In Exodus 17:4, Moses cries out to God:

“What am I to do with these people?”

Any leader in Christian ministry can relate to these words. Leading can be hard particularly when you feel your vision and direction is being met with less than full enthusiasm. Am I the only one hearing from God? Have I got it wrong? Am I expecting too much? Is the church totally apostate?!

In some ways it’s comforting to know Moses - yes, Moses - had the same leadership woes as you and I. What’s more comforting, is to hear how God answered his prayer (Exodus 17:5-6):

The LORD answered Moses, “Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

“Go Ahead of the People” - Look on from where your people are. Stand in their shoes and survey where you need to go. Mark a path on ahead for them to follow. It is true that you can’t lead others where you haven’t gone.
“Take with you some of the elders” - Never go alone. Gather a team and take capable leaders on the journey with you.
“Take in your hand the staff” - What is in your hand? Don’t focus on what you don’t have, but what you do have. God’s given it and God will bless and will use it.
“I will stand there before you” - God is with you! Remember this is not for you, or about you - it is for God and is about God. And so it’s only going to happen because of God.
“Strike the Rock” - Go to Jesus the rock. Go to Jesus, hungry, humble and in prayer. Go to Jesus and from Jesus you will find the living water you need.

Lead well.

A week or so ago I came across this short list of some of the challenges facing the Church in 2008 and beyond. A lot of what is contained here really resonated strongly with me for the season we’re now in. In fact, reading much of it quickens my heart-rate and totally excites me for the future.

Sixty one key Charismatic/Pentecostal leaders in the American Church gathered recently to seek the face of God for 2008. They began their gathering by kneeling together to repent of the pride that has tainted the American church. At the end of their time together they made the following statement outlining the challenges they believe God had spoken to them about during their time in His presence.

1. We must open themselves to the experience of personal revival. We must rediscover the power of fasting. We must study the Word in order to hear from God more powerfully. We must get back to a simplicity of devotion to Jesus.

2. We must embrace humility by being genuine, touchable and accessible. God is raising up a new breed of leader today who will display “anointing without arrogance, boldness without brashness, and power without pride.”

3. We are experiencing gracious judgment. Gracious judgment, is where God corrects us but leads us to repentance and obedience. We must be men and women of character in a world of compromise.

4. We must balance the prosperity message. God is calling us to a higher standard of ethics, integrity and corporate governance. We must teach our people “to give extravagantly, not expecting anything in return” instead of suggesting that people should “give to get.”

5. It’s time to get back to evangelism. Our priorities must return to soul-winning and discipleship. While stressing the absolute importance of the presence and power of God in our churches, we must guard against an inordinate emphasis on manifestations of the Holy Spirit. We must get back to the core doctrines of the Bible, and test all things.

6. We must root out racism in the church. Unless we develop a true “kingdom DNA” in our churches-by welcoming and celebrating all ethnic groups-we will not successfully impact our culture or enact biblical justice on issues such as immigration policy.

7. Holiness is not an option. We must learn to restore those who fall but we also must focus on how to prevent moral failure - which will require a new emphasis on holy living.

8. God is calling us to transform society. Western culture is becoming increasingly hostile to the Christian faith. We must not run from our calling to transform culture but engage in a kingdom mission to effect change. We believe that Christians for too long have viewed politics, education and the financial realm as evil when we must see those arenas as mountains to claim for Christ.

[via: APN Newsletter]

What about you? Does anything in that list confirm in you something God’s been saying to you? Does anything stir your heart?

Matthew 28:18 & 19a says

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go…”

The basis for fulfilling great commission is the authority of Jesus. Jesus says in Him is ALL authority, in heaven and on earth and that doesn’t leave any where else for any other authority to be. There is no other authority out there - Jesus has ALL authority, which means He’s it!

This is great news for you and me. Maybe a bad relationship with teachers or a boss or even a parent has given you have a suspicious view of authority figures. The truth is you needn’t be. Because all authority is Christ’s.

But more than that Jesus has given us HIS authority to GO and represent him in the earth with the gospel of the kingdom. It is authority with a purpose. It’s also like a traffic cop seeking to direct traffic - his authority is of no use to him unless he steps out onto the road.

In the same way, we will only begin to live in the full authority of God - in the power of God to overcome sickness, opposition, temptation etc - when we step out and realise our CALL is to go and step out for God in faith. Church, let’s embrace the TRUTH and live in the authority of Jesus. Our world is waiting…