Leading by Example:
Talents, Gifts, Charisma can only lead so far. And that distance is quickly approaching.. We need to stop focusing mainly on techniques but look to creating an overflow. We are only able to minister out of our overflow in the Lord.
George Burns once said. :”If I can fake Sincerity I have got it made”.
To expect in others that which you are not living is the apex of hypocrisy. Unfortunately Christianity is more than certain acts. It is more than worship, prayer, witnessing, being nice, more than teaching or living pure. Christianity is a lifestyle of relationship to and with God.
If we want our followers to become something then we have to already be that thing. We cannot lead where we have not been. If we want radical worship, intense prayer, witnessing and a deep desire to know and follow Jesus … are we and do we do those things?
My ministry is based around my call, my effectiveness is based around my depth of relationship with Jesus. Prayer life is simply communication with God. Times of intense intercession are the outcropping of those ‘talk times’.
If we have a vision for the youth are we as leaders living it now? Or do we want to live our Christianity vicariously through them. We are not living it,... but it would be so cool if they did? Is our ministry a success only if they perform in a way that reflects good on us? Regardless of those who follow you your first and primary focus has to be on your relationship with Jesus. We are first and above all sheep then leaders or shepherds second.
I once went forward and a nationally knows prophet of God said I was wanting things that I was not living.. I was projecting an image basically that was not reality. Oooouuuccchhh..!!!
That public humiliation changed my life.. he was truthful I had been the golden boy relying on my gifts, talents, charisma and base knowledge and not on the depth of a love relationship with Jesus. Several years ago John Halvorsen came to here and said God wanted me to become intimate with him. (it scared me because I didn’t know how.. I am loving my new relationship with Jesus.) I cant explain it other than we do what we have seen. But true ministry that changes lives is not mimicked. But it comes from the root of who we are.. Where God lives.. Is it a small room with lots of trapping about God or is it a Large expansive room with a resident living God?
Talents, Gifts, Charisma can only lead so far. And that distance is quickly approaching.. We need to stop focusing mainly on techniques but look to creating an overflow. We are only able to minister out of our overflow in the Lord.
George Burns once said. :”If I can fake Sincerity I have got it made”.
To expect in others that which you are not living is the apex of hypocrisy. Unfortunately Christianity is more than certain acts. It is more than worship, prayer, witnessing, being nice, more than teaching or living pure. Christianity is a lifestyle of relationship to and with God.
If we want our followers to become something then we have to already be that thing. We cannot lead where we have not been. If we want radical worship, intense prayer, witnessing and a deep desire to know and follow Jesus … are we and do we do those things?
My ministry is based around my call, my effectiveness is based around my depth of relationship with Jesus. Prayer life is simply communication with God. Times of intense intercession are the outcropping of those ‘talk times’.
If we have a vision for the youth are we as leaders living it now? Or do we want to live our Christianity vicariously through them. We are not living it,... but it would be so cool if they did? Is our ministry a success only if they perform in a way that reflects good on us? Regardless of those who follow you your first and primary focus has to be on your relationship with Jesus. We are first and above all sheep then leaders or shepherds second.
I once went forward and a nationally knows prophet of God said I was wanting things that I was not living.. I was projecting an image basically that was not reality. Oooouuuccchhh..!!!
That public humiliation changed my life.. he was truthful I had been the golden boy relying on my gifts, talents, charisma and base knowledge and not on the depth of a love relationship with Jesus. Several years ago John Halvorsen came to here and said God wanted me to become intimate with him. (it scared me because I didn’t know how.. I am loving my new relationship with Jesus.) I cant explain it other than we do what we have seen. But true ministry that changes lives is not mimicked. But it comes from the root of who we are.. Where God lives.. Is it a small room with lots of trapping about God or is it a Large expansive room with a resident living God?
posted by P. John from Becida at 9:10 PM
1 Comments:
That is so true.
I just have to throw this out there because I am struggling a bit; do any of you other leaders feel a little like a hypocrite? I have so much trouble witnessing; I can live my life good and all and love others, but I have only asked one person if they knew Jesus and they did, and asked one of my friends if they needed prayer.
And then I was flipping through the Bible and just about every verse I came across was about hypocrites, and faith without works, and leaders getting a stricter judgement... I'm feeling like poop.
But now I'm remembering the verse God gave me on Tuesday.
"For My strength is made perfect in weakness."
I feel so weak; but thats a good thing because God can use that weakness that I'm seeing and strengthen me there. "For when I am weak, then I am strong."
I cant lead where I havent been, but I can if God strengthens me to go there.
God lead us.
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