February 17, 2011

Leadership: unleaded vs premium unleaded.

Last year I bought myself a motorbike. One of the finest looking machines I’ve ever seen. I call her “jezza”, a 2008 Suzuki black GSXR, and yes she sounds as good as she looks with her growl loud enough to scare both kids and grandmas alike.

When I purchased her, I was happy to see that the guy I was buying it off was just as passionate about the bike as I am today.

He told me two things over and over:

“Make sure you let her warm up to 70 degrees before you ride”

“Only use premium unleaded, she works best with that fuel”

I was happy with this as I knew I was buying a bike that had been looked after.

Since then I have made sure that I only used the best fuel available. In Australia, we call this fuel premium unleaded. It’s more expensive and harder to get, but it makes all the difference in any performance machine.

Towards the end of last year I felt God speak to me about the motivation we have when it comes to ministry.

When it comes to inspiring people to go forward in God, there are a bunch of tools God has given us. The main two ways we commonly use as leaders are:

Vision and /or

Looking at the need.

Both of these are powerful and will always have a great effect. Both of these are needed and are essential in being an effective leader. Personally, I lean more towards vision, as this is part of the gifting on my life.

This is where God started to speak to me about unleaded and premium unleaded petrol and leaderership. I felt Him show me that using vision, and looking at need, are like using normal unleaded petrol, they work and are good, however, there is a higher fuel available that will run more efficiently and smoothly: premium unleaded.

So what is premium unleaded in this example?

Love.

Love is such a powerful, deeply seeded force that nothing compares to it. When vision fades and need becomes overwhelming, love goes on.

The more we allow love to fill our hearts for those we lead, the more of the supernatural element of His strength and power grows.

Just like premium unleaded, having a heart of love is harder and more expensive to get. But nothing will run as well as it.

“Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:8) . It’s as simple as that.

Much love,

Benaiah

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Filed under Leadership, Love, Next generation

February 9, 2011

For The Win! 2011

So often we can start the year well but not finish well. We see this with new years resolutions: we can start with such great intentions, but not enough conviction to see it through. I know a lot of us can relate to this!

My heart for you is that you would be setup for a win in 2011. Here’s my top 5 tips for staying on track this year.

Ready?

This year be dedicated to being a…

1) Heart-guarder: Make this the most important thing in your world. Proverbs 4:23 says “above all things guard your heart, for it’s the wellspring of your life”

Be ruthless about guarding your heart. Wrong friendships, relationships, jobs, advice, and anything else close to your hearts can make you or break you. If it’s bringing you closer to God then you know it’s good fruit, anything else cut off.

Guard your heart in such a way  that God will always be first in your heart.

2) Bible-Consumer: Be committed to reading your bible like never before. I would recommend the www.oneyearbibleonline.com for some great reading plans. Why not read the bible in a year? You will be a different person by the end of it.

3) Purpose-definer: Live 2011 with purpose. Do you know what your promised land looks like this year? Don’t let the storms of life dictate your direction. Let the Holyspirit direct your path. Write down what you believe God wants to do in and through you this year.

4) Connection-protector: No matter what happens this year, be committed to staying connected with people who will stir your faith and  the God-given dream within you. The only way a wolf can eat a sheep is by isolating it from the flock. Also make sure you make time to meet with your shepherds, they have been graced to help look after you.

5) Dedicated-discipler: This will always cause you to be selfless, not selfish and will help you to fix your eyes on Jesus. Discipling others is a basic food group in being spiritually healthy. Those who don’t disciple live in disobedience according the Matthew 28. Obedience equals health.

I hope these simple thoughts have helped. This is a new year, a year like no other, a year to see God invade earth like never before.

Much love,

Benaiah

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Filed under Heart, Holyspirit, Intimacy with God, Next generation, purpose

September 20, 2010

Shepherds vs Hired hands

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Filed under Leadership

July 20, 2010

Leading on empty

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (Emphasis mine)

Over the past few months God has been doing an unprecedented work in the youth of our city and has been blessing our youth ministry with increase. Jesus told us is in Luke 10:2 that “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” We are learning the reality of this verse !

With an increase of young people giving their lives to Jesus, comes an increase in the work involved. With an increase of the work involved, comes the increased need to learn rest in order to be effective.

Jesus gave us this example through the example of His life. He gave his life to disciple, reach and love others. This was labouring. But we notice the amount of times Jesus was tired and needed to get away with the Father. If Jesus himself often experienced tiredness while changing the world, then we should expect no less. He is the perfect example of ministry.

Over the past 7 years of youth pastoring I’ve often found myself leading on empty. There have been many times i’ve had a meeting i’ve had to minister at and wanted to stay home because I felt I had nothing to give. The thing that always surprised me about this was that when I would minister out of this place of emptiness, so often God would move even more powerfully than the times I felt full! His power was made perfect in my weakness!

We often think that when we get weak or tired something is wrong. I’ve learnt that it actually shows were doing something right!

Why?

- God created rest for a reason. If you never got tired you would never need rest. He even rested 1 day out of the 7 when he created the universe!

- The place we receive His strength is in weakness: How can God renew us with his strength if we didn’t need strength in the first place? We need his strength when we’re weak. Paul even boasted when he was weak because he understood that that’s when God could actually use him. God thought this was so good he included it in the bible.

- Labouring makes us tired but that’s not a bad thing. If you ever had a job where you’re doing physical labour for the day, you know the feeling of going home and getting rest. It’s tiring work! Jesus tells us plainly that we are labourers. We labour in the ripe field of people’s lives and co-labour with Christ. This isn’t a metaphor – He was telling us that it is going to be hard, but fruitful work!

I’ve now learnt that if we are not getting to a place in our labouring where we need His strength, then were probably not harvesting to the extent we need to!

Don’t run from tiredness or weakness, but rather, see it as a sign of blessing in that God wants to fill you will His strength! That’s when his power if made perfect!

The scripture comes to mind in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

This is one of those scriptures we read and say “yes God” but when you’re in the middle of it, its uncomfortable and we want to pull back.

I actually believe that part of our effectiveness in God is at times to feel tired and weak.

Why? How else can God renew your strength if we don’t first get to a place where our strength needs renewing!

So how to we gain his strength for our weakness?

1) Make sure you make time to delight in God. When we get busy, sometimes the first things to go is our quiet time. However everything we do is a reflection of our relationship with Him. This must be guarded. Wait on God. This is where true strength for weakness is exchanged.

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31

We must always remember that the power of our relationship is measured by our delight in Him.

2) Keep the sabbath day Holy. This was so important to God that he included in into the 10 commandments. He himself took a day off to rest! For me my sabbath is saturday. I guard this day jealously. This is my day with God and rest in Him. I understand there is a supernatural exchange in my weakness for his strength on this day. Do something you love on this day – whatever rejuvenates you and do it all in the spirit of resting in God.

If God needed to rest one day, then so do you. Your not better than God!

3) Remember that the Joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Be someone and do things that bring Joy to God’s heart. This will be your strength

3) Get around people who will speak life into you and who can see bigger than your mindset. It’s important to have people who encourage you, challenge you and who help you become a bigger you and gain God’s perspective. These people are rare to find, so if you find one and have access to one, guard that relationship!

4) Get organized. I find that so often people get so stressed because they have a lot on their plate but lack the organization to make it all work effectively. Streamline what you do. Organise your time-management. Think ahead. If you want to be a big capacitied person then this discipline needs to be worked at. Get someone to help you in this if needed. Pulling out of things because of a lack of organization or because we don’t want to be stretched is a lose lose for everyone.

Remember, You will have seasons where you feel full of passion, and times where you feel empty. Realize that God is in both seasons. Just don’t give up! Blessing is on both season!

Remember Jesus told us that he will never leave us or forsake us and that His grace IS sufficient for what’s in your hand and for the field before you! That’s good news!

Hope this helps and encourages you!

Much Love,

Benaiah

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Filed under Fruit, Intimacy with God, Leadership, Rest

April 21, 2010

Pride: 14 questions to ask yourself.

Do you struggle with:

1. Insecurity.

2. The need to be right.

3. Being argumentative.

4. More invested in being heard than in hearing.

5. Not praying.

6. Irritability and impatience.

7. Lack of submissive attitude.

8. Not easily corrected.

9. Receiving correction but not changing.

10. Needing others to take your advice.

11. Needing to proclaim your title or degrees.

12. Being stubborn

13. Comparisons and competition.

14. Not dealing with sin

If the answer is yes to any of the above, the key issue to deal within your heart is pride.

Pride is the most destructive thing i’ve seen inside the church. The amount of leaders and Christians who have been disqualified by pride is heartbreaking.

I remember a season in my life for a period of about 12 months, I carried a spirit of pride. I had good intentions and just wanted to help my senior pastors and our church be more effective. I would “discuss” with them about what our church should be doing, with the ‘good intentioned’ reason being to see more people saved. It got to the place where I became such a pain to my leadership that they were going to step me down. The day before we were to meet, I was in prayer when the Holyspirit opened my eyes to the pride I carried. I repented, asked my leadership for forgiveness for the grief I caused them and a weight lifted off my shoulders. I could see again!

The bible talks about pride and humility a lot, and this short blog cannot do it justice.

Proverbs 16:18 tells us that “pride goes before a fall” or as I’ve seen time and time again throughout the body of Christ, pride goes before a fall or a fallout (fallout with leadership and/or other Christians).

James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but give grace to the humble”. Notice the word ‘oppose’. It’s an aggressive stance against. I don’t want God opposing me!

Pride comes from not knowing who we are. When we don’t know who we are, we carry insecurity. Insecurity results in division.

Because of this, pride, if not dealt with violently at its root, will disqualify us from going to new levels with God.

Humility on the other hand is a way to turbo charge your walk with the Lord.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” James 4:10

Because pride is a blinder, the best way to find out if pride is in your heart is to always look at the fruit.

Go back over the checklist of pride’s fruit. Mark off the things that you struggle with. Then violently rip this pride out of your heart at the root. If you don’t deal with the root of pride in repentance, It’s only a matter of time before the fruit of pride comes back and you fall. Here’s some fruit:

The most mature, intimate people of God I know are ALWAYS the most humble, broken & teachable. This is a sweet fragrance to the Lord.

Pride is shown by its unteachability, need to be heard, division, ambition, insecurity. These are OFTEN cloaked in ‘good intentions’ & blindness. Pride is a stench that can be noticed as soon as we enter a room.

So how do you guard against pride?

- Check your heart regularly; it’s a daily battle to keep your heart free from this garbage. Pride, especially among Christians is like a flu, you’re free from it one moment, then from hanging with someone who has pride or listening to the wrong people, your now walking in the blindness of pride too.

- Watch the fruit of your life and heart: If you’ve got any of the above, deal with it.

- Ask God to reveal if there’s any hidden pride in your heart.

- Talk to your leaders: ask them if they think you’re a humble person or have pride. Remember they have a grace on them as shepherd to sometimes see what the sheep can’t.

I hope this help. There’s so much I want to share on this subject and also humility. I hope to do so soon!

Much love,

Benaiah

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Filed under Fruit, Heart, Honor, Identity, Sin, Victory

March 10, 2010

“Don’t worry bro…that was Jesus”

I remember the day very clearly. The principal of my bible college called me into his office.

“Benaiah” he said. “I want you and Fabian (a college friend), to run one of our chapel meetings. You can do whatever you want”

My heart jumped. “Lead 700 students” I thought to myself. “What on earth could we do for that 60 minute period of time!’

Once we had talked it over, fabian and I decided that we would go for healings and believe that the power of the Holyspirit would move in a fresh way.

We planned, prayed and allowed our faith to stir for weeks.

The Friday chapel came. Along with a million thoughts running through my head I thought to myself “Keep it simple, and believe for God to move”

Fabian led worship and I spoke for about 10 minutes about healing and the simplicity of faith. Once I had finished sharing the moment had come, the moment where healing was either going to be just a ‘good idea’ or a ‘reality’ in the Kingdom.

I asked anyone who was sick to come forward. A couple of hundred came forward. I asked the crowd “who here believes that Jesus can heal the sick?”

Hands went up all over the auditorium.

“Ok” I said, “all those with their hands raised come down and lay hands upon the sick”. Once hands were laid upon every sick person I told them, “We will not stop praying for you until you get better. The word tells us that if we “lay hand upon the sick they WILL recover” (mark 16:18), not that they MIGHT recover. He also said that “by his wounds we ARE healed!” (isaiah 53:5)

People all over the place began to pray.

I then said “once you get your healing raise your hand and we will get you up the front to share your testimony of healing”.

The next 2 minutes seemed like an eternity as no hands were raised (I know I should of had more faith!). Then a girl put her hand up, She had injured her shoulder in a car accident and couldn’t lift her arm over her shoulder. But now she was lifting her arms completely!

“It’s begun” I thought. We pulled her onto the stage, where she shared here testimony of healing. All of a sudden hands started going up all over the place,

Jesus was healing.

That day we saw cancers healed, all types of sicknesses healed, broken bones healed, not to mention internal healings. I remember one girl had a bad back. She couldn’t stand straight. While receiving prayer, the person saw a demon on her back. He rebuked it and saw it leave. Her Back was instantly healed!

I’ve also seen this happen hundreds of times in our youth ministry over the past few years. I remember one night I called everyone down the front who was sick after sharing on the simplicity of the Word when it comes to what Christ has paid for. We had 20 young people come down to get healed. I then called anyone who simply believed to come down and pray for them. I also told them that we will pray until we saw the healing for Jesus had paid the price. Sounds arrogant? I think it sounds like faith. Some people had to be prayed for over and over again, but by the end of the night 19 out of the 20 were healed!

One Youth who was young in the Lord was at the front next to a guy with a broken finger. I said to him “Do you believe Jesus can heal this finger?” He said “yes”. So I told him to go for it. The boys broken finger was healed instantly. The new Christian looked at his hands in astonishment. “Don’t worry bro” I said, “That was Jesus”. A big grin came across his face.

So what am I trying to say through these testimonies?

1) Simply believe. Keep it simple. Take the Word for what it says. If it says that when we “lay hands upon the sick they WILL recover” just believe it and don’t take no for an answer. Faith doesn’t take no for an answer.

2) Allow your testimonies to bring power to you theology. Rev 12:11 tells us that we “overcome the enemy by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony”. Lets be a people full of testimonies! Our testimonies also prophecy our breakthrough into other peoples lives. “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Rev 19:10b

3) Live is a realm where if God doesn’t move, you’re going to fail. This is the realm of Faith. Without faith we CAN’T please God, so let your faith rise.

4) Just do it. Human reasoning, complicated theology, reasons why not, should not never take prominence over faith in the ability of the Holyspirit. Theres a dying world – go out there and be Jesus. If God can talk through a donkey in the Bible, he can use us!

I hope the Holyspirit spoke to you through this and that it blessed you!

Feel free to share the link to this article with anyone you think it would bless!

Much Love.

Benaiah

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Filed under Faith, Jesus, Love, Reality, Revival, Supernatural, Victory

March 6, 2010

Why pastors need your help.

Growing up in a pastors family i’ve seen first-hand the effects, both positively and negatively that pastoring has on both the pastors and their families.

Pastoring has it’s joys and it’s heartaches. I’ve come to realize that being in ministry full-time should never be a career choice, but rather, needs to be a calling.

My parents recently went to a pastors conference which focussed on placing value on pastors and encouraging them to keep fighting the good fight. One statistic they heard there was that in America today, one of the most dangerous professions is pastoring. This relates to stress, family pressure, emotional well-being, financial well-being, and physical health of pastors surveyed across america. Australia and England would be very similar to this.

This got me thinking.

As a young pastor, who has only being in ministry for the past 9 years, would I make it? How will my future family cope? Will I end up like so many others before me with good hearts, but burnt out?

To give you the seriousness of the situation here’s some facts:

• churchgoers expect their pastor to juggle an average of 16 major tasks
• two-thirds of pastors reported that their congregation experienced a conflict during the past two years; more than 20 percent of those were significant enough that members left the congregation
• the typical pastor has his/her greatest ministry impact at a church in years 5 through 14 of his pastorate; unfortunately, the average pastor lasts only five years at a church.
• 1,500 pastors leave the ministry permanently each month in America.
• 4,000 new churches start each year in America.
• 7,000 churches close each year in America.
• 50% of pastors’ marriages end in divorce.
• 70% of pastors continually battle depression.
• 80% of pastors and 85% of their spouses feel discouraged in their roles.
• 70% of pastors do not have a close friend, confidant, or mentor.
• 50% of pastors are so discouraged they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way to make a living.
• 80% of seminary graduates who enter ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
• 80% of pastors’ wives feel their husbands are overworked.
• 90% of pastors said their training was inadequate for ministry.
• 85% of pastors report that their biggest problem is dealing with abstinent elders, deacons, worship leaders, worship teams, board members, and associate pastors.
• 90% of pastors said the hardest thing about ministry is uncooperative people.
• 70% of pastors are grossly underpaid.
• 80% of pastors’ wives feel unappreciated by the congregation.
• Over 50% of pastors’ wives feel that their husbands entering ministry was the most destructive thing to ever happen to their families.

*According to Shiloh Place Ministries (shilohplace.org), which drew its information from Focus on the Family, Ministries Today, Charisma Magazine, TNT Ministries, and other respected groups.

But aren’t pastors meant to be different?

We must never forget that pastors are people too. People with a calling to a specific ministry. People who make mistakes and need our help.

It’s amazing that a pastor will spend their life rallying beside people who have made a life-time of mistakes, but when the pastor makes one mistake, people leave the church!

I’ve thought for a long time about whether of not to write this blog as I don’t want to bring discouragement. However, I believe that we can bring a change.

We can do something about this as the Body of Christ.

How?

1) Make it your conviction that you will support your pastors, even if you don’t agree with them on certain things (and sometimes you won’t!) The Bible tells us that when Aaron and Hur held Moses hands up, that the army of God started winning the battle (Exodus 17). Hold your pastors hands up!

2) Look for ways to support your pastors and their families. Pray for them daily, encourage them regularly, if you hear people speak negatively about them – be the first to speak positively, make it your conviction to be their shield-bearer.

3) Realize they are human. They are anointed, but they will make mistakes. He who hasn’t sinned, cast the first stone.

4) Realize that part of your pastors job is to bring correction. A toddler who doesn’t get his own way, will throw a tantrum. Don’t be a spiritual toddler! “Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.” Proverbs 9:8. Heed correction. Someone who truly loves you will speak truth to you (even when it hurts!), and also speak into who your called to be, not just today but into the future!

5) Don’t compare yourself with your Pastors. Until you’ve carried the weight of a church or ministry, you won’t truly understand the magnitude of what is being carried both spiritually, emotionally, mentally. Their is no other occupation in the world that carries the spiritual pressures of pastoring the body of Christ. They carry a different grace to you. Comparison is often pride anyway.

6) Submit to your pastors authority.

Hebrews 13:17 says “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

7) Be your pastors greatest fan. Love them, unite with their vision, realize that God places leaders in our lives to LEAD us. Why? Because God will use them to take us to a place that we haven’t been yet.

I believe that together, the army of the Living God can see more victories than ever before, by holding up our leaders hands. Amen.

Much Love,

Benaiah

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Filed under Honor, Leadership, Victory