BEFORE YOU MAKE THE BIG DECISIONS, ASK THE HARD QUESTIONS! As a pastor, I greatly value those in my life who ask me questions. These questions can reveal the extent to which I have thought something through or the aspects of a situation that I have failed to see. If questions have the ability to take the tires off my idea, then I can be sure that my idea wasn’t street safe to begin with. Before you make a BIG DECISION (assuming it has first been submitted to the Lord), I would suggest that you submit the idea to a few people in your life who love you and who will ask you the hard questions. Give them permission to ask whatever they want and assure them that you know they love you and care for you and, based on this knowledge, that you have chosen to refuse to get angry.

THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION
Million dollar questions are the relevant questions that we can’t answer or haven’t thought through yet. When you get stumped by a question, don’t be embarrassed: this is the point. When people ask us questions it exposes what we know. Hosea 4:6 says: “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. ‘Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children.’” Ignorance may be bliss, but it may also get you killed.

THE MILLION DOLLAR INVESTIGATION
If you don’t have answers, then you have a mystery and every good mystery requires a good investigation. In order to get started, first identify experts and witnesses who have the knowledge and testimony to address your situation. If your investigation is spiritual, setup an appointment with your pastor; if financial, setup an appointment with a financial planner; if relational, setup an appointment with a Christian councilor - and be well warned, when you meet at these appointments you are going to be asked some very good questions but, remember, you are the one conducting the investigation. You must go to these appointments with some premeditated questions that will arm you with the information you need to make a wise decision.

This applies especially well when interviewing for a job. Too many times we are so desperate for work that we lose our investigative skills when being interviewed. Keep in mind that you could end up working forty plus hours a week at this place – in light of that – shouldn’t you be asking the questions? Is this company deserving of you? The only way to find out is to ask good open ended questions (questions that can’t be answered with a yes or no). When asked, and you will be asked, if you have any questions, flip the page of your notepad and reveal the page(s) of amazing, premeditated questions and flip the interview. You are the one who is going to have to make the hard decision, not them.

ASKING RHEMA QUESTIONS
When I look back in my life I can see many opportunities that I failed to take advantage of because I was more interested in sharing what I knew (in hopes of impressing people) than attaining wisdom by listening attentively and asking great questions. It was in a conversation with Chad Dedmon that I first heard the term “rhema” questions; the thought behind this term is that, when we have the opportunity to spend time with seasoned veterans (in any area of life i.e. business, education, government, things of the spirit, etc.), we would diligently seek the Lord in advance, the same way we would seek him for a prophetic word, etc., for timely, divinely inspired questions. If you don’t know what to ask, ask God and he will give you the most amazing questions that will pull out life changing answers. “Rhema” questions are prophetic questions that will bring forth answers to mysteries.

On May 24th, Paul Keith posted on his Facebook wall: In a dream recently, the Lord told me we are not asking the right questions. He is prepared to reveal "great and mighty things" but, on the whole, we seem to be focused on the more elementary principles. Of course, there are exceptions in the remnant. These are the last days when ALL the mysteries will be fulfilled in a body of people. Let's press in!!

READ
There is a great saying, “Leaders are Readers.” What this truth is stating is that leaders are continually learning, being equipped and empowered. This is one question that I always ask people that I admire, “What are you reading?” If it is a subject that interests me I will jot down the title and author on an app on my phone so that I can go back at a later moment and track down the book. The average American reads 3-6 books a year. That same average American will also watch about 35 hours of television… this week! That’s 35 hours that could’ve been invested into your own development and growth. If you want to lead anyone, you’ve got to take that time back.
We have recently been studying Ephesians 5-6 at Seattle Revival Center and learning about relational dynamics in marriage, parenting, and work. Perhaps this sermon series has stirred up questions. I have included, in this Newsletter, an article of recommended reading that might help equip you for your investigation and perhaps lead you to a Biblical application in the light of God’s gracious and glorious love. - Darren Stott