Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Downwards promotion

Last night I was commissioned to a new level of leadership in the church. Twenty-five senior leaders gathered round me, hands were laid on me, prophetic words were spoken. It was awesome and I felt humbled and privileged and scared and full of faith. It brought to mind the commissioning of Timothy that Paul mentions in the New Testament:

Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. (1 Timothy 4:14)


This means more mopping (see the blog title and post on August 1st this year). Leadership in the Church of Jesus is about serving; about relinquishing rights not accruing them. Jesus made this clear: He Himself came to ‘serve and to give His life as a ransom for many’ - and ‘no servant is above his master’.

Last night, one apostolic leader spoke of me being like an elastic band – to be stretched! But the result of this stretching and the necessary tension this would produce in me would be that people were bound together: joined, gathered, tied, connected.

In fact, the tone of the whole evening had been along such lines, with prophetic teaching about how the pressures and strains upon our crackpot-frail humanity reveal the glory of God. In our weaknesses we are strong. In our struggles, it becomes clear to all that our strength comes from God and not from us.

I want to be a faithful servant. I want to run with perseverance the race that has been marked out for me. I want to fight the good fight of faith and hear my Master say one day, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’.

Pray for me.

10 comments:

Just teejay said...

I'm a bit lost as to why you titled this blog 'downward premotion' ???

; ) The TJ

n0rma1 said...

Downwards promotion - I've been promoted: but in the kingdom that means I've taken a lower place - gone downwards. Geddit?

Just teejay said...

Well, I can see what you're getting at and in the eyes of the word to be humble and serve might be considered as a downward promotion...but is that how God would see it?... or would he see the willingness to be humble and serve as a great thing...an upward thing for him?

; ) The TJ

Anonymous said...

yeh, brings to mind the incident on sunday where a brother went to the sisters to ask one of them/us to mop up someones sick. love the mopping skills...

dee-braveheart said...

James because the things that burn in your heart are of God i really do belive that he will grant you you hearts desires as long as they remain Gods hearts desires
much esteem

n0rma1 said...

TJ, I suppose I could have called it an upwards demotion?!!

Just teejay said...

Well you could have. It's just the words 'downward' and 'demotion' kinda have a negative ring to them and what you are talking about is really quite uplifting.Wasn't having a go or anything, think it's a way cool post

; ) The TJ

Anonymous said...

I'm proud of you! Now go on ahead.

s0upy said...

As requested:

Father, thank you. I pray for James. I ask for your deepening work to continue in his life. But, God, I also ask for more fruit; more than he has known yet; more than he could have achieved before this commissioning; more of your favour on his laid-down life. God, bless James. Amen.

Anonymous said...

Woo hoo! This means you can be immune to critisism from now on. If people argue with you you can silence them with one beady eye glance that says "I'm a Senior Leader now".
Keep up the good work youth.