WHAT TYPE OF LEADER ARE YOU?

Sons Training October 2, 2017

The Lord is about to execute events that will escalate us right into Bible Prophecy. The Lord is soon to return. We must make a decision as to whether we enter into His wrath or into His Kingdom. The Lord does not waste words, and when He speaks, He is talking to someone. Today, He is speaking to leaders and those who will become leaders in His Body.

God reveals the hearts and minds of His people to their leaders so that we (leaders) may know the disposition of those who follow. In this season, we are given a revelation of those things that hinder the saints from completely manifesting Christ. In this revelation, there must also be a comprehensive spiritual assessment of the leaders themselves. Leaders must not become offended in this revelation of themselves. We must consider our ways, examine our motives and cast down every thought that exalts itself above the knowledge of our God. This is imperative since leaders must lead the Body of Christ by example.

The erroneous perspective of leadership in the Body of Christ has often been due to the way many leaders view ministry. Though it might be a traumatic experience, it would be healthy to hear what those you are leading or seeking to influence think of your leadership. How do they see you? Do you really want to know? Do they really believe that you love them and have only one motive for working in their lives? Do they believe that you really want them to become ministers of Christ, even if they are carried beyond the measure that God gave you? If your followers were given the liberty to express their true perception of you, would they consider you the man or woman who is abusing the title of leader, by extracting from it authority and nothing more? Would they say that 90% of your focus is on keeping the membership in submission to you, rather than submission to God? Would this focus be manifested in your continual striving with individuals whom you feel are launching an attack against you or your position? Is the revelation of yourself manifested in wars? Wars are fought to kill and destroy, not to love and restore.

True compassionate shepherds do not have to defend themselves against the flock. Neither should they hide behind “a defense of the ministry.” God does not want us to kill the sheep to protect the ministry. The sheep are the ministry. They are the reason the ministry exists. They are the reason for shepherds and under-shepherds. Your position should be God-appointed, God-anointed and God-protected. Paul instructed Timothy:

2 Timothy 2:24-26

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

In this instruction, the focus is on retrieving those who are off course, not the building up of leadership. When that focus remains, it is easy to be patient, gentle and willing to give space for repentance. When the focus is on defending your position or personage, then meekness is improbable, if not impossible. Remember, your spiritual influence in the lives of the people is the same as their impression of you as a leader.

What really frightens me is that some leaders in the Body do not care how the people see them, as long as they do not offer any disagreement or threat to their positions as leaders. My next question is, “Does it matter what God thinks about the impression you have made on His people?”

After all, He is the one who appointed you. If I were you, I would take the time and put forth the effort to find out just what kind of an impression I have made on the people of God. If a son of God is not walking in the spirit and his deeds are evil, that does not change the fact that he is able to discern your intent in his life. This means that he is capable of discerning your true motives regarding your response to his deeds. Even if you have to take drastic measures of discipline, the Spirit within him knows the truth and is able to present that truth to his heart, even in the midst of him being offended with you.

It is for this cause that leaders must not allow themselves to deal with the people of God from the position of the flesh. Always endeavor to minister an entrance for those who are lost and out of the way back into the Kingdom. If you are able to maintain this disposition, your leadership will always direct the sheep to the Father. God is speaking to the leaders of His reformation. He gave the revelation of salvation to them so that they could become the first partakers and the manifestation of the truth. He expects His leaders to present to Him a holy people, a presentation of Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:15

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Agree with God by allowing the Holy Ghost to set your course and boundaries in the lives of the people. I guarantee that in doing so, the stress will be taken out of your leadership.

KNOWING YOUR MEASURE

It is the responsibility of the leaders in the Body to disciple others. Nevertheless, it is imperative that leaders understand the measure given to them to operate in the lives of the people. In the verses below Paul is making known the power of apostolic order. He reaffirms the setting of the course of ministry, inside the government of God.

2 Corinthians 10:13-14

13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

Paul proclaims that it is the Lord who determined that he would be the apostle to the Corinthian Church. His appointment to that position in their lives was a decision of God. It was the Lord who directed Paul’s ministry to reach into the lives of the Corinthians. Therefore, he declares that he did not stray outside the course the Father set for him.

2 Corinthians 10:15-16

15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labors; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.

Now this is the heart and mind of the Father, as well as a comprehensive view of apostolic order. It is Paul’s purpose, motive and determination to continuously build them up in the faith. But this building is with the intent that he would be enlarged, or increased by the ministry that would come forth from them. He actually expected them to come to the place to spread the gospel in regions beyond the physical boundaries of his travel. By doing so, they would further his “line of things.” In other words, the gospel of Jesus Christ would be extended by and within the government (rule) of God.

2 Corinthians 10:17

17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. But in all of that, “to God be the glory.”

You cannot do any more than the Holy Ghost. The weapons of our warfare are: the Word, intercessory prayer and the Spirit of God. You may be used by God to bring the Word of God to the people, but it is up to the individual to allow it to effect a change within. However, regardless of the negative spiritual location of a son of God, there is nothing better or more fulfilling than walking in the Spirit. More often than not, the son wants to get to that place of peace, righteousness and joy that he found in the Spirit. He wants to walk before the Lord without condemnation. This is the premise you must work from. The Church has seen a lot of movements in its history; miracle workers, faith healers, great preachers, revelators, teachers and prophets.

But the Church has not seen a body of baptized believers, manifesting Jesus Christ. The exaltation of truth shall bring this about in our time. This puts us in a precarious position. If it is indeed the intent of the Father to present to the Church a people who manifest Christ, then He must make sure that His leaders are walking in the Spirit. In God, there is no darkness at all, therefore there must be no darkness in us. This will happen as planned. The Word has declared it. There will be those who stand in the fullness of the stature of the man Jesus Christ. You must allow Christ to be first formed in you if you are to work to produce Him in others.

Whether the Lord is able to use you or not, Christ will be formed in the sheep. The sheep scattered across the earth are groaning for the message of eternity. It is the voice of the true gospel of the Kingdom (eternity) that will connect with their spirit man. The end is upon us, however, the exaltation of truth must happen first. Now is the time God is taking inventory of His people, and His leadership. Will you allow yourself to be a part of the end time move? Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.

We love you,

Apostle Mary Banks

Apostle Kareem Flowers