Heads up!

Every once in awhile at NPNC, we come across great word for leaders by different authors. Prophetess Karen Pina has graciously agreed to let us feature an article that is sure to enlighten! Enjoy!
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When you are the real deal, people come out of the wood works trying to get you to hear God for them on their supposedly God-ordained projects. Then you tell them what God says and it's not what they want to hear because they and their projects are filled with compromise.

So many in the body of Christ want you to relate to them the way they want you to relate to and with them and not the way God intends. Search your relationships; revisit the original intent and purposes of why God allowed you to come into one another's life. If you see any signs of self-imposed veering off that original path, gently call a time out and redirect them/the relationship back onto God's course. If they cannot be redirected, they sure won't obey God in keeping to the original intents and purposes of the relationship or projects.

It's time to shift out of using relationships for what we want, think, and can get out them into what God desires/wants in relationships. This is the way to truly connect with others. When we try to force our will and desire upon the relationship, we rob God of glory and others of genuine fellowship,

One more thing when/if the season of the assignment/purpose is over, and God has released you or the other person, exert wisdom and let it go. When you try to hold on to someone beyond the assignment/purpose, you are operating in witchcraft (defined as the bending/twisting of the will). When God will is done in the relationship, don't tamper, manipulate, coerce, desire, or force anyone to stay.

Now there are some relationships that will transcend the assignment/purpose into deeper fellowships of brotherly love and deep friendships. How we praise God for these! At the same time, every relationship can't and won't fall into this category. It's time to discern the difference between the two.

Recently, I had to manage a couple of folk who were operating in witchcraft, emotional blackmail, guilt, and what I have come to call "Word whoopings" (i.e, using scripture to beat you, accuse you, and provoke you to a certain response).

Here are some tips to help you:

1) Set boundaries by asking yourself and them

What is the purpose of this call, visit, e-mail? Who sent you? How can I serve you? Once you have clarity on this, serve, meet the need, and move on to the next need/assignment. Naturally if they were not sent by God, your approach will be different. What I've learned to do is ask God, "How do you want me to deal with this distraction from hell?" Listen and heed what He says and do it! Now, you know they will most likely call, e-mail, or visit again, repeat this asking/listening process until they flee.

2) Limit access: (i.e., contact information)

I don't know about you but I'm a busy bride . . . always about my Father's business. I don't have time for time wasters, professing powerless Christians, mundane, mediocre and moldy agendas, bullheadedness, roots of resistance, striving, and worry. When I see this stuff oozing out the spirit of folks, I limit the access they have to me, and so should you. When you've given the Word time and time again, and they resist God, why do they need direct access to you when they won't allow God direct access to the "stuff" they keep holding onto?

3) Put it writing

It is written! As God leads consider putting your purpose, assignment and release in writing. This way everyone is clear about God intents, purpose, and His timely release. I don't want good to be spoken of as evil. When folks can't manipulate or coerce you, they retaliate by committing murder with their mouths and actions. When it is in writing, you have established God's heart, purpose, and the truth nothing but the truth so help you God. There are some folks who thrive off ministry bashing, name destroying, and love to keep some stuff going in ministry. Truly, this is about the only excitement they have. Because God's glory is nowhere around, they conjure up attention and excitement the only dysfunctional way they know how. You've told them time and time again, everything is okay, you are forgiven, etc., but as sure as your name is ___________, they are going to make it something that it is not. Who have they been listening to? Certainly, not God.

True ministry leaders, this is your heads up from Holy Spirit! Everyone wants to cling to the real deal; it's your role to discern why and what for.

I want to serve the LORD in the beauty of holiness. How about you? Unity dwells in the beauty of holiness. When we seek God in our interactions (what to say, when to call, what not to say) with others in the body, strife and contention cease. The bible clearly tells us in James that quarrels, arguments, and fights stem from our own lusts. So, if you are always upset with a particular ministry leader God brought into your life, find out what you are lusting for and you will have identified the root of the source of struggle and contention. God told me this today: I assure you all is well, nothing is missing, nothing is broken, and wholeness abounds in all relationships established by the Kingdom of God. Stay away from folk who find something wrong with every project, everything, everybody, and every ministry. They are in league with and committed allegiance to the demonic spirit named: Wrong Focus!

For then [changing their impure language] I will give to the people a clear and pure speech from pure lips, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one unanimous consent and one united shoulder [bearing the yoke of the Lord]. - Zephaniah 3:9 AMP

For then will I turn to the peoples a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one consent. Zeph 3:9 Tanakh

Heads up: This time is now, and it is time to be united with those who serve with one unanimous consent, purpose, with pure speech calling on the LORD out of pure heart, and those who are bearing the LORD’s yoke, not their own yoke.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63 KJV

It is the Spirit who gives life, the flesh is no help. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life, - John 6:63 The Complete Jewish Bible

With wisdom, glory, and riches,

Prophetess Karen

© Gifts Ordained by Direction/Karen M. Pina 2009

Brief Bio

KAREN M. PINA

International coach trainer, author, and minister Karen M. Pina has been creatively writing for over 15 years. She is author of the well-received Leadership FITness - Experiencing Fullness in The Temple, Is it the job, the boss, you . . . or are you an entrepreneur?, The Making, creator of the One-Stop Marketing Program, and founder of Gifts Ordained by Direction and GOD’s Coach U, a training and coaching practice. She is the virtuous wife of Stanley Pina, a leadership coach and pastor. They live in Connecticut where they raise two beautiful daughters.

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What's with the Long-Handled Spoon?

Moses was responsible for leading some three million people upon their exodus from Egypt. No doubt this was a daunting task. Moses would spend his day hearing the matters of all the people and consulting God on their behalf. His father-in-law Jethro told him that it was not good nor was it healthy to continue to lead the people in that manner. According to Exodus 18, Jethro instructed Moses to do the following:

1. Teach the people the ordinances and statutes of God; in other words, show them how to walk.
2. After teaching the people, Moses was to appoint men, not just anyone but men who 1) fear God, 2) are truthful and 3) are not covetous or who take bribes to assist him in governing the people.

Because Moses followed the instruction of his father-in-law, he was able to concentrate on weightier matters and hear from God. Moses had to delegate or outsource his tasks. He needed able bodies to help carry the vision. So he taught the people and sent them out to carry out the business of governing the people of Israel. It was near impossible for Moses to have personal contact with approximately three million people.

Elijah and Elisha - Elisha left his family to become Elijah’s servant and attend to his needs. He watched his teacher, learned from him and when we see Elijah taken up to heaven, Elisha calls him, “My father, my father.” This speaks of more than just teacher-student relationship. Their relationship evolved into that of father and son like we see in the New Testament.

Jesus and the Apostles - Jesus hand selected 12 men to be his disciples. He ate with them, taught them, empowered them, sent them out, got frustrated with them, and encouraged them. This type of leadership is very hands on. It’s the kind of relationship you have with those who will succeed you. You pour into them, you teach, you correct, and in the end, you have people who are committed and passionate about the God-inspired vision and purpose.

Paul and his sons Timothy and Titus - The Apostle Paul was a father figure to Timothy and Titus. He instructed them, prayed for them, spent time with them and eventually sent them out to take care of Kingdom business.

Jonathon and David - These two men were friends and brothers. Jonathon knew David would eventually take the throne one day from his father Saul so he prepared David for the palace. Again this was an intimate relationship. This wasn’t David paying Jonathon $1500 for a Learn How To Be King One Day course.

Wondering where I am going with this?

In the examples cited, the nature of the relationships was hands on. The teacher was involved in the life of his pupil. Paul knew Timothy’s mother and grandmother; he knew that Timothy was struggling as a leader because of his age and so on. Timothy and Titus were Paul’s spiritual sons and they interacted as such.

What I do not understand is how today’s spiritual leaders think they can teach and impart into spiritual sons and daughters and not be close or hands on if you will. I truly do not understand this. They want to lead this intimate group as if they are Moses dealing with millions. They have all kinds of buffers in place and levels of bureaucracy for a group of people with whom they are supposed to disciple, teach, and impart into. It makes about as much sense as me trying to rear my children while living on the moon.

It is a phenomenon that leaves many sons and daughters a bit lost and confused. They serve faithfully in a ministry, the call of God on their lives is evident and they are ignored by leadership or are fed with a long-handled spoon. Now these are not people who want to simply get what you have and are gone tomorrow; these are true sons and daughters.

If I had to speculate as to why this is so, I would guess unresolved hurt and insecurity to be the main enemies. Maybe they have no idea how to be a spiritual parent and so they avoid anything that would expose this perceived weakness. But what first time parent knows what they are doing? Some leaders surround themselves with an air of grandeur and self-importance even with their spiritual sons and daughters. It would be easier to call a meeting with the Secretary of State than to schedule face time with these leaders. Then some leaders have no intention of training a successor because the ministry is all about them anyway.

The biblical examples stated above were based on love. There was no abuse. Fathers and teachers poured into willing sons and students. They gave of themselves because they knew the call was bigger than their personal ministry. It really was about advancing the Kingdom of God; His purpose and His agenda. The passing of this Great Message from one generation to the next must continue and it is up to leaders to impart and empower those who will succeed them. And you can’t do that with a long-handled spoon.

Man and woman of God, don't be afraid of these God-ordained relationships that require high levels of intimacy. Will you get frustrated in the process? Yes. (Read about it here.) Will you always have the right answer? Probably not. But by pouring into those God has ordained to you, the Kingdom of God advances and in the end, that's all it's truly about.

Continue the good fight man and woman of God.

You're taking territory!

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