Inspiring and Challenging Dreamers

For the next few weeks, I want to talk to you candidly as leaders, especially those of you who are spiritual leaders. The truth is that God wants the church wealthy, and most of you reading this will believe that and preach that. But you all know people who are giving generously and radically but that are not receiving their harvests. It just isn’t working for them. They are sincere, faithful and generous people.

The problem is that there are mindsets and ideas that prevent seedtime and harvest time working. I want to share these with you because that will help you not just individually and with your ministry, but will help the precious people in your church who are giving generously and kindly and faithfully to prosper.

The truth is that poverty has never done any good to anyone. Right now people are starving to death on our planet. And the truth is that poverty is unnecessary because God is good and God works miracles still. God has promised to provide.

Prosperity is probably still the single most controversial subject to discuss and talk about in the body of Christ because there is still so much wide spread ignorance on the topic. People still have many strange ideas about prosperity and about the prosperity of the saints.  In the next few weeks, probably months, we will deal with some of these ideas.

You can prosper. Your ministry can prosper. Your people can prosper.

The first lie that stops harvest is the lie that God does not really care about your finances. I believe no one is more misunderstood than God. Some think He is just a force, others a supreme being who is distant from us. But the truth of the Word is that God is touched with the feeling of our infirmities (Hebrews 4.15), and that God said to approach Him with boldness in every need we have (Hebrews 4.16).

God wants you to have the money necessary to look after your loved ones (1 Tim. 5.8). God wants you to have the money to give great, generous, uncommon gifts to your pastors (1 Tim. 5.17-18). God wants you to have the money to send preachers all over the nations preaching the gospel (Romans 10.15).  God wants you to have enough money to pay your taxes and your bills (Matthew 22.21).  God wants you to have enough money to tithe (Lev. 27.30). God wants you to have enough money to give gifts to your children (Matt. 7.11). God wants you to have enough money to help the poor (Pro. 19.17). God wants you to have enough money to face any problems that comes your way (Ecc. 10.19).

Elijah faced a financial crisis in a drought that affected an entire nation.  God firstly told Elijah exactly where to go to get provision (1 Kings 17.3-9). God will tell you where to go and what to do to bring finances into your life.

Everything God made was made to multiply.  Every tree, every animal, every fish, every bird was designed to multiply and increase. You are no exception.

Today settle in your heart that God’s will is for your financial increase. The more settled you are, the easier you will preach it, the easier you will impart that confidence and faith to people, and the better leader you will be. God gave people cities for looking after a few coins well – He is generous! You matter to Him! He delights in your prosperity (Ps. 35.27).

Now prosperity is so much more than gold and cash and diamonds and fancy things!  Prosperity is having the supply to fulfill your destiny. God wants you to be able to do what He has called you to do, He wants you to have the wisdom, the strength, the energy, the health and the provision. God is not poor and He doesn’t want you to be poor.

So now your finances are going to turn around. No one can do that for you. You need to get those things in your brain. You need to meditate on the Scriptures I have listed today and get them in your heart. You are not serving a God who doesn’t care, you are serving a God who does care. He wants to discuss your mortgage with you. He wants to discuss everything on your finances with you. He is a good God! He has plans to show you and reveal to you, and everyone you are leading.

Next week: the Dream-Prosperity Connection

 

What a week it has been in British politics.  The nation has voted in a referendum to exit the European Union.  The Prime Minister has resigned.  The leader of the opposition has lost his Shadow Cabinet and faces a vote of no confidence.  Never has a week been so packed with political news and changes.

There has been a lot of anger from a lot of people about a lot of things.  Some people are calling for a second referendum, presumably calling for a third or fourth if things do not go their way.  Some people are name calling, feeling sick, feeling scared, and so on and so forth.  It has genuinely shocked me the vitriol on both sides in the last few days.  It amazes me that many people do not seem to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.

Now I am no politician, I am a pastor.  My job isn’t to sort out the financial systems and the democratic systems of this nation or any nation.  My job is to help people get born again, filled with the Spirit and renew their minds.  My job is to build a community that is full of the Word, full of the Spirit, full of the nations and filled with love.

And although politics is important, and I believe Christians should be involved in politics both at the local level and national level.  I believe that good government can make it much easier to preach the gospel and build healthy churches.

But that is just a means to an end.  Let’s look at the referendum through the eyes of faith and the eyes of grace:

• No one got born again or filled with the Spirit based on the moment of referendum.  It didn’t increase the numbers of people in heaven or decrease the numbers of people in hell.  It hasn’t done anything for the kingdom of God one way or another.  So in terms of eternity, it is simply not that important.
• Our joy is not found in a political vote.  Not now and not ever.  Our joy is found in the presence of the Lord (Psalm 16.11).  This referendum is nothing to lose your joy over. No one voted Jesus off the throne, no one voted a single verse out of your Bible, no one voted some power away from God.  No one voted any insecurity into your future.
• The only thing that can stop you from enjoying your health and wealth that is provided through the redemptive work of Christ, from enjoying your success and destiny is this: broken focus.  Do not take your eyes of the cross.  Don’t stop praising God and rejoicing in God – don’t stop realizing God is your source.
• Realize the media is dishonest.  Every time I have been in the media, the media have lied.  I spoke to a police officer who has just retired, he told me in 30+ years of service, the media never got one story right about a case.  Never.  Not once.  So when you read that British people were googling “what is the EU” or that the pound is going to be worth the same as Zimbabwean dollars, you do not have to believe it.  In fact, this is a good time to stop reading the papers to be honest!

This is our year of great overflow.  Nothing the politicians have said or done can change that.  Jesus Christ is building His church.  Nothing that the nations are doing can change that.

Now for leaders, you need to let your people know this.  Don’t be partisan here – there are people in your churches who voted in for good reasons and people who voted out for good reasons.  Your ministry must embrace and make both feel welcome and secure.

5. Always always always be yourself.  I love that Christopher Alam hasn’t changed at all – he has a huge ministry, preached last Sunday night to 40,000 people (yes you read that right) and yet is easily the most low-maintenance preacher I know.  He would sleep in any hotel, never has a rider, and is so willing to fit in with our plans and purposes it is a joy to host him.  He has never forgot where he came from, and never forgot the grace that has brought him forward.

4. Don’t put up with nonsense.  Christopher Alam gets on with what God has told him to do.  His ministry is filled with loyal people and is remarkably free from drama.  He has cut nonsense out of his life.  I was describing a situation I am dealing with in the church and asked for wisdom and he said “if it is not fruitful pull it up and kill it Ben, you are too busy to waste your time on unfruitful things”.  Sage advice indeed!

3. The need for balance.  I don’t know anyone who preaches with more grace than Christopher Alam – you don’t see hundreds and thousands and tens of thousands of people born again, healed and baptized in the Holy Spirit if you don’t know and preach grace.  But he also preaches on integrity, and tithing, and the gifts of the Spirit, and the return of Jesus.  That is a balanced ministry that builds healthy people.

2. A love for the local church.  I don’t know many evangelists who work so closely with local churches and do all they can to ensure the people saved find a good local church.  I don’t know many ministries in the UK at their conferences that help people find good local churches, to see it done in Africa so well is glorious!

1. The need to be Spirit led, not culture led.  Christopher Alam has resisted so much of the Americanisation of the gospel message.  What he brings is not wrapped in any cultural paper, but is a beautiful picture of the gospel.  That has cost him because people fail to recognize truth when it goes above and beyond their cultural insights.  But he brings the truth and it is powerful, plain and clear.

I had a prophetic word shortly before I started the Tree of Life family of churches, which basically said that one of the hardest jobs I will ever have in my future is to stop people trying to sew their cotton patches into your silk dream.  That word has certainly proved to be true!

You see when you have a dream, a vision, a way forward to help people and change the world, there will always be people who want to attach themselves to it, but at the cost of the purity of the dream.

• There are people who want the benefits of what you are building, who are not interested in your vision and way of doing things.
• There are people who have never done what you have done but they want to be your adviser, and if you don’t listen to their they claim you never listen to anyone.
• There will be people who want to change the culture because what you are doing moves them out of their comfort zone, so they want to change the culture to one they are comfortable with.
• There are people who want their voice to be heard, they think they have come to your church to speak not to listen.
• There are people who are never happy because they are unhappy with themselves, so rather than change themselves, they want to change their environment and that includes you
• There are people who want to take short cuts and don’t like the fact you will not compromise.

It is not just enough to build a healthy church culture, you must as a leader protect it.  You must fight for what you believe in and fight to be who you are corporately.  You have to reject any idea that will compromise your culture.

The cultural battle lines in the church may surprise you.  The main one is generally found in the worship – what songs are sung, how they are sung, the lyrics.  John Wesley said that he didn’t care who preached in a Methodist church as long as they sung the songs he and his brother wrote.  That might be a little hyperbole, but it is a vital part of the church.  Children’s and youth ministry is another battle ground, where people will want to do things their way.

In the next few weeks, I will show you how to keep that culture and make it work no matter who attacks it.  Just being aware you have to fight – that is a great start!

Sorry for the borrowed title, but I love the way Andrew Wommack teaches on this topic.  In fact I think it is one of the most important teachings you can ever get.

Other people express it differently.  Bob Proctor says You were born rich, Jim Richards says you are hardwired for success, Terri Savelle says everything you need to walk in your dreams is already inside you. 

So this revelation is spread far and wide with different titles.  But my favourite is still the way Andrew sees it and says it: you’ve already got it.

Everything you need for life and godliness you already have.  It is in your spirit and you need to believing to release it, but the truth is you need to believe to access it.  Believe it is inside you and it will flow out.

You have forgiveness, abundance, healing in you.  Now let it out!  There is no doubt you are already rhe possessor,…,it’s yours, all yours.

I have just had the privilege of being in a conference where one of the speakers was Duane Sheriff.  Duane pastors over 7000 people, and ministers grace with wisdom and humour. 

I also had the honour of recording a TV programme with Duane for Revelation TV, and having lunch with him and his wife, Sue today.

Here are some lessons I have learned from Duane this weekend:

5.  There is always true grace in humility.  Duane and I had communicated earlier in the year, but for no one’s fault our wires got crossed.

Duane was so gracious, willing to bend over backwards to accommodate us, never assumed negative things and was absolutely humble.  It was such a powerful example to me.

4.  Do everything not to be offended.  Duane gives away between 300k and 500k CDs free of charge a month.  Yes, you read that right.  His number one series is his teaching on offense.  Duane is passionate that offense is not just the flesh, but a strategic attack of the devil to destroy the kingdom.  Deal with offense!

3.  The importance of local church.  In a day when some grace people are not even going to church, Duane is building a powerful church through God’s grace.  I thought I was passionate about church until I spent time with Duane.  It really inspired me.

Duane said he doesn’t believe a Christian can grow without a local church.  I agree so much.

2.  How to handle when a friend is accused and persecuted.  When some Christians hear about the assault on my character, they gossip, they avoid me, they behave in strange ways.  Not many thankfully, but some.

When I told Duane today he looked me in the eye and said you didn’t have to tell me, I wouldn’t believe it, and it is never to be brought up again.  That showed me true genuine maturity.

1.  The love for people.  I met Duane and Sue in the venue today and we walked to the restaurant.  The whole journey we met people who recognized Duane from the conference.  He stopped and listened to each one, prayed with them and treated them like the most important person in the world.  That was me seeing Christ in the flesh watching him minister.

One of the most important roles of a pastor is to set the temperature for the culture of the church. Many pastors are like thermometers – they allow the church to set the temperature, in fact they let the loudest and most carnal people in the church to set the temperature. But what we need to be as leaders is thermostats – we set the temperature, and we need to set it to hot.

We need to develop a progressive culture in the church. A culture that is progressive means that the church is moving forward, growing, developing, maturing. A regressive culture is moving backwards, stuck in the mud, staying where it is, and stopping the church from crossing over to great overflow and increase.

There is a lot to say about this but here are three things that will always help you build a progressive culture in your church or organization:

1. Stop oiling the squeaky wheel. Part of what we think good Christian ministry is can be so far removed from good Christianity.  We think that the people who demand the most attention, the most immature, the most hurting, the most needy are the people we need to gather with, to meet with week after week and to spend time with. It sounds reasonable, but to be honest it isn’t. What happens is that these people never grow and by attending to them you are teaching the rest of your church that as a leader your attention is on those who are pulling the church back. If people want your attention, they will start to develop problems. The whole church doesn’t grow and it moves backwards!
   1. You need to celebrate the superstars in your church. Those who turn up on time, who serve without thought of reward, who love and go above and beyond the sense of duty. Then the whole church is pulled forward.
   2. You cannot emphasise this point enough.
2. Don’t worry about offending people. There are always people with thin skin. Either they grow up or they go somewhere else, either way, you win. Some people do not want to change, and it is going to cost you your peace to try and change them. Tell people the truth, let them decide how to respond and let them respond however they want. You can stretch to accommodate other people, but don’t stretch yourself out of shape or let other people dictate how your church should move. You are the thermostat.
3. Realize that whenever someone is trying to make you feel guilty or scared, they are using illegitimate authority. You are the one in charge, be full of love and grace, but don’t let yourself ever be led by someone who is making you feel guilty or scared.

This word is one of the seven Hebrew words for praise.  It has three meanings:

• To shine clearly
• To dance with passion
• To be outrageously foolish

Shining refers to us being happy about God and happy with God.  The word “Hallelujah” comes from this root – to be happy with Jah (short for Jehovah – God).  We should be happy when we praise God – thankful and pleased.

Dancing with passion is not forbidden in the church, it’s encouraged by the Scriptures.  God loves us dancing for him.  It doesn’t mean to dance with skill, but with passion.

Outrageously foolish could cover a lot of things (!) but the focus here is being foolish in love with God.  David danced with all his might – others might have thought he looked foolish, but he wasn’t dancing for them!  What would it take for you to be considered foolish today?

One of the things we are doing at Tree of Life is building a culture where there is both a high level of inspiration and a high level of challenge.

I have been in a number of churches and conferences which are very inspirational. The messages are designed to help us dream big, to paint a picture of a big God, to show us our potential, to help us see a bright future. The kind of talking that makes you want to change the world.

I love inspiration. I love dreaming big. I love preaching big. But if all you have is inspiration you will not function well. People will always be looking to a future horizon that will never arrive. You will blow up not grow up. You will end up giving hype not hope.

I have also been in a number of churches and conferences which are very challenging. All the preaching is about how we need to change, we need to focus on God, we need to stop behaving a certain way and behave another way. And it’s all true and all good – I don’t care how successful you are, we never reach a point where we have to stop making course corrections, or repenting to use the Biblical word.

I love being challenged. I love stretching myself. I love changing. But if all you have is challenge you will not function well. People will get discouraged making changes if they cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. You will throw up not grow up. You will end up giving people a stone not bread.

You need to learn how to both inspire and challenge people. You also need to learn how to create a culture that inspires and challenges people. You need to learn the balance and rhythm between the two – some weeks you might preach really inspirational, the next week a real challenge. You might get a guest speaker in who is inspirational, the next one might be challenging. You might have a Bible study on an inspirational topic, so the next one might be challenge. You need to learn when the people need the carrot and when they need the stick. You need to pray and get wisdom and flow with this.

Neither inspiration or challenge is enough on its own, but both together produces life changes.

We say it like this at the Tree: we inspire you to dream big, but we challenge you to live the dream too.

Last weekend we had the joy of hosting Arthur and Cathy Meintjes from Kingdom Life Ministries.  Arthur is now the most prolific guest speaker at Tree of Life Church, and the whole network of churches is better off because of it.  And this Sunday he brought a powerful message on the present day ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Some people may remember Arthur spoke at our first ever Gates of the City conference and has a lot to say about leadership.  Here are some lessons I have learned from him this weekend:

1. Leadership should always be in the wisdom of the Spirit.  We should never use fear or guilt to get people to do what we want.
2. We need to enable people to distinguish between what the Lord demands and what we demand.  When people are serving in local church, it doesn’t earn them salvation or spirituality or brownie points with God.  When we as pastors and leaders ask people to do things a certain way, it’s not to get right with God, it’s because we as the leaders of the organization want it done that way.  There is nothing wrong with doing things a particular way, and nothing wrong with strong leadership, but never let the people think it is to please and impress God.
3. When people walk out of your life for petty reasons, “don’t let the door hit them on the way out”.  Life is too short for silliness, we have to get on with the kingdom work.
4. God wants to talk to everyone themselves.  Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection was for the purpose that the Spirit could be poured out on all flesh so that all flesh can hear and follow the leading of the Spirit.  We must encourage people not to see us as great men of God or oracles and prophets, but encourage them to be led by the Spirit and learn to hear His voice for themselves.
5. Generosity should be part of our leadership.  If we cannot start at 10% and give what was demanded under law, we need to ask why are we not able to start there?  The idea that grace means we do not have to give and give generously is alien to the New Covenant.
6. Be human!  So many people are trying to not be human, and be some sort of angel when God made man and was happy to make man.  It’s not just ok to be human, it’s awesome.  Be yourself and be a human being.
7. Be practical.  It’s ok to dream big and it’s ok to have a big dream (you better believe that Tree of Life people!) but you have to be practical.  You have to make plans and think things through.  Before you go to war, count the cost.