August 7
Ezra 4:24-6:22 | PS 29:1-11 | Prov 20:26-27 | 1 Cor 3:5-23
True leaders don't just designate, they do. Pastor Lloyd Pulley, Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Old Bridge, in the aftermath of 9/11, didn't simply assemble teams to the sites surrounding the former World Trade Center, he led the teams in, then proceeded to reach out to those individuals mourning and suffering, disillusioned in the wake of the worst terrorist attack to hit American soil. Pastor Chuck Smith, the leader of the last large revival, the Jesus Movement, and Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa also was the same individual who would help with the landscaping, fix the bathrooms, etc around the sanctuary. God will place us in positions to lead others, this might be in smaller ministries, or at the workplace. We must decide when God gives us these opportunities what we will do with them. We are God's representatives, and we must remember that when Jesus walked the earth in His ministry, He taught, he led, but He also did. He was willing to get in the midst of things.
We read in Ezra 5:1-2, "Then the prophet Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophets, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. So Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak rose up and began to build the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, helping them." These same prophets who spoke forth God's words to the people, then tucked their tunics in and proceeded to get in the middle of the building project. They didn't assign, they did. Paul, the most prolific writer in the New Testament was also a tentmaker, etc.
We read in 1 Corinthians 3:16, "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" Our significance rests on Who it is that resides within us, not what position we may or may not hold. Our ability to move in the power of the Holy Spirit is illuminated when we move out in His power, rather than just point our fingers and ask others to move. May we all accept and take seriously whatever position God has placed us in.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: