Proverbs 15:22 NIV -- Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
A WORD FROM PASTOR JANA ALCORN
Leader, it is not enough to know the "how-to's" of ministry. We must be be passionate for His Presence. We must make room for Him; in fact, so much room that there is no longer any room for us. I'd like to provoke you with a question.
WHAT IF THE LEADERS ACTUALLY GOT HUNGRY?
1. WHAT IF LEADERS GOT HUNGRY AND FOCUSED ON JESUS DURING THE SERVICES, RATHER THAN TRYING TO DIRECT PEOPLE DURING THE SERVICES?
As leaders, our chief ministry is to the Lord. In Acts 13:2, the Holy Spirit spoke only AFTER they had ministered unto Him.
"As they ministered to the Lord and fasted....the Holy Ghost said."
2. WHAT IF THE LEADERS GOT HUNGRY AND ACTUALLY FEASTED ON THE LORD DURING THE SERVICE RATHER THAN GET ON WITH THE PROGRAM?
I'm sorry, leader, but we can't offer God our sermons. Anyway, we are not just to speak about the Lord, but to speak FOR Him! How can you do this without first taking in Him as the source of our strength!
Everything the "services need" will be the outflow of our feasting upon Him.
John 6:57 -- As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.
3. WHAT IF THE LEADERS GOT HUNGRY AND PROVOKED A HUNGER IN THE BODY?
Someone can just talk about chocolate and I want it! Leader, what if our hunger provoked the Body of Christ into seeking the Bread of Life! Can you imagine how this would stir our churches and our ministries? Just the smell of something baking makes me want it! How much more does the actual substance of it within my reach!
Matthew 5:6 -- Blessed are they which do hunger.....for they shall be filled!
4. WHAT IF THE LEADERS GOT HUNGRY AND WANTED JESUS MORE THAN TO PREACH THEIR PREPARED SERMONS?
When we understand that we are not after sermons, but we are after HIM, then and only then, will our hunger began to be God-directed, instead of performance directed!
We may forget sermons, but we do not forget encounters with Him!
When He comes forward, we fall backward.
John 18:6-- As soon as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
5. WHAT IF THE LEADERS GOT HUNGRY AND CREATED THE ATMOSPHERE IN OUR CHURCHES FOR THE BREAD OF HIS FACE?
When David got hungry, he went against protocol. He actually went for the shewbread (bread of His face.) He did not just look at it; he partook of it. But not only did David eat, they that were with him ate also.
Luke 6:3,4 -- And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungered, and they which were with him; How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the showbread, and gave also to them that were with him.
We have created atmospheres for man, but where is the one that will create the atmosphere for HIM? What IF leaders got hungry......
INSIDE THE SEED
Re 5:12-13 "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive Power, and Riches, and Wisdom, and Strength, and Honour, and Glory, and Blessing. And every creature which is in Heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and Honour, and Glory, and Power, be unto Him that sitteth upon The Throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever."
If His will is to be done in earth as it is in Heaven, then our worship must be intense and we must be given to the Worship of the Lord continually.
LEADERSHIP LINES
I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow.
The well-run ministry is not a battlefield of egos.
Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people.
The new leader is a facilitator, not an order giver.
Leadership is action, not position.
If you do not know where you are going, every road will get you nowhere.
It takes more than an anointed sermon to lead the people of God.
Excellence is not an accomplishment. It is a spirit, a never-ending process.
A PROPHETIC WORD
"I am calling you to go on. There are some things that must be severed and some that must be added. Some of this will happen as part of this process and you will not have to be directly involved. Other things, you will be a part of.
It is time to move into My vision for the House. No longer will you be bound by other's expectations, but you will move to meet Me, says the Lord. Deal with this in a different way for relationships change, says the Lord.
Let My processes take effect. Allow it to happen. The move will bring My favor and the heavens will be open unto you. No longer will you be held back by the invisible shields that have been over you, but you will approach Me in clarity and you will hear Me in clarity and you will have the confidence of knowing My will. This is not haughtiness, says the Lord, but overwhelming confidence that you know Me and that you have heard My voice.
So now, follow, says the Lord and I will be with you!"
God is raising up a voice that will be heralded in the power of the Holy Spirit. He is empowering His people.
The Alcorn Report is e-published by Pastor Jana Alcorn. Pastor Alcorn is Founder and Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Albertville, Alabama. If you would like to contact Pastor Alcorn by U.S. Mail, please send all correspondence to: Pastor Jana Alcorn, Post Office Box 205, Albertville, Alabama 35950
Visit our Website at http://www.harvestinc.org
Harvest Church -- On the Move for God!
Email: JAlcorn@aol.com