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Who Will Lead the End-Time Church #11

Posted on 11/10/2023 | Leave a comment

Personal Devotion, the Key to All Ministry

          The level of our devotion will largely determine our impact and effectiveness as leaders. Our devotion is an expression of our love for God. If we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, we will inspire others to do the same.

          Spiritual growth is like physical growth, with one exception. Physically, we are born as infants and progress through various stages of development until growth slows down in our late teens, and we eventually reach our physical prime around 30-35 years old. Then, because of the curse that is on the Earth, we begin to decline physically and sometimes mentally until we eventually die.

Spiritually, we should never slow down in our growth or reach a peak from which we begin to decline.

The greatest thing we can do for ourselves and others is to pursue God with all our heart and give ourselves entirely to our Spiritual progress and development. We should continually grow in Him, increasing in the knowledge of His word and cultivating a more intimate relationship with Him. Spiritual growth and progress must always remain our most important ministry. The closer we get to God, the more helpful we will be to others.

2 Peter 3:17b-18 …beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-16 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Paul and Peter are telling us about the importance of growing in the grace and knowledge of God. However, there’s something else going on here too. In both passages, we see an effort to convince readers not to fall prey to false teachers and false doctrines so that their spiritual growth would not be hindered.

Believing a false doctrine will not only stunt our spiritual growth but cause us to grow in ways that create strongholds of wrong thinking and wrong believing that cause us harm, as well as those who follow our teachings.

To grow in our faith, we must discern and tune out any voices that add to or take away from the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can’t grow spiritually if we allow ourselves to be poisoned by false teachings and doctrines of men and devils. These days, false teachers and false doctrines are more numerous than ever. Steady spiritual growth will require us to be spiritually discerning, focused on truth, and guard our hearts from all evil influence. 

          The first and most crucial discipline we must have in place is putting God’s word first in our lives. If it seems that I am over-emphasizing this point, I am not. It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of God’s word.

1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

          Here, we see two more requirements for continued spiritual growth. Laying aside selfish and self-seeking behavior and desiring the sincere milk of the word.

          Selfishness is an anti-Christ spirit. This is why we are commanded to die to self. Envy, jealousy, selfish ambition, malicious thoughts and actions, evil speaking, and corrupt communication are all birthed from a self-centered wellspring. Look at what James has to say about this.

James 3:14-17 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 

          When we engage in self-seeking behavior, we are feeding the carnal man. We then cause confusion and become a landing strip for demonic activity. In this environment, spiritual growth stops, and we become weakened and vulnerable to more demonic influence.

Face-to-Face with God

James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Friendship with the world is spiritual adultery! Let that sink in.

Mark 8:38  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

From the above passages, we see the mandate of God to separate from the world and die to our carnal nature with its selfish desires. We should never candy-coat this, not to our leadership team and not to our followers. We must wake up daily and present ourselves before the Lord, laying our lives on the altar.

God will not share space with anything unholy. God is very particular about where He abides. We can see this clearly from the Old Testament Temples and the tent of meeting.

However, God is gracious. He is patient and kind. He gives us time to die to ourselves and time to grow spiritually. He has given us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and His word to help us remove everything in His temple that is not pleasing to Him. Thanks be to God!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which is God’s.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

We find a valuable truth in Exodus to help us understand how we keep the old man crucified.

In Exodus 33:18, Moses said to God, “Please show me your glory.” This was God’s response:

Exodus 33:20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” 

Intimacy with God and exposure to His word is our carnal man’s face-to-face encounter with the Lord, and no man can see God’s face and live. Approaching God and His word daily with an unveiled face crucifies the old man while at the same time transforming us into His image from one degree of glory to the next.

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Question: What is the greatest thing we can do for our family, friends, and those that follow us?

Question: What happens to us when we believe false doctrines?

Question: What is our most important ministry?

Question: What can we do to discern false teachings and doctrines of devils?

Question: How can we have a face-to-face encounter with God?

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Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #8

Posted on 11/07/2023 | Leave a comment

The Ministry of Delegation

As the ministry grows, the necessity of delegation grows as well. The need for delegation arises when we reach our natural and spiritual limitations. When a ministry becomes more complex, a point is reached where the leader is no longer able to cope with every aspect of the ministry on their own. Realizing that neither time nor their efforts are adequate to meet the needs of the people they lead. Before this point is reached, a plan for delegation should already be in place.

The inability or unwillingness to delegate to others can stall ministry growth and produce burnout in the leadership team. This is a common mistake that small ministries make, and often, it is the reason they stay small.

          An excellent analogy for delegation is “the ability to score without touching the ball.” Learning to accomplish things through others involves the skill of delegation. It is an essential part of effective leadership. Delegation should be viewed as a ministry in itself.

Self-awareness

The Ministry of Delegation begins with self-awareness and an honest assessment of our limitations. Identifying the areas where we are weak will help us target the right people with the proper graces and abilities to complement the ministry. No one likes to admit they have areas of weakness, but we all have them.

An honest self-assessment can be brutal and usually requires the input and feedback of other peers and leaders. If married, our spouse can be a tremendous asset in this department. We don’t just trust our point of view because our perspective can often be filled with blind spots. We all have blind spots, and we need others to help us see from a broader point of view. One of the most common blind spots is believing others have them and we don’t. The need for a ministry of delegation is a blind spot with many leaders that can cripple a ministry.

In Exodus 18, we see a powerful example of the need to delegate. When Moses was leading the children of Israel, he came to a point where Jethro, his father-in-law, had to point out his need to delegate responsibilities. Moses was sincere, but the need to delegate was his blind spot.

Exodus 18:13-23 And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening. 14 So when Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, “What is this thing that you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?”

15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 When they have a difficulty, they come to me, and I judge between one and another; and I make known the statutes of God and His laws.”

17 So Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “The thing that you do is not good. 18 Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself. 19 Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God. 20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. 21 Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.”

Bearing the burden of ministry ourselves is never God’s plan. As individuals, we are not capable of fulfilling all He has called us to do. We are called into a community with relationships that God flows through. Every part of the body has a role to play, a function and purpose that will help edify the body as a whole.

Every leader must realize that they need to surround themselves with solid relationships that can share the ministry load. This is the only way to fulfill God’s plan.

There is a powerful truth in Ephesians 4 that will help us understand this.

Ephesians 4:16 – From whom (Christ) the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Notice in this passage that supply comes primarily from the jointsin the body, not the parts of the body.

A joint is where two parts meet together, like an elbow or a knee joint. It is the relationship between the parts that bring spiritual supply.

A healthy relationship causes the connected parts to be more mobile and more effective, increasing the ability and strength of all the connected parts. It is no coincidence that Jesus used this analogy. If you have ever had an injured joint like an ankle, knee, elbow, or wrist, you know how debilitating and restricting it can be.

          It is the relationships between the parts that bring the needed supply of the Spirit for ministry growth. If relationships are healthy and every part is in place, effectively working and doing its share, growth, and edification in love is the result.

This is why it is essential to be deliberate about who you delegate to. Maintaining a healthy relationship with those you delegate to is crucial to success.

General Guidelines for the ministry of delegation:

  • Define the responsibility to be delegated.
  • Select faithful individuals (at least two) who can carry that responsibility.
  • Assess their gifts, graces, and skills and tailor the training accordingly.
  • Give clear and precise expectations in writing.
  • Supply them with all the necessary tools and resources needed for success.
  • Develop a plan to support and communicate.
  • Provide regular feedback on results.

Delegate early

Try to delegate responsibilities early to avoid unnecessary pressure. Having a ministry of delegation in place early prevents stress on the leaders and sets up the person we are delegating to for success. Waiting until things get to the point of neglect and panic makes it difficult for everyone involved. If we want to do great things for God and have the most impact on our circle of influence, delegation must be a part of our leadership culture.

Select the Right People

Always delegate to a deacon or elder. This ensures that the person has the character to represent the ministry. Make sure they have the time to take on the responsibility. Before sending them out to tackle the new responsibility, ensure the person has all the training and resources needed to succeed. Try to delegate to people who are better than you in that specific area and let them do the work. Look for people who already have a mindset of excellence and refuse to settle for anything less than remarkable results.

Set Clear Goals and Expectations

Be clear and specific about what is expected. Give information on what, why, when, who, and where, but leave the “how” to them. Don’t be too concerned about how it gets done, but that it gets done right, with integrity, and on time. Confirm and verify goals and expectations regularly and get updates on progress. This allows you to give needed feedback and encouragement and identify any areas of further training that will help and support them.

“Don’t tell people how to do things; tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.” ~ George S. Patton ~

Delegate Authority with the Responsibility

Giving people the authority to make certain decisions, use their creativity, and even recruit others to help accomplish the task allows the person to take ownership of the responsibility. It shows that we value their opinions and trust their judgment. This helps maintain a healthy relationship and grooms them for leadership in other areas.

          It is frustrating to be given a task without the authority to decide how it gets done. Micro-managing every task we delegate will run people off and prevent us from building a solid leadership team. The best leaders are the ones who have enough sense to pick good people to do what they want done and self-restraint to keep from micro-managing while they do it. When we delegate authority with responsibility, we create healthy environments that groom and encourage emerging leaders.

Evaluate and Recognize Performance

Evaluations focus on the results more than the methods. Celebrate the wins and give credit where credit is due. Analyze the cause of insufficient performance and bring corrections as necessary, but don’t be too quick to take a project away from someone. Instead, continue to work with the person and ensure they understand the project as their responsibility. Advise on ways to improve and be willing to be a resource yourself. This sends a message that you believe in them and want them to succeed. This approach inspires people to be better, empowers them to reach higher, and motivates them to try harder.

Every person we lead has God-given gifts and talents. Delegation is an excellent way for people to function and develop in their gifts and graces. This promotes growth in the individual and brings healthy challenges that stretch their faith and empower them for Kingdom use. Great leaders empower others to become all God created them to be.

Question: What are two reasons that delegation is essential?

Question: Why is self-awareness critical when delegating responsibilities?

Question: What are two areas you are weak in?

Question: Can you name some guidelines for delegation?

Question: What was Moses “blind spot” in Exodus 18?

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Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #7

Posted on 11/07/2023 | Leave a comment

Communicating with Grace

Once we have given our due diligence to skillful listening, we enter the arena of communicating grace.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Grace is one of the most significant words in the Bible. To fully understand Grace as It pertains to leadership, we need to view it as God’s etching tool, His hammer and chisel, His skillful hands expertly applied to the clay that shapes and perfects a vessel of honor for His good pleasure. For this lesson, we will define grace in the following manner.

“Grace is God’s influence upon the heart of a believer and how it is ultimately reflected in their life.”

Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

The word corrupt in this passage means “worthless and of no value.” If our words are not ministering grace to the hearer, it shouldn’t be coming out of our mouths. We should constantly judge our words before we speak, asking ourselves, asking ourselves, “Is this going to edify, help, and bless? Am I truly speaking from the Lord’s perspective or just mine? Is my tone right? Are my motives pure?”

          Words are powerful. The Bible is full of scriptures that emphasize the power and significance of our words. As leaders, one of our most important responsibilities is to set the standard of good communication and the skillful stewardship of our words.

Proverbs 18:20-21 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

This reinforces the importance of being a skilled listener, but even more so, the importance of our intimate relationship with God. Our spiritual condition has a profound effect on our ability to communicate the heart of God.

          Death and life are in the power of the tongue. As leaders, we can speak words that build, strengthen, and minister God’s grace, and we can also minister words that tear down, destroy, and bring death. It is a responsibility that must be taken seriously. It requires discipline and forethought. It takes strength, patience, and wisdom. One of the most important skills we can develop as leaders is learning how to bridle our tongues.

James 3:2-8 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course ofnature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

James 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.

          We must understand that our tongues cannot be tamed; they must be bridled. If we don’t keep a rein on our tongue, we become self-deceived, and our work in the ministry becomes useless.

          As a child, my neighbors had several horses. One horse was an absolute terror, biting people at every opportunity, always fighting the other horses, tearing up his stalls, and attacking any animal that got near him.

I remember when they would go horseback riding, the owner’s son would always saddle up this mean horse. Everyone would gather around to see the show because they knew that there was going to be a fight. The owner’s son would mount this horse, and as soon as he hit the saddle, that horse would go berserk trying to buck him off. This would go on for 20 about minutes until the horse was frothing at the mouth, dripping with sweat, and shaking all over from the sheer hatred of the person on his back.

Finally, shaking his head and contorting his mouth from the presence of the bridle and bit, the horse would settle down and allow the owner’s son to guide him anywhere he wanted. This horse could never be tamed, but it could be bridled and made to obey against its will.

Our tongue is just like this mean horse. It will never be tamed entirely and does not want to be bridled. It will resist the restrictions we try to put on it and will always look for opportunities to lash out.

Leaders must remember that grace is God’s influence, not necessarily ours. Remember that God’s influence should be palpable in our speech, which will help us to bridle our tongues and remain humble, gentle, and conscious of what is being imparted in our conversations.

God uses leaders as a mouthpiece to speak to others. God does not take this lightly, and neither should we. What we say and how we say it can be ministering death or life to a person.

Love is the License to Speak the Truth.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Many times, this scripture is used to justify the Bible bashing, finger-pointing, and judgmental approach to correcting people in the name of God. Usually, it is a self-centered, self-righteous assault on people that comes from not understanding their identity in Christ and opens one up to the influence of religious spirits.

Notice that “all scripture is given by inspiration of God.” God IS love according to 1 John 4:8. So, we can conclude that if our delivery of truth isn’t inspired and motivated by Love, it may NOT profitable for doctrine, it may NOT reprove, it may NOT correct, it may NOT instruct, it may NOT complete, and it may NOT equip. It just cuts, and it cuts deep. Love is the license to speak the truth. If we don’t have genuine love and compassion in our hearts toward the ones we are talking to, we have lost our license to speak on God’s behalf.

An area in which I see emerging leaders often make mistakes is in their delivery of truth. Truth is received in the manner it is delivered. The Word of God is truth. It is also a double-edged sword. Truth should never be delivered with the intention of “straightening someone out” or “putting them in their place.” Let me explain:

Let’s say you love a perfectly cooked rib-eye steak. It may be your favorite food in the world, but if I serve it to you wrapped in a dirty diaper, you aren’t going to eat it. It’s the same with delivering the truth. The word of God is so powerful it can change a life, but it must be palatable, seasoned with salt, full of grace, and delivered in sincere love for it to be received.

If we are not imparting God’s grace, communicating God’s heart, and being a vessel of God’s love, we should remain silent. If we can’t correct that on the spot, we may need to stop and reschedule a time to finish the conversation, giving us time to pray or seek counsel from another leader. Don’t be pressured into speaking when you know your heart isn’t right.

Remember the simple rule from the last chapter: it will keep us from many problems if we apply it.

“When we speak, be sure it’s an improvement on silence.”

            Following this rule does a few things,

  • It slows the conversation and keeps us mindful of the power and purpose of our words.
  • It diffuses conflict that arises from elevated emotions.
  • It teaches us the value and power of silence.
  • It gives us greater control over ourselves and the entire situation.
  • It allows us time to hear from our heart what the Holy Spirit says about the situation.

I believe this is what was happening in John 8:1-11 when Jesus was writing in the sand with His finger while everyone pressed Him for an answer to judge the woman caught in adultery. I think Jesus gave His heart time to hear from the Father and tell Him what to say.

Not being willing to speak until He hears from the Father is a lesson every leader should take to heart. There are few worse feelings than knowing we have hurt one of God’s children with our words.

As leaders, we must think before we speak, selecting words that nurture and build up rather than tear down and destroy. When faced with hostility, we speak gently to diffuse anger and emotions rather than feed them. When faced with uncertainty, we are slow to speak, letting silence speak to the person and God talk to us.

“Godly communication isn’t merely a skill; it is a holy discipline.”

Question: What is the definition of grace as it pertains to communication?

Question: What defines a “corrupt” word in Ephesians 4:29?

Question: What are three things to keep in mind before we speak?

Question: Before we speak, what should our words be an improvement on?

Question: What license must you have before speaking on God’s behalf?

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Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #6

Posted on 11/06/2023 | Leave a comment

Skillful Listening

Great leadership depends on effective communication. A leader who cannot skillfully communicate will not lead very well or for very long.

In his famous prayer, St. Francis of Assisi asked God to help him to “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” When we are talking, we are simply repeating things we already know and understand. It is only through listening that we have the opportunity and ability to learn something new.

Understanding doesn’t come by talking. It only comes from listening and being attentive to what and how it is being said. Skilled listening is one of the most critical parts of being a great communicator. Learning to hold our tongue is a valuable skill for anyone, but for leaders, this is a must.

James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

To be quick to hear and slow to speak means having both humility and respect for others. It means we take the time to sincerely listen to people instead of just voicing our opinions.

A simple skill to practice is to control our body language in the listening process. Sit up straight, lean forward, act interested, nod your head to show that you are tuned in and fully engaged, and track the speaker with your eyes.

If we practice these simple techniques, we do two important things. First, we position ourselves to hear what is being said, reading between the lines and discerning the true nature of the conversation. Second, it encourages the other person to be more open and comfortable sharing details, giving more specifics, and being more vulnerable.

3 Keys to Effective Listening

  1. Listen to God

Good communication with people starts with good communication with God. After all, it is His people we are ministering to. Always remember that we are the gift He has chosen to give to the people. Suppose we prayerfully seek God’s will and direction before ministering to others, inviting His involvement, and being mindful of His perspective. In that case, we will tap into His wisdom and better express His heart in any given situation. If leaders first practice this in their prayer life, the fruit of it will show up when it’s time to communicate.

When leaders don’t first communicate with God, they tend to lean too much on their understanding and their strengths and abilities. This often leads to misunderstandings, offenses, broken relationships, and eventually burnout. Trusting in God and inviting Him into the conversation brings the fruits of the Spirit and promotes healthy relationships.

Leaders must learn to first communicate with God before they even consider speaking with people. Don’t find this point to be over-stressed; it’s not. Keeping that practice in order will help produce the most effective communication available.

So often in the church, we find too much counseling of others without first seeking God. There are too many meetings in which the church’s affairs are discussed without first seeking God’s guidance in prayer, and far too many decisions being made without adequate preparation in prayer, and yet we still expect God to bless it.

           Prayer is one of the most critical parts of any leader’s life. Not their talents, not their gifting and abilities, not their personality and charisma, but getting direction from The LORD on how to proceed.

“He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.” ~Aristotle~

The best leaders are always the best followers of Christ. If the Lord is not leading a leader, how is he to properly lead those who are following him in the ministry? To be an authority with dynamic influence, we must submit to God’s authority and invite His influence. Christians follow leaders primarily because of their relationship with God, a relationship that is birthed and cultivated in the secret place but is evident to all.

  • Listen to people.

Listening to people is more than just hearing words. Listen with our eyes when people are talking, and pay attention to how they enter a room, their tone, body language, eye contact, emotions, and any emphasis on words or phrases. Listening to people is about gathering information to provide the proper response. If we pay close attention and let people do most of the talking up front, the appropriate responses will usually become apparent—many times, from the one talking.

Proverbs 18:13 He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.

Give people plenty of time to share their thoughts, and don’t interrupt. Interruptions send a message that we don’t value what they say. If we’re going to understand a person’s situation and honor them correctly, we should always let them fully express themselves.

Silence can be our friend. A nod and a thoughtful look will often keep them talking and bring out more important details they may be hesitant to share. The skillful use of silence can do some of the heavy lifting in a conversation.

When we speak, it should be an improvement on silence.

Making a habit of weighing what we say against the current silence will prevent us from speaking harshly or out of turn. It avoids offense and protects relationships.

Beware of the Lobbyist

Some people do not seek answers or counsel; they lobby for agreement. If a person uses phrases like “God said, or God told me,” Don’t get trapped in a debate or argument. If God honestly did say something, that leaves no room for us to argue or disagree, and we need to make that clear to them. This puts the responsibility of their future actions squarely on their shoulders.

We can ask questions like, “Are you sure God spoke to you?” If they insist that He did, we can counsel them to be patient and pray for God’s will, timing, and purpose to prevail in the situation, but we shouldn’t speak against what they believe God said unless it blatantly opposes God’s Word. On the other hand, if they are sincere and submit to leadership, using language like, “I think God is telling me this, or I believe God is directing me to,” then we have an open door to lead and council.

  • Listen to our heart.

Proverbs 16:23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.

We must give our heart time to tell our mouth what to say.

There is tremendous discipline involved in being slow to speak. It also creates the potential for immense power to be released. It shapes the atmosphere and allows us to hear the Holy Spirit talk to us before we speak to others. It’s so easy, when someone comes to us in a hurricane of emotions, to write them off because of their delivery and not listen to what they have to say. In times like this, we need to lean on the Holy Spirit for patience, love, and grace so that we don’t respond in the same manner.

Good communication is not a one-way dialogue but a two-way street. Good communicators promote an equal amount of traffic in both lanes, understanding that the listening lane is the first one traveled.

Question: Why is listening important when communicating?

Question: What is the first key to effective listening?

Question: What percentage of time do we spend listening when in prayer?

Question: How would you describe communication in your own prayer life?

Question: On a scale of 1-10, how would you rank yourself as a skilled listener?

Question: What can you change to raise that number?

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Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #5

Posted on 11/06/2023 | Leave a comment

Leadership Culture of Jesus

Culture is defined as the shared values, goals, attitudes, and practices that characterize any organized group of people. A well-defined leadership culture promotes momentum, creates unity, and provides identity and stability within the ranks.

First, we must define and understand the culture that Christ established throughout the gospels. He is our model. His life and His practices are perfect theology. Our leadership culture can and should have its unique expression, but it should stay within the ministry culture that Jesus modeled. If we embody the culture that Jesus established in the early Church, we can then tailor it to fit the specific emphasis and work that God has called us to.

When Jesus burst onto the scene in full-blown ministry, He immediately chose a diverse group of 12 followers to invest in and develop as emerging leaders. Jesus inspired His followers to leave everything behind to follow him. He taught them from the beginning the importance of laying down their lives and denying themselves. 

From the start, Jesus boldly challenged the current religious culture by teaching and preaching the kingdom of God and demonstrating kingdom power and authority. The mark of a believer is that signs and wonders will follow them. The gospel must be seen and experienced, not just heard.

Mark 16:15-18 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

What are we teaching others if our doctrines are only heard and not experienced? Power and demonstration will always accompany true believers and validate the true message of the gospel. If we are missing the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s power and demonstration in our gatherings, then we have a problem. This is not the Church culture that Jesus or His disciples modeled.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 And I, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

          In this passage, the apostle Paul admits to being weak and scared. It is OK to be weak and trembling; that’s why God gave us a comforter called the Holy Spirit. God shows up well in our weakness.

We also see that Paul didn’t come to them with a well-thought-out, three-point sermon with just the right amount of scripture, humor, wisdom, and persuasive language. He came in the demonstration of the Spirit and power. Why? So that their faith would not be in his eloquent teaching and human wisdom but in the power of God.

It is the power of God demonstrated through yielded vessels that causes people to follow Christ. Not just a well-crafted sermon that convinces people to pray a short prayer to get their ticket to Heaven. That was never modeled in scripture, yet it has become a common thing in the global Church culture.

It will take courage to challenge the current Church culture. End-time leaders must maintain an intimate personal relationship with the Father through personal devotion and prayer, focusing on the written word and guarding their hearts against all evil influence.

We cannot lead others to a place we have not been. So, the first order of business is to take an honest self-assessment and ask some pointed questions.

  • Do I function in the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit?
  • Does my team?
  • If not, what are we doing to rectify this problem?
  • Are we crying out to God in prayer for the correction and instruction needed to facilitate change?
  • Are we watering down the word of God to match our limited experience, or are we praying that God elevates our experience to match His word?
  • Are we earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the Saints? (Jude 3)
  • If so, are we seeing measurable progress in this area?

Culture identifies what is essential to a body of believers, reflecting the vision, values, and purpose. Every local assembly will have its unique expression in the body of Christ, and it is the leadership’s responsibility to identify and steward this expression.

If we don’t base our culture on the patterns and practices established by Jesus and His disciples, we will continue to stray from the truth and be subject to the bondage of men’s religious ideas.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

To change the current culture of leadership, the values of the leaders must first align, which means the beliefs of the leaders must first align.

People have deeply ingrained assumptions and beliefs about Christ and the gospel. These can be strongholds that can take time to dismantle. The most effective way of addressing people’s deeply held assumptions and wrong beliefs is to teach God’s word with demonstration and power. People will not change what they believe simply because we believe it. They must be shown why they need to change.

Great leaders consistently demonstrate to the people that the proposed change is rooted in scripture. This helps the emerging leaders and the congregation recognize the need for change and see that the authority to demand that change goes beyond the influence and desires of the leaders and comes directly from God.

Developing a culture where the Word of God is final authority is the only solid foundation to build upon. Taking time with your leaders regularly to help define and reaffirm the culture will produce much fruit in the future.

Don’t be rushed into defining your culture. Have leadership meetings to discuss ideas and hold them up as a prayer target. Allowing emerging leaders to have a voice develops and maintains influence. You don’t necessarily have to follow their suggestions. However, allowing them input gives them a sense of belonging and importance that makes them feel like they are valuable, a part of the process, and an essential part of the ministry.

Culture is an expression of our faith, a reflection of our beliefs. What we do and don’t do, from missions to local outreach, how we embrace first-time guests to discipleship, and developing emerging leaders, all play a significant role in shaping our leadership culture. We don’t need to tell visitors what our culture is. They will experience it. 

Excellence in Leadership

Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

This has a massive impact on culture. Excellence, as with most things, begins and ends with leadership. Leaders should regularly be asking themselves, “Can we do better?” As more staff and volunteers are added and more resources become available, the level of excellence should evolve and become more apparent. Excellence in ministry is a ministry by itself.

The mentality of excellence requires constant training, emphasis, and maintenance. We can easily slip into the “it’s good enough” mentality. This shows a lack of understanding about what we are doing and why we are doing it. A ministry will never rise above the level of excellence its leaders portray, so our responsibility is to model excellence in everything we do.

When leadership culture is healthy and well-defined, it prepares us for growth and success in ministry.

Three things will happen with a well-defined leadership culture:

1) Evangelism will increase.

People will love being involved, and they will talk to others about the amazing ministry they are involved with. It creates a desire within the body to invite others to get involved. The ministry will become attractive to the community and make it easier to fulfill its vision.

2) Spiritual growth increases throughout the body.

People flourish in the place of their God-given assignment. A strong culture creates a sense of belonging and inspires people to get involved, taking ownership of some portion of the ministry. This allows people to develop and use their gifts and talents, causing growth and strength in the individual. In turn, this creates strong, healthy relationships and edifies the body as a whole. One of the most rewarding things for leaders is to witness the growth, development, and healthy progress of their followers. This is what makes leadership exciting and rewarding.

3) It attracts great leaders.

Up-and-coming leaders will join themselves to the ministry. This creates a pool of leaders to mentor and disciple, preparing the ministry for future growth and additional outreach.

Question: Can we define our leadership culture right now?

Question: Who sets the culture of a ministry?

Question: What is happening right now in our ministry that does not reflect our leadership culture?

Question: Is excellence in ministry a focus of the leadership team?

Question: What areas of ministry can we do better with minimal effort, and why aren’t we doing it?

Question: What changes need to occur within your leadership team to embrace the leadership culture of Jesus better?

Thank you for visiting Truth Pressure Ministries. Please share and help reach more people with the truth.

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