Greg Crawford

Category: Leadership Principles

  • THE SPIRIT OF A PIONEER LEADER

    Poineers Are Heaven Sent

    A pioneer leader is not called to maintain what exists — they are called to birth what Heaven desires but earth has not yet seen. Maintenance is predictable. It preserves what has already been built. But pioneering disrupts limitation, advances purpose, and reaches into the unseen realm of God’s intention until something new begins to take shape.

    We have many managers, but it takes apostolic grace to build what has never been built. It takes a sent grace to establish new territory, new models, new wineskins, and new expressions of the Kingdom. Pioneers are not motivated by comfort. They are compelled by calling.

    Pioneers are Heaven’s answer to stagnation. They break cycles, ceilings, and ground. They do not simply adjust what already exists; they carry a divine assignment to build what obedience requires.

    The Apostolic DNA of a Pioneer

    Pioneering is inherently apostolic because apostolic grace is a sent grace. It is a mandate to establish, build, and advance what Heaven has authored. A pioneer does not simply carry inspiration; a pioneer carries assignment, structure, burden, and momentum.

    Apostolic characteristics in pioneers are seen in how they think and build. They think in terms of foundations, not events. They build systems, not moments. They carry long-term vision, not short-term excitement. They see the Church as a Kingdom movement, not merely a weekly gathering.

    Pioneers carry the architectural mind of Heaven. They are blueprint carriers, foundation layers, and culture shifters who understand that the work is bigger than a moment, a meeting, or a platform. They are sent to establish something strong enough to carry future generations.

    Scripture reminds us in Ephesians 2:20, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” This means apostles do not just preach; they establish. In the same way, pioneers do not just dream; they build.

    Pioneers See First

    Before pioneers build, they see. Their sight comes before their structure, because revelation always precedes construction in the Kingdom. Pioneers see before others see, beyond current reality, and into what will be rather than what is. They see the invisible becoming visible and the future becoming present.

    This sight is not natural; it is revelatory. Hebrews 11:1 declares, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith gives pioneers permission to see what others call impossible. Revelation becomes their compass, and vision becomes their language.

    Revelation births movement, but religion preserves monuments. This is why pioneers must protect their sight from the dulling effect of tradition. If vision is not guarded, what began as movement can become memory, and what was once alive can become merely familiar.

    The Burden of Seeing What Others Don’t

    Seeing first is both a blessing and a burden. Pioneers often wrestle with frustration when others do not see it yet, impatience with slow movement, the weight of carrying a vision alone, and the tension between “now” and “not yet.” The burden of sight is that you may carry conviction before you carry confirmation.

    Habakkuk 2:3 says, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Just because God showed it to you first does not mean He will release it fast. Pioneers must learn to walk at Heaven’s pace, not their own.

    Pioneers Walk Alone First

    Before anyone follows a pioneer, the pioneer must walk alone. This solitude is not rejection; it is refinement. God often allows isolation to sharpen hearing, purify motives, strengthen conviction, detach the pioneer from approval, and build inner resilience.

    Jesus said in John 16:32, “…and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” Pioneers must learn to be comfortable being misunderstood, unseen, and uncelebrated. If you need a crowd to obey, you are not ready to pioneer.

    The Cost of Being First

    Being first means you face what others never had to face, fight battles others may never know, carry weight others may never feel, and endure criticism others may never hear. Pioneers are often celebrated after the work is done, rarely before, because people usually honor the fruit before they understand the process.

    The hidden cost of pioneering can include emotional weight, spiritual warfare, financial sacrifice, relational strain, and internal pressure. Luke 14:28 asks, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost…” Pioneers must count the cost and still say yes.

    Resistance Is Normal

    Every pioneer must settle this truth: resistance is not always a sign you are wrong; many times, it is a sign you are early. Pioneers face misunderstanding, opposition, criticism, spiritual warfare, and institutional pushback, but resistance cannot become the voice that replaces revelation.

    Joshua 1:9 says, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Courage is the currency of pioneers. They must confront what others avoid and continue forward when fear tries to negotiate with obedience.

    The War Against Revelation

    Religion always resists revelation because revelation disrupts what comfort wants to preserve. Mark 7:13 warns about “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” Tradition can silence revelation, systems can suffocate the Spirit, and information without encounter produces knowledge without transformation.

    The symptoms of lost revelation are seen in stagnant believers, powerless Christianity, shallow discipleship, the absence of hunger, and the absence of movement. Pioneers must guard what God has shown them fiercely because the enemy does not always attack revelation by contradiction; sometimes he attacks it through familiarity.

    Pioneers Create Pathways

    Pioneers do not follow paths; they establish them. They build what others will later walk on, create models others will later adopt, open spiritual territory others will later inherit, and break ceilings others will later stand beneath. Their obedience becomes a road for someone else’s breakthrough.

    Isaiah 43:19 declares, “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Apostles establish foundations, pioneers build frameworks, and together they create Kingdom movement. Pioneers are Heaven’s architects, designing what others will eventually occupy.

    Pioneers Carry Responsibility

    Before pioneers are recognized publicly, they carry weight privately. They carry responsibility before reward, burden before breakthrough, pressure before promotion, and warfare before witness. The private place forms the pioneer before the public place reveals the work.

    Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Hunger keeps revelation alive, revelation keeps movement alive, and movement keeps the Kingdom advancing. When hunger dies, pioneering becomes performance; but when hunger lives, obedience stays pure.

    The Fruit of a True Pioneer

    Pioneers produce new pathways, transformed people, fresh insight, Kingdom expansion, apostolic foundations, and generational impact. Their fruit is not measured only by what happens in the moment, but by what continues to multiply after them. Their legacy is not measured in applause, but in territory gained and people transformed.

    John 15:8 says, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” The signs of a true pioneer are visible in what they leave behind. They build what outlives them, raise others to go further, create systems that multiply impact, and leave a blueprint for the next generation.

    Activation and Application

    This is where revelation becomes transformation. A pioneer does not read truth simply to agree with it; a pioneer receives truth until it becomes obedience, action, and construction. Ask yourself honestly if you are willing to go where there is no path, be misunderstood for obedience, carry weight before recognition, choose revelation over tradition, protect hunger above comfort, build what does not yet exist, and walk alone if necessary.

    Father, awaken the pioneer within me. Give me eyes to see what Heaven is revealing, courage to walk where others will not go, and grace to build what does not yet exist. Make me a carrier of Your blueprints, a breaker of old cycles, and a builder of new Kingdom territory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

    Next Step

    Identify the territory God is calling you to pioneer and take the first step. Do not wait for the crowd. Do not wait for comfort. Do not wait until every question is answered. If Heaven has spoken, move in obedience. Your first step may feel small, but obedience is the first brick in every foundation God builds.

  • Balancing Your Life Until Calling Emerges

    One of the most common conversations I have with emerging leaders is not about gifting, revelation, or ministry strategy. More often, it centers around the tension of living between what God has spoken and what they are currently experiencing. Many believers have received prophetic words concerning their future. They have encountered God, sensed His call, and had that calling confirmed by mature leaders. Deep within, they know they were created for more than what they are presently doing. Yet every day they wake up, go to work, pay bills, care for their families, and carry the responsibilities of life. This creates a very real tension. They know what God has revealed inwardly, but their outward circumstances have not yet aligned with that revelation. The question becomes, “How do I stay Kingdom-minded while living under real-world pressure?”

    The reality is that most ministers begin their ministry journey while working a job. In fact, eighty percent of leaders are bi-vocational, carrying both the responsibilities of employment and the responsibilities of ministry. Even many who are considered full-time ministers often develop multiple streams of income to support their calling and provide for their families. This is not a sign of failure. Rather, it is often part of God’s developmental process. The greatest challenge is learning how to remain anchored in Christ while everything around you pulls at your attention, emotions, and energy.

    One of the greatest misconceptions among emerging leaders is the assumption that calling automatically means commissioning. God often reveals destiny long before He develops the capacity necessary to carry it. Throughout Scripture we see this pattern repeatedly. David was anointed king long before he ever sat on a throne. Joseph dreamed of rulership years before he governed Egypt. Moses carried a divine calling for decades before he carried spiritual authority over a nation. God consistently reveals purpose before He reveals process. Many believers assume that once they receive a prophetic word, they should immediately step into the fullness of that assignment. However, God is often more interested in preparing the vessel than releasing the ministry.

    Looking back over my own journey, there are times when I wish I had received more development before ministry responsibilities increased. People start pulling on you for answers, counsel, teaching, leadership, and guidance. Opportunities multiply, but so do responsibilities. The time available for deep study, reflection, and personal development often becomes harder to protect. God understands this reality, which is why He frequently begins forming leaders long before they are fully released. Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. Every calling has a season. Every purpose has a process. Every assignment requires preparation.

    The Lord uses seasons of tension to expose areas within us that still require transformation. He reveals distractions that compete for our attention. He uncovers instability that remains hidden beneath the surface. Emotional weaknesses, soul reactions, misplaced dependencies, and a lack of spiritual discipline are often brought into the light during these seasons. God does not expose these things to condemn us. He reveals them because He is committed to forming Christ within us. His goal is not simply to use us in ministry. His goal is to transform us into the image of His Son.

    One of the most important lessons every leader must learn is that ministry begins with God. Our first ministry is not to people. Our first ministry is to the Lord Himself. Our second ministry is to our family. Only then does ministry to others take its proper place. Many leaders become exhausted because they reverse this order. They pour themselves into serving others while neglecting their own relationship with God. Yet everything in the Kingdom flows from relationship. Jesus continually withdrew from the crowds to spend time with the Father. If the Son of God prioritized communion with the Father, how much more should we? The health of our ministry will never exceed the health of our relationship with God.

    Balance becomes an essential component of surviving and thriving during seasons of transition. We are called to live in the world while remaining connected to another reality. The responsibilities of employment pull our attention toward natural concerns. The call of God pulls our hearts toward Kingdom purposes. Family responsibilities require investment. Ministry responsibilities require investment. Life itself demands attention. The challenge is learning how to hold these realities in proper perspective. For many years, I had to settle the fact that my work provided the resources necessary for me to fulfill ministry assignments. My job paid the bills, met practical needs, and created stability. It became a tool rather than an identity. Ministry remained my primary focus, even while employment served an important purpose. This perspective helped me understand that my work was not my calling. It was simply helping to support my calling.

    Pressure often reveals what truly governs our lives. Does our employment govern us, or does God govern in our employment? What controls our peace ultimately controls our lives. Many people become slaves to their jobs because they allow employment to define their identity and determine their emotional well-being. Yet employers rent our time; they do not own our purpose. Our identity must remain rooted in Christ. The Word of God, prophetic promises, dreams, and visions become anchors during seasons when external circumstances have not yet caught up with internal revelation.

    Many people think transition is primarily external. They assume transition means changing jobs, moving into ministry, relocating geographically, receiving a title, or entering a new season of influence. While those things may eventually occur, true transition is first an internal work. Transition is not merely moving into ministry. Transition is becoming the ministry. It is allowing the message you carry to first transform your own life. Many believers desire new seasons without embracing new mindsets. They want greater authority without deeper maturity. They want influence without transformation. Yet God uses process to renew our thinking, establish our identity, remove mixture, expose unhealthy dependencies, and develop spiritual maturity. He is more concerned with who we are becoming than what we are doing.

    One of the greatest struggles believers face is maintaining spiritual awareness while carrying natural responsibilities. Many assume they would be more spiritual if they had more time, worked fewer hours, or entered full-time ministry. However, Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God is within us. The issue is not location; it is awareness. Spiritual life is not confined to church services or ministry events. A believer can carry inward communion, spiritual sensitivity, peace, authority, and Christ-consciousness while functioning in the marketplace. The Kingdom is not something we visit occasionally. It is something we live from daily. Kingdom-minded believers learn to remain aware of God’s presence regardless of where they are or what they are doing.

    Spiritual stability is impossible without discipline. Paul spoke of bringing his body into subjection and exercising self-control. Discipline is not legalism; it is training. It is the intentional process of aligning our thoughts, emotions, and actions with Christ. Practical disciplines such as daily time in the Word, focused prayer, worship, meditation, stillness before God, and guarding the mind help create consistency in our spiritual lives. What continually fills our minds eventually shapes our spiritual atmosphere. If our thoughts are dominated by fear, fear will eventually govern our emotions. If our minds are filled with offense, bitterness will take root. If Christ occupies our thoughts, His peace will begin to govern our lives.

    Pressure also increases during times of spiritual growth and transition because spiritual warfare often intensifies when we move toward purpose. Many believers experience warfare but fail to recognize its objective. The enemy’s primary goal is not simply to attack us. His goal is to distract us, exhaust us, confuse us, and remove our focus. He understands that clarity produces movement. When believers become clear concerning their calling and assignment, they begin taking steps toward fulfillment. Therefore, the enemy attacks clarity. He seeks to create confusion because confusion delays progress. This is why maintaining balance and spiritual focus becomes so critical during transitional seasons.

    One of the greatest weapons available to believers is peace. Scripture teaches that God keeps in perfect peace those whose minds remain fixed upon Him. Peace is not the absence of conflict. Peace is the government of God operating within the believer. Mature leaders learn that peace must become a ruling force in their lives. Many lose their peace because they continually focus on circumstances, uncertainty, pressure, fear, and emotional reactions. Yet Kingdom leaders learn to live from another reality. They learn to set their affection on things above. What we focus on eventually governs us. What we meditate upon eventually shapes our atmosphere. When our attention remains fixed upon Christ, His peace becomes the ruling influence in our lives regardless of external conditions.

    Ultimately, spiritual maturity is the process of learning to live from Christ reality rather than soul reality. Soul reality is governed by feelings, frustrations, disappointments, reactions, and circumstances. Christ reality is governed by union with Him. Paul declared that it was no longer he who lived, but Christ who lived in him. This is the goal of spiritual formation. Rather than reacting emotionally to every circumstance, mature believers learn to respond from their union with Christ. Instead of being governed by fear, they walk in faith. Instead of striving, they trust. Instead of being controlled by outward circumstances, they draw strength from inward communion.

    If there is one thing every emerging leader must understand, it is that pressure is not necessarily proof of failure. Many times pressure is evidence that God is enlarging your capacity. Kingdom leaders are rarely formed in comfort. They are formed through process, responsibility, faithfulness, and perseverance. God uses tension to shape character and develop maturity. If you find yourself in a season where your calling seems larger than your current circumstances, do not become discouraged. Continue pursuing intimacy with God. Continue growing. Continue preparing. Continue serving faithfully where you are. The goal is not simply surviving transition. The goal is becoming transformed through it. Do not lose your peace. Do not become distracted. Do not allow warfare to steal your focus. Remain anchored in Christ, because the greatest victory is not merely reaching the next season. The greatest victory is allowing Christ to be fully formed within you while you walk through it.

  • HOW LEADERS NAVIGATE TRANSITIONS IN MINISTRY

    Transition is one of the most defining—and revealing—moments in leadership. It exposes what a ministry is truly built upon. It reveals whether a leader is simply maintaining what exists or actually carrying the authority to move something into its next dimension.

    Many ministries do not fail because of lack of passion, people, or opportunity. They stall because they never successfully transition. They reach a point of effectiveness, and then unknowingly begin to protect what was built instead of advancing what God is saying next. What once required faith slowly becomes familiar, and what was once pioneering becomes predictable.

    One of the greatest misconceptions in ministry is the idea that transition occurs when people are ready, when enough time has passed, or when growth demands it. None of those things actually produce transition. Ministries transition because leaders make a deliberate decision to shift the culture. The issue is transition does not happen automatically. It happens intentionally.

    Scripture establishes this clearly: “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). The limitation is never primarily the people; it is the absence of clear, forward-moving vision and understanding it. Apostolic leadership knows this. It does not wait for consensus. It does not wait for comfort. It moves because it sees. It sees the future and for them it has been made known, for others it is still unknow. That is one key eliminate, can you explain what you see for others to engage into it.

    At the center of every transition is a shift in emphasis. Every ministry is producing something, whether intentionally or unintentionally. What is being produced is directly tied to what is being emphasized. What you emphasize, you will produce. What you emphasis is what is important to you. If a ministry emphasizes attendance, it will produce attenders. If it emphasizes programs, it will produce participants. But if it emphasizes development, it will produce leaders. The difference is in what the focus is put upon. If the emphasis does not change, the outcome will not change. Many leaders say they want mature believers and equipped leaders, yet their systems reward presence rather than growth, activity rather than transformation.

    This shift is not only corporate; it is deeply personal. Every leader who walks with God long enough will face seasons where their assignment changes, where the grace they once operated in begins to shift, and where what once felt fruitful now feels limited. These moments are not signs of failure—they are invitations into transition.

    However, the greatest challenge in these moments is not stepping into the new. It is letting go of what has been familiar and fruitful in the past. Personal transition demands a restructuring of value. It forces a leader to reevaluate time, energy, and purpose, asking honestly, “Is this still aligned with why I am on the earth?” Alongside a shift in emphasis must come a shift in measurement. One of the most common reasons leaders fail to transition is because they attempt to evaluate a new season using old metrics. But transition always introduces an unseen future. It cannot be measured by what has already been.

    Paul addresses this when he writes, “They measuring themselves by themselves… are not wise.” (2 Corinthians 10:12 KJV). In transition, leaders must change not only what they measure, but how they measure and what they value. What you measure reinforces what you emphasize. If you measure attendance, you reinforce gathering. If you measure activity, you reinforce motion. But if you measure development, you reinforce transformation. A ministry will never successfully transition while it continues to reward the outcomes of a previous season.

    God’s perspective on evaluation is different from man’s. “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7 KJV). Transition calls leaders to move beyond surface-level indicators and begin discerning what is actually being produced within people and especially and foremost themselves. As this internal and structural shift takes place, clarity becomes the defining factor. Clarity in who they are as a leader. Clarity in the calling and assignment. Then clarity in the ministry. Leaders must define where the ministry is going, simplify the vision so it can be carried, and communicate direction with precision. Without clarity, people do not move forward—they drift.

    God instructed Habakkuk to “write the vision, and make it plain…” (Habakkuk 2:2 KJV). Why? Because clarity creates movement. When vision is clear, it becomes transferable. When it is simplified, it becomes reproducible. When it is communicated, it becomes actionable. You see clarity gives people confidence to move.

    As leaders step into this clarity, they must also confront one of the greatest barriers to transition: the need to remain the primary doer. A ministry cannot transition while the leader is still carrying the weight of doing everything. Ephesians 4:12 makes the role of leadership clear: “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry…” The assignment of leadership is not to perform ministry, but to prepare people to do it.

    If people are not being developed, they remain dependent. And if they remain dependent, the ministry cannot expand. Transition requires a shift from doing ministry to building people. This shift demands structure. Many ministries rely heavily on moments—powerful gatherings, emotional encounters, or inspiring teachings. While these moments are valuable, they do not produce sustained transformation. Transition is not built on moments; it is built on pathways that lead to a future. People do not grow simply by hearing truth—they grow by walking it out.

    This leads directly into the necessity of responsibility. Leaders cannot develop other leaders without entrusting them with something real. Jesus did not merely instruct His disciples—He sent them. “He gave them power and authority… and sent them…” (Luke 9:1–2 KJV). responsibility reveals capacity, develops maturity, and exposes areas that require growth. Without it, people remain untested and undeveloped. Faithfulness is proven through opportunity, as Jesus taught: “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much…” (Luke 16:10 KJV).

    For this reason, leaders must intentionally create room for others to function. This means allowing people to lead, to teach, to make decisions, and even to fail. Leadership development does not occur in controlled environments—it occurs in real situations where growth is required.

    However, opportunity alone is not enough. People must also be developed intentionally. Leaders are not discovered by accident—they are formed through process. This includes instruction, correction, accountability, and impartation. Paul modeled this when he instructed Timothy: “Commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:2 KJV). This is the pattern of multiplication. It is generational, not seasonal.

    The reality is that potential is common, but development is rare. Growth requires pressure, consistency, and intentional investment. Hebrews reinforces this by declaring that maturity comes through use—through exercising what has been learned. At this point, every leader encounters a defining tension: the struggle between control and release. Control feels safe because it protects what currently exists. But release is what builds the future.

    This is where the shift from addition to multiplication becomes critical. Addition increases numbers, but multiplication expands impact. The Kingdom model is not built on accumulation—it is built on reproduction. Paul’s investment into Timothy, who then invested into faithful men, who then taught others, demonstrates this clearly. This is how something outlives the original leader. Genesis establishes this principle from the beginning: “Be fruitful, and multiply…” (Genesis 1:28 KJV).

    A ministry that depends entirely on one leader will never move beyond that leader. But a ministry that flows through people will expand generationally. This is why sending becomes essential. A transitioning ministry does not hold people tightly—it releases them strategically. In Acts 13, the church did not cling to Barnabas and Saul. They sent them. Jesus affirmed this pattern when He said, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (John 20:21 KJV). Sending produces expansion, regional impact, and Kingdom advancement.

    Ultimately, true transition is generational. It looks beyond the present moment and begins building for what comes next. “One generation shall praise thy works to another…” (Psalm 145:4 KJV).

    In the end, the conclusion is unmistakable. If leaders are not raising replacements, they are not truly transitioning—they are maintaining. And maintenance never produces legacy. A ministry does not become powerful because of what it gathers or the number gathered. It becomes powerful because of what it reproduces. Transition is not a moment you go through it is a leadership decision .you have to live out.

  • Apostolic and Apostle Defined: Rediscovering the Authentic

    As I look around today, it seems the words apostle and apostolic are used almost interchangeably. The problem is one is a grace and the other is a function coming forth from that grace. One is a divinely placed person and the other is a function of members of the body. What is needed for today is clarity of how grace works.

    Paul begins with striking clarity

    “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God…” (1 Corinthians 1:1)
    “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)” (Galatians 1:1)

    Right away, we see: apostles are not appointed by men or prophetic words or someone saying it over you, but by Jesus Christ Himself. This divine call is not about title, popularity, or organizational hierarchy. It is a governing call, grounded in spiritual authority and spiritual purpose. It has a set grace that is divined, seen and tangible. This is what men should be affirming of those called as apostles. 

    The Marks of Apostolic Grace

    Authentic apostles carry a grace for:

    • Doctrine: guarding and clarifying the doctrines of Christ.
    • Kingdom: revealing and guiding the formation of the Kingdom.
    • Function: activating faith into action.
    • Order: setting divine order among gifts, gatherings, and lives.
    • Vision: carrying a vision broad enough to encompass the visions of many.

    Paul writes:

    “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation…” (1 Corinthians 3:10–11)

    This is the heart of an apostle: a master builder, laying Christ as the only foundation. The difference between those who walk in an apostolic grace and those who carry the grace as an apostle is like the difference between working within an anointing and being entrusted to release that grace for others. Many think they are apostles because of doing spiritual things, but are really under an unrecognized or unseen grace an apostle released in the spiritual atmosphere.

    If someone claims apostleship yet doesn’t carry these marks—doctrine, order, function, vision, kingdom stewardship—they may hold a title without the grace.

    The Era of Authenticity

    We are now in what I call the Era of Authenticity.
    Era means a distinct period marked by something defining. And what defines this moment is not style, branding, or methods—but authenticity: the real, the original, the tested, the true.

    Authenticity means more than copying acts or principles. It means conforming to the origin—bearing the image of Christ Himself. Even Paul was tested on this:

    “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem… they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.” (Acts 9:26)

    They doubted his authenticity—until his life and fruit proved it. This then is apostleship. It is what remains when you are not around. It is legacy being created. It is others carrying the same message on the same assignment. It is the empower of the Body that creates a fullness in them. When I ask many saying they are apostles, about apostleship, they have a hard time answering.

    Today, there’s a cry in the spirit for what’s real—not promotional, but substantial; not trendy, but eternal. Not prophetic acts alone, but apostolic acts: present-tense, redemptive, and rooted in the now word of God.

    Something I see happening in the Body of Christ today is what I would describe as the difference between an old understanding of apostles and the apostolic, and what is now emerging as a revelatory understanding of the apostolic.

    What do I mean by that?

    Many are still teaching about apostles from the framework that first began to define the apostolic restoration more than thirty years ago. At that time, much of the emphasis was simply on recovering the biblical reality that apostles still exist and giving the apostolic gift a legitimate place again within the Church. Teaching focused on defining the role, explaining its function, and helping people understand how apostles fit practically within church structures. These were important introductive truths. They opened eyes and created room for the apostolic gift to operate again in ways that had been largely forgotten.

    But much of that early teaching defined the apostolic primarily by function, structure, and terminology. In many cases what developed was a recognition of apostolic calling, yet not always the full expression of apostolic functioning. When our understanding remains framed by those earlier definitions, not everything we call “apostolic” actually carries the nature or weight of the apostolic grace.

    What we are seeing now, however, is that the apostolic has continued to unfold.

    The apostolic has evolved immensely, and you can clearly see different degrees of maturity among apostles and in apostolic expressions. The apostolic today is emerging with a progressive revelatory wisdom—an understanding that continues to expand as the Spirit reveals more of Christ’s intention for His Church.

    We are beginning to recognize that the apostolic is less a list of functions and more a living grace. It is not primarily measured by gathering large numbers but by influence that shapes and establishes. True apostolic grace builds things that are unshakable, rather than systems that require constant tending and maintenance.

    It carries more than a knowledge of Scripture. It carries a revelatory unveiling of hidden mysteries—insights into the purposes of God that unlock pathways for others to walk in. And it is more than being a skilled administrator. Apostolic grace creates opportunities that release others into responsibility, empowering people and structures to function without constant oversight.

    In this way the apostolic matures—from something defined primarily by role, to something recognized by the weight of grace, revelation, and enduring fruit that it produces.

    Beyond Seasons: Stepping into an Era

    Many talk of “new seasons,” but what God is giving is an Era—an apostolic era marked by regeneration, restoration, and the authentic acts of God among His people. We are moving:

    • From mere doctrine of the Kingdom to living in the manner of the Kingdom.
    • From principles to governance.
    • From institutional maintenance to authentic expression.

    Paul says:

    “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward…” (Ephesians 3:2)

    This grace isn’t for self-promotion—it’s toward others, for maturing and equipping the Body.

    The Living Grace of an Apostle

    An apostle carries a living grace—not just giftings or charisma. It’s something that changes people and places. Paul writes:

    “Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all… ye all are partakers of my grace.” (Philippians 1:7)

    This grace is territorial—it affects the atmosphere and spiritual climate of regions, not because of personality but because of divine assignment.

    Apostles don’t exist to control or centralize power, but to release, activate, and father. The heart of a father is felt, not just heard. This is the difference: apostles have the vision and grace to implement; the apostolic serve and build within that grace.

    Strategic vs. Tactical

    Apostles carry a strategy—a heaven-breathed blueprint to shift cultures and build foundations that last. The apostolic function is tactical: training, equipping, sending. It is intentional and even calibrated looking for cause and effect. Reproducible. It is not based on numerical involvement but on numerical influences.

    Many confuse leading or training with apostleship itself. But the apostle’s role is broader: to establish doctrine, order, and future vision for the Body. These things play into the role of individuals, but apostles are looking more wholestic.

    The Ancient Understanding: Sent as the Sender

    The Hebrew word Sheliach shows the depth of what “apostle” means:

    “The Sheliach of a man is as the man himself.”

    Jesus used the Greek apostolos but filled it with Hebrew meaning: a fully authorized representative, carrying not just words but the authority and heart of the Sender.
    To receive an apostle is to receive the One who sent them. To reject them is to reject the one who sent Him.

    The Corporate Dynamic

    True apostles speak “we,” not “me.” Their doctrine isn’t just local but universal, setting order for the global Body of Christ. They see beyond one congregation to the corporate Bride.

    Paul’s letters overflow with corporate language: “we,” “us,” “our.” Apostolic ministry is never self-contained—it is always for the whole ecclesia.

    Authentic Community and Regeneration

    Finally, this era will restore authentic community—a sacred, interdependent life. We are in an Exodus: coming out of institutional religion and into the foundations of the Kingdom.

    Regeneration—new birth, renewal, restoration—will mark this era.

    “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but… by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Titus 3:4–7)

    The apostle carries the spirit of regeneration, creating spaces where lifes, families, and even regions are reborn.

    In Conclusion

    We’re entering not just another season but an Era of Authenticity. An era where apostles will:

    • Govern the mind of God for the Body’s future.
    • Establish order, doctrine, and Kingdom culture.
    • Release grace that empowers, not controls.
    • See the Kingdom advance through authentic, tested lives—not by words alone,  but by the Acts of the Apostles alive in our generation.

    May we embrace what is real, reject what is counterfeit, and together build what remains.

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  • Jesus, the Twelve, and the Reality of Relational Conflict

    Jesus and the twelve disciples lived within constant relational tension. When we look at the many different expressions of church today, it becomes clear that various church structures create different kinds of community—and different kinds of relational interaction within the Body of Christ.

    In larger churches, it is often possible to attend without ever truly interacting with others at a deep level. But once you step into a smaller group, a leadership role, or a specific assignment, relational conflict almost inevitably emerges. The reality is this: the smaller the ministry, the more exposed we become to one another—and the more conflict surfaces.

    As I was thinking about this, I began to reflect on Jesus and the twelve disciples. I wondered how much relational conflict must have existed among them. When you truly think about it, it is remarkable that anything was accomplished at all—or that we even have Christianity today.

    These men came from vastly different backgrounds. Their educations varied. Their life experiences were nothing alike. Their value systems often clashed. Matthew, for instance, was a tax collector—employed by Rome. Surely there was suspicion surrounding him. At the same time, fishermen and common laborers were likely looked down upon by others within the group. If you really consider it, every form of extreme thinking probably existed among the twelve.

    Scripture shows us that they were frequently conflicted—and at times openly argumentative. Each man held tightly to what he believed, what he valued, and what he thought was right. They fought to have their perspectives heard, embraced, and validated. We see Peter’s lack of understanding. We see Thomas wrestling with doubt. Later, we see conflict between Paul and John Mark—and even between Paul and Peter.

    Like us today, they were on a journey—discovering truth and deciding what they would ultimately believe about that truth.

    At that point in history, there was no centralized doctrine. Doctrine was being formed in real time. Each apostle was at a different level of maturity, experience, and understanding—both in relation to the Holy Spirit and in how they interpreted the words Jesus spoke to them.

    Today, we at least have a completed Bible that is meant to bring us into unity. Yet even now, we are deeply divided over doctrine, truth, and interpretation. These divisions inevitably surface in how we relate to one another. And those relational exposures reveal where we are still lacking in understanding and truth.

    Just as it was then, culture was constantly trying to shape and distort truth. And that is no different in our present hour. Culture now dictates how truth is interpreted—asking whether it is politically correct, non-offensive, or acceptable to personal preference. We guard our own interpretations fiercely. We add layers to support what we already want to believe rather than submitting ourselves to what truth actually is.

    We often attempt to fix spiritual issues through unbiblical means—through intellectual ascent, emotional reasoning, or worldly practices wrapped in biblical language. The result is a mental mixture: truth diluted, compromised, and reshaped to fit comfort rather than conviction.

    Yet in the midst of all the conflict the early apostles faced, they still managed to accomplish the mission. They set aside unresolved differences and continued moving forward toward the Kingdom goal. What empowered them was their perception of what held the greatest value.

    Today, however, we often fight for our own preferences, our pet doctrines, and our personal projects—rather than yielding to the larger Kingdom plan trying to unfold.

    The very fact that relational conflict exists—and that it can slow us down or even derail a move of God—should alert us to something important: the journey of truth we are on must be of great value, or it would not be attacked so fiercely.

    Looking back over the years, I have noticed a pattern. Whenever a genuine move of God begins to emerge, one of the most common things that stops it is relational conflict—especially among leaders or those actively serving. There is a difference between disagreement over understanding and a refusal to resolve conflict. The latter is what causes damage.

    Many times, we leave the Word of God out of the process. Other times, we ignore or resist the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Often, we are not seeking God’s conclusion—we are seeking our own. What I have learned is that resolution frequently takes time, because it is ultimately a heart issue. And the heart must change its position.

    Emotions can interfere. Pride can block conviction. And unresolved wounds can prevent transformation. Most of us are probably living with some level of unresolved conflict at any given time. The real question is whether we are trusting God to work it out—and whether we are willing to obey when the Spirit prompts us to act.

    Returning again to the twelve apostles, I am sure they lived for long periods with unresolved tension, waiting for truth to fully come and clarify their direction. But until that truth was revealed, they chose mission over division. They set aside their differences and committed themselves to advancing the Kingdom in the earth.

    Yes, they argued over who would be the greatest. Yes, they debated who would sit at the right hand. But when the Holy Spirit came, something shifted. At Pentecost, the Spirit of understanding was released. After that moment, they were no longer fighting over position—they were willing to die for one another.

    There is an action of the Holy Spirit that must occur to truly resolve relational conflict. When the Spirit comes, it reveals that what we were fighting for was never as important as we believed. A greater weight enters the room—the King and His Kingdom. And when that happens, everything else falls into its proper place.

  • Where Does Time Go? The Mental Battle

    Today I found myself thinking about… well, everything I’m thinking about. My mind wandered through thoughts of family—children, grandchildren, close friends. And if you’re in ministry, you know how quickly the mind shifts toward other ministries and ministry leaders: how they function, how healthy they are, what’s working, what’s failing. You think about your own past, the future you hope to build, and all the space in between.

    In other words—you’re thinking about life.

    If we’re not careful, all these layers of thought begin pulling more and more time and energy out of us. I catch myself so loaded with thoughts that it becomes difficult to find space for the things I want to do, or even room to explore new ideas God is stirring. Our thoughts jump from one category to another, and often we never reach a conclusion. Every unresolved thought demands more time, more emotional investment, more processing.

    This morning, as I was contemplating what is actually consuming my time in ministry, I realized something surprising: it isn’t my actions that take the most energy—it’s my thinking. It’s how much time I spend mentally visiting all these different areas.

    When you oversee a ministry, you are constantly thinking about what needs to change, how to move people forward, how to rightly discern the season and the future. Your heart weighs past prophetic words, current understanding, and what God is revealing next. You’re navigating the daily needs that keep a ministry functioning smoothly. And woven through all of this is the continual examination of your own calling—making sure you are on track, while also ensuring the ministry is on track. These are separate, yet deeply intertwined.

    Then there’s the mental and spiritual load of ministering to people. When teaching or preaching, I often hear the thoughts of those I’m ministering to. Sometimes you hear their internal questions as you speak; sometimes you hear them later in counseling sessions. The bigger the person’s problem, the more mental space it occupies as you seek wisdom, clarity, and the right counsel.

    All of this began to reveal something to me: many of these thoughts are pushing out the space I need for meditation on the Word of God. The noise of a day begins to crowd out the eternal whisper.

    And then the question comes:

    How much time do we spend meditating on what is eternal compared to what is temporary?

    At the core, this is about the focus of our heart. We love people—so naturally we carry their burdens, their needs, their decisions. But we also love the eternal realm and the things of God. And it can feel like we are constantly living with a divided heart between the temporal needs of people and the eternal voice of God.

    So the real question becomes:

    How do we navigate the daily flood of thoughts and remain effective without burning out?

    Paul gives us the key: “Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
    That means we have the ability—and the responsibility—to bring order to our thought life.

    Paul also instructs us to “think on things that are pure, holy, lovely, and of good report.” Part of taking control of our thoughts is learning to bring them to a conclusion. Many thoughts keep spinning because we haven’t yet heard God concerning them. We keep analyzing, hoping new information will come, when what we actually need is the wisdom of God.

    We need to pause. Step aside. Sit with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
    Let our spirit be renewed.
    Enter that place where the depths of His wisdom have no end.

    Some problems simply have no answer outside of that place.

    We think on past failures hoping not to repeat them. We try to help people make right decisions, but their answers can’t come from our intellect—they must come from the eternal realm and the wisdom of God.

    I’m also convinced that we must return to meditating on the Word and the mysteries God is revealing. Those mysteries carry answers that settle the noise, calm the racing mind, and anchor us in truth. They quiet the mental chaos because they draw us back to what is eternal.

    I have an analytical mind, and that can get me in great trouble if I’m not careful. But what I’ve learned is this:
    If I take that analytical nature and aim it toward the Word of God, it becomes a gift—not a burden.

    In the end, the question “Where does time go?” often brings us back to this simple truth:

    Time is often lost not in what we do, but in what we allow our mind to carry. And God invites us—daily—to lay those thoughts down, listen for His wisdom, and live from the eternal place where clarity replaces chaos

  • When God Highlights Relationships

    There are moments when God puts His finger on something in a way that’s unmistakable. Right now, that something is relationships. It’s a time of divine connecting—where God is emphasizing the importance of healthy, spiritually aligned relationships while also allowing the unproductive ones to be sifted out.

    The Strain in the Spirit

    Many people are experiencing strained relationships right now. And strain almost always reveals weakness. It’s easy to assume we’re on the same page with someone—same desires, same values—until the moment of difference comes, and that difference introduces tension. Conflict creeps in. Harmony fades. Internal battles emerge, and suddenly, we find ourselves trying to control what feels like a spiritual slide.

    This is the heart of why divorces happen, why dating relationships implode, and why so many friendships feel shallow and disappointing. We formed these relationships around circumstantial compatibility or emotional convenience rather than around a foundation built on Christ. When the foundation shifts—or proves faulty—the whole structure begins to crack.

    What’s especially tragic is when this happens among believers. If Christians find themselves in relational chaos, it often means someone’s spiritual standard has dropped. Once the spiritual commonality erodes, the relationship naturally suffers. The strain is not just emotional—it’s deeply spiritual. It’s when the flesh gains dominance over the spirit that true connection breaks down.

    Paul said he knew no man after the flesh. Our connections are meant to be spirit-to-spirit. When Christ, salvation, and the Kingdom are our shared center, then we find stability in relationships. But when those pillars are ignored or slowly abandoned, the relationship suffers. I’ve seen this repeatedly over years of ministry. And for those who choose to keep the standard, it can be incredibly painful.

    Why? Because when someone walks away from a spiritually bonded relationship, they aren’t just walking away from a person. They’re walking away from a covenant and a grace that was available. And that covenant wasn’t based on preference—it was a spiritual agreement to walk together for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom. The grace was given to perform the assignment together. This is why it cuts so deep. It’s not just about compatibility; it’s about co-laboring with God and each other. That’s why when someone walks away, it can feel like a silent message saying, “You, and what you’re doing, have no value.”

    And yet, this isn’t new. I’ve had to navigate this type of grief time and again. You never fully get used to it. The key is guarding your heart so it doesn’t become hard. I’ve had to remind myself that when someone breaks fellowship, it’s often out of unresolved hurt, pride, or spiritual confusion. But I’ve also seen the mercy of God restore those same people—sometimes years later when they hear God, repent, and return.

    A War of Spirit vs. Flesh

    The greatest strain in any relationship happens when the spirit and the flesh collide—whether it’s within one person or between two people. That internal war becomes external. What was once cherished turns contentious. The enemy loves to use these moments to isolate us and discourage us, and if we’re not careful, we begin to mistrust future relationships and harden our expectations.

    But with the right spiritual lens, we can see the truth: it’s a battle of dominion. Will the Spirit of God define how we relate to others? Or will we keep building around personal preference, emotional needs, and shared hobbies?

    Common interests might make friendships feel fun, but they’ll never sustain a spiritual bond. Without spiritual unity—without Christ at the center—disappointment is inevitable. And we set ourselves up for it when we blur those lines.

    The Bible is clear: we’re to steward our relationships intentionally. Relationships with unbelievers exist, yes, but mostly for the sake of bringing the gospel of the kingdom to them. Within the Body, however, we are meant to have deeper, more meaningful connections—relationships that carry counsel, support, accountability, and shared purpose.

    But not every Christian relationship is healthy. I always ask: Is this someone I’d want my children to follow? Is their life a model I’d want reproduced? Because who we allow close will always shape us. You don’t seek marriage advice from someone with a broken marriage. You don’t ask spiritual counsel from someone who refuses to walk in fellowship with the Body. Relationships may be ordained by God—but their maintenance is our responsibility.

    Boundaries, Not Breaks

    2 Thessalonians 3:6-7 gives us a bold directive: “Withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly.” That’s a hard word for our modern ears, but it’s straight from the Word. The Greek idea of “withdraw” is not to fully sever ties but to reorder the relationship. It’s about setting boundaries.

    That word “disorderly” speaks volumes. It’s not about someone struggling—it’s about someone who refuses to submit to the structure and order of God. They walk independently, unaccountable, out of step with the Body, and in opposition to sound doctrine. That’s the person Scripture warns us to distance from—not to punish, but to give space for God to bring repentance.

    Immature Christians think boundaries are rejection. But boundaries actually protect what’s valuable. They determine how much of our heart, our time, our spiritual energy we invest. Relationships must be measured by spiritual maturity, not just sentiment.

    Paul takes it further in 1 Corinthians 5, saying we shouldn’t even eat with a believer who lives like the world. Not the sinner outside the Church—but the brother inside it who refuses to be transformed. This is about spiritual stewardship. If we keep close ties with unrepentant believers, we enable their dysfunction and invite confusion. Sometimes, the most loving thing we can do is let go. Yes, it’s hard. I’ve walked it. I’ve had to limit connections with uncorrectable believers, disengage from those choosing worldliness.

    The Kingdom of God is relational at its core. God places us in the Body not just for function, but for fellowship. True koinonia isn’t about coffee and casual talk—it’s about sharing spiritual life, helping one another become who God intended.

    Take an honest inventory: Who are you walking with? Who’s helping you grow in Christ? Who are you helping in return? Are your leaders truly discipling you, or are you stuck in a cycle of peer mentoring with no real transformation?

    God-ordained relationships will challenge you, stretch you, and grow you. Cultivate those. Guard those. And be willing to release what no longer carries His breath.

  • The Wineskins of Decisions: Building for God, Not Just for Us

    I wrote this blog a few weeks ago and felt I was not to not post it until later. Now I see some posting on wineskin and feel I should post.

    For decades now, there’s been a constant buzz in kingdom circles about the “wineskin” and what God desires to build in this season. There’s been talk of new dynamics, fresh structures, and groundbreaking concepts that are supposed to carry the “new wine” God is pouring out. Countless conversations, teachings, and strategies have centered on this theme for over 30 years.

    But here’s what I’ve noticed: most of these discussions focus more on the wineskin itself than on the new wine meant to be inside it.

    When Jesus spoke of wineskins, His audience understood the natural process. New wine required a new wineskin. The grape juice would ferment, releasing gases and creating pressure. An old, dry wineskin couldn’t stretch with this process—it would burst. The wineskin wasn’t just for fermentation; it was also for transportation. It was a portable container designed for movement and flexibility.

    Through the years, I’ve heard many interpretations:

    • The wineskin is the kingdom, the wine is the ecclesia.
    • The wineskin is sonship, the wine is identity.
    • The wineskin is Jesus, the wine is the Holy Spirit.
    • The wineskin is the apostolic, the wine is the ecclesia.

    At different times, I’ve embraced each of these views. Lately, I’ve been sensing the wineskin is sonship and the wine is holy community. Maybe the wineskin looks different depending on the season we’re in. There’s no shortage of speculation about Luke 5 and Jesus’ teaching on wineskins and how we would apply this for today.

    One widely accepted interpretation is that new revelations won’t fit into old structures, and therefore, we need new structures. While that’s true, we often overlook the primary message Jesus was sharing: the old wineskin is the Old Covenant, and the new is the New Covenant. That’s the essential framework He was establishing.

    Where we tend to get tripped up is in attempting to build a new wineskin inside an old environment—or alongside it—without recognizing that “new” means exactly that. New. Nothing of the old can really be repurposed. The conversations about new wineskins that have echoed for over 40 years haven’t materialized into visible change, perhaps because we’re still clinging to fragments of the old.

    The reality staring at us is who is willing to let go of what has been in order to grab what is indeed new. Who is willing to lay everything as an offering in being able to go into what we don’t understand. It really is the ultimate faith journey.

    The word “new” (in Greek) means unused, unworn, recently made, fresh, unprecedented. It describes something of a completely new nature—not just new in time, but new in kind. It hints at something miraculous and unexpected that salvation ushers in: a new heaven, a new earth, a new Jerusalem, a new name, a new song, a new creation, and yes, new wine. All of these point to God’s desires and plans, not man’s.

    Here’s what I also see: the wineskins people are trying to build today are heavily influenced by the times they live in and the revelation they currently carry. This has led to many people building many wineskins for many reasons, instead of us collectively building a singular wineskin focused on the kingdom Jesus spoke of. Often, the emphasis is on creating a new structure to make ministry easier and more effective—rather than building from a kingdom covenant framework that aligns with the heart of God.

    Add to that the tension of personal preference. It’s easier to default to the old wineskin because it feels familiar. It reflects past preferences, past experiences—even good ones—that we’re reluctant to let go of. But what was a productive truth in the past might not be the truth needed now.

    I believe much of our pursuit has been about creating a wineskin that works for us, instead of asking what would a wineskin built solely for God look like? Could we dare to build something not centered on our convenience or efficiency, but entirely for His pleasure? What if the wineskin we’re called to build is designed to connect deeply with the next age—the eternal age?
    What if it was a portal, a spiritual opening, transferring heaven to earth? A place where the frequencies of heaven resonate across all dimensions? A way of redefining and realigning. Could the wineskin be a kind of superposition—a quantum space operating simultaneously in two dimensions, waiting to be measured by the manifestation of His glory? At its simplest, the wineskin is a container—but for what? For God’s new. And if we built it for Him alone, would it even entertain men? Or would it instead draw God Himself?

    In 2015, God told me to build a throne for Him in our state. I didn’t know what that meant at the time. Now, the pathway is becoming clearer. The “new” rarely seems logical or realistic. It never fits the status quo. But in contemplating what a wineskin built for God might look like, I wrote down these thoughts:

    1. It would be a place that allows the expression of the next age to form.
      An understanding of the eternal would permeate everything.
    2. It would be a place where the sounds and frequencies of heaven are heard and felt.
      Not just earthly worship, but a heavenly discourse and sound.
    3. It would be a place of spiritual flow and expression.
      Flowing in sync with God, unrestricted by time or human agendas.
    4. It would be built for God’s presence more than for man’s entertainment.
      A place not of visitation but sustained dwelling.
    5. It would be a place filled with revelation of the mysteries of God.
      A continual unveiling of God, leaving man in awe.

    These would naturally result in the things we currently discuss about wineskins, but those would be the byproducts or fruit of, not the focus. The how-to’s of ministry would emerge from the wineskin itself as fruit—an effect of being inside the wineskin and becoming the wine.

    What strikes me is how little conversation actually focuses on building a wineskin for God.
    After all, it’s His wine, His container. We can’t build anything apart from Him. This requires us to move from ownership to stewardship—a shift that might explain why many cling to the old wineskin. The new demands we give up control.

    All the ministry functions we struggle to implement would naturally flow from His presence. Needs would be met simply by standing before Him. Ministry would shift to its rightful order: Melchizedek priests ministering first to the Lord, and then into the earth’s culture.

    I challenge you to reconsider your wineskin. What if you built it as a place where God would love to dwell? When He is with us, many of our issues would resolve in His presence. Let’s not confuse the wineskin with the wine. If we build for Him, the wine will come.

  • When Words of Encouragement Aren’t Enough: A Message to Ministry Leaders

    Every ministry leader looks for signs that the work is bearing fruit—affirmations that they’re in step with God, glimpses of spiritual maturity in those they lead, and those powerful moments when someone has a life-changing encounter with the Lord. These moments encourage us deeply. But what happens when those affirmations are absent—or worse, when they come too late?

    We all need encouragement. It’s not a weakness; it’s part of how God wired us. Encouragement reminds us we’re making a difference, that something we’ve invested in is producing fruit. But there’s a danger too: when leaders begin to feed on affirmation like a drug, it breeds unhealthy motives and even codependency. I’ve seen this firsthand. A leader begins needing affirmation to feel valuable, and the people begin needing the leader to validate them—rather than seeking that identity in God. Left unchecked, this dynamic poisons a church.

    In ministry, there are seasons of encouragement and seasons of silence. Most experienced leaders understand this ebb and flow. In the quiet seasons, we often draw on past affirmations or lean hard into the Lord’s presence. But sometimes, the silence stretches longer than expected. No thank-you, no fruit you can see, no sign you’re making a difference. And then—maybe finally—words of encouragement come, but they fall flat. They’re late. Out of sync. Like water offered after the thirst has already broken you down.

    If you’ve been in ministry for a while, you know this feeling. You start to ask big questions: Why did I say yes to this in the first place? What did I hope would happen that never did? Have I drifted from the original vision? It’s a time of soul-level evaluation—and often a time of deep weariness. You are on a path alone. No one can help you find the way. The main thing you need is time. You can clear the schedule and speed the process or continue as is and drag things out.

    What you are needing is only one thing and that is hearing directly from God—not about the ministry, but about you. This is more than just reassessing strategy. It’s about resetting your own heart. Are you still stewarding your life well? Are you carrying assignments God never asked you to pick up? Are secondary things crowding out the primary call?

    One of my favorite scriptures is found in 1 Samuel 30:6. David is facing devastation—his people are speaking of stoning him, families have been taken, everything seems lost. But what does he do? It says, “David encouraged himself in the Lord.” He took the posture of a priest, put on the ephod, and sought God directly. That’s what we must do. When the encouragement of others isn’t enough, we must hear His voice afresh.

    These seasons aren’t pleasant, but they’re productive. Something is being built. A deeper faith. A clearer focus. A renewed strength. Often, God uses this time to replay your story—to show you how He’s been faithful, to remind you of the strength you once carried, and to reignite the fire of your original calling.

    Is it easy? Not at all. Are there distractions? Plenty. But this is a sacred moment. God is inviting you back to the foundation—not to fix everything, but to remember why you started. To rediscover that singular focus of the primary call of your life. To realign with your first love of serving, and to a simpler approach.

    So, leader, if you’re in a season where encouragement feels absent or ineffective, take heart. You’re not alone. And more importantly, you’re not finished. Let this be a time of holy re-centering. Let God speak to you. That’s where the real strength comes from.

  • Where do Doctrines Come From?

    Today we have lots of beliefs and much more even some open belief system. Where do doctrines we practice come from? Are they biblically based? What really makes a doctrine? Ill try to just give a quick overview and you can do some more digging.

    The word doctrine is actually a Latin word, doctrina, meaning “teaching, and instruction”. It is defined as a belief system that has a body of teachings or instructions, which has principles in how that belief system is operated. Again, all belief systems have a foundation that comes from a doctrinal statement of what they truly belief.

    Men have categorized biblical doctrine into class of study. You have heard of these as these are the main classifications.

    • Anthropology           Doctrine of Man
    • Angelology              Doctrine of Angels
    • Hamartiology           Doctrine of sin
    • Soteriology              Doctrine of salvation
    • Christology              Doctrine of Christ
    • Ecclesiology            Doctrine of the Church
    • Eschatology            Doctrine of future things
    • Pneumatology         Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

    Now all these help us see what we truly believe and to also see just how broad and all-encompassing certain topics are. Before we set these in place we looked at experiences that happened in belief systems. We looked for expressions of these experiences and these became sources of early doctrine. These are seen in orthodoxy:

    • Revelation.
    • Tradition.
    • Bible.
    • Liturgy.
    • The Councils.
    • The Fathers.
    • The Saints.
    • Canons.

    Now both of these sources can have lots of pitfalls and over emphasis. They also are coming from how men decided to categorize or what they felt was valuable. Many times, this is based on personal preference or even opinions.

    But the bible is noticeably clear only speaking of “Doctrines” through five distinct areas.

    • Doctrines of men    Man made rules to help maintain disciplined life. Generally, ends in control or intellectualism.
    • Doctrine of devils     False doctrines detrimental to all humankind
    • Doctrine of God       Foundational spiritual laws governing all existence, as we know it.
    • Doctrine of Apostles    Guidance of the church into understanding the above two doctrines
    • Doctrine of Christ     How the spiritual principles of God affect humankind.

    Doctrines of men is everything we listed out in the above two sections as truth is put into a man-made structure for interpretation. The belief statements in a ministry can include their own perspectives. Rules verses freedom or a heavy focus on certain actions. If there is manipulation you are seeing doctrines of men.

    Colossians 2:22 (KJV 1900) — 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

    Mark 7:7 (KJV 1900) — 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

    Ephesians 4:14 (KJV 1900) — 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

    The doctrine of demons is the mixture of Biblical truth and occultism or practices. It is the worship of angels, or deities and even men. It is the enshrining of relics, altars and burning of incense. It is focusing upon departed saints as well. The doctrine of demons comes through men and many times is mixed with the doctrines of men. Much of the time it works with a religious spirit as well. It is where eastern meditations come from, astrology, yoga, new age, wicca, magick, Qabalah, Chaos magic, satanism, freemason, Daughters of Eastern Star, Astro project, ceremonial magic, Transcendental Meditation, and a host of others that are embrace and even promoted in church structures.

    1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

    2 Timothy 4:2-42 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 43 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

    Next, we have doctrines that come from God. These would be sovereign actions or laws. They show forth his creative position as the creator and the covenant keeping God.

    Deuteronomy 32:2 — 2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, My speech shall distil as the dew, As the small rain upon the tender herb, And as the showers upon the grass:

    God’s doctrines show forth his righteous position as a righteous judge. As the lord of his creation. As one who is providential and works in the hearts of men and humanity. That he is supreme in love, authority, and decision. Paul’s said it best in:

    2 Timothy 3:16–17 — 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

    Next, we see the doctrines of Christ in Heb 6:1. There is much to say about this as most people do not even realize these doctrines are something we should have a firm grip on.

    Hebrews 6:1–4 — 1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

    Notice it says plural dead works, baptism and laying on of hands. This section of scripture would take many blogs to understand, and I suggest you study this out on your own. I do have a video on it in the Pathway Discipleship Video series on YouTube.

    But Jesus came as one to model what the doctrines of God were and how they were to be placed in our lives. John 7:16  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. His doctrine was only an extension of the fathers. But he made the fathers doctrines his very own. Mark 4:2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine… 

    They were very adamant to maintain the right doctrine and did not take it lightly if the doctrine was getting off or was false. To have right doctrine was a sign that you truly belonged to God the Father and the Son. But if the doctrine someone had was off it was not to be allowed the privilege of entering your house nor was the person carrying it.

    2 John 9 -10 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

    So, the help maintain the Doctrine of God and Christ we have the Apostles Doctrine. It was a governing of both doctrines and a further explanation of how to walk it out between us.

    Acts 2:42 — 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

    It was how the kingdom of God and the interaction of the king redeemed man. It was a doctrine of cause and effect, and a doctrine of actions. The expectation was believers would do what Jesus, and the father had already determined. There would be heart felt devotion and self-courage. So, it was a doctrine of:

    1. Doctrine of Governmental Oversight of the Kingdom and the Church
    2. Reinforcement of the Teaching of Jesus and the working of the Holy Spirit
    3. The advancement of the Kingdom
    4. Establishment of new doctrines based on the current moving and advancement of the church through the Holy Spirits activity.

    This can best be summed up in the following verse Paul spoke of to the Ephesian church.

    Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

    • One Body               Kingdom thinking not denominationalism.
    • One spirit                The Spirit does not contradict Himself.
    • One hope                Only one way of eternal life
    • One calling               To be conformed into the image of Christ.          
    • One faith                 Only one belief system
    • One baptism           Repentance (metanoia)
    • One God                 The Most High God