cottage and ask questions and seek to know Cathy and I as a couple. A couple of Germans wanted to see an American western movie from our collection we carry with us. Laughter and togetherness have led to deep discussions on faith and life. We are deeply grateful that God allows us to support this missionary family in Africa. It is with gratitude that we say thanks to everyone who made this possible. Cathy and Danny Sartin www.deeperstillmissions.com. _________________________ Copyright © Danny Sartin and Deeper Still Missions. All Rights Reserved. This on the field report is written for those who support Deeper Still Missions and our goal of missionary retention. Re-Prints: Deeper Still Missions devotionals are protected by international copyright laws. To request reprint permission contact the offices of DSM. Permission is granted and encouraged to forward this post in its entirety to others without making any changes or deletions. |
Danny SartinFour decade veteran of youth ministry in churches, Youth For Christ and now is the Founder and Executive Director of Deeper Still Missions. Danny and his wife Cathy spend most of their time mentoring missionaries in Africa, Europe, Central America and North America. Future opportunities include South America and the Asia Pacific area. Archives
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