07/16/2024
We are living in a season where God is cleansing HIS church and as a result many hidden things are coming to the light and everything that needs to be shaken is being shaken. It is the zeal of the Lord for His bride. We must understand through, that it is because of His mercies, He is doing it and not His wrath. He is giving us enough chances to repent and set things right before the clock eventually stops and we step into eternity.
Given the recent exposures of sinful behaviors of leaders, it is clear He wants to bring an end to “super star and celebrity Christianity”. For too long people have looked up to individuals in an unhealthy way; putting them in places that only belong to God. Unfortunately, leaders who are supposed to point people to Christ and not to themselves have done the opposite and instead of using their power to serve people; they have used it for selfish gain.
As a result, many have suffered abuse leading to hurts and pain under ungodly leaderships. Systems have been built by them out of manipulation and control which has led to many dark things being hidden inside. Systems that God abhors and is exposing them with the intent of redeeming the people caught in them and even extending His hand to the abusers out of His great mercies that they may change their ways before it is too late.
It is understandable that many are hurt, angry, disillusioned and dismayed today with leadership given the way things have come to the light. God understands and is gracious towards the hurting. He gives them enough time and opportunities to process things right. However, in the midst of this as the body of Christ we need to understand that God’s plans for leaders in the body have not changed. The God who appointed leaders and apostles in the early church, still appoints leaders today. He is God and He changes not!
Amidst the hurt and the confusion and the negativity towards leaders, if we are not firmly established in God’s counsel on leaders and leadership, we will end up eventually rejecting the good that comes through leaders in the coming days and may even resist God by resisting those in authority, leading us into a more trouble and further pain.
Not only that, for those us who are addressing the errors in leadership, we need to be balanced. We need to address errors in leadership from the foundation that the leadership model is God’s model. If not, during this crucial hour we may end up doing more harm than good.
In the book “The Torch and the Sword” by Rick Joyner, a few prophets (leaders) are quick to destroy a tree with bad fruit that was affecting a certain part of the city. Later, they come to find out that in the same place, there is an even bigger tree there with more poisonous fruits affecting the entire city. God then speaks, telling them about the need for a good tree to have been planted in the bad tree’s place and since they didn’t, it had led to something far worse.
Now, the reason for this analogy is this; with the exposure of the sins of leaders in recent times there is a need to destroy unhealthy leadership models, but it needs to be balanced with proper leadership models and truths on honoring leaders and respecting them for their gifts and the anointing of God on their lives. If not, we are going to (already exists) produce a people group without shepherds (or leaders), prone to deception.
There are those who have taken on themselves to ‘expose, sins in leadership today. Unfortunately, many of those judgements have their root in rebellion towards authority and pride. It lacks in love and self-control. Many have been influenced by the spirit behind these judgements. If this is left unaddressed and if not exposed; it is going to (already has) become a fast-spreading yeast by which many will be defiled.
Rebellion is as ‘the sin of witchcraft’ (1 Samuel 15:23) and God’s opinion on that hasn’t changed over the years! A simple criterion for self-discernment is: do I see those in leadership as above me? or equal to or less than me”. If my answer is the later, then I am operating in pride. Now if we say they are my contemporaries; it is still pride because in Phillipians 2 we are urged to esteem others more than ourselves.
Also, brethren, when we are talking about the fear of the Lord in exposing sins in leadership; we need to talk about the fear of the Lord which prevents us from idle words and words of accusations against our brethren; especially against those in leadership; for all of us have to give an account for our every idle word ONE day!
For by our words, we will be justified and condemned and by the measure we judge others is by which we would be judged ourselves.
Many years earlier, I was becoming frustrated with a young person i was mentoring because he hadn’t changed in a certain area; till God showed me it took me twice the time to change in that area and also that I had a better environment in every way than him.
My prayer is for the “eyes of the Lord to search us “, for then when we see others, we would see them in all humility and love and forbearance. Even though the person wasn’t in leadership, the principles behind it apply; ‘would I be wish to be judged by the same standards I judge others in leadership’ ? Can I say with the same certainty that God’s has searched me in the area that I so easily and quickly point out in my brother’s life?
There is also this tendency to glorify the role of ‘ believers at the expense of or by criticizing the (or having a critical attitude towards) leadership. All of which is very unhealthy.
Now, I am aware that in the end times each and every believer will attain full maturity in Christ. It will be ‘they’ that will arise and shine and bring the glory of God on this earth. It does not mean an absence of leadership but a very active involvement from them. For they will cheer ‘them’ on; encourage and guide and coach them from behind the scenes.
God’s ordinations in the church have not changed with the times!!
And God has placed in the church FIRST of all apostles, SECOND prophets, THIRD teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues… ( 1 Corinthians 12:28).
Elders are worthy of double honor and people need to be reminded of it.
Today, it is a great concern that people are quick to disqualify leaders to the point of questioning their salvation. It is a dangerous line that many are crossing, calling the anointing and authority of the Spirit in people’s lives as false when they see them in error or seeming error. They are quick to discredit the workings of God through them. Discrediting someone or their ministry based on their mistake (s) should be our last resort and one that should be done after much prayer and consideration and clear guidance of the Spirit, for what if God applied the same standard towards us?
As this hasn’t been addressed much, it has led to many anointed leaders in the body of Christ being labeled by so many as false prophets and wolves There are several examples of men in the Word of God who committed serious errors, yet their writings are considered to be hundred percent inspired by the Spirit.
It is one thing to point out , correct or expose error when we have a duty to but on the other hand, we enter an entirely different arena when we tend to discredit and speak against the work of the Spirit through the person.
At a certain point or place God judges those who question His authority and anointing on people’s lives (when they are actually anointed). If someone is quick to judge in like manner, they lack the Fear of the Lord! Miriam becoming leprous and other such examples are in the scriptures for a reason. Unrighteously judging and condemning God’s appointed men can have severe consequences. As the body of Christ, we need to weep and wail for our leaders in error and not scratch our own wounds causing more bleeding and hurt!
The best example is from the life of David. David didn’t say a word against Saul even when he was away from the Lord and demon possessed. Even at that point, he called him anointed of the Lord. Compare that to the verbiage we hear today when someone errors…
If we are wondering how Christ came on the foundations laid by David; it’s found here. David got his kingdom; by leaving judgement in the hands of the Lord and not returning evil of evil. David was chased like a dog and suffered immensely but He didn’t say a word against Saul. He laid the foundations on which Christ further built on and received His own authority and the ‘name above every name’.
Now, can David’s situation be generalized? Certainly not ! Victims of abuse need to speak out. They need advocates who can create a safe environment for them to speak out. The church should actually be that safe place. However, like in David’s case, there is also a place in scripture for enduring false accusations and harsh treatments from leaders in a Godly manner. It is pleasing to the Lord and it serves as a way of promotion in God’s kingdom. Now, God is righteous, He will pronounce His ‘just judgements’ on leaders that are harsh and abusive if they don’t repent and it is His responsibility not ours.
Dearly Beloved, we are in a very crucial phase and time; as God is cleansing the leadership and His body for His end time purposes to be fulfilled through her. Shaking everything that needs to be shaken with great love. Let us be sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit with all diligence. Let us, first ourselves navigate through the mess and then help others in the body do the same. Let us with all understanding and with all compassion reach out to every member that is hurting but at the same time maintaining our honor, love and respect for leaders, praying for everyone.
Through all the confusion, may we all arise to our full stature in Christ; to see, hear, talk and walk like Him. Amen and amen!
