LEADERS ARE DISCIPLES

Who Are Leaders?

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12).

"All believers are ministers."-ANWA

This statement raised another thought.  If "all believers are ministers," then all ministers, rather apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors or teachers, are believers first.  Would you agree?  Before there was a placing and a positioning there was a call to follow Jesus. (Matthew 4:18-22.)  Ministers are called to be disciples first (to learn; to follow; to die to self and embrace One who is higher and purposely pursue a higher call; to leave a current occupation and pursue purpose; lessons; questions and answers; to become a student).  A minister cannot accurately and effectively teach what they do not know and they cannot demonstrate or distribute what they do not have.

Q.  Are you attempting to answer what you do not know for the sake of being perceived as correct?  Are you being asked to distribute something you do not possess?

Students that really want to go to the next level don't just go to school for the sake of going to school.  Students that are serious about their education apply what they learn and know so they can grow.  If you're not serious about learning and if you're not serious about your discipleship in the kingdom, then stop wasting the Teacher and Trainer's time and give your seat to someone who is.  Amen. 

There are people coming into the house of God to be healed who are leaving out worse than when they first came in.  Why?  I will tell you why.  There are too many ministers administering out of empty vessels.  They have a call and a mandate but no oil to pour out.

Are you pouring out but nothing is coming out?  What have you been putting into you to pour out of you?  You can only pour out what you have.  If you haven't been putting in the Word of God than expect the world to come out.

The Holy Spirit's Key Role 

As Christians who are called to minister to people, it is imperative that we are spending time with the Holy Spirit and are allowing Him to pour into us the anointing that destroys yokes and lifts heavy burdens.  People should always leave our presence feeling better than when they came to us.  Pouring out the oil of God's Word and the Holy Spirit heals, sets free and delivers people from spiritual bondage, sickness and disease. However, when we pour out of our flesh and emotions without the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, people leave feeling empty.  And emptiness ushers in hopelessness, and when people feel hopeless, they lose the desire to be healed, set free and delivered from whatever form of bondage they are in.

The Holy Spirit is our teacher and instructor.  So, if He is not teaching you, then who is?  Ministers are not masters.  Ministers are students who master following Jesus.  Isn't that good?  Minister's apply the lessons taught, learned and understood.

Ministers equip, work the ministry (of reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ), and edify till all saints come to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in cunning, craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ (Ephesians 4:12-15).

You cannot lead others to a God you are not submitted or committed to.  The Bible says, "They immediately drop their nets and followed Him (Matthew 4:20)."  The issue with so many ministers is they haven't dropped their net yet.  Hey!  It's either God's will or yours, not both.

We cannot take our net along on this journey.  Sorry to say, but too many people are tripping over and are caught up in their own net.  We cannot be effective disciples of Christ and minister the gospel of Jesus Christ distracted by what we did or who we were before the Lord called us to follow Him.  The you before Jesus called you and God drew you will not be suffice for the journey ahead of you.

You have to leave and cleave.  That's right!  Leave the world and the worlds ways and cleave to Jesus and learn a new set of skills to live the new life you have been called to live effectively.  God did not call you to sit and look cute until He returns.  He saved you and called you to be taught and trained by the Holy Spirit, through discipleship, to effectively minister to others, compelling them to draw close to Jesus through faith and repentance.

So let me ask you, are you referring back to skill sets and tools that are of no use to the new assignment you have been called to?  I want to encourage you to be open and willing to receive new skill sets, instructions and a new anointing from the Holy Spirit to execute effectively the assignment God has called you to and the life He has called you to live.  He's not down playing what sustained you before He called you.  He's called you to something better. 

Today, Jesus extends the invitation for you to follow Him and in the process of you following Him, He will make a leader out of you.

Isn't that good news?  Believe me when I say, that's some Good News!

KINGDOM BUILDING UNITED
(Promoting the Good News of Jesus Christ around the globe)