Expect the New

UV 2161/10000 Expect the New
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43 v 19

The Lord who is the Creator of all things and all creatures is able to renew our lives. He gives us a fresh start each day with each sunrise and the rising of Jesus in our hearts as the Sun of Righteousness. He is able to bring forth hope in our hearts even in absolutely hopeless situations. The “desert” metaphor stands for this kind of barrenness in our lives for not a blade of grass could grow in the extreme climate of the Egyptian desert through which the nation of Israel was led. It could not grow as there was not a drop of water. Yet the Lord in His mercy made rivers of water available to soothe the parched throats of the Israelites. Once He frees us from the slavery to sin, death and satan, the Lord blesses our provisions – our stores of food and water.

There was also no clear pathway in the desert sand but the Lord went ahead of the people of Israel as a dense cloud by day and a fire by night. Similarly, the cloud of His presence leads us even today. He communicates to us out of the cloud- I call this cloud communication as opposed to cloud computing. He lights a fire of faith in our hearts and minds so that we believe in Him, in ourselves, our dreams and hopes for a better life than before. In the contemporary darkness and madness of violence and greed in this world, the Lord acts as the light to guide us step by step, moment by moment, day by day, week by week, month by month and year to year. The things the Lord does to us and for us is hidden and secret. But He brings forth the hidden treasures meant for us out of darkness. The hidden treasure may not be gold or jewels but a new word the Lord speaks to us in our hour of dire need.

Life in this world is like travelling through wilderness. Every day looks similar like every tree in the woods. There are no red flags to highlight risky paths, no markers to help us navigate in the direction we ought to go. There are a lot of red herrings thrown in by the enemy of our souls to divert us, to distract us, to make us take a detour that leads us off the path and direction we should be taking in life. But the Lord creates a clear highway for the manger leader or manager to take. There is no shelter on the way but the Lord Himself becomes the rock shelter in the “dry and weary land.” The Lord will bring forth fresh spring water of blessings from the rock to refresh and renew us. Just as a spring never dries up unlike a river, the Lord remains our eternal spring. When is the time the Lord will do these “new” things in and for us: today and now as stated in the uni-verse. So we need to look forward with hope, expectation and faith to every present moment. He knows the end from the beginning and He wants to give us the expected end.

Prateep V Philip
*Wish all faithful readers a Blessed New Year 2017 in which you will experience in truth and reality all the above.

Transformation- A Two Way Process

UV 2160/10000 Transformation- A Two Way Process
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5 v 17

Jesus is the Word of reconciliation between God and man, between man and man, between man and woman, between the past, present and the future, between spirit, mind and body. The implanting of the Word in the manger leader or manager initiates a new creature in him. Two processes happen simultaneously in the manger leader or manager- one of living for Christ, in Christ, by Christ and another of dying to the self, dying to the flesh, dying to the ego, dying to sin, dying to lusts, dying to the world. He has to cleave to the Lord and to leave the world. He has to cling to good and let go of what is evil. The first process builds us up. The second process breaks down all the negatives in our lives. Together, these two processes constitute renewal and transformation.

The first time God created man in His image, He did it on a single day. Now, the second act of creating our inner selves in the image of Christ is done over our lifetime on earth. The first time we were created, we were made distinct from all other species with a soul and a spirit. But we had no participation in the act of creation. Man was given the power to name or label every creature and plant. Man was also given the power of domination or leadership. But, man by a single act of disobedience developed the spirit of disobedience or rebellion against the godly order. The second time we are created in the image of Christ by faith and it therefore, it involves our participation. We are now invested with the self same spirit of Christ- of reverence and obedience of the Father. He is now become our justification, our sanctification, our redemption, our salvation, our wisdom, our righteousness and our strength. The first time God created man, He left him and visited him. Now, the Lord never leaves us. He is with us as the immanent God and Saviour.

Jesus said, “Do not put new wine in an old bottle.” Accordingly, He put the new spirit of obedience in a new heart, a heart of flesh and not of stone for as soon as man rebelled against God, his spiritual heart shrivelled and died. As a result, the manger leader has a new and eternal perspective. For the manger leader or manager, that the Lord is with him, is the greatest joy, the greatest strength, the greatest wisdom, the greatest power, the greatest wealth and pleasure. The manger leader has a new vision of life, a new sense of priorities. He is no longer driven by his own passions and desires but by the purpose the Lord has created him and redeemed him for.

Prateep V Philip

Leadership By Grace

UV 2159/10000 Leadership By Grace
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4 v 16

Jesus has by His death and resurrection absolved us by the first act of all sin, gives us hope of eternal life by His second act of rising from the dead. He is now at the right hand of the Father in heaven as our advocate, intercessor and High Priest. On account of these we can enter boldly the court of the Lord and approach His throne to obtain both mercy and grace. Grace is beautifully defined or described in this uni-verse as the divine help God gives us in our time of need. The manger leader or manager ‘s testimony is always, “ I once was blind but now I see by grace.”

A manger leader or manager does not enter the presence of the Lord on his own merits but on the basis of the justification provided by Jesus. The word “justification” means to “make straight.” The Lord is the One who has made our ways straight, our hearts straight. We live and walk in the “street called Straight.” It is the narrow way. It is the more uncomfortable way. If we move a little to the left or to the right, we will be hurt like Balaam the prophet on his “prophetic donkey.” Jesus as our High Priest who once was fully human walked this narrow path and remained faithful and victorious till the end. Though vulnerable as humans, He proved Himself to be the Mighty God. He did not yield to temptations or pressures. He knows our shortcomings and supplies what we lack by His abundant mercy and grace.

Manger leadership and management is not about self righteousness as there is nothing to be proud of in terms of our character or our abilities. It is leadership and management by grace. It involves boldness, courage, initiative, dynamism and confidence based not on our physical or intellectual attributes or expertise. It is not based on good luck or intuition but on the favour of the Lord. Like Jesus, the manger leader or manager grows in wisdom( Decisional Intelligence) and in knowledge( Intellectual Intelligence) and in favour with God(Spiritual Intelligence) and man( Emotional and Social Intelligence). Decisional Intelligence is about making the right choices consistently and to be able to identify at an early stage if one has made any wrong choice and take prompt steps to correct it or at least contain the damage. Since the Lord is the only One who knows the end from the beginning of everything that exists and will ever exist, He gives the manger leader guidance by way of prompters, pointers and markers through the ministry of the Holy Spirit and through the shaping of circumstances.
Prateep V Philip

All Round Prosperity, Peace and Progress

UV 2158/10000 All Round Prosperity, Peace and Progress

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth
3 John 1 v 2

In today’s parlance, this would read as “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” The manger leader or manager is a well wisher of all including his friends, followers and foes. He desires above all that they prosper in spirit and mind and body. He prays for holistic prosperity, health, well being and all round peace for all people. True health is not just physical but it is also mental and spiritual. The average leader or manager works for only financial prosperity- only one parameter matters- the bottom line of profits. True prosperity is not just financial, it is also emotional, intellectual, social, familial and spiritual. The body, mind and spirit are closely integrated and if the needs of one part is not met, the other parts also suffer. The manger leader is not concerned only with his health and well being but that of his staff and clients.

That said, the prosperity of the soul or the mind in conjunction with the spirit is the most fundamental need of human being. We cannot afford to gain all that is good in this world and lose our soul. The soul has an eternal and infinite value. In order to save it, God gave His own Son as saviour and sacrifice for all humanity. Our faith in Him is not static but dynamic and growing. It affects positively all aspects of our lives- spirit, mind and body. It enables us to live positively. The manger leader or manager knows that it is not enough to just think positive but it is necessary to believe positive, dream positive, speak positive, feel positive, act positive and react positive to even the most negative situations and people.

As manger leaders or managers, we should not let success or for that matter, failure to interfere with our happiness. We do not place success on the altar of our soul for it belongs to God alone. We do not place self or any other on the throne of our soul for it belongs to Jesus alone. We do not have to sacrifice our happiness, health or well being for the sake of temporal success. Inner well being is as important, if not more, as external prosperity. Inner well being depends on our attitudes. If we are rooted in Christ and growing in Him, we will reflect the attitudes that Jesus extolled in the beatitudes: being repentant, being empathetic with the suffering, being merciful, being a peace maker, being meek and humble, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, being pure, being willing to pay a price for standing for the truth. These attitudes when they fructify into attributes of the manger leader or manager manifest as the nine fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self control. Prosperity of the soul implies that we abound in these fruit in our inner life and its manifestations in our relationships. The manger leader is contented with what he has, with what God has blessed him with, but he is willing to work for more. He exercises the hope and option of progress. He does not confuse contentment with complacency.

Prateep V Philip

The Manger Leader's Source of Strength

UV 2157/10000 The Manger Leader’s Source of Strength
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness

Isaiah 41 v 10

The manger leader or manager has no fear. His confidence and trust is in God. He is assured of the Lord’s presence with Him at all times, in the valley of the shadow of death as well as in the land of the living. The presence of God is the source of his strength, competence, resources. He humbles himself before God and entrusts all of his concerns, desires, challenges to the Lord. He knows that God is with him as an everlasting Father who will never leave him nor forsake him. He does not trust in earthly riches or power or position. He believes in the generous provision and absolute security the Lord provides. He knows he will never have cause for disappointment or regret as long as he walks in His LIGHT- His love, His integrity, His grace; as long as he reflects the “ be happy” attitudes that Jesus extolled in the sermon on the mount, as long as he walks in truth.

The manger leader or manager recognizes that God’s grace is sufficient for him. He knows that God who said He is the I AM can be all things he needs him to be. He believes in the justice and power of God as the Mighty One who will vindicate, deliver, extricate him, honour him, bless him abundantly. The manger leader does not however shirk his own responsibilities. He goes the extra mile to excel in whatever he does for he does it in the name of God. He lives by the credo of devotion to God, dedication of all efforts to God, determination to set and achieve targets, discipline to control his own desires, emotions and actions and diligence in all matters.

The uni-verse promises that if there is a shortfall in anything, the Lord will help us. He will strengthen us in our resolve, our faith, our faculties. He will impart wisdom and guidance. If we fall short of our goals, He will support us. He will equip us to make good the gap. The manger leader or manager has an attitude of dependence on God and interdependence with other people. He uses all the God-sent opportunities. He employs all the available God-given resources. He does not suffer excessive stress or executive burn out as he never feels or acts as if he is overloaded. He is neither proud of his own strengths or ashamed of his weaknesses as he has dedicated the former to the Strongest One – the Almighty and he considers his weaknesses opportunities for God to manifest His grace and power.

Prateep V Philip

The Spoils of War and of Peace

UV 2156/10000 The Spoils of War and Peace

Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
Isaiah 9 v 3

The word joy to the manger leader or manager means “Jesus owns you.” He or she is a servant or steward of the Lord. Formerly, he was abducted by the enemy and was possessed by him but now he has been ransomed or bought back by Jesus. The ownership of God of man has been restored forever. This produces the euphoric feeling of victory. The joy is similar to that a farmer experiences when he sees that the fruit of all his labour, his sowing, fencing, ploughing, watering, tending, praying, hoping is about to be harvested. The harvest will meet his own need for bread or food, that of his family and others. Since we are living souls and God is the harvester, we can rejoice along with the harvester in our salvation. We are not the chaff or hay that is meant for burning but the souls that are ready for harvest. The Lord of the harvest, being the Multiplier He is, multiplies our talents, our abilities, our resources, our impact, our contributions, our victories, our blessings. We should not grudge it when He multiplies our challenges and difficulties to make of us a better farmer, a greater soldier.

The joy the manger leader or manager enjoys is the result of a struggle, a battle, a war in the spiritual realms. Each soul is wrested from the abductor and his forces of captivity. The cords and bonds with which he has tied up humankind are torn asunder by the Prince of Peace. Hence, we enjoy the spoils of war and peace. The spoils of war are the blessings in place of curses that we inherit in Christ. The spoils of peace are the eternal rewards we receive in heaven. The Old Testament records the raid that Abraham did with his band of loyal fighters on the Midianites camp to recover his captured servants, women folk and cattle. Similarly, we do surgical strikes on the enemy camp and celebrate our victory in Christ by sharing the spoils of war. We take back what rightly belongs to us, what has been stolen from us, our spiritual inheritance of peace, joy and everlasting life.

The manger leader or manager is a farmer in peace time and a soldier in a time of war. He is patient and hardworking as a farmer. He is as brave, disciplined and loyal as a soldier. As a farmer, he is diligent and does appropriate things at the apt time and in due season. As a soldier, he is always in training for warfare. As a farmer, he watches out for the pests and birds of prey and keeps these at bay. As a soldier, he stands guard and alert at all times. As a farmer, his tools are the yoke of Jesus to plough, his seed are the gospel of transformation, the believers and followers of Jesus are the flock. As a soldier, his weapon is the Word that he brandishes in fervent prayer. His shield is his faith in the whole Word of God. His shoes are the Commander-in-Chief ’s call to go where he sends him. The truths he has learnt and applies in his life are the belt that ties up and holds his armour in place. His helmet of assurance of salvation is indestructible and impenetrable even as his ear pieces allow him to hear even the whisper of the spirit. The farmer divides the spoils of peace. The soldier in us divides the spoils of war. A man of all seasons is able to turn the threshing rod into a sword and the sword into a threshing rod.

Prateep V Philip

Immanence, Transcendence and Omnicompetence

UV 2155/10000 Immanence, Transcendence and Omnicompetence of The Manger Leader

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 7 v 14

God is with us through the presence of Jesus in four dimensions- Mighty God who renders justice to all- the righteous and the unrighteous, the weak and the strong, the poor and the rich, the meek and the powerful. Wonderful Counsellor- who gives amazing directions, counsel and guides us in wisdom in our everyday situations and predicaments. Everlasting Father in His loving embrace, acceptance, protection, provision and promotion of us. Prince of Peace who preserves us from the curses of disobedience and rebellion against the perfect order of God and the wiles of the enemy to steal our peace, rob our joy, kill our hope. When we are grafted onto the good root of Jesus by our faith and commitment of our hearts and lives, we will experience each of these dimensions in our everyday lives, culminating in our salvation. He does not hesitate to give us signs of His presence, His power, His attributes, His sovereignty. He lives in us and with us. We are His living tabernacle. He does not live in man-made tabernacle. We are the housing of the Spirit of God as He chose to live in our God-made and ordained bodies.

Since “ God is with us” in the four dimensions described in Isaiah 9 v 6, the manger leader or manager always has access to unlimited love, power, wisdom and peace. Though he appears externally to be weak, poor, unimpressive, ineffective, in reality he is able to do all things through Christ who strengthens him. This is the secret of omni-competence of the manger leader or manager.

God not only framed our bodies. He breathed His spirit into us and thereby created us in His spiritual image, the image of Christ, the anointed One, the chosen of God. The high calling of the manger leader or manager requires that he is invested with the spirit of Jesus in four dimensions: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge, the spirit of the fear of the Lord. These are not four different spirits but four attitudes that the man of God cultivates with the help of the spiritual Teacher, the Holy Spirit. In practical terms, these attitudes translate into a lifestyle of five D’s : devotion, dedication, determination, discipline and diligence. These five attitudes and attributes will enable us to fulfil the Creator’s purpose for each of us. A one hundred per cent devotion of all that we are and all that we have to the perfect God who is all mighty or all powerful, just and merciful, who is a wonderful counsellor , eternal Father and the One who rules us with love, peace and grace. A dedication of all parts of our being and all that we think, say and do to increasing the perception and knowledge of the greatness of God. The perfect paradigm is executed by the following three practical components of our mindset: A determination to set goals and achieve these with systematic planning and efforts. Discipline to cut out the frills, to sacrifice pleasures and comforts, to avoid the bad choices, to stay the course. Finally, diligence in seeking and doing God’s will by studying His word and His model of perfection- Jesus.


Prateep V Philip