Invest in Yourself, Then Beware the Seven Prodigal Spirits
Dr RJ Sing, 3 hr 3 min
Originally recorded as “Leaders' Meeting: Invest in Yourself and Seven Prodigal Spirits”
Sermon outline
A leader must take heed to himself: keep investing in his own growth, concentrate on what God called him to do, and refuse the wasteful 'prodigal' spirits that make people throw away the advice, position and sonship God has given them.
Main text
- 1 Timothy 4:16
- Philippians 3:13
- Luke 15:11-32
Opening
Speaking to the leaders and workers of the church and its Phoenix branch, he refers back to the morning service that 'rocked their boat', explaining that he takes no pleasure in being unkind but God's business is serious business because we have an enemy we cannot see. He tells them to get their notepads out: he wants to talk about several things, starting with how a leader invests in himself.
Take heed unto yourself and unto the doctrine
After God has made His investment in your life, you are told to take heed to yourself: guard your heart and make right choices, because the church is not responsible for your choices; you are. 'Continue in them' warns against starting and stopping or going backwards. In so doing you save yourself from the devil's wiles and from making shipwreck of your faith, and you save those who hear you, because people are watching how a leader lives.
Illustration: The leader who once danced and sang and never wanted to go home, but now darts for the door 'like a springbok' as soon as the service ends: 'Who poisoned you? Who contaminated you?'
“The church is not responsible for your choices. You are responsible for your choices.”
- 1 Timothy 4:16
- Proverbs 4:23
Three reasons a leader must invest in himself
Number one, the law of deterioration: everything around you is running down, and without new information you become outdated and the people you lead overtake you. Number two, the law of staying one step ahead: you cannot let things idly pass you by. Number three, the law of taking care of yourself before you take care of someone else: people today are well informed, so a leader has to be sharp.
“Every leader who invests in himself will ensure that he remains a leader.”
- Proverbs 27:23-24
Seven ways every leader can invest in himself
One, read the Bible every day: sow to the Spirit and you reap spiritual things. Two, read Christian books every day. Three, listen to teaching tapes, which add up to semesters at university. Four, attend seminars, conferences and church services. Five, spend more on books than on clothes and hair. Six, watch videos of anointed men of God, because the anointing flows through them. Seven, build a personal library of books and tapes, and do not lend it out, because God may one day prompt you to pick up a particular book to speak to you. He explains he fills his own books with Scripture because the Bible intimidated him as a new Christian, and advises new believers to start with the Gospels and Epistles before the Old Testament.
Illustration: He buys books by the pile and always carries two bags full of books, tapes and DVDs, like Paul asking for 'especially the parchments'. He once paid R150 to hear a motivational speaker for 45 minutes whose message was 'Yes, I can', and says church gives you far more than that. One woman spends her money on ten books, another on ten doughnuts: 'a wise choice versus a bad choice.'
“In fact, more than buying clothes, you should be buying books.”
- Galatians 6:8
- 2 Timothy 4:13
- Matthew 7:6
Marry love with wisdom: keep your boundaries
A bucket full of love is not enough without wisdom. Not everyone belongs in your home or your private life; married people should shut down flirting at once, not visit members of the opposite sex alone, and be grateful for their own spouse rather than imagining someone else's is better. In the same way, do not lend money you need back; rather give what you can as a gift so that money never comes between you.
Illustration: An elephant finds an ostrich's eggs left in the veld, decides the mother has no love, and sits on them to keep them warm: 'What did he have? Scrambled eggs.'
“So always marry love with wisdom.”
The secret of concentration
Paul said 'this one thing I do'. He gives sixteen things every leader should know: every great achievement, battle and ministry comes from concentrating on a single objective; concentration makes people work faster, while delays discourage everyone; it depends on separating the relevant from the irrelevant; the telephone, useless socialising and television are its thieves; inject urgency, finish one task at a time, because unfinished projects break down confidence; busy people have no time for backbiting and strife; and concentration makes everything grow. He tells how the church once ran food schemes until the Lord told him He had called him to teach the Word through books, TV and radio, and to concentrate on that.
Illustration: Years earlier he, Wesley and staff spent whole days packing vegetable boxes and later gave out grocery vouchers, until the Lord asked him, 'Did I call you to feed the poor?' and said, 'I called you to teach the word.' Seven months into 2007 he has launched six books and is halfway through The Name of Jesus and You, working from morning until midnight the day before.
“Concentration makes everything grow.”
- Philippians 3:13
- Proverbs 13:12
- Psalm 90:12
Prodigal living: he wasted the advice and the opportunity
Prodigal means wasteful or extravagant, and people waste not only money but resources and opportunities. He calls him the prodigal boy, because he never grew up in his thinking. Number one, he wasted the advice his father gave him, as many believers waste years of preaching and counsel. Number two, he wasted an opportunity to be great; do not throw in the towel just as you reach the corner where your breakthrough is waiting.
Illustration: A believer who sits under the Word six hours a week for three or four years and then says, 'I've had enough of church'.
“Don't waste your opportunities.”
- Luke 15:11-13
He wasted his position, his inheritance and his sonship
When you waste your position as a son, you end up a servant. Relate to your pastor as a spiritual son and you receive a father's counsel and an inheritance of anointing and gifts, as Elisha did when he called Elijah 'my father, my father'; ask for advice rather than simply informing him of your decisions. The prodigal had to come back and reapply as a hired servant, and a servant does not abide in the house forever, but a son does, so never walk away from valuable sonship relationships.
Illustration: He never wanted to be a pastor: he loved his career and was heading somewhere, and tossed and turned before giving up something great for something greater. A junior footballer who thinks he is good walks up to David Beckham, who tells him he has a long way to go.
“When you waste your position as a son, you end up a servant.”
- Luke 15:18-19
- 2 Kings 2:12
- John 8:35
Prodigal spirit 1: the spirit of Belial
Belial means worthless, good for nothing, cheap or vile. It is the spirit that makes a gifted person throw their value away, and in church it often begins with 'Pastor, I'm upset, I want to sit down.' A position in ministry is given by God, so bring your struggles to your pastor for help, but do not step down from the place where God elevated you.
Illustration: From Adrian the keyboard player and worship leader to 'Adrian the seated one', whom no one watches anymore.
“Once you take a position, you take it for life.”
Prodigal spirit 2: the spirit of greed
He that loves silver will not be satisfied with silver. Gehazi was being schooled under Elisha and could have succeeded him, but he ran after Naaman's money and clothing and ended with leprosy on his whole line. Do not take a job that pays double if it pulls you away from church, and do not expect instant success: they have been married 26 years and did not get where they are overnight.
Illustration: After 1 and 2 Kings there might have been books called '1 Gehazi' and '2 Gehazi'. Instant Royco, instant soup, instant coffee, instant success.
“The only job that starts from the top is grave digging.”
- Ecclesiastes 5:10
- 2 Kings 5:20-27
Prodigal spirit 3: the spirit of evil independence
Independence is good when it is inspired and directed by God, but evil when it is acquired at the wrong time, in the wrong way, out of hurt and bitterness, out of rebellion against authority, or with a wrong motive. Timothy depended on Paul. Wives need husbands, children need parents, leaders need their pastor, and he himself chose to submit his ministry to a greater ministry rather than be a lone ranger.
Illustration: A young man who is praised after his first sermons and soon says, 'God told me to leave': 'the same God that spoke to you didn't tell me that you were leaving.' An older member who will not be accountable to a younger leader 'because I've got grey hair'.
“I'd rather be accountable to someone than being a lone ranger.”
- Matthew 7:24-27
- Ecclesiastes 4:13
- Proverbs 14:12
Prodigal spirit 4: the spirit of foolishness
A fool gets angry when he is advised, despises wisdom and instruction and comes to hate his counsellor. Parents and pastors advise from experience married with the Word, to save you expensive and time-consuming mistakes.
Illustration: The young person who tells their parents, 'You don't understand', as if the parents 'fell from pawpaw trees' and never went through anything themselves.
“We're not trying to break you. We're trying to make you.”
- Proverbs 9:7-8
- Proverbs 1:7
- Proverbs 1:25
Prodigal spirit 5: the spirit of selfishness
A selfish person cares only about himself, but a leader's choices affect his spouse, family and everyone under his care, so he must walk circumspectly. Selfishness forgets who helped you, and pride makes you think you are somebody. Do not foul the water you drank from by running down the church, or a former spouse, to people who still need to drink there.
Illustration: A young man who came to church in jeans, takkies and a T-shirt, was taught and ordained as a leader, met his future wife in the church, and then left and called it a crazy church. He says that behind the scenes he is a quiet man in tracksuit pants and takkies, and guards against pride because he knows where he comes from.
“You are forgetting others are coming behind you.”
- Ephesians 5:15
- Galatians 2:18
- Ezekiel 34:18
Prodigal spirit 6: the spirit of a wild goose chase
A goose is always moving after elusive things and is very hard to catch. Some will not be faithful with the piano at church because they dream of being a famous pianist, or always want a bigger car, house or wardrobe to keep up with others. When they started the ministry God told him that if he was faithful with the little, He would add to him every year. Do not compete with the Joneses: be content, and sometimes forfeit your right to something better and give to the kingdom instead.
Illustration: A mouse running on a wheel in a cage, running and running but going nowhere: 'the treadmill of life'.
“Is Christ not enough?”
Prodigal spirit 7: the spirit of ungratefulness
Whoever rewards evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. Remember and acknowledge everyone who has helped you, in church, at home or at work. When you disagree with someone on one issue, split the issue rather than writing off the whole person. Even if you cannot spend time with a leader, you can be grateful and receive from their books and recordings.
Illustration: He may disagree with a statement a colleague made, yet still be nice to him because he bought him a suit and took him to lunch.
“So sometimes when someone disagrees with you on a issue, then split the issue.”
- Proverbs 17:13
- Jeremiah 18:20
Character matters more than talent
God sandpapers His people, and when He is knocking off your rough edges, do not run: He is making you a better person so that you will not make a mess of your life in front of people. Character is the ability to stand under pressure, to be unselfish and stable, and to acknowledge another man of God over you; it is the receptacle that carries the anointing, and the anointing grows with service.
Illustration: A jagged rock that breaks off a mountain tumbles down the river until, many miles downstream, it is absolutely smooth. 'You can be anointed like an anointed duck, but if you have no character, you're a wild goose.'
“Character is much more important in the economy of God than talents.”
Putting it into practice
- Read the Bible and a Christian book every day, and build your own library of books and teaching.
- Set clear boundaries in friendships and with the opposite sex.
- Concentrate on what God has called you to do, switch off the phone and finish one task at a time.
- Relate to your pastor as a son or daughter: ask for counsel instead of announcing decisions.
- Name and refuse the prodigal spirits: worthlessness, greed, evil independence, foolishness, selfishness, wild goose chases and ingratitude.
Closing
After almost three hours he tells the leaders that the best way to retain what they have learned is to teach someone else. He invites anyone who felt challenged in one of these areas to come forward, prays over them, breaks off the evil spirits, releases the anointing and prays they will not make shipwreck of their faith but be used mightily, then invites everyone he has not yet met to come and greet him.
Declarations he led
- I refuse to be selfish. I refuse to be ungrateful. I refuse to be, you know, running like a wild goose. I refuse those things. I want to be steady, steadfast.
In his words
- “The church is not responsible for your choices. You are responsible for your choices.”
- “In fact, more than buying clothes, you should be buying books.”
- “The only job that starts from the top is grave digging.”
- “I'd rather be accountable to someone than being a lone ranger.”
- “Character is much more important in the economy of God than talents.”
Every scripture in this message
- 1 Timothy 4:16
- Proverbs 4:23
- Proverbs 27:23-24
- Galatians 6:8
- 2 Timothy 4:13
- Matthew 7:6
- Philippians 3:13
- Proverbs 13:12
- Psalm 90:12
- Luke 15:11-32
- 2 Kings 2:12
- John 8:35
- Ephesians 5:15
- Ecclesiastes 5:10
- 2 Kings 5:20-27
- Matthew 7:24-27
- Ecclesiastes 4:13
- Proverbs 14:12
- Proverbs 9:7-8
- Proverbs 1:7
- Proverbs 1:25
- Galatians 2:18
- Ezekiel 34:18
- Proverbs 17:13
- Jeremiah 18:20
- 1 Timothy 1:19