LEADERSHIP 101: BATTLECRY!
Acts 13:1 and Ephesians 4:7-15
Introduction
In turbulent times true leadership produces change that directs others to God (John Paul Jackson). God’s work in our life will always hang on an ongoing series of choices that relate to openness and obedience to His Word. One of the most precious gifts God has given us is His Word, the Bible. Wrapped in the glory and sacrifice of His Son and delivered by the power and ministry of His Spirit, it is a treasured gift—the gift that keeps on giving, because the Giver it reveals is inexhaustible in His love and grace.
Tragically, though, fewer and fewer people are opening this gift and seeking to understand what it’s all about and how to use it. They often feel intimidated by it. It requires some assembly, and its instructions are hard to comprehend sometimes. How does the Bible fit together anyway? What does this ancient Book have to say to us who are looking toward the twenty-first century? Will taking the time and energy to understand its instructions and to fit it all together really help you and me?
Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.” As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it fields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (Mark 4:20, Isaiah 55:10-11, Psalm 1:1-3, James 1:21-25, Joshua 1:8-9, John 14:23). One of the most precious gifts God has given us is His Word, the Bible. Wrapped in the glory and sacrifice of His Son and delivered by the power and ministry of His Spirit, it is a treasured gift—the gift that keeps on giving, because the Giver it reveals is inexhaustible in His love and grace.
Tragically, though, fewer and fewer people are opening this gift and seeking to understand what it’s all about and how to use it. They often feel intimidated by it. It requires some assembly, and its instructions are hard to comprehend sometimes. How does the Bible fit together anyway? What does this ancient Book have to say to us who are looking toward the twenty-first century? Will taking the time and energy to understand its instructions and to fit it all together really help you and me?
The question will always be, how far are we willing to go in our pursuit of Him? Read with me a declaration that highlights how leadership and the prophetic are joined together through the Generals who lead the early church in the fight. In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul, and But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” 9(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
I) WINNING THE WAR DEPENDS ON OUR OPENNESS
Pastor-Teacher/Prophet… gifts for the Church, 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11). God’s work in our life depends solely on our openness to Him and to what He has given us as points of contact in a ministry context, particularly through the spiritual leadership you submit to in your life, Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble. See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. 6God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” 7To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger (Mark 4:15, Proverbs 28:14, Hebrews 3:12-13, Romans 2:5-8). This is an important concept to grasp, as your leadership should always serve as a buffer between you ad the enemy. Our leaders are supposed to help us become faithful. Faithfulness is the ability to continue under adversity.
Ephesians 4 is about distinctions in ministry. The pastor CAN ACT apostolically, and the teacher CAN ACT prophetically. Though not all of us are called to serve as an evangelist in the modern cultural sense, we all need to evangelize: But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry (2 Timothy 4:5). Leaders should always teach by example and exhortation, as we are under-shepherds, who both feed and lead the sheep.
Leadership carries within its boundaries a measure of control and accountability. The word control is a loaded word in many of our minds, as it can conjure up images of inappropriate behavior and manipulation, but I want to show you a positive application to this concept. Control can be a positive, as it relates to supervision, oversight, leading and guiding the church. That is what Ephesians 4:7-15 was all about. Paul was identifying the way that the church is governed properly. Our lives are surrounded by this type of control, in our country, organizations, school administrations and even in our parenting. Control in this fashion gives us perimeters and safeguards.
The negative side of control can be devastating however. Control can include wielding power over others, abusing others, manipulating people to act against their wills, domineering and ruling over them with an iron fist approach. When people are repressed and their desires for freedom are curbed, when leaders engineer events and circumstances that control the outcomes in a pre-ordained way, with maneuvering and the exertion of force to influence improperly, control becomes a bad thing. There is very fine line that separates the two types of control. The only way we properly walk this line of separation is through the procedure known as accountability that is controlled by integrity and responsibility. Responsibility and accountability are the two sides of the leadership coin.
As believers, we need to be both controlled and disciplined by the power of the Word of God. It is our source of inspiration and revelation about the character and will of God. We can always read about, or be taught about, what we need to know in Scripture. It is a complete revelation. But there are times when we need an extra kick in order to move forward. Saul and Barnabas could have read about the need to preach and teach others, even in preaching to the Gentiles. They, like us, sometimes need more than study and being taught facts.
Prophesy is the ability to see the immediate need we have wed with a ‘now’ application, as our circumstances become allies with the Word in a living way. The living application of the Word to our needs helps us to find resolve, determination and strength as we see that God knows our needs personally, which in turn releases faith. Faith takes patience (Abraham). Fear gives up right before the miracle (Peter). This is important, because Satan sends circumstances, suggestions, disappointments, and hindrances to stop the development of our faith, but “we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7 nkjv). “Fight the fight of faith,” (1 Timothy 6:12 nkjv) and “. . . having done all, to stand. Stand therefore” (Ephesians 6:13–14 nkjv).
II) WINNING THE WAR DEPENDS ON OUR COMMITMENT
Ephesians 4 is really about preparation. It is a lot like the Parable of the soil. When soil is healthy, good things come from it. There are certain things Scripture shows us that we need to be committed to in order to win. Pastoral perfection… mature believers for ministry, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:12). God’s work in our life has to be a personal commitment, Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. 32 Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit[a] and they are life. 64Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”
66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
67“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
70Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71(He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”
28He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
(Mark 4:16-17, Ezekiel 33:31-32, Luke 6:49, John 6:61-71, Luke 11:27-28).
Ways Holy Spirit Prepares the Soil of our Hearts to produce in us what we need to win:
1. Prayer in the Spirit: “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries” (1 Corinthians 14:2 NKJV). Holy Spirit can give you a prayer language to help you communicate with God. It is through this type of prayer method that your spirit prays (v. 14).
There are many times where we simply don’t know what to pray, so the Spirit helps us pray according to the perfect will of God: “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26–27 NKJV).
2. Fasting: “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said . . .” (Acts 13:2 NKJV). Jesus fasted forty days after being filled with the Spirit. Fasting takes your focus off of your body and mind and helps your spirit to be sensitive to the voice of Holy Spirit. Both Peter and Cornelius were fasting when the Spirit spoke to them (Acts 10:10, 30).
3. Inward voice: “While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Behold, three men are seeking you’ ” (Acts 10:19 NKJV). Holy Spirit often speaks in a still, small voice that is usually not audible. At times God’s directive voice will take you to a place that you would never have thought to go in your natural mind (such as Peter’s going with a Gentile). This is what happened to Philip too (Acts 8:29).
4. Angelic intervention: “Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza’ ” (Acts 8:26 NKJV). God used angels at least five times in the book of Acts (5:19; 8:26; 10:3; 12:7; 27:23). They appear in both Old and New Testaments and delivered messages to Daniel, Mary, Zacharias, Ezekiel, Paul, and others. The appearance of angels is an unusual occurrence, and what they say must line up with God’s Word (Galatians 1:8).
5. Open Doors: “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them” (Acts 8:4–5 NKJV). There will be times when circumstances push you into arenas you do not particularly feel “led” to (like Joseph in prison). Philip had to leave Jerusalem, but God was directing Him as part of broadening the reach of the gospel. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Psalms 37:23 NKJV). “A man’s steps are of the Lord; how then can a man understand his own way?” (Proverbs 20:24 NKJV).
III) WINNING THE WAR NEEDS TO BE OUR PRIORITY
The people of God win when the church advances, which means the church must minister and multiply (Ephesians 4:12). Prophetic ministry has been given to the church “For the edifying (building up) of the body of Christ.” All believers were involved at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-11). They were praying, praising, learning, growing (Acts 2:41-47). This continued everywhere the church spread. They seized their opportunities to be led by God (Acts 13:1), and to minister, giving God the freedom to do whatever He wanted to through them. They jumped into the pool of God’s provision and began to swim, using and developing the gifts God gave them to win the war.
The operation of the gift that we see identified as prophecy is a lot like a swimming pool. There is a shallow end that is safe and where just about anyone can get in and be safe. This is what you could call inspirational prophecy, which has as its aim a desire to encourage, build up and comfort people. This type of living word was never meant to be directive or corrective, as it seeks to bless people and exalt the Lord in simple terms. This is what Paul was talking about when he said that he “desired that all would prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1, 5).” In most pools, there is a transitional place where the floor gives way rapidly with a steep incline. This mid-level form of prophecy could be designated the prophetic ministry. This is not the office of a prophet. It is simply the development of proficiency through the exercising of the gift, which leads to proficiency.
Just because I can lay a few stones down in a pattern does not mean I am a Stone Mason. However, if I continue to practice the process of stone laying, developing patterns and developing speed and efficiency, and being instructed by others, I will eventually become a Stone Mason, as my talent improves. Learning to move in the (prophetic) gifts is very similar. As we learn what Scripture has to say, and as we become proficient in applying its truths in our lives, and as we develop a sensitivity to the Spirit’s promptings in our hearts, we become prophetic people. But let me add something here, prophecy isn’t just getting special insight into Scripture, although this one element of the gift. Insight can be gained naturally through study. The prophetic edge only comes through divine impartation, as Holy Spirit stirs up the embers in our hearts.
It’s like this, Scripture will always give us general guidelines and revelation about the way we conduct our lives within the boundaries of faith as it applies to our marriages, relationships, work ethic, fellowship with the Lord, our church and our ministry areas of responsibility. The reason we need prophecy, the reason God has given us the ability to prophesy is there will always be the need to have the specifics details of our lives clarified as the general principles apply to our lives. Most of us experience this form of prophetic application, whether we recognize it or not.
The deepest end of the pool would be what we identify as the office of the Prophet. This is the gifted individual who has exhibited proficiency and who is promoted by the Lord into an active role that is elevated in its importance. This is the deeper realm that encompasses hearing God regularly and becoming His spokesperson. The closer we get to the end of this present evil age, the more important this role will become, as there will be the need to bring clarity to the unfolding events of the end and to point out there application. In all three applications, people will always need training. It is no different than preaching, teaching, praying or sharing your faith.
Conclusion: “Like a mighty army, moves the church of God.” This is especially true when all are ministering. The early Christians turned their world upside down, But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here (Acts 17:6). This is impossible with only leaders ministering. Believers multiply when all minister. Three thousand saved at Pentecost, Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day (Acts 2:41). Two thousand more when persecution began, But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand (Acts 4:4). Multitudes of converts added, Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number (Acts 5:14). From addition to multiplication, So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith (Acts 6:7). We must all get involved to be effective for Christ
Dynamic Results come from sticking to God’s instructions. Our church can be dynamite, as we each make a difference here. We can evangelize our community, we can impact the world.
