This presentation became part one of a two-part illustrated sermon series. The first message is The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached from Matthew 5–7. The second is a powerful dramatization in which I quote, by memory, the Book of Philippians, dressed as the Apostle Paul, imprisoned.

Picture Jesus as He delivers His Sermon on the Mount on a beautiful outdoor hillside near the Sea of Galilee. The crowd included the disciples, fishermen, farmers, the poor, the sick, and religious seekers. These were ordinary people hungry for truth and healing.

All Christians face discouragement. It can drain our energy, cloud our vision, and whisper lies that God has forgotten us. But the Word of God declares that we are in a spiritual battle, and our weapons are mighty through God.

All Christians face discouragement. It can drain our energy, cloud our vision, and whisper lies that God has forgotten us. But the Word of God declares that we are in a spiritual battle, and our weapons are mighty through God.

Our world is fighting battles with pills, possessions, and power—but the real war is spiritual. The weapons we need are not man-made; they are mighty through God.

Over 4 million Americans suffer from Panic Anxiety Disorder, and worldwide the number exceeds 89 million. Ten percent of people will experience at least one panic attack in their lifetime—most often in their early twenties—and it is twice as common in women as in men.

The book of Lamentations contains five poetic laments—four are acrostic, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Jeremiah’s sorrow was not senseless—it was structured grief, disciplined lament, the poetry of a man crushed by despair but still anchored in faith.

Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

That phrase “has not given” comes from the Greek word didomi — a verb in the aorist active indicative tense, meaning a completed action. In other words, God has already provided everything we need to live fearlessly.

It’s strange—how often the person we can’t stand ends up controlling our life.
The one who hurt us can dominate our thoughts, influence our moods, and shape our words.
Unforgiveness drags the offender into our hearts, where resentment burns and rules our emotions.

Join me for an inspiring Leadership Masterclass! Together, we’ll uncover 11 timeless traits of leadership and explore 99 powerful facts that reveal the power and influence of Christian Strong thinking that can equip you to face every challenge and seize every opportunity in life.

Leadership equals influence! And leadership led by the Holy Spirit can make a decisive difference in your life. Why? Because the Christian life moves through different seasons. By His grace, God gives us seasons of rest, blessings, and favor as we walk in obedience. But Scripture never promises that obedience exempts us from trials, tests, or the many challenges of a world broken by sin.

“Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be,” wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson. That is the supreme result of leadership. When you step into leadership, you can ignite inspiration in yourself, your spouse, your children, your friends, your coworkers, and countless others to become the person God created them to be.

Are you feeling crushed under the weight of life? Are you wrestling with the suffocating darkness of depression? Do you sense an invisible barrier keeping you from reaching the full potential God placed inside you? You don’t have to remain trapped.

Are you truly fulfilled? Do you long to be? Are you chasing after the passion God has planted deep in your heart? What makes life genuinely meaningful and enjoyable? My answer may surprise you.

Are you about to give up? Ready to collapse under the crushing weight of your struggle? What if I told you that the very problem, person, or pressure keeping you awake at night is no match for God’s solution? The real question is this: will you hang on—will you refuse to quit—until God shows up with His perfect timing and decisive action?

There is one litmus test every true leader must face: opposition. If you’re serious about leading for Christ, you won’t escape it. Let me ask you: what is the biggest barrier standing between you and the next level of spiritual impact? What is keeping you from a life marked not only by success, but by significance? Whatever it is, you can be sure it will involve opposition.

Has anyone ever told a malicious lie about you? How did you react? Regrettably, even within the faith community, some believers are far too eager to both hear and spread poisonous rumors. Men and women who are making a kingdom impact for Jesus Christ are often the prime targets of criticism. Small-minded people will always resist God-sized vision.

What will people say about you? Have you ever paused to reflect on how you will be remembered and what will be said at your funeral? I don’t mean to be morbid—but honest. Ask yourself: What has been the sum total of my life? Who have I influenced for Jesus Christ? Has God used me to transform lives for His purpose and glory? Reflecting on the end of your life can ignite a profound sense of urgency to change your life for God today.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, you are a change agent! As you step into God’s calling as a leader, you become a catalyst for God to use you and move. All it takes is one Spirit-ignited Christian in a family, a church, or even a nation, and dynamic transformation will follow. There is an invisible, unstoppable power available in your life 24/7—the surpassing power of prayer!

Have you reached that defining moment in your spiritual life where you have made written, thoughtful promises to God? If not, why not? There is no better time than now as we come to Nehemiah chapter 10. This chapter is a time capsule of wholehearted surrender—a living example for us to follow.