ted4leaders

Greetings;

Today I want to continue with Paul’s charge to Timothy in his first letter to him. His instructions were those of a spiritual father to a spiritual son, an apostolic father to the pastor of a church and a regional overseeing leader. The principals, patterns, and values presented in Paul’s instruction to Timothy reveal to us the responsibilities of leaders and the character of what they are responsible to lead.

Paul reminded Timothy that his role of leadership was a gift given to him by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Timothy was to wage a good warfare concerning the prophecies that had been made concerning himself and he was to walk in the faith before those he was responsible for.

1 Timothy 1:18-20 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

He was to not become shipwrecked in his faith like Hemenaeus and Alexander, whom Paul had delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. This reveals the weight of the responsibility of leadership and the willingness to take harsh measures if necessary in the protection of the souls of those within their sphere of authority. If you study the action of turning someone over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh you will discover that the purpose was one of love and redemption. It was not a action taken lightly nor was it a act of anger in retaliation to harm caused by someone. It was a strategic and deliberate action intended to lead someone to the place of repentance unto life in Christ. It was not an act of the flesh, but one led by the Holy Spirit as was the case in Paul’s first letter to the church of Corinth and his second letter confirming the restoration of such a man. Paul simply references two individuals who had gone down such a path to encourage Timothy to sent an example that encourages others to remain faithful in the faith. Timothy was to set an example in faith and give a clear testimony to those in the family of God so they would not be influenced by others who had gone astray from their commitment in Christ.

The responsibility of leadership is a very practical one. It involves dealing with people in an everyday world and it deals with the realities of everyday life. Timothy’s responsibilities were not merely about activities within a church structure, but the testimony of the church in the communities of the world. Timothy was to pray and teach those in his charge to pray for kings and all in authority. He was to teach them to live peaceable lives with godliness and reverence. These are not mere activities of the church, but are targeted to the very character of the members of the church in their everyday lives in the communities of the world.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

Paul’s own example was one of being a teacher of faith and truth. A teacher of faith is someone who demonstrates faith before others. Faith comes by hearing God and it is demonstrated with actions of love that demonstrate a faith towards God. Truth is a testimony of the transformed reality of Christ within our lives. Paul was to be an example of truth so that others could also become truth in Christ. These same instructions were given from Paul to Timothy and they are still true within the sphere of responsibility of leadership in the church. Leaders are to be an example as teachers of faith and truth before the people so that everyone can be obedient to the words that God speaks to their hearts and be a true testimony to the life of Christ that is transforming them from within. It is not about church structure, it is about a way of life that demonstrates the lordship of Jesus in all things.

1 Timothy 2:5-7 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

The family of God is the community of God. They are a testimony of a culture of honor and love in the world. They are not seekers of self, fearful in their focus, or vain in their personal desires. They live as examples of the likeness and the image of God in their testimony as men and women before Him. Wives are in submission to their husbands and are not contentious, striving to be separate from relationship. A woman learning in silence with all submission is not a woman without a voice. It is a woman learning with an attitude of relationship with her husband. There are examples of women teaching in the early church, such as Persilla, who with her husband Aquila were somehow fellow workers with Paul in the gospel (Rom. 16:3). Phoebe was an influential woman in the church and commended by Paul in the work that she did in the church of Cenchrea (Rom. 16:1,2). Adronicus and Junias, were relatives of Paul who had been imprisoned for testifying of Christ (Rom. 16:7). These were known among the apostles for their testimony. Junia was likely a woman with a notable testimony for Christ. Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis were “women who work hard in the Lord” (Rom. 16:12). Julia, the sister of Nereus, and the mother of Rufus was a woman involved in the churh (Rom 16:13, 15). Several women were mentioned by Paul that clearly imply that women had a prominent role in church life. I believe that what Paul’s words in his letter to Timothy are not intended to be a law against women teaching, but a guideline for proper relationships and submission in the church.  The word for woman in Paul’s letter to Timothy is the Greek word gyneœ , GS1135, and it means a woman, a married woman, or wife. The text is implying the relationship of a wife and her husband where the man is the head and wife is the testimony of the body in their one flesh testimony in Christ.  The inference is simply a way of relationship and life, not a structure for ministry. Leaders must deal with real life situations and real life relationships in an everyday world.

1 Timothy 2:8-15 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.  And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. For Adam was formed first, then Eve.  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

The testimony in this text is one of being a married couple. It is one of being a family unit. It is a testimony of being one flesh. This is not a woman to all men, it is a woman to one man. It is the testimony of a wife and her husband as Adam and Eve were husband and wife as a testimony of one flesh before God. The statement of being saved in childbearing is not a salvation unto heaven, but a testimony of a healthy family before God that lives in the grace of salvation in a testimony of faith, love, and holiness with self-control. Again, it is a healthy lifestyle and not a means or method of ministry. It is a testimony of a life empowered by grace, not rules subjected by leaders for law and order in the church. It is a characteristic of the church, not requirements of members in an institution. The church is a body, not an organization and leadership serves a role of responsibility in helping the members of the body of Christ live their lives with a good testimony as the body of Christ.

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings;

When we read the books of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus, we are reading a unique section of Scripture. These letters are written from a spiritual father to His spiritual sons concerning their responsibilities as leaders in the church of God. These letters are not written to the church, but to the leaders of the church. They are profitable for us all to read, but when we read them we must understand that they are instructions concerning practical and relational responsibilities of specific leaders in specific churches. The issues of their day set a principle, pattern, and value for the issues of our own day. These letters were not written so we can examine leaders to see whether they are fulfilling their responsibilities or not. They were written so we will each understand the kind of responsibilities carried by leaders, the kind of culture they are required to develop and maintain, and the kind of instructions given to leaders as to their position in the church in their responsibility of authority. These things should be understood by church leaders as well as by members of the church community. They were not intended to be a means of apply legalism or law concerning word-by-word rules in the church. They are guidelines for roles of authority in the church. Remember, authority is an attribute of giving. It is not one of control. Authority gives life and leadership has a responsibility of maintaining a kingdom culture of life in the church.

In the first letter to Timothy, Paul instructed that Timothy was to teach people to live godly lifestyles. He was to charge those in his care to not be caught up in pointless things that merely prove to be fables, endless genealogies, or other things like that that simply cause disputes. As a shepherd to the flock of God, Timothy was to guard the culture of the community. It was to be a culture of life and peace. This principle, pattern, and value apply to church leaders in our day as well.

Members of a congregation will sometimes pursue things that don’t really matter in the scope of the flock. They are simply things of personal preference, personal opinion, or some personal revelation that promotes a personal idea in some way. The shepherds in the flock of God must guard against things that merely cause disputes in the community of faith. They must exercise their authority in charging those who promote things that cause disputes to cease their pursuit of such things in the context of the community of God. Leaders are responsible to guard the community of God to maintain a safe, life-giving culture of love.

1 Timothy 1:3-4 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.  

The culture of the community of God must be one that promotes godly edification and faith. Leaders are responsible to command if necessary in maintaining the culture of life for the community of God. Timothy was to charge those who sought to bring disputes into the church to cease their pursuit of dispute. His motive in his commands was one of love and a pure heart. He was to set an example of conscience and faith. In the church of the first century some had strayed from true faith in the pursuit of worthless talk and meaningless legalism. These things reveal a principle, pattern, and value that must be embraced by leaders in the church of God. Members of the community of God must understand that God-given leaders are like shepherds in a flock of sheep, responsible to maintain a safe environment of life for the flock of God.

1 Timothy 1:5-7 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

Timothy was to present that the law is for sinners and the ungodly, not the standard of judgment of one another. He was to teach grace and forgiveness and present himself, like Paul, as an example of God’s goodness and forgiveness to mankind.

1 Timothy 1:8-11 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.

1 Timothy 1:12-17  And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.  Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

The community of God is a place of reconciliation, forgiveness, redemption, and restoration. The mercy of God ends the past and the grace of God empowers each one to experience a life-transforming change in their lives. Leaders must set an example in these things and lead to create, guard, and protect a culture that gives glory to the King of kings – Jesus Christ the Lord of glory!

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings;

I am sorry for the late blog posting, but it was Thanksgiving yesterday in the U.S. and as Bob Cratchet would say, ‘I was making quite merry with my family’. I have had a lot to catch up on from being away from home, but none is as important as family fun and feasting. For this I am very thankful!

I have been addressing the issues of character in our lives as leaders. Our character is the inner strength of our lives. It is not our gifting, our charisma, or our personal abilities that will sustain us as leaders. It is our character.

The true substance of character is seen in our ability to live for the sake of others. All things are lawful, but not all things are beneficial. The beneficial things in life are those things that bring life to others. The true substance of character is seen in our ability to make sacrifices, endure difficulty, and press through resisting forces for the sake of giving life to others.

1 Corinthians 10:23-24 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.

As leaders we must set an example in living for the well-being of others. We cannot be lovers of self, self-centered, or self-willed. We must not desire what belongs to another or be covetous in our attitudes towards anyone. We must set an example in humility and never seek a wrong evaluation of ourselves that exhibits a better than others attitude. Ungodly pride of self has no place in our lives. We must never be disrespectful of others, for to do so is disrespectful of God.  Disobedience, rebellion, or lawlessness has no place in our lives. We must seek connections of relationship and we must see to give the life of authority to others. We must be grateful and thankful in all things. The desires of others must be a concern in our lives, even more than our own desires in life. We live to multiply the life of God in those who are part of our spheres in life and we do not live to simply add others to our own personal ambitions and goals. Remaining true to our covenant relationships in life is at the top of our priorities. We do not live to gratify our own needs or to see our needs met through what others can do for us. Our life is in God and He is the fulfillment of our needs in life. People can be a part of that testimony, but no one is an idol to gratify the needs of our hearts. Our word must be our bond. Our yes is yes and our no is no. We can be trusted with what we say. We indulge in the Spirit of God and the fruit of self-control and patience are exhibited in the attitudes and actions of our lives. The fruit of the Spirit’s goodness is exhibited in the good things we do in life. Loyalty to others is high among our values. The motivation of our lives is never rash, reckless, headstrong, or high-minded. We love God and others more than we love the personal pleasures of our lives. Personal pleasures are not necessarily bad, but people are more important. Relationships are more important than our personal desires. We cannot just mimic a form of godliness and live a hypocritical lifestyle. We must be genuine in our faith. Our connections with life-giving authority will guard us from deception. Our diligence in our pursuit of God, including understanding Him in His word and character, is foundational in our own character. Our greatest teaching tool in the lives of others is the character of our own lives.

These things are not attributes that can simply be added to our lives by studying God’s word or doing religious ceremonies. These things are attributes birthed from within the life of Christ in our hearts. They are made known through the sufferings of our lives.

1 Peter 1:6-9   In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

I believe that the salvation of our souls is not just our going to heaven when we die. I believe it is the restoration of who we are meant to be in life. Our souls are the bridge between the spirit and the natural. The soul is the throne of our lives and it causes our desires, thoughts, reasoning, emotions, and imaginations to be manifest in all that we do. A key to allowing God to change our character is to present our bodies in the right place. We must present our bodies as living sacrifices and that means that we cannot live like we did when we were in the world. We must live for the well-being of others and our character is the utmost important in our journey of life!

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

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Blessings,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings,

God is concerned with the heart qualities of every leader, not merely their gifting. D. L. Moody once said, “If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself.” Character development comes by the power of Christ within us and it is only revealed by the power of Christ in us and a process of time. Promises are only inherited through faith and patience working together in our lives (Heb. 6:12). We are called to be a part of the plan of God’s kingdom in the earth and the testing of our character is linked to our ability to fulfill our destiny in this world. We are part of the hope of Christ’s calling, a testimony of His inheritance in the earth, and one piece in the revealing of His power at work in the world.

Ephesians 1: 18-19 …the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power…

God’s purpose for mankind far exceeds what each man is simply called to do. Man was created in the image and likeness of God. We were created to be perfect, as God is perfect. That perfection is not just an individual testimony, but it is being part of something corporate. It is one of being a part of the body of Christ that reveals the character, nature, way, power, and authority of Christ in heaven and upon this earth. Our aim in life is not to fulfill some great commission of personal ministry. Our goal is to see Christ formed in us and in the lives of those we lead. Our goal is to come to become a perfect man, which is a corporate expression of Christ in the earth. There is no perfection without the process of God’s grace in our lives (Rom. 5:1-5).

Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

As the sons of God we are destined to reveal God’s glory in this world. We are being made perfect through sufferings. It is through the sufferings of our lives that we manifest the true character of Christ within us. This is the power of God’s kingdom to the world. This is the key to His will being done and His kingdom coming into our lives.

What is character? Character is the seat of one’s moral being. Character is the inner life of a man and it is manifested through the outer expressions of that man. Character is the combination of qualities that distinguish any person from another. The true character of our lives is displayed in our actions while we are under the pressures of life. Within us are attributes of both the character of Christ and the character of our own carnal nature. Our character is manifested in our thoughts, values, motivations, attitudes, feelings, and actions.  The Greek word for the testing of our character is the word GS1382  dokimh/ dokimeœ  and it means trial, proof by trial, 2 Cor. 8:2; the state or disposition of that which has been tried and approved, approved character or temper, Rom. 5:4; 2 Cor. 2:9; Phil. 2:22; proof, document, or evidence.

True character is only truly revealed when we are under pressure. Character is not what we will be; it is what we are. It is easy to say that our character is a certain way, but our true character is manifested when we face pressures in life. Character includes your thoughts, motives, and attitudes. Our character affects what others see, but our character is deeper than that which can be acted out on the surface. Only the ‘heat’ of pressure can reveal the true inner self. It is when we go through the pressures of life that the true treasures of life are revealed. It is through the testing of our character that the true works of our lives are revealed. Precious stones are created in the deepest pressures and hottest environments of the earth. They are created in the depths of the earth and then they are discovered in the common ground of the earth’s strata above the places of their creation. Pearls are the result of wounds in the soft part within an oyster. When the irritation of a foreign material is lodged in the soft tissue of the oyster the oyster releases minerals and enzymes to produce a pearl. A pearl is a symbol of love created through what could be a bitter wound of the heart. God wants us to be covenant keepers in life. We maintain the God-joined relationships in our lives through the proving of the character of Christ within us. We learn how to endure the pressures that oppose the character of Christ within us. When we face pressures in life, it is not a sign that the devil is having victory over us. The pressures of life are the very things that reveal the hidden truth within us. Christ in us is the hope of glory! If Christ is in us, then the pressures of life should manifest the testimony of Christ in us to the world around us.

Matthew 7:6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”

A dog is a symbol of an un-covenanted person. A swine is a symbol of that which is unclean or unholy. Again, it testifies of one who does not understand the covenants of God. God wants for us to be people of covenant who become a testimony of His true treasure with a value of what makes for true love. Do we value the treasures of relationship more than the treasures of being right? Do we value the testimonies of love more than our need to hold on to some judgmental attitude of law?

Our character will be exhibited in how we seek and respond to God. It will also be revealed in how we seek and respond to people. Our willingness to remain faithful to God and faithful to one another reveals the character of our lives. This is the overcoming power for covenants of marriage, covenants of leadership, and every covenant in life.

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings,

As leaders in the body of Christ we are not just gifted to lead by the grace that is given to us in Christ, we are to also be examples of the character of Christ to those we lead. This is perhaps the greatest testimony of our leadership to the lives of those that we stand before in the spheres of our influence in life. The process of God’s grace in each of our lives is one of revealing the testimony of Christ in us. This means that the character, nature, way, power, and authority of Christ must become embodied in each of our lives. Whether it is the promises of God or the pressures of testing, both are part of a process in our lives that makes us partakers of God’s divine nature. The promises are the substance of life that He gives us and the pressures of testing are the proving of what is being given to us by God within our lives.

2 Peter 1:4 …by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the Holy Spirit who was given to us has poured out the love of God in our hearts.

Our peace with God is not merely a state of being calm in our hearts or at ease in our soul. Our peace is a positioning in Christ whereby there is no gap between God and us. We have been made one with Him and there is no separation between Him and us. In this He manifests in our lives and His Spirit is the substance of His grace that changes our lives from the inside out. The true test of what is in us is made known by the pressures that come against us from the outside sources of our lives. This dynamic of the inward life of Christ and the outward pressures upon our lives causes the testimony of Christ within us to become a force of life that changes the character of our lives. In this process of grace we face tribulations or pressures in life. All who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

2 Timothy 3:12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

When we face the pressures of persecution we choose to persevere. Perseverance is not just a holding on to something in pain. It is a position of attitude from within our hearts. It is a choosing to cheerfully endure in the midst of the pressures that are against us. This is not just a thing of our soul. It requires us to draw from our spirits to receive the life of the Holy Spirit within our hearts. In the presence of the Lord there is the fullness of joy and true perseverance is drawing upon the presence of God in our hearts in order to see His life flood our souls with the testimony of true endurance. It is not a thing of misery, but a decision to embrace the life of Christ that is within us. True perseverance always carries the substance of a choice to be cheerful and to endure. It is a cheerful endurance. When we find the secret of true perseverance we discover the key to seeing the character of Christ in us manifest. Our own character changes by the life of the character of Christ within us. The beliefs of our hearts become transformed by His life within us and this empowers our actions to be those of the character of Christ. Those inspired actions activate the imaginations of our hearts. Our imaginations begin to create the truth of Christ and His kingdom that defy the pressures that oppose us. This in turn releases an influence of the change of character in our lies. This is seen as hope – a testimony of Christ in us revealed through the substance of our lives.

As leaders we set an example that others can follow in this process of change. The character of Christ becomes manifest in us when the beliefs of our hearts receive and trust Him more that the things that oppose us in life. Whatever we believe determines how we act, how we act determines what we think about, and what we think about determines our influence in this world. What we think about determines what comes off of us, and this influences those around us in this world.  Andre Maurious said, “If you create an act, you create a habit. If you create a habit, you create a character. If you create a character, you create a destiny” I believe that the true actions of our lives are determined by the true beliefs of our hearts. Christ in us is the key to this process of change in our lives. Our character is to be the character of Christ. This is more important than the gifting, the skills, the charisma, or the manifested talents of our lives. It is Christ’s character that can sustain Christ’s gifting and it is only that which of Christ that can overcome the world. As leaders we must know that the pressures of life appear as our enemy, but the power of Christ within us is a greater friend than the weapons that oppose us. We must pay more attention to our character, than to the surface abilities of leadership.

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings,

Being a leader is not a position of hierarchy, control, importance, or an elevation of importance over others. Being a leader is a role of responsibility for the sake of those that God has given you to lead. Leadership is a gift to the body, not a position to be served. It is a responsibly that is given to those who have a grace to lead for the sake of serving God’s will and purpose in a body of believers. The apostle Paul gave specific instructions to those who serve as overseers in the body of Christ.

 Acts 20:28-32 “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.  And now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

It is the Holy Spirit that qualifies leaders. Leadership is a grace given by God to shepherd the church. The heart of a shepherd is the heart of a sheep, since their first role is one of a sheep to the Chief Shepherd and a sheep to others in authority who are sent representatives of Jesus in the flesh. If a leader cannot be a sheep, they cannot serve the flock with a shepherd’s heart. To be a good leader, one must first be a good follower. There are no independent shepherds in the body of Christ. True shepherds are dependent upon the voice of the Chief Shepherd wherever His voice can be heart. This means that true overseers are connected to the voice of God in the expression of others. They are not meat eaters! They do not see leadership as something that gives them their identity. They find their identity in Christ and thus they lead with security in their hearts. They seek to give life to others, not to take it. Wolves are people who see others as a means of satisfying their own personal needs in some way. Leadership is not a position of finding one’s needs satisfied by those they lead. They find their needs met in God their Father and thus they lead others in a way that connects them to the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. An overseer must seek to guard the flock of God from those who would seek to take advantage of them for their own personal gain. This means they must guard their own hearts towards becoming leaders who lead do in the world. Worldly leaders lead to be served, while leadership on the kingdom of God is the role of a servant to the Father’s will and a servant to assist those they lead in connecting to God in their own lives.

Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Members on the church must recognize those who have been sent into their lives as representatives of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Leaders have a responsibility of shepherding the flock and it is important that everyone works together to prevent any hindrance of the Spirit in this task. Church members must be at peace with their leaders and with one another. Leaders must be at peace with the members of the congregation and with other sent authority in their own lives.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Shepherd’s rule with a rod of iron. That means, they are uncompromising in the character, nature, way, power, and authority of Christ. They serve metaphorically as overlays to the things that are natural carnal objectives of human will. They crush things that are lifeless and false as examples in who they are and in the way of their lives. They serve the will of God in bringing the people to God as their Father, even as Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, gave His own life in asking for the nations for the glory of His Father’s name.

Revelation 2:26-28  “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations– ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the potter’s vessels shall be broken to pieces’–as I also have received from My Father; “and I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Psalms 2:8-9 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ “

God does not break us! He breaks the things that prevent us from becoming who we were meant to be in Christ. We lost our lives to truly save them. We laid them down to find them in Christ. As leaders who serve as overseers in the church of God we must lead to see everyone find their true life in Christ. We must stand as shepherds in the responsibility of leading people into the path of purpose and destiny in Christ.

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings,

As leaders we carry the responsibility of shepherds in the flock of God. A leader must understand the responsibilities of a shepherd. A shepherd’s responsibility is to lead, guard, tend, or guide as or in the manner of a shepherd of sheep in the natural. His goal is to raise healthy, fruitful, productive sheep. His primary goal is not to heal sheep, but he is trained, skilled, and sensitive to know what to do if a sheep in his flock is ill. A shepherd provides healing care for a sick sheep, but the ultimate goal is a healthy flock for the fulfillment of the purpose of the flock. If all of his sheep are sick and needy, he needs a new flock of sheep, so his or her purpose as a leader is to create and maintain a healthy, safe environment for each member of the flock. Healthy sheep create a healthy flock.

I believe that the purpose of every aspect of a local church expression is one of raising healthy sheep for the glory of God. Leading departments, facilitating activities, or producing works of ministry are never the primary goal of leadership in a congregation. Diversity of leadership is a testimony of the diversity of care needed to create a family of purpose for God. Leadership is an expression of pastoral care in some way. Anyone who takes on the responsibility of pastoral care (shepherd care) in the house of God must do so not merely to shepherd the people, but to serve the overseers in shepherding the people. All authority is under authority and all authority is a portion of life given for the sake of those they lead. Life is given in order to be given to others so that life can be given and received by everyone for the purpose of life. Leaders at various levels in a congregation represent God and they are shepherds (pastors) of the flock. All authority is under and not over. When responsibility is given to anyone over any area, their primary focus is to serve the authority that placed them in that responsibility. Received authority is received life for the sake of those they lead.

All leaders must receive the authority to fulfill their portion of shepherding the sheep. All pastoral anointing is under the overseeing shepherd’s anointing. All pastoral ministries represent the Chief Pastor (Shepherd), not the people.

There is a diversity of needs when caring for people. If sheep are in a flock are sick, they need a veterinarian, not just a pastor (a physician shepherd). This could be termed as specialized counseling or deliverance ministry. Those who care for specific needs of the sheep are not pastors, but they do serve the bigger picture of pastoring by helping to bring health to a specific area of the flock. The overall purpose is to serve the shepherd in his or her responsibility of producing a healthy flock of sheep.

A leader must lead as a shepherd. Pastors see to it that sheep are in the right place at the right time, out of the storm, and in the grassy fields of life. A pastor sometimes needs the advice of a dietitian, a veterinarian, a genetic breeding consultant, or some other specialist to assist in the task of raising healthy, fruitful, productive sheep. The task of shepherding is a team effort, but it involves a very close relationship with each sheep to know the condition of each one.

The destiny of a sheep is to provide for others. They provide a holy offering. This involves living in an intimate relationship with God in their lives. They provide food for life. The live for the wellbeing of others. They provide clothing for others to be protected from the cold. They produce generations of increased quality sheep for the future testimony of the flock.

Their primary responsibility of a sheep is not to receive fellowship, but to give their lives, and of their lives, for others. Sheep must be led into proper pastures of fellowship, however. Without a healthy sheep environment, they will be unhealthy sheep. Sheep see the social connection found in the fellowship; leaders see the purpose of the fellowship. A shepherd must love to fellowship sheep and to draw sheep to the Chief Shepherd (since he or she merely represents Him). A leader also serves to draw sheep to one another – this is called a flock.

A shepherd smells like sheep as well as a shepherd. If a shepherd doesn’t smell like sheep it means they don’t live among them. When Jesus used the analogy of sheep and a shepherd, it was in a time where shepherd’s gave their lives for the sheep and they also lived among the sheep to provide the daily care, protection, and direction needed by the flock.

1 Peter 5:1-4 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by constraint but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

A shepherd does not shepherd the flock for personal gain. He or she serves in the role of the shepherd for purpose of the Chief Shepherd and His desire for all of the members of the flock. It is an honor to serve in the role of leadership and to provide the care of a shepherd. It is an honor to serve in any area of leadership that serves the purpose of the Chief Shepherd as His role as the Shepherd is fulfilled through the diverse aspects of leadership. Leaders serve to keep the members of the flock connected to the place of God’s purpose and care!

1 Peter 2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings,

As leaders in the church we serve in the role of shepherds. Jesus is the Chief Shepherd, but we serve in the role as under-shepherds in our expression of Him as the shepherd to the people. We can never allow our role as leaders to replace anyone’s personal connection with God in their lives. Each and every believer must see that Jesus is the Shepherd of their soul, but each and every believer must also see that Jesus will manifest in various expressions of leadership. When we submit to authority we submit us unto the Lord, but we never submit to leadership as being the lord. We understand that when we submit to authority as unto the highest the authority we allow the highest authority (God) to manifest through those authorities we receive in life. If we depend upon God in our relationship with authority, God will open the gift of leadership given to us for our benefit. Leadership is a gift to those they have been delegated to lead, not a gift unto themselves. Submission is a matter of relationship. When we are given a measure of authority it means we have been given a measure of life for another. There is a submission of those who come under a life source to receive what the life source has been given on their behalf and there is the submissions of the life source to come over and tip in the direction of those they serve. The positions of under and over or over and under are a matter of relationship in order to receive and give and give and receive the life that ultimately comes from God.

Since leadership is a matter of relationship, all leaders must be relational. They must have an intimate relationship with God in order to lead others into the same. They must have a close relationship with people in order to lead others into relationship with people. We all have different skills and abilities, but leadership is more about relationship than it is about skills and abilities. In my many decades of ministry I have never seen that skills are the real issue of division in the church. It is always about relationships in some way. To be the community of God we must pursue communion with God and communion with one another. I believe this is the greatest qualifier for leadership and for mature membership.

A leader must be an expression of various roles that God holds in the lives of people. Those expressions of God must be made through proper relationship. God holds the place of Father to His children, so there is an aspect of revealing a father to the children or a parent to a family home. Jesus is the head of His body, so leadership will be an expression of the headship of Christ to His church. Jesus is the Vine and members of the church are the branches. Leadership must be an expression of Jesus the Vine. They must be a relationally connected to those they lead in order to provide life and inspire a vision of destiny. They must seek to abide with the members of the church and inspire members to abide with God and one another. God is the husbandman in a vineyard relationship with His people, so leaders must take the role of pruning, trimming, cultivating, protecting, nourishing, irrigating, harvesting and many other things that are involved in vine dressing. God is the Potter and the people are His clay. A leader must take the role of one who shapes, molds, creates, and assists members to become all that God intends for them to be. This involves shaping identity, character, and abilities. God is the Captain and his church is His army. Leadership must at times take the role of a commander or one who rallies the troops for battle. They must set an example of a good soldier before God so others can be inspired to keep the rank in God’s order of purpose and destiny. They must train, equip, and repair the people for the battles of the enemy. They must demonstrate endurance, faithfulness, and willingness to stand strong in the battles of life. God is the Creator and His church is His creation. A leader must take the creative role of God in the lives of people on many occasions. This is not to create what the leader wants but to help others find what God is creating them to be and what God may be creating in their lives. Jesus is the Chief Shepherd and the people of the church are His sheep. A leader must take the role of an under-shepherd in shepherding the flock.

As leaders we must embrace the grace of God to become an expression of a shepherd to the flock of God. A shepherd must have a love for sheep, the environment of sheep, and the purpose of sheep. Sheep are not poodle dogs, rabbits, hamsters, cats, or some other domesticated pet. Sheep have a purpose! Sheep provide wool, cheese, meat, and more generations of sheep. The shepherd cares for the sheep so the sheep grow, are healthy, live in safety, and live in a healthy environment of sheep in order to fulfill the purpose of sheep. Sheep meet the needs of others and must grow in an environment conducive to a healthy flock. Leaders carries a responsibility of assuring these things are so for the flock.  All leaders must have the heart of a shepherd. They must be willing to commit their lives to the task and also be willing to put their own lives on the line for the sake of the flock when necessary.

Ambitions for position, power, and financial support are not motives for loving sheep. A true shepherd loves sheep and the purpose of sheep. They are willing to lay their lives down for each one and they are willing to make sacrifices for the destiny of the flock. As believers in Christ, there is a two-fold dynamic in leadership. We are both leaders and members of the flock of God. To be a good shepherd we must also be a good sheep in our own relationships to various expressions of the Chief Shepherd in our own lives. A pastor is one who raises sheep to be eaten, to be sheared, and to birth lambs for future meat, wool, and lambs. He feeds and protects the sheep for that purpose. He does not raise sheep for the sake of the sheep. He raises sheep for the Chief Shepherd’s sake. There is a market for sheep. In the kingdom of God that market is that sheep love God with all of their hearts, minds, souls and strength. They also love their neighbors as they love themselves. In other words, their lives are for God and others. They live for the wellbeing of others. They are alive for God, the nations, and the generations.

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings;

What does it take to keep our heart flowing with life for the sake of those we lead? As leaders we must know how to do a good warfare of life. We must grow in the skill of allowing our hearts to flow freely with the life of God as we stand before God and his people in our roles of responsibility as leaders. Our hearts must remain spontaneous, broken, deep, and passionate before God. The ingredients depicted in the Old Covenant offering of incense represent the issues of the heart before God and those ingredients represent these things. I have written in regard to these things before, but I must remind us as leaders that these are the issues of our heart and these are what qualify us to stand before the people as an example of the life of God.

Exodus 30:34, 35  And the LORD said to Moses: “Take sweet spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, and pure frankincense with these sweet spices; there shall be equal amounts of each. “You shall make of these an incense, a compound according to the art of the perfumer, salted, pure, and holy.”

We must keep our hearts with all diligence. Our hearts must be spontaneous before God and spontaneous with the life of God to others. They must be deep with a focus towards the things of God and a forsaking and forgetting of the things of the past. They must be broken with a willingness to yield to the will of God and let go of the things that would create bitter roots and strongholds that produce dry places that harbor earthly, sensual, and even demonic influence. Our hearts must be fervent. We must be pure and passionate in our love for God and others. These are the ingredients of a heart that releases the flow of God’s life to the world. This is the testimony of the heart of a leader.

What are some keys to activating these things in our hearts? We must have an attitude of life and for life if we are going to lead people into life. There are some great secrets revealed by the prophet Isaiah concerning these keys of life.

Isaiah 12:1 And in that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.

As leaders we must first know that God is not angry with us or with anyone. His anger is against wickedness and unrighteousness of men that suppresses the truth with a lie, but His heart is for the people, even those who are suppressed by those lies. If we believe that God is an angry God we will be angry leaders before the people. This is not a day to focus on anger; it is a day to focus on praise! We must exhibit an attitude and demonstrate before the people that we are a people who praise God in all things. We must receive the comfort of God in our own hearts so we can demonstrate a spirit of comfort to those we lead. We must stay connected to God as our friend and comforter so we can show others that He is their comforter and friend.

Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; “For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ”

As leaders we must trust God and not be afraid. We must set an example that others can follow in all things. In order for our hearts to remain spontaneous, broken, deep, and fervent before God we must trust Him in all things. He is our strength and the very sound of our lives. Are we singing the song of trust or are we singing a son of fear. What is coming off of us that others can hear? What is our affect upon others? The sound, the ambiance, the atmosphere of our lives affects others more than the words we preach or the messages we teach.

Isaiah 12:3 Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

As leaders we should be fountains of life-giving water before others, but there is water in all people. Life resides in the hearts of all who believe. As leaders we must know how to draw God life-giving water out of the hearts of those we lead. We can only do that if we demonstrate joy. We can only draw water if we are also willing to induce that flow of water with the attitudes of our own hearts. It involves valuing those we lead, seeing the life that is in those we lead, and then activating, facilitating, and releasing the life that is in those we lead. This is a skill of leadership. We must lead with joy! Lighten up! Don’t think too much, just trust God and expect to find Him in all that you are responsible for. It is His church, not yours! Be happy and enjoy the journey. Don’t make your goals your destination; enjoy the journey with those you love!

Isaiah 12:4  And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted.

We must focus on the deeds of God and constantly mention how good and merciful He is. There is plenty to focus on if we pay attention. God is excellent! Pay attention to Him and not your enemy! Don’t be concerned with what the enemy is doing. Always point to what God is doing so the people can see it too.

Isaiah 12:5 Sing to the LORD, for He has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth.

Let the tune of your voice and the sound of your heart constantly testify of the excellent things of God. They are around us everywhere and in everything we are doing. Focus on life and you will see life. Sing the song of life and you will lead others into life. Point to what God is doing and others will see it too!

Isaiah 12:6 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”

God is with us! He is with you! He is not visiting us. He is living with us. We are the place of God’s governing voice in the earth, because we are the place of God’s presence in the earth. The decrees of heaven are decrees from our hearts. This is true as individuals, but even more as we stand together as the family of God in the earth. We are the church, the called out assembly of God for the governmental decisions of heaven upon the earth. We must keep our hearts with all diligence so that the issues of life flow freely to the world. As leaders we must lead by releasing the weapons of life. This is what will destroy the power of all of our enemies. If you read Isaiah chapter 13, it reveals the victory over the spirit of Babylon. That victory is not possible without the weapons of life revealed in Isaiah chapter 12.

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson

Greetings;

I have been addressing the subject of leadership in regard to keeping our hearts. Jesus said that from the heart would flow rivers of life-giving water. This is to be a testimony for all who believe in Him, but leaders must set an example that others can follow. The key to the issues of life is found in the human heart; therefore the enemy targets our hearts in order to keep them from giving life to those we influence in life. What does the enemy look like? We know he is the devil, but what form does he take in his attack upon our hearts. A Leader must know how to guard their hearts. I believe that there are four basic areas of attack upon the human heart. Those forms are ones of affliction, captivity, harassment, and defilement. Affliction can be manifested as physical pain, emotional pain, or some form of sickness in our lives. This can even include a disheartened soul. Captivity is revealed as some form of bondage. It can include the things that held us in the world before we came to Christ and it can involve anything that prevents us from moving forward in our journey of life. Harassment is some form of assault upon our lives. It is demonically inspired, but it can come in the form of people who seek to put us in a difficult place in our lives. Defilement is some form of bitterness, poison, spot, blemish, or wrinkle in our souls. The enemy seeks to establish strongholds in our lives through the assault of his weapons of affliction, captivity, harassment, or defilement. As leaders we must know how to deal with those strongholds of the enemy before they become lodged in our lives and prevent us from having free-flowing hearts that give life to those around us.

2 Corinthians 10:4-6 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

We have weapons in Christ. It is the weapons of Christ within us that will cast down the strongholds of the enemies attack upon our hearts. The source of our thoughts cannot be the realm of our wounded souls; it must be in the place of a prosperous spirit made alive by God’s Holy Spirit within us. Our obedience is to the faith, not mere rules of Christianity. Religious thinking and religious ways are not the weapons of victory over the enemy. Faith is a fruit of hearing God in our hearts and it inspires the actions of our lives. It works through love and it is always towards the person God. It is not towards what He will do, but towards who He is and thus it inspires trust that God can do all things.

What do God’s weapons look like in our lives? God’s weapons are foolish to the natural man. Our natural man is not our carnal sinful man, it is simply the part of us that perceives and understands things naturally. We have to receive the weapons of God in our hearts in order to embrace a supernatural power of God’s life that goes beyond our natural understanding.

1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit.

God’s Spirit gives the things of Him to us within our hearts. They are things that our eyes have not seen, our ears have not heard, and our thoughts have not thought before. Those things are only revealed to us through our spirits. When our spirits come alive with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit it floods our soul with desires, thoughts, strategies, imaginations, and emotions that will give us the victory over affliction, captivity, harassment, or defilement of any kind. What can we do to activate the weapons of God that are mighty to pull down any stronghold of the enemy? I believe that Psalms 149 gives us a great key.

Psalms 149:1 Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise His name with the dance; let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp.

Leaders must set an example in releasing the weapons of life. Singing a new song is simply living in the NOW moment of God. We must know that God is always working things together for our good. Not all things are good, but God is working all things out. Every moment of every day is another opportunity for God to reveal His goodness and His love. We must stay connected to Him and to others within our sphere of relationships in life. His praise in only truly found in our connection together. In order to be joyful in our King we must focus on His presence in our lives. In the presence of God is the fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11). This means that our first weapon of victory is to remain in the place of our first love with God. We must say to the One who says, “I Am” – “Here I am!”

What does it mean to praise God with the dance, song, timbrels, and the harp? God doesn’t want us to embrace some religious form of worship ritual. He wants us to embrace a way of life that includes our walk, our sound, our attitude, and our ability to be led by Him in all things. What do others see, hear, and experience when they are around us? How are they influencing them? Can they trust us and follow us even in difficult times? These are the attributes of a heart that knows that God is good and loves Him.

Psalms 149: 4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, 7 To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 to execute on them the written judgment—This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!

We must know that God really likes us. He takes pleasure in us and we don’t need to earn His love through some lifestyle of religious homage. We must be joyful in finding life in Him and finding life in every way. This is even true in our sleeping moments. This is not just when we go to bed at night, but also when things are beyond our ability to change. We must know that we can trust Him because He cares for us. As leaders we must set this example for others to follow.

What about the high praises of God? The high praises of God are not some practiced form of music before God. They are the testimonies of God at work in our lives. Everyone has the honor of allowing God to be revealed in and through their lives. As we pay attention to what God is doing we execute the written judgments of God’s love in our lives. His mercy and grace proves to deal a blow that eliminates the enemy’s accusations and attacks in our lives. This Psalm is not talking about a carnal weapon of death. This is a weapon of life that binds the attacks of the enemy in chains. It is a testimony of the two-edged sword of God’s love for us that inspires us to love others. It is the source of demonstrating a love for Him and for others in our lives. Jesus will never put upon us anything that He took off of us at the cross, thus the victory given over the enemy by the shed blood of Jesus is activated by the power of God’s manifest grace at work in our lives. The kingdom of God is within us and it is the source of victory over all of our enemies. As leaders we must know how to live from our hearts in a life-expectant and a life-giving way in all things.

Food For Thought,

Ted J. Hanson