by Glenice Mills
This year is about leadership, that is leadership in all areas of governance. This word is about church leadership in particular.
Religion brings death to true Christianity. Throughout time man’s opinions, agendas, flesh, ambition and wrong thinking has null and void the power of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ came to set us free, but sadly the body of Christ has not and is not fully walking in this freedom. However it is changing! Throughout history we have seen pockets of revival, and reformation, with key men and women who have been change agents in their time. As they preached, performed signs, wonders and miracles, they left a legacy still spoken of today. The question we need to ask ourselves in these days and times is who, how, what, and have we any who could change the face of history?
The Lord has been speaking to me about this year being a year of a paradigm shift of thinking, with the birth and arising of key leaders who are reformers, critical to ushering in the end time move and army of God. This is a massive topic and one that will unfold over this coming year and years to come as we see the hand of God move on one’s that have until this point remained hidden.
I feel the weight of this word as I am so mindful of the critical role that we ‘older’ ones have: to train up, equip, encourage, and prefer the ones who I describe as riding in our ‘slip stream’. They are the one’s coming up behind us. There are some keys the Lord has been speaking to me about, one’s called to raise up both men and women for the job that is to be done in coming times.
There are a couple of keys that are foundational for understanding what a true leader looks like so we can gain insight into how it would be made known in days ahead.
There are two facets of a true leader which will be a sign to the church.
Inspiring: When we think of past leaders who changed society forever they were all inspiring. There are two defining attributes of an inspiring person. They are visionary and passionate for a cause. We just need to think of key societal reformers such as Martin Luther King and William Wilberforce to name some, and we see they had vision and a passion. They never lost sight of seeing their dream come to pass no matter the opposition, resistance and persecution. We also saw the deliverance of the Lord at critical times that sealed the vision these men had. When a vision and passion is of God, He will move on that person’s behalf to bring about the shift necessary to bring greater change in society. This is true reformation, bringing about a divine change that remains. It is defining in histories time line. We will start to see this happening this year as God raises up key leaders in His church who are called to take the new move of God into the nations, effecting change in all areas of society. However, there is something that we need to be aware of. Unfortunately we have confused charismatic with inspiring. The church has been through a time of what some call as charismatic renewal, but charisma is not necessarily inspirational. It comes down to the content and the way it is articulated. Charismatic people often have the ‘gift of the gab’. If you analyse what is spoken it is often shallow. It will sustain you for a short time where as inspiration leaves you changed. There is an excitement in your spirit. It remains! The Lord is in all moves however there are defining ones that remain, spoken of throughout history. Such is what is coming. It will shift the way ‘church’ is done, and will bring revival back. There has been and continues to be a lot of talk about revival, however if we look at revival it always involves a person/people who are raised in God’s time to do a specific work to bring life defining change in people’s lives and in greater society. You can only revive something that is dead, that has lost the breath of life. It must have the Holy Spirit breath upon it to bring fruit that will remain. It is interesting to note that the word inspire comes from the word ‘spiro’ which means breath. One who is inspiring stirs up others, activating them to join the cause. The visionary can’t do it on their own, they need others to come along with them. This will only take place by the hand of God moving upon one’s that He is raising for such a time as this. They have allowed the dealings of God to come to their lives and have chosen to do only what the Father tells them to do. They walk in true obedience to the Lord. Their hour is coming, life changing reformers, called to bring radical change to society. Their passion compels them to speak and do His will even unto death. Their cause is a fire in their bones that is all consuming, that inspires, but also repels others. They have developed an inner fortitude that keeps them steadfast, holding onto the vision no matter what opposition comes. They will not be bought, but will hold onto the vision the Lord has placed upon their hearts.
The second attribute of a true leader raised up for these times is a vision for future generations.
Leaving a legacy: True reformers are concerned about future generations. Their focus is always the future, not the past. They know the vision they carry will continue long after they have died. Many are aware that they may never see the fulfilment of their vision but know they are used by God as a catalyst, to start, for others to carry it on. They have a team around them who also stand with them, supporting them to see its fulfilment. They have no claim on the work as the Lord has led them to a place of death: death to self, death to the vision, and complete reliance upon Him to bring it to its completion. They are prepared to lose their life for the cause as they know it is about changing society for the betterment of generations to come. They have and will count the cost.
We all know of the time spoken in Ezekiel chapter 37, when God breathed upon the bones in the valley of dry bones. My question to you is: do we as the body of Christ need the breath of God to come and breathe His life on the dry bones? Undoubtedly yes! Sadly we in the body of Christ have succumbed to ‘doing’ church rather than ‘being’ the church. This is not a criticism but rather saying it how it is. Change cannot come until we acknowledge where we are at right now. Doing church is easy, so long as we meet people’s needs, keeping them happy, and lulled into a form of false comfort. Being church is more difficult as it is about relationships. Relationship with the Lord and relationship with one another. There are greater requirements on us, both leaders and those being led, with more opportunity for accountability for how we live our lives. Honesty at a deeper level would be required. Inspiring people to be all they are called to be in God is paramount for the raising up of ones who will be catalysts of change. It will only come about as we grow in deeper relationships with one another.
Are we being effective in advancing His kingdom here on earth? No we are not. However I have no doubt that things are about to change. There is a ‘new breed’ of Christian, one’s whom the Lord has positioned, with His vision, willing to be disciples and in the Lord’s timing, be sent to do the work of the ministry. They are one’s called as His leaders willing to be led, and in the process trained to lead others.
They will be sent into all areas of governance in nations and will be positioned as catalysts for changing society. They will be entrusted with much responsibility and power to bring influence. They know their lives have been all about training for positioning to advance God’s kingdom here on earth. They have been inspired by God and will inspire others as they lead and grow in walking in His Truth. Are you being trained as one who is called as a catalyst for change? What inspires you? What are you passionate about? Are you positioned being trained towards the outworking of your call? The Lord has a remnant. He is raising up a remnant, one’s called to lead, one’s who have proven themselves faithful and trustworthy to speak and to do what the Lord asks of them. That is the new breed of leaders being raised in 2012. Old leadership ways will not suffice. It will not work! Times are changing and the church must change with the times. The church is meant to be change agents. We see that throughout Scripture as key men and women were positioned to bring influence. We are the head and not the tail, we have to learn to walk in this thinking. We have been given all authority to rule and reign. It is now time for us to walk in the knowledge and revelation of this!
Habakkuk 2:2-3
Then the Lord answered me and said:
“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.
Can I encourage you: write your vision if you have not already done so.
This year is crucial for positioning yourself ready; by preparing for what the Lord wants of you and doing whatever is required to walk in obedience to His will for your life. It will mean sacrifice and being bold and courageous. It is about the big picture and where you fit in to bring about the fulfilment of the Lord’s plan for your life. You may be an important, integral piece of the puzzle.