And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show yourself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. (I Kings 18:1) Prophetic Across our nation people have succeeded in business and have become millionaires, even billionaires! Yet statistics show that 3 out of 4 start-up businesses fail. Mr. Shikhar Ghosh of Harvard business school recently noted that three quarters of our nation’s investors will prove to be fools as they lose money in new start-up firms, although their business plans seemed to be foolproof. We as believers know that even the businesses that have succeeded will ultimately fall with the exception of Kingdom business. Great leaders are inspired by a great word from God. They greatly understand that the way to avoid becoming greatly pathetic is by obeying what is greatly prophetic. The prophetic is not spookiness nor mysticism. It is a simply what God is saying to His people and their generation. It is never contrary to what is written in the scriptures! And to be prophetic means to be a “mouthpiece”. It is to be a natural spokesperson called by the Supernatural God of all creation! You see, because there were no personal Bibles in early Israel the people had to lean heavily on the voice of the prophets to hear from God. As it is written: “Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem. Believe in the Lord your God; so shall you be established. Believe His prophets; so shall you prosper.” (2 Chronicles 20:20). Regardless of the fact that King Ahab and his wife Jezebel had successfully killed or controlled the influence of many of God’s prophets they could not stop the ultimate success of the prophetic! Ahab’s business plan was to crush the prophets and serve Baal. It worked momentarily. He and his wife controlled everything during their reign accept one thing, the rain! God sent the prophet Elijah to pray and prophesy that the heavens would be shut up until God said something different. This was to show God was ultimately in control; and to give Ahab, Jezebel, and the people a chance to repent. Although the prophetic flow is a little different in the New Testament believers were encouraged to not despise prophesy: “Do treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”(I Thessalonians 5:20-22 NIV). Likewise, believers were also exhorted to do all things in love and to be prophetic: “Pursue love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”(I Corinthians 14:1). Because of the weight behind and the magnitude of the idea of speaking on the behalf of God many believers are ashamed to do just that. Nevertheless the apostle James reminds us that the prophet who withstood the great king Ahab was not different than any of us! “Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” (James 5:17, 18). Do you possess a great consecration and great confidence to speak God’s word to this great generation? Well great! Maybe God is trying to make you into a great leader! Great leaders are inspired by a great word from God. They greatly understand that the way to avoid becoming greatly pathetic is by obeying what is greatly prophetic. Today let’s remember: Being prophetic is a privilege; but it also involves pain and persecution. Yet God’s word is a sure foundation! Regardless of all the great brains, boardrooms, and businesses of our world, the only sure thing in life is a sure word from God. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Let’s avoid the trial and error of this life. Let’s avoid the famine of an unpredictable future. Let’s avoid the pathetic. Let’s strive to be prophetic! _________________________________________________________ To Do: 1. Evaluate your plans. Are they inspired by God or godless competition? 2. Develop the habit of talking to God daily. 3. Make time to do nothing but read His word as well as time to listen to Him talk to your spirit. 4. Don’t waste your time talking about people. Pray for and love everyone. ________________________ It’s Inevitable: “…the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever!” (Revelation 11:15). _________________________________________________________ Have comments? You can reach Glenn Usry at gusry.fdd@gmail The Anatomy of a Great Leader © 2014
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 15:59:00 +0000
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