Monday, August 6, 2012

Leadership: how you can turn into effective leader. Liderazgo: Como puedo convertirme en un lider efectivo


Series Building and leading your dream church.

Sermon Title: how you can turn into effective leader.

Text: genesis 12: 1-3

Purpose: 5 steps you must follow if you want to become an effective leader .

Introduction.

People may become leaders by responding in a healthy manner to all they encounter in life, but they will not become spiritual leaders unless God calls them to this role and equips them for it. Secular leadership is something to which people can aspire. It can be achieve on many different ways. Spiritual leadership, on other hand, in not a role that you can applies. Rather, it is assigned by God, and God determine each person’s assignment. God choose ordinary people. God saw something in their heart and led him or her into particular tasks.

Last Sunday, we talked about Joshua I can to the point that He was a person with some qualifications to continue the task which means to take his people to the promise land. Let refresh to you what type qualities and qualifications Joshua had as a God’s leader.

I. A MAN OF HUMILITY. UN HOMBRE DE HUMILDAD



   A. BEFORE HE WAS A LEADER, HE WAS WILLING TO SERVE... ANTES DE SER UN LIDER. EL FUE DISPONIBLE PARA SERVIR So Moses and his assistant Joshua set out, and Moses climbed up the mountain of God. Ex. 24:

 B. EVEN AS A LEADER, HE WAS WILLING TO SERVE... INLCUSO COMO LIDER, EL FUE DISPONIBLE PARA SERVIR.  JOSHUA 3:7 the eyes of all the Israelites, and for the rest of his life they revered him as much as they had revered Moses.

II. A MAN OF FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD. UN HOMBRE DE FE Y CONFIANZA EN DIOS.



   A. AS DEMONSTRATED WHEN SENT TO SPY OUT THE LAND... COMO LA DEMOSTRO CUANDO ENVIO LOS ESPIAS PARA VER LA TIERRA.

  B. AS DEMONSTRATED IN THE FALL OF JERICHO...COMO LO DEMOSTRO EN LA CAIDA DE JERICO.  

III. A MAN OF GOD'S WORD. UN HOMBRE DE LA PALABRA DE DIOS



   A. HIS SUCCESS WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO HIS ADHERENCE TO THE WORD OF  GOD... SU EXITO FUE DIRECTAMENTE RELACIONADO A LA ADHERENCIA DE LA PALABRA DE DIOS.

     

   B. TIME AND AGAIN, WE SEE THAT JOSHUA WAS TRUE TO THE WORD... UNA VEZ MAS, NOSOTROS VEMOS QUE JOSUE FUE FIEL A LA PALABRA     



IV. A MAN OF PRAYER. UN HOMBRE DE ORACION



   A. WE SEE HIM PRAYING FOR HIS PEOPLE'S FAILURES...NOSOTROS LO VEMOS ORANDO POR LOS ERRORES DE SU GENTE.

     

   B. WE SEE HIM PRAYING IN THE MIDST OF WARFARE...NOSOTROS LO PODEMOS VER ORANDO EN EL MEDIO DE LA GUERRA.

    



V. A MAN WHO PUT GOD FIRST. UN HOMBRE QUIEN PUSO PRIMERO A DIOS



A.   BEFORE THE BUSINESS AT HAND...ANTES QUE SUS NEGOCIOS QUE TENIA EN LA MANO.



   B. BEFORE OTHERS... DELANTE DE OTROS

     

Today we are going and get into Abraham’ life and we are going to see some steps was taking and to become an effective leader that God wants. God works powerful with Abraham and turned him into a leader that many of us must Abraham’s example. Many of you knew as a father of a multitude. We are taking 5 steps you have to follow if you to become and effective leader.

1.    Who was Abraham?

Abraham was born in Ur. Abraham’s agenda for his life was probably not complicated. He was raised into a place where it was herds and flocks. His wife  Sarah was unable to bear a child, so parenthood was not a factor into Abraham and Sarah’ life. God’s agenda was radical different from Abraham’. God’s plan for Abraham was not that he live a settled life without children. According to God’s plan Abraham will become a father of a holy nation. His life would be a spiritual example to God’s people. Generations of believers would find inspiration on Abraham’s life.

It is very important to understand that spiritual does not happen by accident. It develops as God mature people in their character as well as in their relationship with him. Character involves wisdom, integrity, honesty, and moral purity. Relationship involves trust in God, obedience to him, and love for him.

2.    First step: Abraham grew through failure. Abraham crecio atraves de sus errores.

Every event in Abraham’s life contributed to his character development.  Abraham did not begin his life as a paragon faith, but gradually, over many years, he developed a mature an deep relationship with God.  God used Abraham’s failures to prepare him for leadership. For example, God specifically instructed Abraham to leave his family behind, but instead Abraham took Lot with to Canaan, and later  we can Abraham interceded for Lot his brother when God decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorra. Gen 18:16-33

3.    Second step: Abraham built spiritual landmark. Abraham  construyo señales o puntos de referencias espirituales.

Every time, that Abraham came to a milestone in his life, or whenever he learned something new about God. He built an altar Genesis 12:7-9 look this verse.

Each altar provided a testimonial to Abraham’s growth in understanding God’s ways and to his trust in God. For today, leaders, spiritual markers provide a backdrop by which that can see where God has helped them mature in their relationship with Him. One thing we have to observed and pay attention when Abraham moved without consultation to God. For example when he went to Egypt, the results were disastrous.

4.    Third step: Abraham’s experience God’s redemption. Abraham experimento la redención de Dios.

God allows Abraham to made mistake, because he was not a perfect person. Abraham made some lies for example when he was in front of Pharaoh.

           There was more work to be done in his life before he could entrusted with raising another patriarch. God continued to forgive Abraham and to work in his life until Abraham becomes the model of faith of generations of God’s people. Sometimes some leaders like to play role and I have very spiritual person. I Co. 10:12 Apostle Paul warning us “ Asi que, el que piensa estar firme, mire que no caiga.” 12 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.

Abraham growth on his life, and he did not take shortcuts. Abraham understood and learned a lesson about God’s timing and people timing.

God sees things from an eternal perspective. People see things from a temporal view. Spiritual leaders must wait patiently on the Lord, regardless how long it talks. God always proves how patience we are. If you want to see great things in our life we have to wait for the proper time when told us to move forward.

5.    Forth step: Abraham demonstrated his faith. Abraham demostro su fe.

By the time Abraham was a senior citizen, God had developed him into a godly character and father. Still, God had even greater plan for him. God intended for Abraham to ve more than a father to Isaac, he wanted him to the father of the faithful, a model of faithfulness for the rest of time.

Abraham took a deep relationship with God and God tested Him very high. God asked him to make the most difficult decision of his life. Genesis 22:1-3

There was no a mistaking what was asking. The question was would Abraham obey. Most of the time, the problem with Christian leaders is not that they don’t know what God wants them to do.

Abraham obeyed God.

It is very important, through obedience people experience God working through their life and they come to know more about God’s character.

Abraham received the single most difficult assignment God had ever given to any man and he obeyed without hesitation. In passing their test, Abraham not only went deeper in his relationship with God, he also demonstrated what it takes if I want to become a great leader.

He understood through his faith generations and generations will be impacted.

6.    Fifth step: Abraham becomes a friend of God. Abraham vino a ser un amigo de Dios.

What was the result of God’s work in Abraham’s over the years? He became a godly person, he became the patriarch of a nation, he became father of the faithful. But the most important Abraham became a friend of God. 2 Chronicles 20:7 O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people Israel arrived? And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham? 7 Dios nuestro, ¿no echaste tú los moradores de esta tierra delante de tu pueblo Israel, y la diste a la descendencia de Abraham tu amigo para siempre?

Abraham is the only person to whom Scripture gives the distinction. God called his friend.

Abraham was far from perfect. He made mistakes. God made the decision to turn him into a man of faith. The key was not that Abraham attended all the best leadership seminars. The key was that he came to know God and he allowed God to transform him into a leader through his obedience



Conclusion.

God appoints leaders. People may apply for various leadership positions, but God is the one who ultimately determines which leadership role you will have. And you must obey God and allow him to change our character.

He could be a painful process.

God building takes time.

You have to obey him and led him to redeem your life for good.

Leadership: Legitimate source to influence. Liderazgo: Legitima fuente para influir


Series Building and leading your dream church.

Sermon Title: Leadership: Legitimate source to influence.

Text: Acts. 9:1-19 Romans 12:3, 16b

Purpose: 3 big legitimate sources to influence on others.

Introduction.

Children who see physical violence between their parents are six times more likely to abuse their own spouses after they marry. If those children were also hit by their parents as teenagers, they are 12 times more likely to abuse their spouses.

It is not doubt that you have been influenced for someone in your life good or bad. Some of you have been raised on the generation of Pedro Infante, Carlos Gardel, other have been influenced by Beatles, and others have been influenced by Menudo, and others have been influenced by RBD like me. I am from the generation of RBD.

Leadership is influence. Leadership is the ability to obtain followers. Leadership is not the ability to achieve a position. Once again, you have been influenced for someone in your life, and probably your life influenced on others. If you want to go higher in your leadership life, it will take longer, if you want to influence people, it will demand from you a lot of commitment, it will require to growth into your spiritual life, it will require to get out of your comfort zone, and off course it will require a lot intimacy with our dear Lord Jesus.

When you look in the bible you will find many kind of people, and many of them suffer a lot, and they have a wonderful intimacy with our dear Lord Jesus. One of them was the Apostle Paul He was a native of Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia, a Roman province in the south-east of Asia Minor. 

Tarsus was also the seat of a famous university, higher in reputation even than the universities of Athens and Alexandria, the only others that then existed. Here Saul was born, and here he spent his youth, doubtless enjoying the best education his native city could afford. His father was of the straightest sect of the Jews, a Pharisee, of the tribe of Benjamin, of pure and unmixed Jewish blood (Acts 23:6; Phil. 3:5). We learn nothing regarding his mother; but there is reason to conclude that she was a pious woman, and that, like-minded with her husband, she exercised all a mother influence in moulding the character of her son, so that he could afterwards speak of himself as being, from his youth up, “touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless” (Phil. 3:6).

We read of his sister and his sister’s son (Acts 23:16), and of other relatives (Rom. 16:7, 11, 12). Though a Jew, his father was a Roman citizen. How he obtained this privilege we are not informed. “

His preliminary education having been completed, Saul was sent, when about thirteen years of age probably, to the great Jewish school of sacred learning at Jerusalem as a student of the law. Here he became a pupil of the celebrated rabbi Gamaliel, and here he spent many years in an elaborate study of the Scriptures and of the many questions concerning them with which the rabbis exercised themselves. During these years of diligent study he lived “in all good conscience,” unstained by the vices of that great city.

For some two years after Pentecost, Christianity was quietly spreading its influence in Jerusalem. At length Stephen, one of the seven deacons, gave forth more public and aggressive testimony that Jesus was the Messiah, and this led to much excitement among the Jews and much disputation in their synagogues. Persecution arose against Stephen and the followers of Christ generally, in which Saul of Tarsus took a prominent part. He was at this time probably a member of the great Sanhedrin, and became the active leader in the furious persecution by which the rulers then sought to exterminate Christianity.

But the object of this persecution also failed. “They that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” The anger of the persecutor was thereby kindled into a fiercer flame. Hearing that fugitives had taken refuge in Damascus, he obtained from the chief priest letters authorizing him to proceed thither on his persecuting career. This was a long journey of about 130 miles, which would occupy perhaps six days, during which, with his few attendants, he steadily went onward, “breathing out threatenings and slaughter.” But the crisis of his life was at hand. He had reached the last stage of his journey, and was within sight of Damascus. As he and his companions rode on, suddenly at mid-day a brilliant light shone round them, and Saul was laid prostrate in terror on the ground, a voice sounding in his ears, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” The risen Savior was there, clothed in the vesture of his glorified humanity. In answer to the anxious inquiry of the stricken persecutor, “Who art thou, Lord?” he said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5; 22:8; 26:15).

The church at Antioch now proposed to send out missionaries to the Gentiles, and Saul and Barnabas, with John Mark as their attendant, were chosen for this work. This was a great epoch in the history of the church. Now the disciples began to give effect to the Master’s command: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

Paul was condemned, and delivered over to the executioner. He was led out of the city, with a crowd of the lowest rabble at his heels. The fatal spot was reached; he knelt beside the block; the headsman’s axe gleamed in the sun and fell; and the head of the apostle of the world rolled down in the dust” (probably A.D. 66), four years before the fall of Jerusalem

1.    Who was Abraham?

2.    First step: Abraham grew through failure. Abraham crecio atraves de sus errores.

3.    Second step: Abraham built spiritual landmark. Abraham  construyo señales o puntos de referencias espirituales.

4.    Third step: Abraham’s experience God’s redemption. Abraham experimento la redención de Dios.

5.    Forth step: Abraham demonstrated his faith. Abraham demostro su fe.

6.    Fifth step: Abraham becomes a friend of God. Abraham vino a ser un amigo de Dios.

My sermón today will be taking about legitimate sources to identify who is a real legitimate leader.

Title 3 big legitimate sources to influence on others.

1.    God’s authentication or God’s confirmation. Autenticación de Dios, or confirmación de Dios. Acts 9:15

The first and most important test of legitimate for spiritual leaders is God’s authentication of God’s confirmation.

If we leaders in the Bible beside the Apostle Paul we are going a lot things on common. For example Moses, he was a poor public speaker Ex. 4:10, he was no good on delegating, his father in law helping him in that area. He was a murderer. Moses was not a proud or arrogant leader. The Scriptures emphasized that he was a humble man Num 12:3. Moses did not demand respect or act with a heavy hand. Regarding respect must be gaining. Moses was picked to be the man to go before his own and to go in front of pharaoh.

On the same token, God picked Paul and authenticating him to be the person to share the gospel around the world of the time.

God confirm is leadership, even thou people on the time they were very afraid about him because he was a murderer, like Moses.

You will see on his life ample evidence that God confirm his ministry. God gave specific job on Damascus. His job was Acts 9: 15 ‘but the lord said to him, Go for this man is MY chosen instrument to carry my name before gentiles, kings, and the sons of Israel. El señor le dijo: ve , porque instrumento escogido me es este, para llevar mi nombre en presencia de los gentiles, y de reyes, y de los hijos de Israel.

When God affirm a leader, God will vindicate that person’s reputation over time. All leaders suffer criticism during the course of their work. I am guessing that Paul was criticized by his own people special he was a murder what means have a bad reputation, but God changed his life for good and became one the greatest and biggest missionaries is known by the history of the Christianity.

If you want to be God’s leader it is imperative that your life must be changed. God wants you take your life to a new dimension, but before he do that you life must be changed.

If you want to be God’s leaders you have to advance into a deeply intimacy journey with our Lord Jesus every day. Your life is not be changed by accident you have to work intentionally if you want your life be different.

Your life will inspired others, people is going to start asking this question what happen with him or with her? Your life is going to inspire others, you will start following God’s agenda. God will be pleased with Job and your work is to give him the whole glory to God.

Your life will reflect Christ likeness. You will reflect Jesus’ life on you. You have to submit your life to Him. I surrender all. You must be committed to project or reflect Jesus’ life.

Illustration.

About the old violin. Let our Lord Jesus to touch our life.

First big legitimate source is God’s affirmation or God’s authentication.

2.    Second Big legitimate source is Encounter with God.  Acts 9:4-5

Apostle Do not chooses God. God choose Him. God choose on his way to Damascus. He had an encounter with God 130 miles from Jerusalem around six days of travel.

 I believe before Paul had an encounter with God he was thinking I am doing the right thing, that’s why He was killing and persecuting Christian people. He hated and persecuted them. He was breathing hate that it was natural to him. He breathed death to the Christians. He requested letters to the High Priest because the high priest and Sanhedrim claimed power over the Jews in all countries. The commission was all that worshiped God in the way that they called heresy, must bring before the Sanhedrim and must be killed. They will be condemned as a criminals..

Regarding Paul become God’s leader he needs a real encounter with the real God. God asking Him “Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? Who are you, Lord? He said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, He replied. Y cayendo a tierra, oyo una voz que le decía, Saulo, Saulo, por que me persigues? El dijo, quien eres, Senor? Y le dijo yo soy Jesus, a quien tu persigue…Acts 9:4-5

The double calling out of the name of Saul indicates intense emotion. Also, We can find when God Called Abraham on Genesis 22:11, and in the New Testament when called Martha Luke 10:41.

The encounter that we can see between Saul and our Lord Jesus is a rescue not a judgment. Saul was not persecuting Jesus; Saul was persecuting Jesus’ church. He was persecuting Jesus’ believers. We find the roots of the body of Christ, what means is the Jesus’ church.

We find in the verses a Theophany dialogue we can find many dialogues like this when called Moses, Ex. 3:4-10, when God talked with Jacob Genesis 46:2-3.

             thee-of-uh-nee] Show IPA

            noun, plural the·oph·a·nies.

         a manifestation or appearance of God or a god to a person.












        Origin:
          Late Latin
theophania < Late Greek theopháneia. See theo-, -phany

         In the Old Testament, God is depicted as appearing in human form, in natural cataclysms, in a burning bush, a cloud, or a gentle breeze-forms often associated with the divine "name" or "glory" (originally a visible halo accompanying the divine appearance). Old Testament theophanies are presented as actual historical events or as prophetic visions with symbolic overtones. The mark of biblical theophanies is the temporariness and suddenness of the appearance of God, which is here not an enduring presence in a certain place or object. The extension of the term theophany to such New Testament events as the Baptism and transfiguration of Jesus (also called epiphanies) has been questioned as inappropriate because in Orthodox Christian doctrine Christ himself in his whole life and work and death is the manifestation of God. The incarnation of Christ, however, may be seen as the ultimate and fullest form of divine manifestation in a whole spectrum of theophanies.

Heaven has reached down to call someone on the earth. When Saul uses the word Lord in his question here is an Christological confession and indicates or used in a higher sense to denote The Savior is taking to you. The heavenly Jesus is with Paul. He knew was not his voice or voice of his companions, the voice came from heaven and it was speaking to him.  

διώκω  (dioko) Persecute

Meaning: to put to flight, to pursue, by impl. to persecute

Origin: from a prol., caus. form of a prim. vb. dio (to flee)

Usage: persecute(10), persecuted(13), persecuting(7), persecutor(1), practicing(m)(1), press on(2), pursue(7), pursuing(2), run after(1), seek after(1).

Paul wanted to know who is taking to him. I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  The name of Jesus was not unknown to him. He knew it was the name that he persecuted. It is very important to know this the statement I am Jesus, Christ brings souls into fellowship with himself by manifesting himself to them.  He was present to Saul

Once again the persecution was attacking Jesus’ church.

The charge exhibited against him is why are you persecuting me?? Por que me persigues?  He was made to see himself a sinner, a great sinner, a sinner against Christ.  Jesus was clear with him on about Paul’s sin. He was engaged taken Jesus’s believers into prison and then killing them. He was the responsible on killing Stephen. Acts 7:58-60 and He was the responsible for the severe persecution against the church in Jerusalem Acts 8:1-3

Paul’s surrender “but get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do. Levantate y entra en la ciudad, y se te dira lo que debes hacer. V.6

It is very important that Saul the persecutor with a letter from the High priest now is Saul the witness with a commission from Jesus to tell the world that Jesus is the real Messiah or real Savior. His ministry has been changed now his ministry will reflect the ultimate intent of Jesus’s work: ministry to all people, both Jews and gentiles.

Paul has a real encounter with God and his life was completely different and his ministry becomes a ministry that belongs to God. God was the owner and the responsible for changing Paul’s life.

He had a completely submission to God. God revealed to Paul, His will and Paul’s ministry. Paul went deeper and deeper into his relationship with God and his determined to even to die for the cause of Jesus. God made Him a humble man as a consequence of his encounter with God. If you want to become God’s leaders it is mandatory to a deeply submission to God. Many commitments felt because you are not willing to submit your life to God.

Someone once wrote and asked Emily Post, the etiquette expert of another generation, "What is the correct procedure when one is invited to the White House but has a previous engagement?"

Replied Post, "An invitation to dine at the White House is a command, and it automatically cancels any other engagement."

A.W. Tozer says that people who are crucified with Christ have three distinct marks:

1. they are facing only one direction,

2. they can never turn back, and

3. they no longer have plans of their own.

First legitimate source is God’s confirmation

Second legitimate source is Encounter with God

3.    Third legitimate source is a successful track record and preparation. Un exitoso historial y preparación. Romans 12:3, 16b.

When you study Paul’ ministry you will find he is the greatest and successful missionary that is known in the history of Christianity. He was consistent, and he made long term success. Success is not easy, and success is not measure by numbers. It is measure on how your ministry how effective or how many have been touched by your influence as a leader.

Paul gains a big respect from his followers, special from Timothy, and he was a mentor of many people. He did not baptize anyone. His job was to share the gospel around many the known world.

He gain respect, and Paul deserve to be respected. He learned how to do things. He was a teachable person. He was tough and instructed by Gamaliel, and he was doctor in the law. Paul showed evidence that he wants to learn to become an effective leader on Jesus’s works

Jesus told the story of three servants who were entrusted with large amounts of money to invest for their master. The first two servants invested their resources and doubled their investments. The third servant buried (bari) his assets and earned nothing for his master. Their master response to the first two servants was “well done, good and faithful slave, you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Matthew 25:23.

How are you will be successful if you are not faithful to our Lord Jesus special in the small things?

Also, Paul warning us about  3 Because of the privilege and authority[a] God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.[b] 3 Digo, pues, por la gracia que me es dada, a cada cual que está entre vosotros, que no tenga más alto concepto de sí que el que debe tener, sino que piense de sí con cordura, conforme a la medida de fe que Dios repartió a cada uno. Romans 12:3

You have to know yourself and you have to be honest with you. If you want to be God’s leader you have to be teachable.

If you are not teachable you become a frustrated leader because you not going bless by our mighty God. You have to examine yourself and think what areas I have to improve.

It is crucial for those in spiritual leadership to recognize what success means is. What is takes? What is about? 16 Unánimes entre vosotros; no altivos, sino asociándoos con los humildes. No seáis sabios en vuestra propia opinión. Romans 12:16b 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but [a]associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Let me ask a question who do you think who you are? Do not be wise in your own estimation or opinion A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, Proverbs 1:5 Oirá el sabio, y aumentará el saber,
Y el entendido adquirirá consejo,

Definitively, success in leadership is measure by moved their people from where they were  to where God wanted them to be. The accomplishment of God’s purposes is the only complete and infallible indication of success

          Harry Truman was not generally perceived as brilliant man, but he was admired for always being prepared. When he replaced Franklin Roosevelt on April 12, 1945 on the midst of World War II, He faced an enormous job to meet with Stalin and Winston Churchill  in July to discuss the world peace process and the treatment of Germany and Japan. Before make any decision about it he review every document, he was prepared before met with Stalin and Churchill, because He was prepared to face those two men. He was ready to made his decision with a clear and conscious mind.

On the same token, if you want to be God’s leader you have to understand that it is require that take a lot time of preparation, involves training. Good leaders take time to learn.

Leaders who make the effort to obtain proper training are not only better prepared for their leadership role, they also have been more credibility with those they are leading.

Many leaders saying I don’ t  need to go to seminary because the Lord is going to teach me. And they are using Paul’s life because he did not attend to any seminary

Moses received good education he received formal education from the finest school in Egypt.

You and I have the wonderful help from and his name is the Holy Spirit.

The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand."



Conclusion.

We talked about 3 big legitimate source to influence on other.

First legitimate source is God’s confirmation

Second legitimate source is Encounter with God

Third legitimate source is a successful track record. Un exitoso historial.
The First Billionaire

The very first person to reach the status of billionaire was a man who knew how to set goals and follow through. At the age of 23, he had become a millionaire, by the age of 50 a billionaire. Every decision, attitude, and relationship was tailored to create his personal power and wealth. But three years later at the age of 53 he became ill.

His entire body became racked with pain and he lost all the hair on his head. In complete agony, the world’s only billionaire could buy anything he wanted, but he could only digest milk and crackers. An associate wrote, "He could not sleep, would not smile and nothing in life meant anything to him." His personal, highly skilled physicians predicted he would die within a year.

That year passed agonizingly slow. As he approached death he awoke one morning with the vague remembrances of a dream. He could barely recall the dream but knew it had something to do with not being able to take any of his successes with him into the next world. The man who could control the business world suddenly realized he was not in in control of his own life. He was left with a choice.

He called his attorneys, accountants, and managers and announced that he wanted to channel his assets to hospitals, research, and mission work. On that day John D. Rockefeller established his foundation. This new direction eventually led to the discovery of penicillin, cures for current strains of malaria, tuberculosis and diphtheria