I once attended an early morning Bible study, held by some business leaders in Minneapolis, at a well-known home furnishings store called Gabbert’s. As I entered the employee break room on my way to the gathering, “the wall” caught my attention.
John Maxwell, the well-known leadership expert, once said, “Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others.”
As Spirit-filled believers, we are supernaturally equipped. Not only have we been personally empowered, but we’ve also received the ability to empower others.
In a dream I had several years ago, I was working for a businessman, and we were going to a meeting. My job was to take along a large tractor tire, so I rolled it down the street and into an impressive-looking office building, amid many stares and snickers.
With my boss behind me, I rolled the tire into a room that held a large conference table, covered with a variety of small electronic devices. A group of men was seated around the table. I rolled the tire toward the leader, while several people expressed displeasure at the interruption of their meeting.
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1, NIV)
As a new ministry leader, I remember enthusiastically telling our congregation to watch me, as I intended to embrace my complete destiny in Christ. I was convinced that it was as simple as completely and wholeheartedly following Him.
With several months of the year of the whirlwind still ahead, how do we need to position ourselves and respond? First of all, we are to obey the admonition from scripture to not give in to fear. The enemy wants to stir up panic and distress, but we have to stand firm, trusting God’s faithfulness.
Mike and I enjoyed an unusually long ministry trip to beautiful Costa Rica—12 days! The tourist agency advertises it as an infinite paradise—you only have to visit once to know why.
As we were worshipping, the Holy Spirit started speaking to me, just one word, and it was the word “dreaming.” And then I realized that what He was saying was this:
The Holy Spirit was speaking to me this morning, and I got one word at first, and the word was “fear.” And I said, “What do You want to do with that, Lord?” And this is the word He gave me:
Reconciliation matters to God in such a profound way, more than our hearts and minds are even fully able to grasp. It is the common thread throughout Scripture, the overarching theme of the gospel—God wants His children to be reconciled to His heart. And as that process takes place, we will also be reconciled to each other.
ISIS Captures Another City; Protesters Call for End to Police Brutality; Racial Tension on the Rise; Christianity in the US Declining. We are bombarded with headlines that strike our hearts with the knowledge that our nation—and the entire world—is in dire straits. We long for restoration, but in the chaos, some fear that we are doomed. Several times a day, I either read or hear the words, “There is no hope.”
