Kingdom Leadership

Hi Everyone,

Wow, I have just returned from a life-changing, cranium-cranking, grid-shifting summit in Tennessee - a Signs and Wonders conference with some of the fore-running chargers of the 'Glory Realm'! Much to say, but more on that later.

I love how Father is shifting and shaking the way church leaders 'lead' around the world. Here are a few thoughts and comments ...

From the outset may I say that I am convinced Biblically that leaders in the Body are God-given and essential to see the Bride sparkling and reigning; Father is, however, getting shepherds back to being shepherds as per His design.
1. Culture of Desire - as leaders we have two ways of leading; firstly, through obligation, secondly, through desire. By obligation I mean we develop a mentality within the Body that we 'have to' in order to get anywhere. We 'have to' go to meetings, 'have to' do mission, evangelism etc. This has the guise of success but is lifeless, joyless and powerless and actually reveals the existence of external rules as opposed to internal reasons. In perpetuating this 'way' we say that heavenly favour is conditional; if not from Father, then at least from us. In this, church meeting attendance is a surperior sign of significance than kingdom life impact. It is church oriented than kingdom focussed. I am sold-out to committment and partnership within the Body and Body endeavours, but why? Because I have to or because I want to? Jesus never had his closest jump through hoops, never lead out of obligation. He even pressed them to see if they wanted to leave with the many disciples who were struggling to accept His teaching in John 6. Their response was revealing - their options had been reduced due to His life!!! Paul, also, reveals something in 2 Cor where he says he is compelled/co-erced by love. Wow, love was an inner restraint, an inner dynamo, an inner guide, not external law-orientated obligations. Jesus said Himself that love precipitates obedience in John 14 and his word order is significant. So, if obligation is something we need to avoid, how do we lead? Call me a romantic idealist but I have to believe that when we create an atmosphere of Love and Life in the people and among the people, people will lovingly lay down their selfish pursuits and agendas for kingdom first by becoming bondservants, or love-slaves!! So let's attempt to move from 'what' we have to do to 'who' and 'why'! In so doing we'll create and atmosphere of desire that breeds delight that in turn develops an atmosphere of faith that draws kingdom power to transform lives and regions. From 'have to' to 'want to'!
2. Culture of Interaction - Jesus' idea of training and discipling was/is so different from how we do it today. Jesus was into Relationship, Revelation, Impartation, Demonstration and Participation. We, generally, are into the exact opposite - we let people in so far and no more, we camp around knowledge, dispense information, theorise about the practics of things and then tell people to get on and do it. Remember, this is about training and discipling, hence God is identifying those we need to bring close - obviously we can't be best mates with everyone. But surely we can foster deep friendships with those we want to go beyond us. This has huge ramification on who we draw in, how many we draw in and how we do what we do. I learnt how to cast out demons because a dear friend took me along to 'bust ghosts' with him.
3. Culture of Presence - Eddie L. Hyatt, in his survey on church history called 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity, makes an insightful and revealing comment concerning leadership and the Presence and Power of God in the early church. Basically, his observation points out that as church life was centralised in the bishop there was a simultaneous decrease in the gifts and operation of the Presence and Power of God in the church community as well as an increase in sexual immorality. My point is this, as we become too focussed on structure as well as becoming overly leaderly, where leadership structure becomes the be all and end all in 'successful' christianity, His Presence becomes de-centralised and form usurps its place, promoting powerless religion where people are forced to indulge in sub-standard, worldy but instant 'satisfactions' that open the door to carnal christianity and immorality. We need to becoming Davidic in our leading and restore David's fallen tent which basically means we become obsessed with the restoration of His Presence and kingdom worship (1Chron 13 ...) by returning the Ark from the Philistines (flesh/worldly thinking etc) and letting all kingdom structures take their cue from facilitating the Presence and increasing the Presence in the midst of the community.
We need to be shepherds as in Ps23 where we lead people to life and not chaperones, orchestrating and stopping lovers from encountering, where we are made to Yadah(OT) and Proskuneo(NT) - to know Him(as in a romantic intimate way) and come forward to kiss!!!!

Again, I am convinced of kingdom leadership, but 'who' we lead people to and 'how' we lead will develop either Love and Life-filled relationship or joyless, obligatory religion. Leaders, we are gates, so let's lift our heads and open up that the King of glory may come in!!!

Love in heaps,

Ryan