The Failed Leadership Factor - Stretch out!
"Stretch out!"
Text: ..."And he entered again into the synagogue, there was a man present that had a withered hand..." Mark 3:1
Are you sick and tired of going to church Sunday after Sunday participating in the same mundane rituals of the liturgy? You have become so familiar with the service that you can mimic the speakers, mock the choir, time the shout, and readily identify the same people with the same problems coming and going from the sanctuary with their sins untouched, their problems unsolved, and their needs unmet. Well, enough is enough! This same foolishness was occurring during the ministry of Christ and He decided to address it according to Mark. For the record, there is no reason for people to leave church the same as they came unless the leaders lack power, the service lacks the spirit, and the fellowship lacks faith. If the head is rotten and stinks the body will soon follow. Lame leadership is a cancer to the body of Christ. It promotes corruption, prohibits creativity, and permits carelessness.
The Gospel according to Mark reveals that Jesus enters a synagogue "again." Obviously He had been here before. There, Jesus met a man with a withered hand. This man's hand presented him with a physical deformity, that caused physical challenges, and brought about physical limitations. Do you know some folks in church with a "withered hand?" After the pulpit puppets had welcomed the morning visitors they observed that Christ was in the midst and they raised questions within themselves whether or not He would heal this man on the Sabbath. Imagine their hypocrisy and insincerity especially since they themselves were powerless and had not done or could do nothing to help this man; yet they resented anyone who could. There's nothing worst than inadequate leadership.
Good leadership is a blessing and bad leadership is a curse. Your Pastor is the person or leader that you have positioned in your life to assist your growth as a believer. He or she is the point person who positions you for deliverance in the event there is a physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, or material need. The sad commentary regarding the failed leadership factor is that many people today have placed the wrong person in this position of authority in their life. Here is the test. The best way to know if you have placed the wrong leader in your life is to measure your progress. Are you at a stand still (Idle)? Do you have a vision? (Not really!) Are you in the same place you were last year spiritually, personally, relationally, financially, mentally, and emotionally? (Stagnant) Are you growing or being challenged to live right? (At times.) Do you seek God more now that you have submitted to that ministry/leader? (No really!) Are you fulfilled and happy? (Every now and then) If you answered similarly, you are "INSANE." You need deliverance. "Stretch out!"
Submitting to a leader is extremely important. You will never be in authority unless you are under authority and everybody needs a covering. No man is an island, every man for himself; but God for us all. Selecting a leader should be based on the fact that the ministry or leadership candidate recognizes his or her own limitation. They can set aside their own personal feelings or agenda and that their walk with God has been cemented in prayer, praise, and an experience. You have to choose a leader and a ministry that is not self centered or insecure. You need someone that is focused on Kingdom mandates, Kingdom principles, Kingdom purposes and expects Kingdom blessings. Never choose a leader or ministry that is not progressive. You are a reflection of your leadership, what they are you will become. Sound leaders are not moved by opinions but they operate out of substance. Never submit to anyone that has not taken authority over his or her own issues. The bottom line is that you should only submit a leader or ministry that is submitted to God. "Stretch out!"
Mark writes that these pitiful leaders only sought grounds to condemn Christ, to confuse the law, and to control the people. A real leader seeks not to control the people. These infidels looked to find fault that they might rush in and kill Jesus like a pack of wolves. The atmosphere was charged with expectancy. The spirit of expectation brings about "Change." Many churches have lost the spirit of expectation due to wacky leadership. Christ asks His critics if it was lawful to do good or to do evil; to save a life or to kill on the Sabbath? These questions were powerful, as their answers would reveal the wickedness of His contenders. They thought it was wrong for Him to heal on the Sabbath but not wrong for them to plan His destruction on the Sabbath. They had double standard. Does your leader have double standards? Certainly it was more consistent with the intentions of the law to restore this man's hand even on the Sabbath than to destroy his hopes for keeping human traditions. Double standards reek havoc and destroy hopes.
After an embarrassing silence, Christ commands the man to "Step forth, Speak up, and to Stretch out." Lets consider the "ASK" Principle. "A" stands for Accept. Stepping forth requires one accept responsibility for his or her own deliverance. Stepping forth means, I willing to ask of God in confidence and not be concern with man. This man had to come out of the crowd. Next, speak up. The "S" stands for Seek. Seek means to advocate. No one will advocate for you like you can advocate for yourself. Speaking up or seeking means that you are tired of the same lame excuses and doing the same thing hoping for a different response. This man was willing to work the change. Lastly, Stretch out. The "K" stands for "Keeping focus." You have to know in whom you believe and have placed your trust. Your personal knowledge of God will give you the faith the stretch out with persistence to receive your blessing. Faith and focus are partners in deliverance. First, step forward (ask). Next, speak up (seek). Lastly, stretch out (keep focus). ASK! Ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find, knock and the door will be open. Just ASK! As soon as the man followed Christ's commands full strength returned to his hand, the flesh became normal, and all the wrinkles were gone. The delivered one had not even the residue of his past. He got delivered. Stretch out!
Text: ..."And he entered again into the synagogue, there was a man present that had a withered hand..." Mark 3:1
Are you sick and tired of going to church Sunday after Sunday participating in the same mundane rituals of the liturgy? You have become so familiar with the service that you can mimic the speakers, mock the choir, time the shout, and readily identify the same people with the same problems coming and going from the sanctuary with their sins untouched, their problems unsolved, and their needs unmet. Well, enough is enough! This same foolishness was occurring during the ministry of Christ and He decided to address it according to Mark. For the record, there is no reason for people to leave church the same as they came unless the leaders lack power, the service lacks the spirit, and the fellowship lacks faith. If the head is rotten and stinks the body will soon follow. Lame leadership is a cancer to the body of Christ. It promotes corruption, prohibits creativity, and permits carelessness.
The Gospel according to Mark reveals that Jesus enters a synagogue "again." Obviously He had been here before. There, Jesus met a man with a withered hand. This man's hand presented him with a physical deformity, that caused physical challenges, and brought about physical limitations. Do you know some folks in church with a "withered hand?" After the pulpit puppets had welcomed the morning visitors they observed that Christ was in the midst and they raised questions within themselves whether or not He would heal this man on the Sabbath. Imagine their hypocrisy and insincerity especially since they themselves were powerless and had not done or could do nothing to help this man; yet they resented anyone who could. There's nothing worst than inadequate leadership.
Good leadership is a blessing and bad leadership is a curse. Your Pastor is the person or leader that you have positioned in your life to assist your growth as a believer. He or she is the point person who positions you for deliverance in the event there is a physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, or material need. The sad commentary regarding the failed leadership factor is that many people today have placed the wrong person in this position of authority in their life. Here is the test. The best way to know if you have placed the wrong leader in your life is to measure your progress. Are you at a stand still (Idle)? Do you have a vision? (Not really!) Are you in the same place you were last year spiritually, personally, relationally, financially, mentally, and emotionally? (Stagnant) Are you growing or being challenged to live right? (At times.) Do you seek God more now that you have submitted to that ministry/leader? (No really!) Are you fulfilled and happy? (Every now and then) If you answered similarly, you are "INSANE." You need deliverance. "Stretch out!"
Submitting to a leader is extremely important. You will never be in authority unless you are under authority and everybody needs a covering. No man is an island, every man for himself; but God for us all. Selecting a leader should be based on the fact that the ministry or leadership candidate recognizes his or her own limitation. They can set aside their own personal feelings or agenda and that their walk with God has been cemented in prayer, praise, and an experience. You have to choose a leader and a ministry that is not self centered or insecure. You need someone that is focused on Kingdom mandates, Kingdom principles, Kingdom purposes and expects Kingdom blessings. Never choose a leader or ministry that is not progressive. You are a reflection of your leadership, what they are you will become. Sound leaders are not moved by opinions but they operate out of substance. Never submit to anyone that has not taken authority over his or her own issues. The bottom line is that you should only submit a leader or ministry that is submitted to God. "Stretch out!"
Mark writes that these pitiful leaders only sought grounds to condemn Christ, to confuse the law, and to control the people. A real leader seeks not to control the people. These infidels looked to find fault that they might rush in and kill Jesus like a pack of wolves. The atmosphere was charged with expectancy. The spirit of expectation brings about "Change." Many churches have lost the spirit of expectation due to wacky leadership. Christ asks His critics if it was lawful to do good or to do evil; to save a life or to kill on the Sabbath? These questions were powerful, as their answers would reveal the wickedness of His contenders. They thought it was wrong for Him to heal on the Sabbath but not wrong for them to plan His destruction on the Sabbath. They had double standard. Does your leader have double standards? Certainly it was more consistent with the intentions of the law to restore this man's hand even on the Sabbath than to destroy his hopes for keeping human traditions. Double standards reek havoc and destroy hopes.
After an embarrassing silence, Christ commands the man to "Step forth, Speak up, and to Stretch out." Lets consider the "ASK" Principle. "A" stands for Accept. Stepping forth requires one accept responsibility for his or her own deliverance. Stepping forth means, I willing to ask of God in confidence and not be concern with man. This man had to come out of the crowd. Next, speak up. The "S" stands for Seek. Seek means to advocate. No one will advocate for you like you can advocate for yourself. Speaking up or seeking means that you are tired of the same lame excuses and doing the same thing hoping for a different response. This man was willing to work the change. Lastly, Stretch out. The "K" stands for "Keeping focus." You have to know in whom you believe and have placed your trust. Your personal knowledge of God will give you the faith the stretch out with persistence to receive your blessing. Faith and focus are partners in deliverance. First, step forward (ask). Next, speak up (seek). Lastly, stretch out (keep focus). ASK! Ask and it shall be given, seek and ye shall find, knock and the door will be open. Just ASK! As soon as the man followed Christ's commands full strength returned to his hand, the flesh became normal, and all the wrinkles were gone. The delivered one had not even the residue of his past. He got delivered. Stretch out!
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