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Many years ago a book was written entitled “The Hearing Ear” that implies that we can have ears but not hear what is said. The resurrected Christ in the book of Revelation said seven times in chapters 2 and 3, “He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
We know from reading these two chapters that most of the churches had lost their way and even slipped into sin. One of the most tragic verses is found in Revelation 3:20. Jesus is actually speaking to the church leadership, “Here I am I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” If that was possible for the first generation of apostolically founded churches how much more is that true for us today.
With these thoughts before us I would like to explore two questions:
• How does God speak to us today?
• What is He saying to His Church?
My desire and prayer is that, as we explore these issues, we will come to a place of both greater sensitivity and clarity concerning the voice of the Lord.
How does the Lord speak to us? Nothing in one sense has changed: He speaks by and through His written Word and, along side this, by and through the Holy Spirit. Let us never forget the Holy Spirit who inspired the written Word will never contradict Himself by what He speaks into our heart.
Jesus said we need to hear what the Spirit says to the church, so how does the Holy Spirit speak to us today? Scripture shows a variety of ways: dreams, visions, prophecies, tongues, interpretations, signs, wonders, audible voice, revelations, circumstances, discussions, and observations.
This is not a complete list. I am sure that as you read the Word you will find others to add to it. What it does demonstrate is that we must be careful and open so as not to miss His voice.
One of the greatest privileges that I have in my life is to serve churches in a number of different nations with different languages, cultures, needs, and opportunities. However, when sitting with leaders, one of the hardest questions to get a clear answer on is “What has God said to you?” That can also be true for me too.
Over the years I have experienced the Lord speak into my life on many occasions in a variety of ways. In fact, according to Jesus it is essential. When He was in the wilderness, having fasted for forty days, the devil tempted Him to use the power of God to meet His personal need (hunger). How did Jesus respond? With the Word by the Spirit: “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes (proceeds) from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)
All through scripture we see that the Lord wants to communicate with His people and give instructions to His servants. We can learn from Samuel and identify with him as at first he did not recognise the Lord’s voice. Read 1 Samuel 3. It gives insight and a basis for prayer in hearing from heaven.
If at first you don’t hear, keep on asking and listening. You will know when you hear, as it will bring clarity, direction and create faith for action.
My personal experience over the years is that the more I give my attention to prayer and feeding on the Word of God, so the easier it is for me to hear the Lord speak in other ways and to be a mouthpiece for Him to speak through me to others. (Acts 6:1-4, James 3:1-3, 1 Peter 4:10-11)
Of course, it is essential that, having heard the Lord speak to us, we then act out in obedience what has been said. (Matthew 7:24-27, 13:18-23, James 1:19-25, Revelation 1:3, 22:18-19)
What is the Lord saying to His Church? It would be correct to say that in every local situation He would need to say different things according to the individual circumstances and needs. In an article like this, we can only touch on some of the broader issues that apply to every local church.
One of the advantages that comes from being part of a travelling apostolic team is that you get to hear, see, and observe things in many different locations, as well as fellowshipping with other ministries. During the last couple of years, there are at least three major areas or issues that it appears to me that the Lord is speaking loud and clear to His church.
- Rediscovering what it means to : Seek First, Seeing and Entering, also Preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God (in word, works and wonders). This is only possible in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- The total necessity of Biblical Faith. Only faith that comes from God can produce the works of God and make disciples for Christ.
- Leadership: that is both good and Godly. One man wrote that in life, business, politics, sports, and, YES, church, “Everything rises or falls on leadership.” Another Christian leader said that “95% of everything that happens in church is down to leadership.” Last year I read through the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles to get an overview of kingdom. At the end, I came to one conclusion: “As the king goes, so goes the kingdom.” The king influenced the nation. As leaders, we influence the people. What we are is what they will become.
Each of these three subjects outlined above could all be expanded and create a number of books and we would still not exhaust them. For the rest of this article I would like to focus on one section of leadership that I sense the Lord is speaking to His church about.
Leadership in many churches and ministries has become very professional and business like with structures and very little room for relationships and almost no dependence on the Holy Spirit.
One of my friends says that “we can do church and do it well without the Holy Spirit. The only problem is that we cannot produce the Kingdom and change lives.” That is one of the greatest needs today. Many of our churches are being filled up with people who need an encounter with the Living God. How will this happen? The key is in the leadership of the local church.
Leadership is about relationships: with God, within marriage and family, within leadership in the church, with the people, and in the world.
As I observe leaderships in many settings, I sense so many times what needs to change and outline it as follows:
Plurality of leaders: No one man on his own, but teams of leaders meeting together on a regular basis, including both husband and wife, so that as a leadership we can learn to do three things together:
1) Minister to the Lord: John Bedford from England says that “when leaders meet together, the first item on the agenda is Jesus.” Unless, as leaders, we learn to worship the Lord together we will not grow together and there will be an absence of faith and anointing. In this time we are refreshed and refilled as we come into His presence to praise and worship our Saviour. Now you see why it is so important for husbands and wives to be together so that we grow in our experience of God. This will naturally lead us to the second section.
2) Minister to each other: We have become so preoccupied with programmes and decision making that we never make room to give and receive the ministry we need. Often because of pressure we think that we are okay or that we can cope, but our brothers and sisters can help us. Before they can, we will have to let them and be open and honest about our lives and situation. Also, this can be a powerful time for the Lord to bring direction and equipping through the gifts of the Holy Spirit when we wait and are open before the Lord. As I look back over my life, significant things have happened to me in leaders meetings as we waited and ministered to each other. It sounds risky, but it builds trust and respect leading to growth and fruitfulness. From this position we can now,
3) Minister to the people: When ministering to the people in the church, we must remember that every person has been purchased with the blood of Jesus and they belong to Him. Also, Jesus told us to seek the Kingdom and HE would build HIS church. These two facts will change how we deal with people. The Kingdom is about freedom, wholeness, healing, and God’s purpose, for each individual and also for the body. Only Christ can give us His grace and compassion to deal with those people He entrusts to our care. (Acts 20:28)
Equipping saints: The next aspect of ministering to the people is to equip them so that they find their role and function in the body. Also, the impact of being equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit should transform them for living, working, and witnessing in the world; making them both salt and light.
As together we seek the Lord for His people, change will take place.
There is so much more one could say about this aspect of leadership, but from both observation and experience the best way is to do it. Call all your leaders together and start to put these three steps into practice once a month. Doing this you will learn a lot, but greater will be the breakthrough in your lives, ministry, and the church, as the Kingdom comes.
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.
It is like the precious oil poured on the head, running down the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robes.
It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life for evermore.” Psalm 133
(All scripture quotes from the NIV)