21. REFLECTS YOUR LEVEL OF AUTHORITY.
Speak within your sphere of authority, not outside of your credibility. Unless you have the right credibility or platform to confront and challenge people, then don’t. It is always better to encourage people.
22. PROJECTS CONFIDENT HUMILITY.
Minimize “I,” “me” and “my.” Be confident, not weak or false. I know who I am and that God has entrusted me with the platform. I know I belong here, but at the same time, I recognize I didn’t earn the right and I am accountable to Him for how I handle it. It’s about bringing glory to God—keep the main thing the main thing.
23. COMBINES FAITH WITH TRANSPARENCY.
It’s not about exposing and highlighting our strengths and weaknesses, but balancing these examples to enhance the message—our weakness or strength is not the message. It’s not about being ashamed of the blessing, but people benefit more from understanding the journey and challenges that you had to overcome to get there. People relate to and learn more from your struggles—don’t present yourself as perfect. Conversely, don’t be negative and down all the time—people need to be encouraged in their faith; they want to listen to an overcomer.
24. TELLING NOT JUST WHAT, BUT HOW.
It’s more challenging to tell people how to outwork the principles we teach. I remember early in my ministry a man came up to me after I preached on loving God with all your heart, soul and strength and he said, “I want to do that, but how do I do it?” It’s easy to tell people what they should do but more challenging to tell them how.
25. LEFT BEHIND ON MONDAY.
Don’t do post-mortems or beat yourself afterwards…AND be careful not to get too full of how great you think you were. Time moves on. Be good at walking away.
26. FOCUSED AS MUCH ON DELIVERY AS CONTENT.
If you aren’t good at communicating your message, then no matter how good the content is, it will get lost on people. Say it in a way that best connects with the hearts of people.
27. AWARE OF A GREATER AUDIENCE THAN THE ROOM.
The days are long gone when the possibility of being recorded in one form or another is absent—whether by individuals on phones or corporately on cameras or sound-systems. Even though you may be speaking to church family, you have to remember your message will more than likely go beyond the family—so nothing is entirely safe in that sense. Filter everything you say through this reality.
28. LISTENED TO OR WATCHED BY YOU.
Ask for a copy of your message for review and don’t worry about appearing proud by asking—it’s a necessary part of growing as a speaker. Get used to how you sound and get past the ‘cringe-factor.’ By observing and listening to yourself, you will notice habits and other distractions that you can fix. Learn to love the way you sound—if you don’t, no one else will.
29. HELPING PEOPLE OVERCOME AND BELIEVE WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT THEM.
Without exception. Remind people about what God says about them—there’s a lot of opposition in the world and you have an opportunity to lift people up and speak life to them—maximize it
30. ABLE TO STAND ALONE IN A NEWSPAPER.
Every message should include points that would stand alone in the newspaper. For example, years ago I wrote a book with a controversial title. I was young at the time and thought it was a great idea to use a controversial title. But as Hillsong’s profile (and my own profile grew), I may as well have drawn a bullseye on my forehead. It became fodder for journalists wanting to criticize its content. Let’s assume everything you say is quotable and can be published in a newspaper—how does it stand then? Think about how would you sound without your spirit and physical presence on it—quoted in black and white?
Always take responsibility for what you say and never assume anything. It is an enormous responsibility that we have when it comes to carrying the message of Jesus Christ to this world. Ignorance is never an excuse, so decide today that you are done with excuses. Apply wisdom and understanding to the message on your life and the platform you have been given—and the potential and influence on your life will continue to grow and extend well ‘above and beyond.’
