Have we become too focused on our leadership?

1 Corinthians 3 says:

1 HOWEVER, BRETHREN, I could not talk to you as to spiritual [men],but as to non-spiritual [men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates],as to mere infants [in the new life] in Christ [ [a] unable to talk yet!]

2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough [to be ready for it]; but even yet you are not strong enough [to be ready for it],

3 For you are still [unspiritual, having the nature] of the flesh [under the control of ordinary impulses]. For as long as [there are] envying and jealousy and wrangling and factions among you, are you not unspiritual and of the flesh, behaving yourselves after a human standard and like mere (unchanged) men?

4 For when one says, I belong to Paul, and another, I belong to Apollos, are you not [proving yourselves] ordinary (unchanged) men?

5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Ministering servants [not heads of parties] through whom you believed, even as the Lord appointed to each his task:

6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase.

7 So neither he who plants is anything nor he who waters, but [only] God Who makes it grow and become greater.

          Have we become too focused on our leadership? Have we, as the body of Christ, become so focused on our pastors, our church, or a great evangelist that we have missed God? Yes. Yes we must be planted in a fellowship and have accountability, (Hebrews 10:25) but it never should become so important that we loose focus on the true point of our assembling together. The KJV states in verse 3 of 1 Corinthians that there is…” envying, strife, and division among you.”  If Christ becomes the focus of "christ"ians we will not nor should not have these problems. It’s not just about growing our churches,  (He will actually cause that to happen) but it’s about growing His kingdom as mature sons and daughters in Christ Jesus.

          I agree that we need accountability and leadership. 1 Corinthians 4:15 speaks of instructors and fathers. (see also Ephesians 4:11) We need people in our lives to keep us in check and bring accountability.

Romans 13:7 states: “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.”  Still though, church leaders should never become our sole focus. Christ is still the only way, truth, and life giver. 1 Corinthians 3:6”…but God [all the while] was making it grow and [He] gave the increase.”

Acts 16:16-34 says:

“16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:

17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.”

Some in the body of Christ have actually become as this woman. They follow a man or a church or even a “theology” and place them on a pedestal. Their intentions may have started out good, but became warped and mis-placed to the point that God receives no glory.

          In Joel 2 and Acts 2 He says "I" will pour out my spirit upon all flesh. He is the giver and that will NEVER change. We are vessels, carriers, ministers, and so much more, yet He is, and always shall be the only giver. 

          Do we want real revival in our churches, families or our personal lives? Do we really want to encounter the manifest presence of God in these areas? Do we want an “end times” outpouring? If we are to answer yes then we only have one option:  Let’s stop putting our churches, our pastors, or our ministers on a pedestal. That throne belongs to God alone and He will not share His glory with another. So, let us follow the instructions from Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…”


Be Blessed,


Pastor Todd Lackey

Awakening

Beginning in the early 1700s America has had what have become known as the “Awakenings”. Many truths were restored to the body of Christ during this times of “revival”. Walls of religion were broken down and numerous amounts of these truths and messages from those times are still used in most churches today.

“The First Awakening (or The Great Awakening) was a Christian revitalization movement that swept Protestant Europe and British America, and especially the American colonies in the 1730s and 1740s, leaving a permanent impact on American religion. It resulted from powerful preaching that gave listeners a sense of personal revelation of their need of salvation by Jesus Christ. Pulling away from ritual and ceremony, the Great Awakening made Christianity intensely personal to the average person by fostering a deep sense of spiritual conviction and redemption, and by encouraging introspection and a commitment to a new standard of personal morality.” (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

The Second Great Awakening was a Christian revival movement during the early 19th century in the United States. In July of 1799 the power of God manifested itself at a service in the Red River Church and the Gasper River Church in Logan County, Kentucky, at the Red River Meeting House near the present day community of Schochoh . When revival broke out, dozens of members in the congregations were 'slain in the spirit' as the Holy Spirit moved in the services. When the news spread around the countryside, anticipation for what might happen at the next meeting stirred the curiosity of everyone and interest soared. But, a cold winter caused larger meetings to be postponed in the overflowing churches. In June of 1800, several hundred devout Christians met for a communion service at the Red River Meeting House. The congregation was composed of three churches pastored by Methodist minister George Mcready. This revival become what was known as The Second Great Awakening

A much larger gathering was held at Cane Ridge, Kentucky, in 1801, attracting perhaps as many as 20,000 people. Numerous Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist ministers participated in the services. The camp meeting revival became a major mode of church expansion for such denominations as the Methodists and Baptists. The Cumberland Presbyterian Church emerged in Kentucky. Cane Ridge was also instrumental in fostering what became known as the Restoration Movement. This was made up of non-denominational churches committed to what they saw as the original, fundamental Christianity of the New Testament. They were committed to individuals' achieving a personal relationship with Christ.

Around the turn of the next century there come another outpouring. It touched many places. California, North Carolina, Wales, and many more. It also, as did the 1700s and 1800s moves, brought many new denominations. With this move also came the outpouring of the Holy Ghost with speaking in tongues as the initial evidence. Many healings and miracles began to appear once again in the body of Christ.

Now we have moved beyond the next century. We are twelve years into this marker. (Twelve being the governmental number) God is establishing something more this time around though. Each move or “Awaking” has been a reformation beyond the last. In this “Awaking” or revival He is bringing to this nation a fullness back into the body of Christ.

Ephesians 4

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:

“When he ascended on high,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”

9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people I n their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4 leadership will become aligned with Christ as the head. Apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers who just like Jesus will lay down their lives to serve and raise up others.

This is the generation for the new Awaking, of alignment, maturity, and selflessness. This generation will not rely on a man or a church or a denomination, but will solely rely on Christ Jesus. We will...”Look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”Hebrews 12:2 says

Are you ready?


Be Blessed,


Pastor Todd Lackey