Maverick Prophetic Ministries
A Manifesto of Leadership
Pg 3...
At times, leaders must endure unique sufferings in their souls. It is from a great desire to know Him more. Fasting and praying is part of their life to get closer—this denial brings them to Substance and Truth. The leader wants only to be in God's Love, Peace and Joy. They see the invitation as a death to self. Transformation exerts its self ruthlessly through all inner thoughts and motives of the old nature. Bringing forth the fruit of Righteousness is a wrestling match. The unredeemed nature must give up its treasures as the soul surrender its ownership. There is a prize to those who endure this walk. It is life in the Father's Heart and His Goodness in the land of the living.
The strength of leaders is in the quietness and confidence of Faith. Many others will not understand—even the busy-ness of saving souls can lead to forgetting personal fellowship with God. God's leaders of this new era that is now emerging realize that pressures can steal the simple sincerity of life-saving Faith in God. The economy, family, locked-out churches, and all things related to covid 19 have produced some uniquely stressful situations. Church doctrines have always impeded unity, a unity most needed in this time. It is only five percent of biblical doctrines that have destroyed peace among God's people, and none of these principles are cardinal to True Faith in God and the Cross of Jesus Christ. It is Bible scholars who have fostered much of this. I say this being a Bible college graduate from a prominent evangelical denomination. After the Reformation of Martine Luther, some 35,000 Christian denominations and religious groups have followed. Is this confusing? All say they love Jesus but few get along with one another. Should this not be disturbing? Few seem to embrace this and desire to change this upsetting witness to the world.
Secular politics have now imploded upon the church. Increasing divisions even more. In my view, the greatest of sins is disunity. It comes down to this," the iniquity in me can't get along with the sin in you." This reality is scapegoated by saying, "it is a doctrinal issue."
Some leaders have lost sight of the suffering of the people under today's enormous weight. Jesus's greatest prayer was that we would be one. Many church leaders have alienated themselves from other groups over doctrinal difference, taking their flock with them. Now covid has brought isolation and loneliness to their people. Is this the consequence of independence? If these divisions were not prevalent, unity would alleviate much of the suffering. There would be more care for one another. Jesus said, "no greater Love is when a brother would lay down his/her life for another." We are caught unprepared for today. We must ask the question, what have we built over the last many decades? Correct doctrine is not a cure for loneliness.
The leaders now emerging will lead by example. They will be a child of God; first, a brother or sister next and lastly have titles and gifts. Above all, any leader who does not have the Father's heart will risk losing everything. If anything, what has become very clear with this covid deal is the church was unprepared. One has to ask the questions, what have leaders been building over the last decades? Have they built small empires around themselves and their denominations?
Have they come between Christ and the people with their charisma? Why are many at a loss when they can't sit under the preacher? Is God not with them in the home? Have leaders made people more dependent on them than Jesus? It takes courage to face these questions. Leaders who don't change will be put on a shelf until they give in the transformation to obedience. The future challenges could be worse than covid. Strong but broken leaders are coming to the plate to replace the many God must sideline.
Doctrines leadership that lacked the Father's heart have shown themselves void of sustaining Grace through testing times.
Yes, there will be more storms on the horizon. God is going to surprise many with His provision. Some of the most unlikely men and women will be brought to the front to lead by example.
Leadership's priority is by example showing the people how to be friends with one another, cultivating Love and Trust. Deep Friendship, Love and Loyalty draws in the lonely, isolated world into the family of God. Jesus said to his disciples, "I do not call you slaves that do the work; I call you my friends." Leaders must develop deep friendships with their people and not just with other pastors and leaders.
The most significant church transition once again is leadership called by God to serve and not take. Leaders whose identity is what they do rather than who they are is coming to an end. Full transparency is rare. I understand this. It takes real courage to know who you are and not live in pretense. When leadership's greatest Love is the work in the church, they are not servants. Strangely, they are in an adulterous affair. Their Bathsheba is the ministry. Over dedication to ministry is not an admirable sacrificial attribute, but rather it shows addiction. When the preaching and status of being in charge, honoured and praised are most important, the leader has lost themselves to what an old friend coined as "The Hollywood syndrome." When a leader identifies with a title, they will ultimately end up as a controller, not servants. Like any addiction, they will need more. They will find themselves jealous when someone outshines them; it is a significant sign that they do not have the required fathers' hearts. When a leader gets more out of ministry than being at home with his wife, he/she is open to some of the most dangerous temptations. Many have fallen into adulterous affairs because of this.
Years ago, I heard the average stay of a pastor in the United States was three years. The first year they are praised as really something. In the second year, they and the congregation are beginning to show their true selves with all the problems. In the third year, the leader leaves for another church to pastor, or rather not to pastor. This third year is the beginning of growth and change, but they escape. A new leader comes in and does the same.
Tragically, the people are played with by a system that does not recognize this abuse or, worse, thinks it is normal.
This "man-made" leadership can only produce human-made prodigies. When a leader is "driven," it is a bad example. The church takes on the leader's drive to fulfill his vision. Young people who want to go into church work will emulate the leader. The result is a zeal without Wisdom. Such leadership will not understand the church is to serve the family and not the other way around. Driven pastors often burn out the dedicated members of the congregation. The saving of souls, tithing, spending long hours in church work and working full time at the factory or office is far too much for most people.
Often it is pride in the leader that burns the candle at both ends and leads others to do the same.
Pride sunk the Titanic. There is an iceberg awaiting all church captains. Without humility, they will see the people sink beneath the waves. Many leaders have been too proud to take any blame for how they sunk their ship—a lamentable reality.
A humble leader's life and message call for desert times. A necessary time for all to have hearts tested. It is where motives are exposed and repented of, and the soul refreshed. There is never a crowd here. The need to be alone with God is often clouded. The tasks of ministry for God supersede the need to be alone with Him. They miss out on the affirmation in inherited Sonship that happens in dry places. They do not realize their first call is to please God with a Father and Son relationship. All else is a by-product of this relationship. Church ministry without this relationship results in hollow words spoken without personal experience. The house ends up being built on sand and not solid rock. The desire to be away from the fray is not for them because they do not know how to be alone. They don't know how to be quiet. They don't know who they are in Father Love.
The facade of who they think they are needs constant affirmation. A "rush" is in accolades, being the champion and giving good performances. There is an attempt to be imitators of past heroes seeing only the accomplishments and not seeing the sacrifice.
Often the congregations are at the mercy of living vicariously through the single vision of one man. They take praise and honour to themselves. Those who covered the finances and did the "grunt work," sacrificing time from family and other responsibilities, receive little credit. The leader brings the reports of "his" success to the gathering of leaders. It is his show and tells sessions. He is applauded by the self-propelled, and they discuss how to market the expansion of God's Kingdom.
I need to say that we have all failed in church ministry and life in general in many ways. No one can throw a stone at another. But if our failings are again "shoved under the carpet," we will only repeat history. There will be more suffering. Most of all, it hurts God our Father.
The leaders emerge out of the desert places that are often lonely and hidden. They have become the message. There is a different fragrance that comes with them. Like a meadow not spoilt by the industry and business of concepts developed at religious round tables dissecting doctrine, conceiving new earthly plans to bring the Heavenly Kingdom. When he speaks, he makes the proud who have built religious structures with man's imagination uneasy. They have worked hard. They don't like to disagree—his tempered word tears down concepts. He does not join in on plans to bring in costly worldly advertisements to evangelize. Instead of giving the wanted rubber stamp to long thought-out initiatives, he asks the uncomfortable question, why?
Some listen. Others are too angry and offended to see the tears behind his words. They talk about him in derogatory terms. " He is not a team player." Some even speak about his destruction in back rooms and secretly hope he fails, of course, all in God's name.
There are leaders, and then there are leaders of leaders. They are usually old and grey. The few I have met, both men and women, are a living marvel of Grace and Wisdom. Their most remarkable quality is humility. They are strong trees that have stood for a long time. Their roots are deep in the Kingdom where the natural eye cannot see. People find refuge in him because they know the bark is covered with many scars, not from his enemies but from the One he loves. It is the price paid for beauty, strength and the Revelation of hidden mystery. But most important, protection from pride. He has stood obediently to be pruned, the cutting off of lesser glory. At times his pain and nakedness were laid bare before all. Few would cover up his weakness. They would never forget them.
Finally: "Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider you blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." James 5:10-11
At times, leaders must endure unique sufferings in their souls. It is from a great desire to know Him more. Fasting and praying is part of their life to get closer—this denial brings them to Substance and Truth. The leader wants only to be in God's Love, Peace and Joy. They see the invitation as a death to self. Transformation exerts its self ruthlessly through all inner thoughts and motives of the old nature. Bringing forth the fruit of Righteousness is a wrestling match. The unredeemed nature must give up its treasures as the soul surrender its ownership. There is a prize to those who endure this walk. It is life in the Father's Heart and His Goodness in the land of the living.
The strength of leaders is in the quietness and confidence of Faith. Many others will not understand—even the busy-ness of saving souls can lead to forgetting personal fellowship with God. God's leaders of this new era that is now emerging realize that pressures can steal the simple sincerity of life-saving Faith in God. The economy, family, locked-out churches, and all things related to covid 19 have produced some uniquely stressful situations. Church doctrines have always impeded unity, a unity most needed in this time. It is only five percent of biblical doctrines that have destroyed peace among God's people, and none of these principles are cardinal to True Faith in God and the Cross of Jesus Christ. It is Bible scholars who have fostered much of this. I say this being a Bible college graduate from a prominent evangelical denomination. After the Reformation of Martine Luther, some 35,000 Christian denominations and religious groups have followed. Is this confusing? All say they love Jesus but few get along with one another. Should this not be disturbing? Few seem to embrace this and desire to change this upsetting witness to the world.
Secular politics have now imploded upon the church. Increasing divisions even more. In my view, the greatest of sins is disunity. It comes down to this," the iniquity in me can't get along with the sin in you." This reality is scapegoated by saying, "it is a doctrinal issue."
Some leaders have lost sight of the suffering of the people under today's enormous weight. Jesus's greatest prayer was that we would be one. Many church leaders have alienated themselves from other groups over doctrinal difference, taking their flock with them. Now covid has brought isolation and loneliness to their people. Is this the consequence of independence? If these divisions were not prevalent, unity would alleviate much of the suffering. There would be more care for one another. Jesus said, "no greater Love is when a brother would lay down his/her life for another." We are caught unprepared for today. We must ask the question, what have we built over the last many decades? Correct doctrine is not a cure for loneliness.
The leaders now emerging will lead by example. They will be a child of God; first, a brother or sister next and lastly have titles and gifts. Above all, any leader who does not have the Father's heart will risk losing everything. If anything, what has become very clear with this covid deal is the church was unprepared. One has to ask the questions, what have leaders been building over the last decades? Have they built small empires around themselves and their denominations?
Have they come between Christ and the people with their charisma? Why are many at a loss when they can't sit under the preacher? Is God not with them in the home? Have leaders made people more dependent on them than Jesus? It takes courage to face these questions. Leaders who don't change will be put on a shelf until they give in the transformation to obedience. The future challenges could be worse than covid. Strong but broken leaders are coming to the plate to replace the many God must sideline.
Doctrines leadership that lacked the Father's heart have shown themselves void of sustaining Grace through testing times.
Yes, there will be more storms on the horizon. God is going to surprise many with His provision. Some of the most unlikely men and women will be brought to the front to lead by example.
Leadership's priority is by example showing the people how to be friends with one another, cultivating Love and Trust. Deep Friendship, Love and Loyalty draws in the lonely, isolated world into the family of God. Jesus said to his disciples, "I do not call you slaves that do the work; I call you my friends." Leaders must develop deep friendships with their people and not just with other pastors and leaders.
The most significant church transition once again is leadership called by God to serve and not take. Leaders whose identity is what they do rather than who they are is coming to an end. Full transparency is rare. I understand this. It takes real courage to know who you are and not live in pretense. When leadership's greatest Love is the work in the church, they are not servants. Strangely, they are in an adulterous affair. Their Bathsheba is the ministry. Over dedication to ministry is not an admirable sacrificial attribute, but rather it shows addiction. When the preaching and status of being in charge, honoured and praised are most important, the leader has lost themselves to what an old friend coined as "The Hollywood syndrome." When a leader identifies with a title, they will ultimately end up as a controller, not servants. Like any addiction, they will need more. They will find themselves jealous when someone outshines them; it is a significant sign that they do not have the required fathers' hearts. When a leader gets more out of ministry than being at home with his wife, he/she is open to some of the most dangerous temptations. Many have fallen into adulterous affairs because of this.
Years ago, I heard the average stay of a pastor in the United States was three years. The first year they are praised as really something. In the second year, they and the congregation are beginning to show their true selves with all the problems. In the third year, the leader leaves for another church to pastor, or rather not to pastor. This third year is the beginning of growth and change, but they escape. A new leader comes in and does the same.
Tragically, the people are played with by a system that does not recognize this abuse or, worse, thinks it is normal.
This "man-made" leadership can only produce human-made prodigies. When a leader is "driven," it is a bad example. The church takes on the leader's drive to fulfill his vision. Young people who want to go into church work will emulate the leader. The result is a zeal without Wisdom. Such leadership will not understand the church is to serve the family and not the other way around. Driven pastors often burn out the dedicated members of the congregation. The saving of souls, tithing, spending long hours in church work and working full time at the factory or office is far too much for most people.
Often it is pride in the leader that burns the candle at both ends and leads others to do the same.
Pride sunk the Titanic. There is an iceberg awaiting all church captains. Without humility, they will see the people sink beneath the waves. Many leaders have been too proud to take any blame for how they sunk their ship—a lamentable reality.
A humble leader's life and message call for desert times. A necessary time for all to have hearts tested. It is where motives are exposed and repented of, and the soul refreshed. There is never a crowd here. The need to be alone with God is often clouded. The tasks of ministry for God supersede the need to be alone with Him. They miss out on the affirmation in inherited Sonship that happens in dry places. They do not realize their first call is to please God with a Father and Son relationship. All else is a by-product of this relationship. Church ministry without this relationship results in hollow words spoken without personal experience. The house ends up being built on sand and not solid rock. The desire to be away from the fray is not for them because they do not know how to be alone. They don't know how to be quiet. They don't know who they are in Father Love.
The facade of who they think they are needs constant affirmation. A "rush" is in accolades, being the champion and giving good performances. There is an attempt to be imitators of past heroes seeing only the accomplishments and not seeing the sacrifice.
Often the congregations are at the mercy of living vicariously through the single vision of one man. They take praise and honour to themselves. Those who covered the finances and did the "grunt work," sacrificing time from family and other responsibilities, receive little credit. The leader brings the reports of "his" success to the gathering of leaders. It is his show and tells sessions. He is applauded by the self-propelled, and they discuss how to market the expansion of God's Kingdom.
I need to say that we have all failed in church ministry and life in general in many ways. No one can throw a stone at another. But if our failings are again "shoved under the carpet," we will only repeat history. There will be more suffering. Most of all, it hurts God our Father.
The leaders emerge out of the desert places that are often lonely and hidden. They have become the message. There is a different fragrance that comes with them. Like a meadow not spoilt by the industry and business of concepts developed at religious round tables dissecting doctrine, conceiving new earthly plans to bring the Heavenly Kingdom. When he speaks, he makes the proud who have built religious structures with man's imagination uneasy. They have worked hard. They don't like to disagree—his tempered word tears down concepts. He does not join in on plans to bring in costly worldly advertisements to evangelize. Instead of giving the wanted rubber stamp to long thought-out initiatives, he asks the uncomfortable question, why?
Some listen. Others are too angry and offended to see the tears behind his words. They talk about him in derogatory terms. " He is not a team player." Some even speak about his destruction in back rooms and secretly hope he fails, of course, all in God's name.
There are leaders, and then there are leaders of leaders. They are usually old and grey. The few I have met, both men and women, are a living marvel of Grace and Wisdom. Their most remarkable quality is humility. They are strong trees that have stood for a long time. Their roots are deep in the Kingdom where the natural eye cannot see. People find refuge in him because they know the bark is covered with many scars, not from his enemies but from the One he loves. It is the price paid for beauty, strength and the Revelation of hidden mystery. But most important, protection from pride. He has stood obediently to be pruned, the cutting off of lesser glory. At times his pain and nakedness were laid bare before all. Few would cover up his weakness. They would never forget them.
Finally: "Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider you blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." James 5:10-11
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