We're living in unprecedented times! Worldly systems are being shaken but we who belong to Christ belong to a kingdom that will never be shaken. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy concerning the last days. In 2 Timothy 3:1 he says: But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contentious boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, and profane - Amplified version. You don't have to look far to see how the Apostle Paul's description fits today's world. In verse 8 he describes these people as worthless [as teachers] in regard to the faith.
In these perilous times, we need to be wise about who we are following or walking along side with. It's impossible to follow someone without heading in the same direction that they are going. Jesus said "Beware of false prophets, [teachers]…Matthew 7:15. This isn't a call to be suspicious of leaders or looking to find and expose their weaknesses and faults. We all have those to one degree or another. There's only one who is perfect, Jesus Christ; the author and perfecter of our faith. But, we are called to die daily to our flesh and be always be growing, maturing, and becoming more and more like Christ. Leaders are not exempt from this process. In fact, they have an even greater responsibility. It's easy to assume that because someone appears wise, learned, gifted, or anointed, that they are automatically mature and trustworthy but this is not necessarily true.
In Matthew 7 verse 22 Jesus says: "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name and driven out demons in your name and done many miracles in your name?' And then I will declare to them publicly, 'I never knew you, depart from me'". Clearly, knowledge, gifting, anointing, or as in this verse the ability to prophecy, cast out demons, and work miracles alone are not indicators of a person's character or even salvation. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7 that by their fruit we will know them. Galatians 5:19-22 tells us what to look for, both in the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit. I challenge you to grab your bible and read Matthew 7 and then Galatians chapter 5:19-23 for yourself. Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strive, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies). Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes], is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self control (self-restraint, contingence).
The Apostle Paul tells us to not be ignorant of the enemy's devices. Selfishness and deception have always been around so we should not be surprised or caught off guard if we see these operating in people today. I've learned from my own experience that when we grow up without healthy authority figures in our lives, we're more prone to not recognize an unhealed or unhealthy leader as an adult than others might be. I lived in an environment where one parent battled addiction and a mental illness while the other parent was extremely passive. Because control and manipulation were normal for me to experience, I didn't recognize them in others as an adult. I learned from one parent to keep the peace at all costs, even when that cost resulted in a lack of inner peace for me. I remember judging myself harshly for even thinking I saw red flags because I was taught to never judge or think badly of someone else, especially those in authority. That mindset became dangerous and unsafe for me and my family. I've learned since to not to overlook bad fruit because of gifting or charisma. Often the culture of honor being taught in the church today takes us to an extreme of overlooking lack of character, and integrity and even ignoring willful sin because that person has an "anointing".
By not confronting what I saw, I had also unknowingly partnered with it. I'd given someone authority and power in my life that they should never have had and had come into agreement with some things that were unholy. By default, I had given the demons operating in one person, authority to wreak havoc in my life and in the lives of my children. If it's not the Holy Spirit operating in them, it's something else. The Holy Spirit is not the author of confusion or the works of the flesh. God doesn't control or manipulate. He doesn't need to and it's not His nature.
There are people who abuse their authority in every sphere of influence: the family structure, church, workplace, and politics. In the church, the devil is all too happy to use unhealed leaders to wound others, keeping them from fulfilling their destiny in Christ. This does not mean that no one can be trusted. Not every wound is caused deliberately. Sometimes things happen out of misunderstanding and even immaturity but we should all be humble, teachable, and quick to repent with sincerity. Ultimately our trust and our hope are in the Lord.
There are many good leaders in the body of Christ today and we are instructed to know those who labor among us. I'm much more cautious than I used to be. I watch closely, though not with a fault-finding or critical spirit. I am simply no longer impressed by knowledge, gifting, position, or talent. I'm no longer impressed by how good someone might make me feel or how successful they appear to be. Jesus says in Matthew 7:20 You will know them by their fruits. I'm looking for fruit and fruit that remains. It's faith that pleases God, not talent, charisma, education, status, gifting, etc... How does their faith and their character challenge me to be more like Christ? That is what I am watching for. Spiritual gifting in and of itself is not an indicator of maturity or authenticity in a leader. Let's start recognizing them by their fruit!
-Learning to live authentically!
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