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Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #7

Posted on 11/07/2023 | Comments Off on Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #7

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?

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

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Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #6

Posted on 11/06/2023 | Comments Off on Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #6

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?

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

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Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #5

Posted on 11/06/2023 | Comments Off on Who Will Lead the End-Time Church? #5

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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