Tag Archives: Leadership classes

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? #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?

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Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #4

Posted on 11/06/2023 | Leave a comment

Jesus is Not an Invalid

          As I was praying one day on my long drive to work, I began to pray some things out by divine revelation. I was overcome with a deep sense of gratitude, so I began to thank God for different things that would come up in my heart, things I would never typically think about. After a few minutes of this, I uttered these words by the Spirit, “I thank you, Father, for the body of Christ that validates You to the world.”

          As soon as I made that statement, I saw a vision of an Arab-looking fellow of middle age, dressed in a Kittel, sitting in a wheelchair with his head bowed down. He was facing almost directly to my right, and I could only see his profile. He was crippled in his arms and legs. As I stared at him, wondering what this meant, the word “INVALID” appeared above his head in all capital letters.

          My grandmother was a nurse, and I had heard her use that word many times about my aunt Alice, her daughter, who was stricken with polio. Alice could do almost nothing herself. She had little to no use of her arms and legs and needed full-time time care.

          As I continued to watch, the word changed from “INVALID” to “NOT VALID.” At that moment, the man looked up at me, and I saw that it was Jesus! The expression on His face was one of profound sadness. As soon as I realized who it was, the vision ended. The whole thing only lasted about 15 seconds. My heart went from overflowing with gratitude to being grief-stricken in a moment. The Lord gave me an instant understanding of what I had just seen.

          The Church has done a poor job of validating Jesus Christ to the world. We are His body; we are his hands and feet; we are the ones called to demonstrate His kingdom to the world. Through this brief vision, He was showing me the current condition of the Church.

His body is weak and crippled because of the poison we have been feeding it—the poison of false doctrines of men and doctrines of devils. We have left our first love and not represented Christ well. To the world, Christ was becoming increasingly invalid. I cried profusely.

We have seen a few men and women throughout history who have given themselves in complete surrender to Christ. These individuals demonstrated kingdom authority by signs and wonders, operating in the supernatural power of God, but they have been very few.

Maybe God allowed this to remind us that it is still possible, to encourage us to go deeper, to pursue Him more aggressively. This level of complete surrender must become the norm for end-time leaders. We must develop a culture that reproduces completely surrendered disciples.

John 14:12-14 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.

          I don’t think anyone can argue against the fact that the Church has not lived up to these powerful words Jesus spoke. Not even close. And yet He said them nonetheless, which means they will be fulfilled.

Leaders of the end-time Church must lead with demonstration and power, not just eloquent teachings and entertainment-focused ministry. Signs and wonders must be present to maintain influence over people who are being persecuted for their faith. Demonstrating kingdom power and authority will be needed to give people hope and keep them moving forward and pursuing God during the greatest tribulation the world has ever known.

There are inherent dangers that come with God’s power and authority. This is why we don’t see it much in Church today. God loves us too much to trust His power to irresponsible babes. We must be mature enough spiritually to maintain a servant’s perspective while operating in His divine power. If we don’t, we will likely fall into pride and spiritual abuse, thinking more highly of ourselves than we should, destroying ourselves, our witness, and forfeiting any rewards we may have in eternity.

Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” 

The best leaders in any capacity are, without fail, the best of servants to those they are leading. When we hear the word “servant,” we tend to think of a slave, a hired hand, or someone in the helps ministry. In the case of end-time leadership, this takes on a much higher and nobler meaning. A servant leader is devoted to meeting the legitimate needs of those he is leading so that they are better equipped to fulfill their roles and grow as leaders themselves. He serves others with the hope of them finding and fulfilling their God-given purpose and destiny. He inspires others to lay down their life completely while modeling the process.

“If we are not willing to serve others, we are not qualified to lead them.”

The Snare of Management

One of the things that cripples the Church is mistaking management for leadership. We lead people; we should never manage them. We manage things like logistics, resources, assets, plans, vision, etc., but never people.

Managing people is a worldly view of leadership. It uses the power and authority of position or title to demand compliance and compel people to follow your lead. This type of leadership strains relationships and compromises godly influence. Continued use of management type of leadership will cripple a ministry.

When it comes to operating in the supernatural, we must resist the temptation to manage the anointing as well. It is easy for a leader with true power manifesting in his life to micro-manage others’ behavior and put unneeded restrictions on them in the name of “guarding the anointing.”

The best way for a leader to guard the anointing is to maintain personal intimacy and humility with the Lord. If we manage ourselves, our devotion to the Word, our actions, our words, our prayer life, etc. Will abide in an ever-increasing power that comes from God. It helps to have committed leaders around us who are qualified Elders and Deacons, according to scripture. God will take care of the rest.

The power that comes from God can be given and taken away. The power of God in our lives is dependent on our complete submission to Christ and obedience to His word, not how we manage the people around us. If we are disciplined and diligent in our pursuit of God, the laws of the Spirit will take care of the rest.

Growing in Influence

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV) Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

This passage is a goldmine of revelation for leaders. Follow God’s example and walk in love. Understanding that God has given us as a gift to others will keep our role in the proper perspective.

How we live our daily lives determines the amount of influence we have on those following us. When we are examples in speech, conduct, and character, we become salt and light to those around us, building confidence in others to follow us and creating a desire within them to help fulfill God’s vision and purpose for the Church.

Matthew 5:13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

Ministry leaders must be skillful in leading with authority because using power will drive people away. Authority grows as respect for the individual grows. Once you have earned respect, your influence will increase if you are consistent.

The power of position or title can be handed from one person to another. It can be given and taken away. Authority must be developed and maintained. When worldly power is used consistently, resentment, division, strife, and discord will surely follow.

Developing and maintaining influence builds a faithful following and a dynamic leadership team. It is also the foundation for developing an end-time leadership culture among your followers.

To validate Jesus in the world, we must first validate Him in our personal lives.

Question: What is the difference between power and authority?

Question: What three areas can you improve to increase your influence with others?

Question: Can influence be delegated?

Question: In your opinion, what three qualifications for leadership are the most important?

Question: How do you define influence?

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Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #1

Posted on 11/05/2023 | Leave a comment

Introduction

          As we get closer to the end of the Church age and life becomes increasingly more complicated, the persecution that the Church experiences will increase exponentially. We are not prepared for what is coming on the Earth, and contrary to popular belief, the Church is certainly not prepared for Christ’s return.

The body of Christ has become weak, soft, and comfortable. With more Christian denominations globally than can be counted, the Church has become divided and vulnerable, especially in America. Most of the body of Christ has become an itchy-eared, self-serving, scripturally illiterate people with no fear of God.

Just like Israel in the wilderness, we have become far too familiar with a God we barely know.

What led us to this place? Who, or what, is responsible? Are we mindlessly following leaders to our destruction? Have we become so distracted with the entertainment culture that we barely give God the time of day? Are we so scripturally illiterate that we can’t discern the lies we are being taught?

We need strong Christian leaders and prophetic teachers to lead us forward into the most extraordinary and most difficult times the world has ever known. The wrath of Satan and the wrath of man will be increased against God’s people, and the body of Christ needs to grow a spine to stand up to the coming onslaught of evil. True faith is revealed in adversity. Great adversity is looming against all humanity, and the Church must strengthen herself lest she faints.

Proverbs 24:10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

Lesson  #1

Leadership is a Perspective.

Many teachings on Christian leadership focus on church growth, how to be culturally relevant, and how to build an organization that is appealing to the masses. However, this teaching will focus on the essentials for a solid and successful leadership culture modeled by the Lord Jesus Christ. If we don’t follow His example, we will never become all He has paid for.

The health of the Church is dependent on its leaders, and this writing aims to challenge individuals to answer the high call to end-time leadership and restore the faith that was initially delivered to the Saints.

Leadership is not a position as much as it is a perspective that dictates how we think, speak, behave, believe, and make decisions. We must raise our leadership expectations, maintain a proper leadership perspective, and create a stable and safe environment for emerging leaders, setting the Church up for success in the trying times ahead.

Qualifications for Leadership

The New Testament has established guidelines for choosing leaders, and if we don’t hold to these standards, we undermine our entire leadership culture from the very start. How leaders are chosen is the number one area where most ministries develop problems with their leadership team, ministries, and local assemblies. If the leadership is not biblically sound, neither will the followers be.

Many churches will hold their senior leaders accountable to a high standard of character and moral behavior, but they have very low standards when choosing other leaders. It is not fair to put a person in a position of leadership that requires spiritual maturity and strong moral character when they are immature and have not yet been adequately developed. It is unfair to the person, the people they are asked to lead, and the ministry. Followers will rarely rise above the level of their leadership in any area. This makes character and spiritual maturity some of the most important qualities when choosing Christian leaders.

Promoting a person to a leadership position is common practice simply because of availability, evident giftings, or, even worse, because of their financial contributions to the ministry.

With no consideration of character or maturity, we randomly place people in positions of authority over God’s people, and we wonder why we don’t see the power and demonstration of the Spirit that is promised to us in scripture. It is a recipe for disappointment and disaster. This ungodly practice has hindered ministries from reaching their full potential for over two thousand years.

Scriptural Guidelines for Choosing Leaders

I’m so thankful God took out the guesswork in qualifying church leadership. The Bible lays out specific guidelines for choosing leaders that are foundational for proper discipleship, mentoring, and ministry success.

We must acknowledge that God has a predetermined method of choosing leaders. It is His way of determining who is and is not qualified to lead. Being mindful of this and honoring His process inspires faith, produces strength, promotes success, prevents problems, and establishes structure and boundaries within the leadership culture.

Suppose we adopt any other method of vetting leaders. In that case, we subvert God’s plan and set ourselves up for unwanted challenges, severely limiting the ministry’s effectiveness and our overall witness for Christ. One of the main reasons that the Church is in its current weakened condition is that we have not adhered to these simple guidelines.

Let’s start with qualifications for Elders and Deacons and define their roles. Elders and Deacons encompass all the qualified leadership positions within the church. Almost all others should be viewed as emerging leaders in a position of being groomed and mentored for these positions. Making this known to the congregation gives them a strong sense of belonging and a healthy respect for each other and the leadership team. It instills built-in accountability within the ranks of followers that encourages spiritual growth and corporate progress.

Elders:

            Elders are the spiritual leaders of the church. They provide general oversight on all spiritual, organizational, and financial matters. Elders have matured in their giftings and have proven themselves faithful in ministry, serving under the authority of other leaders.

Elders are not limited to the 5-fold ministry gifts but should live a life in such submission and devotion to Christ that they can effortlessly embody the expression of the 5-fold ministry at any moment. They understand that Christ represents the 5-fold ministry, and if Christ chooses to move through them as a Pastor, a Prophet, an Evangelist, or any other gift, they readily yield to that expression.

I remember talking to a lady on the phone years ago. She was looking for my wife, an associate pastor in our church. I politely explained to her that this was my phone number and would gladly give her my wife’s number. She then asked me if I was a pastor, thinking I could help her.

I had turned down the offer to be ordained as a pastor a few years before because I was uncomfortable with the expectations put on associate pastors, and quite frankly, I was not crazy about titles.

I told the lady, “No, I am not a Pastor.” When I said that, God spoke clearly in my heart, saying, “But I am a Pastor Jack, and if you deny me that expression in your life, I cannot answer your prayer to live through you in fullness.”

I immediately saw that my wrong thinking and speaking had been hindering God’s desire to move through me in a Pastoral capacity.

We should understand that all believers have a measure of the 5-fold ministry gifts residing in them. As mature leaders, one of our responsibilities is to identify people’s strengths, graces, and giftings and help them mature in those areas. This helps emerging leaders embrace their unique identity in Christ and be more productive in ministry.

To be clear, leaders must not find their identity in their office or position but in Christ alone. In other words, an Apostle, Prophet, Deacon, Bishop, Pastor, or Teacher is not who we are. It is how we are created to serve.

A seasoned Elder will wake up every day and be willing to serve others in whatever capacity God chooses. An Elder understands that they exist to love and serve others, that their life is not their own, and selfishness is never an option. They are a vessel that God can choose to move through however He sees fit.

Deacons:

The biblical requirements of deacons are very similar to that of elders, but there is a clear distinction between the two and how they function. A deacon’s role may include various expressions within the ministry. Deacons generally work as servants, ministering to the body in practical ways. They may serve as a lead usher, oversee the benevolence outreach, lead a home group, or lead the cleaning team or the hospitality department.

No matter how they serve, scripture is clear that the office of a deacon is a rewarding and honorable calling in the church and a necessary role for elders to be able to function in their role. The ministry of deacons is vital to the success of the elders. It frees them up to focus on things like prayer, studying God’s word, and pastoral care. It is an excellent example of how one body part depends on another. Deacons may also be emerging Elders in training.

Suppose Elders are constantly resolving disputes, dealing with strife, and putting out fires that arise amongst the Deacons. In that case, they cannot give themselves entirely to the role of Elder, which significantly hurts the ministry. A Deacon must not be a novice but mature in the faith.

Leadership requirements for Elders:

Titus 1:5-9 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you— 6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

1Timothy 3:1-7 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

          If we take an honest look at ourselves and see that we don’t qualify to lead according to these guidelines, we are far more likely to put leaders in a position of authority without considering these requirements for them either. This is a pattern that is often repeated in the body of Christ.

          Far too many Pastors and Bishops leading ministries have a grace for administration, are gifted in business, and are charismatic enough to attract followers who should not be senior leaders in the body of Christ. They deceive themselves and those they lead.

          If you are already in a senior leadership position, looking at these qualifications and honestly seeing that you don’t meet the requirements, the best way to deal with it is to meet with some of the other leaders and elders and be open and honest about it. Have some hard conversations and express your desire to live up to what the word of God requires of you and ask for their help. It will garner more respect from the other leaders and inspire them to be honest and open about their qualifications.

          End-time leaders must judge themselves and others with sober, righteous judgment, surrounding themselves with people who are passionate about the kingdom of God and disciplined in pursuing their spiritual progress.

There can be no lone wolf leaders anymore. No single person or couple should call all the shots and make all the critical decisions. Leaders are far more effective in operating in teams and surrounding themselves with godly counsel. There is built-in accountability in this dynamic that protects the leaders and followers.

Leadership requirements for Deacons:

1 Timothy 3:8-13 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. 11 Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. 12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

          As stated before, if we place unqualified Deacons in leadership roles, we undermine God’s plan, deviate from His prescribed structure, and make it difficult for the Elders to fulfill their roles.

These scriptures are not overly complicated. They are very straightforward and leave no room for misinterpretation. I believe God made it simple for us so we wouldn’t mess it up, yet here we are, plagued with Churches and ministries with a dysfunctional and unbiblical leadership culture.

We must first stop undermining our entire leadership culture by straying from God’s established structure of Church government. These positions should be held in high esteem, and the people in them should be honorable, above reproach, worthy of respect, and mature in the faith.

This creates structure and boundaries within the body of Christ that are clearly defined and easily understood. It shows people that there is a structure of authority from God and sends a clear message that the leadership is serious about their roles and is here for the benefit of all.

Here are some things to consider when choosing leaders.  These are also questions we should ask ourselves if we are currently in a leadership role.

  • Is the individual a devoted disciple of Christ and not just a regular church attender?
  • Have they proven themselves faithful in ministry, or are they a relatively new disciple?
  • Do they pursue God passionately and have an apparent intimate relationship with Him?
  • Do they have a healthy, robust prayer life?
  • Does the individual have an excellent working knowledge of God’s Word?
  • Do they consistently encourage people to pursue their spiritual maturity?
  • Do they possess self-control?  
  • Are they gentle, hospitable, upright, holy, and disciplined?
  • Does their life set an example for others to follow?

Question: What is one thing you could change right now to make you a more effective leader?

Question: Do you hold your leadership team to a higher standard than what you are living yourself?

Question: How much time do you spend with the Lord in prayer daily?

Question: How often do you spend time in prayer waiting and listening to God?

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

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