We have seen that wanting to be a leader is not evidence of God's call. So how do you know if God really has called you to be a leader? In 1 Corinthians 15:19, Paul writes: But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Here, Paul tells us that "grace" is not useless ("in vain") because it made him work hard. He then explains that it wasn't really him; it was God's grace that made him work so hard.
If a person has grace, that person is ALREADY DOING GOD'S WORK. A person who is not already doing God's work lacks grace. What made Paul so successful? "By the grace of God I am what I am.." Churches often encounter people who announce that God has called them to leadership positions. But unless that person is already serving God, that person does not have the grace to be a leader.
I've been told things like "I don't go soul-winning because God hasn't told me to. He's told me to be in charge of..." Christian leader wannabees will post frequently on Christian websites, write blogs (whoops), practice church politics, etc., when they could be visiting the sick, serving meals, cleaning the church, helping with the children on Sunday, inviting the lost to church, and witnessing.
So the second thing you need to know is: If you are not already serving God, you don't have the grace to succeed as a leader.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
BUT I WANT TO BE A LEADER Part 2
1 Timothy 3:1 tells us "This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the
position of a bishop, he desires a good work." Here Paul devotes seven
verses to people who want to be leaders. Two different Greek words are translated "desires." Both of them indicate a strong desire, in which a person actually seeks the office of bishop. And both words are used for both good and evil desires.
Paul's response to this desire was not to hand the person the office of bishop. Instead, he devotes six verses of the Bible to telling the person the requirements he must meet. Paul explains that the person is desiring a good thing, but this good thing has requirements.
Across the internet, there are various sites dealing with victims of churches. Many of these people are the victims of ruthless leaders. Others got into conflicts when they did not want to obey people who had met the requirements God set for leaders. And others were hurt when they strove for leadership positions that the church felt they should not have.
The first thing you need to realize about leadership is that the desire to be a leader does not prove that God has called you to be a leader.
position of a bishop, he desires a good work." Here Paul devotes seven
verses to people who want to be leaders. Two different Greek words are translated "desires." Both of them indicate a strong desire, in which a person actually seeks the office of bishop. And both words are used for both good and evil desires.
Paul's response to this desire was not to hand the person the office of bishop. Instead, he devotes six verses of the Bible to telling the person the requirements he must meet. Paul explains that the person is desiring a good thing, but this good thing has requirements.
Across the internet, there are various sites dealing with victims of churches. Many of these people are the victims of ruthless leaders. Others got into conflicts when they did not want to obey people who had met the requirements God set for leaders. And others were hurt when they strove for leadership positions that the church felt they should not have.
The first thing you need to realize about leadership is that the desire to be a leader does not prove that God has called you to be a leader.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
BUT I WANT TO BE A LEADER!
A common mistake among Christians who get hurt in church is: "I want to be a leader. Therefor, God must have called me to be a leader."
When God called Moses to lead, Moses argued "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" Moses not only didn't want the job; he clearly understood that he wasn't able to handle it. If you feel that you should be the person in charge of something, you're not acting like Moses "...who indeed was faithful in all His house..."
When God called Gideon to lead, Gideon couldn't believe it. Judges 6:36-40 tells how Gideon tested God twice before Gideon would believe that God had called him to deliver Israel. People who announce that God has called them to be leaders, and who then fight for the leadership, are not acting like Gideon. Something odd about Gideon, by the way; Judges 8:28 tells us that the country was quiet for forty years in his days, a feat that very few churches have ever accomplished. Gideon didn't cause discord and strife among God's people.
The point here, is this: the fact that you want to be a leader is not proof that God has called you to be a leader.
When God called Moses to lead, Moses argued "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?" Moses not only didn't want the job; he clearly understood that he wasn't able to handle it. If you feel that you should be the person in charge of something, you're not acting like Moses "...who indeed was faithful in all His house..."
When God called Gideon to lead, Gideon couldn't believe it. Judges 6:36-40 tells how Gideon tested God twice before Gideon would believe that God had called him to deliver Israel. People who announce that God has called them to be leaders, and who then fight for the leadership, are not acting like Gideon. Something odd about Gideon, by the way; Judges 8:28 tells us that the country was quiet for forty years in his days, a feat that very few churches have ever accomplished. Gideon didn't cause discord and strife among God's people.
The point here, is this: the fact that you want to be a leader is not proof that God has called you to be a leader.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Who is at Fault?
We have just finished discussing how Christians get hurt by guilty churches and other guilty Christians. But what if the Christian who got hurt is guilty?
The wrong-doers will make the claim that the other side is guilty, so how do you know who to believe? Often, both sides claim that they are led of God in their actions, so how do you know who is led of God?
Many years ago, our church had about 175 kids in children's church. Many of us worked hard on church bus routes, and the children's church grew to 300. Led by the pastor's wife, an angry group of people in the church seized control of the children's church, and after a few years, they had brought it down to about ten children. The pastor's wife claimed that God had given her the ability to lead, and people like me were interfering with God's will for her life. But how did the people like me know, in advance, that God had not called her to lead the children's church? Or is it possible that God really did lead her to do it, and it failed for other reasons?
Over the years, I've seen several attempts by people to seize leadership positions in good, Godly, fundamental churches. They usually fail, but when they succeed, they fail anyway, as their new "ministries" die away under them.
How do you know if God has really called you to be a leader? If you say that you feel His call, others may say that they feel the opposite way. And that helps us to see the solution: you have to learn how to recognize God's call.
The wrong-doers will make the claim that the other side is guilty, so how do you know who to believe? Often, both sides claim that they are led of God in their actions, so how do you know who is led of God?
Many years ago, our church had about 175 kids in children's church. Many of us worked hard on church bus routes, and the children's church grew to 300. Led by the pastor's wife, an angry group of people in the church seized control of the children's church, and after a few years, they had brought it down to about ten children. The pastor's wife claimed that God had given her the ability to lead, and people like me were interfering with God's will for her life. But how did the people like me know, in advance, that God had not called her to lead the children's church? Or is it possible that God really did lead her to do it, and it failed for other reasons?
Over the years, I've seen several attempts by people to seize leadership positions in good, Godly, fundamental churches. They usually fail, but when they succeed, they fail anyway, as their new "ministries" die away under them.
How do you know if God has really called you to be a leader? If you say that you feel His call, others may say that they feel the opposite way. And that helps us to see the solution: you have to learn how to recognize God's call.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Gifts vs. Godliness
8) Romans 11:29. There are failed Christians who still have ability.
Do unsaved people have spiritual gifts?
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another
discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
12 ¶ For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Verses 7 and 11 appear to teach that the Holy Sprit gives spiritual gifts to every person, including the lost. But verse 13 clearly shows that Paul is only talking to Christians. And 1 Corinthians 1:2 shows that the book of Corinthians is only talking to saints: 1Co 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
In verse 7, we see that these gifts are profitable for the Body of Christ. And verse 11 shows that the Holy Spirit distributes these gifts as He thinks best, in order to help us. Now, what happens when a Christian has a good gift, and then the Christian falls away from God?
Romans 11:29 tells us "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
God does not take back His gifts or callings when a Christian turns away from the Lord. Not only is the Christian still saved, but he or she still has the abilities for Christian service that the Holy Spirit gave him.
So, if you deal with a Christian who has a lot of ability, but who is openly disobeying God's commands, it does not prove that the Christian is a spiritual giant. It only proves that God does not take back His gifts.
Do unsaved people have spiritual gifts?
1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:
8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,
9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit,
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another
discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
12 ¶ For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free--and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.
Verses 7 and 11 appear to teach that the Holy Sprit gives spiritual gifts to every person, including the lost. But verse 13 clearly shows that Paul is only talking to Christians. And 1 Corinthians 1:2 shows that the book of Corinthians is only talking to saints: 1Co 1:2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
In verse 7, we see that these gifts are profitable for the Body of Christ. And verse 11 shows that the Holy Spirit distributes these gifts as He thinks best, in order to help us. Now, what happens when a Christian has a good gift, and then the Christian falls away from God?
Romans 11:29 tells us "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable."
God does not take back His gifts or callings when a Christian turns away from the Lord. Not only is the Christian still saved, but he or she still has the abilities for Christian service that the Holy Spirit gave him.
So, if you deal with a Christian who has a lot of ability, but who is openly disobeying God's commands, it does not prove that the Christian is a spiritual giant. It only proves that God does not take back His gifts.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Christians Might Be On Your Side
7) There are more Christians on your side than you think, but they are afraid to say so. Romans 11:2-4 1 Kings 19:18
Romans 11:2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God
against Israel, saying,
3 "LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"?
4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
1Ki 19:18 "Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."
1 Samuel tells what happened when King Saul and his son Jonathan went to battle against a superior Philistine army. 1Sa 13:6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.
Then, it tells what happened when God gave victory to Jonathan and Saul:
1Sa 14:21-23 Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before
that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding
country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of
Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle.
23 So the LORD saved Israel that day...
There is a tendency of people to avoid being on the losing side, even if the losing side is right. Many Christians will actually attribute this to wisdom. Others will claim that if you had not mishandled the situation, you would not have wound up being the loser. But if you win, those same people will want to identify with you.
I was saved in 1969, when I lived in Pennsylvania. Thirty eight years later, I have seen pastors in that area come and go. I have seen Christians who disagreed with a pastor be removed from authority, and years later, when the pastor was gone, the same Christian was a leader. Christians who stay in the same church over a period of decades will sometimes find themselves out of favor for years, and then suddenly be regarded as a fine spiritual leader. And do you know what else? When the Christian becomes a leader, all kinds of people who had never helped him want to be associated with him! Are these
people proof of God's blessing?
And here's a good thing to remember: Jesus entered Jerusalem on a Sunday, while the people cried out "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Four days later,they cried out "We have no king but Caesar!" Your duty is to obey God, whether other Christians will back you or not.
Ac 18:9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be
afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;
10 "for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."
Romans 11:2 God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God
against Israel, saying,
3 "LORD, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life"?
4 But what does the divine response say to him? "I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
1Ki 19:18 "Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."
1 Samuel tells what happened when King Saul and his son Jonathan went to battle against a superior Philistine army. 1Sa 13:6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.
Then, it tells what happened when God gave victory to Jonathan and Saul:
1Sa 14:21-23 Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before
that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding
country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
22 Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of
Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle.
23 So the LORD saved Israel that day...
There is a tendency of people to avoid being on the losing side, even if the losing side is right. Many Christians will actually attribute this to wisdom. Others will claim that if you had not mishandled the situation, you would not have wound up being the loser. But if you win, those same people will want to identify with you.
I was saved in 1969, when I lived in Pennsylvania. Thirty eight years later, I have seen pastors in that area come and go. I have seen Christians who disagreed with a pastor be removed from authority, and years later, when the pastor was gone, the same Christian was a leader. Christians who stay in the same church over a period of decades will sometimes find themselves out of favor for years, and then suddenly be regarded as a fine spiritual leader. And do you know what else? When the Christian becomes a leader, all kinds of people who had never helped him want to be associated with him! Are these
people proof of God's blessing?
And here's a good thing to remember: Jesus entered Jerusalem on a Sunday, while the people cried out "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Four days later,they cried out "We have no king but Caesar!" Your duty is to obey God, whether other Christians will back you or not.
Ac 18:9 Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, "Do not be
afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;
10 "for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city."
Thursday, January 31, 2008
6) The love of money is the root of every kind of evil.
1Ti 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
"Love of money" is one word in the Greek. It refers to covetousness,
usually, but not always, referring to money. The rest of the verse is difficult to translate into English. The Greek means that the love of money is a root that can produce every other kind of evil.
Verse 10 begins with the word "For": it is explaining the previous verse. The previous verse warns that desiring to be rich will cause you to fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts.
When Christian leaders are living in mansions, drawing huge salaries and royalties, wearing expensive clothes, driving expensive cars, etc., this should be a warning. Notice that these "many foolish and hurtful lusts" don't have to be financial. Wealthy, high-living Christian leaders can and do get caught in sexual immorality that has nothing to do with their ministries.
Verse 10 also tells us that they have strayed from the faith. Christians who started out teaching God's Word can eventually begin teaching error after they have acquired wealth through their ministries.
"Prosperity" Verses
While in prison, Jim Bakker realized that he had been teaching and
preaching a false message. He had taught that God wants His children to be wealthy. He also explained that most of the inmates in his medium-security prison were there for the "love of money." Hurting people had been a side effect of their deeds; their motivation had been to get more money. Bakker and other prosperity preachers had misused various verses, such as:
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. The Greek word for "life" is "zoe," which emphasizes spiritual life. Another Greek word, "bios," refers to life that is only physical. The abundant life that Jesus wants us to have is spiritual.
3 John 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. The Greek word "prosper" refers to having a good journey. In Romans 1:10, Paul uses it to describe his journey to Rome. In 1 Corinthians 16:2, Paul uses to describe financial prosperity that is to be tithed. God wants us to be prosperous in our spiritual journeys, as well as being financially provided for.
Deuteronomy 8:18 "then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.'
18 "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives
you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He
swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
The Hebrew word for "wealth" usually refers to power, and is used for
armies, valiant people, influence, and money. The context (cp. verse 18) is that God was the One Who gave Israel their power and wealth; they weren't able to do it on their own.
Now look at 1 Timothy 6:5 "...useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself." When someone preaches that Godly living will produce financial wealth, he is acting like a person who has a corrupt mind and is destitute of truth. We are to separate from such people.
1Ti 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
"Love of money" is one word in the Greek. It refers to covetousness,
usually, but not always, referring to money. The rest of the verse is difficult to translate into English. The Greek means that the love of money is a root that can produce every other kind of evil.
Verse 10 begins with the word "For": it is explaining the previous verse. The previous verse warns that desiring to be rich will cause you to fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts.
When Christian leaders are living in mansions, drawing huge salaries and royalties, wearing expensive clothes, driving expensive cars, etc., this should be a warning. Notice that these "many foolish and hurtful lusts" don't have to be financial. Wealthy, high-living Christian leaders can and do get caught in sexual immorality that has nothing to do with their ministries.
Verse 10 also tells us that they have strayed from the faith. Christians who started out teaching God's Word can eventually begin teaching error after they have acquired wealth through their ministries.
"Prosperity" Verses
While in prison, Jim Bakker realized that he had been teaching and
preaching a false message. He had taught that God wants His children to be wealthy. He also explained that most of the inmates in his medium-security prison were there for the "love of money." Hurting people had been a side effect of their deeds; their motivation had been to get more money. Bakker and other prosperity preachers had misused various verses, such as:
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. The Greek word for "life" is "zoe," which emphasizes spiritual life. Another Greek word, "bios," refers to life that is only physical. The abundant life that Jesus wants us to have is spiritual.
3 John 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. The Greek word "prosper" refers to having a good journey. In Romans 1:10, Paul uses it to describe his journey to Rome. In 1 Corinthians 16:2, Paul uses to describe financial prosperity that is to be tithed. God wants us to be prosperous in our spiritual journeys, as well as being financially provided for.
Deuteronomy 8:18 "then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.'
18 "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives
you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He
swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
The Hebrew word for "wealth" usually refers to power, and is used for
armies, valiant people, influence, and money. The context (cp. verse 18) is that God was the One Who gave Israel their power and wealth; they weren't able to do it on their own.
Now look at 1 Timothy 6:5 "...useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself." When someone preaches that Godly living will produce financial wealth, he is acting like a person who has a corrupt mind and is destitute of truth. We are to separate from such people.
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