Purging Leadership

Introduction

There have always been and always will be troubles. Jesus said it would be so. What catches us off guard is when problems appear in the one place we think we are safe from them, the Church.

Why would we think that the Church would be devoid of issues? Does it not stand to reason that the devil would want to discredit and harass the children of God? Possibly lead them astray if it is possible?

Raising The Standard

Romans 12:2 ESV

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

1 Corinthians 9:19 ESV

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

Paul here speaks of how he is not bound to people, but must obey God in all things first. Despite what others may have thought of him, he was obligated to be led of the Holy Spirit of God in all things.

Ephesians 5:15–16 ESV

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Purging Leadership

In too many cases in the last day Church, it seems that Christians are not aware of the proper response to their sin. We must pray that God will break through the hardness of peoples hearts in His love and mercy toward them so that they might be restored to His grace.

Jeremiah 8:4–9 ESV

“You shall say to them, Thus says the Lord: When men fall, do they not rise again? If one turns away, does he not return? Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return. I have paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken rightly; no man relents of his evil, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turns to his own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle. Even the stork in the heavens knows her times, and the turtledove, swallow, and crane keep the time of their coming, but my people know not the rules of the Lord. “How can you say, ‘We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us’? But behold, the lying pen of the scribes has made it into a lie. The wise men shall be put to shame; they shall be dismayed and taken; behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, so what wisdom is in them?

The most terrifying thing in my spirit today is that the Church has not taken to heart the events that are taking place right before their eyes. How desperately the Holy Spirit of God is trying to get the world’s attention!!

I know that I am not speaking of every person here, but our brothers and sisters in Christ that have been led astray by preachers that have not sought God.

Even when the Holy Spirit is successful in bringing conviction and repentance to ministers such as Benny Hinn as he recently denounced the so called Prosperity Gospel, others from within that group were quick to close ranks and say it was just from the abuses he repented. They claim that the gospel is all about prosperity, but it is not as they say. The prosperity of God is towards our souls first and our eternal home that can never be robbed or diminished.

Ezekiel 33:31 ESV

And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.

They look like Christians, talk like Christians, and in public act like Christians; but there is an agenda buried in their hearts to make plunder of the Church.

Isaiah 29:13 ESV

And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

Matthew 15:7–9 ESV

You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”

The Call To Repentance

I believe the Lord is calling for us to pray specifically for such leaders this morning. God loves them even though they have led many astray and used their talents wrongly against God’s people instead of for them.

It is not only leaders that need to repent, but Christians that do not hold their ministers accountable by the Word of God. Not in an argumentative way, but to make sure that the Word of God is not being exploited or used in a wrongful manner. Many simply take for granted that the person standing in the pulpit is God’s mouthpiece and swallow whatever comes out of their mouth.

Let’s pray for God’s discernment and grace for the Church to be not only restored but empowered as the days draw nearer for our redemption. For deception grows within the world everyday to destroy as many as it lays hold of.