Today, I was reminded of the church’s work during this transition between administrations and, hopefully, our culture. We are moving from a corrupt, demonically controlled administration to one that has a proven track record of putting the people first. However, this new administration still operates in a corrupt, demonically engaged world with corruptible humans. The new administration will not be perfect, and we will disagree. Still, we will not, hopefully, deal with illegal muzzling of our God-given and Constitutionally protected rights. Regardless, the ekklesia (aka church) can never again become complacent. We must remain vigilant to ensure satanic norms of sexual deviation, anti-God doctrines and laws, and wholesale brainwashing and mutilation of our children are not allowed. The church following Jesus Christ must not sit idly by and let anyone, RINOs, DINOs, or independents, insert their deviancy into our culture again. The fight to take back the country from an ungodly precipice has just started, and the ekklesia must energetically engage.
This season of transition is reminiscent of the time of Ezra, Nehemia, and Haggai during Israel’s captivity in Babylon. Cyrus of Persia had just removed the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. God moved on Cyrus’ spirit so that he would allow the temple in Jerusalem to be rebuilt. It was Ezra’s assignment to lead the reconstruction. Later, Nehemiah was allowed to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls with the blessing and support of King Artaxerxes. Twice, in the space of a few years, God used unbelievers as vessels of deliverance for the Jews. However, even with the King’s permission, Ezra and Nehemiah encountered resistance. Sometimes, the resistance was outside the Jewish culture and sometimes within. These leaders had to overcome both to stay focused on the task at hand. The church today must do the same.
For decades, the church has been lethargic or totally apathetic toward government, education, and even its own house. After the last four years of cultural, economic, and governmental slide, America has been granted a reprieve. We are deep in a hole of our own making. The church did not take its duties seriously and left government, economics, and education to the ungodly. As we step in to support the new administration, there will be resistance like Ezra and Nehemiah faced. We will have media, governmental, educational, industrial, familial, and church resistance. As leaders in this new environment, it is our duty to meet them on the battlefield, wherever that field is, and be prepared to overcome the resistance with Godly weapons. It will not be a battle for the faint of heart.
Are you ready to stand up at work, school, and governmental arenas and lose friends, family, and followers as you present God’s Word and His plan? Are you, as a leader in the church/culture/community, ready to convey the message of Haggai when your followers become too complacent and inwardly focused, building their own homes/lives while leaving the Temple/Kingdom unfinished? (Haggai 1:1-14) Are you prepared to enter the church, mission field, or organization and “contend” with the rulers (those in charge) and demand to know, “Why is the House of God forsaken?” (Nehemiah 13:11)
As leaders in the coming years, we must be ready to take a few arrows from the sidelines—that shield of faith will come in very handy. People will again try to suppress your message and lie about you and those you work with. Recognize they do this from a position of willful ignorance as they do not read the Bible or well-researched sources and generally get their parrotable information from equally ill-informed mainstream media. We will need to confront the incoming administration if they come off the rail and do not follow the Biblical mandate they have been given. All of these activities will continue to force each leader to face his/her comfort zone and step outside that tight circle. Speaking in governmental meetings, school board meetings, church meetings, and through the media will be necessary. Also, a willingness to leave relationships, jobs, and communities may be required should recalcitrance dictate and the Lord direct.
As you lead in these developing times, look to the churches of Revelations for guidance. Strive to make your company, family, church, or ministry like the churches at Smyrna (Revelations 2:8-11) and Philadelphia (Revelations 3:7-13). These are the churches that, although persecuted by the world, stay with God and profess Christ through the travails. In the end, these churches are victorious and the ones of which He asks, “Nevertheless when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith?” (Luke 18:8). If we lead our organizations and communities like Smyrna and Philadelphia, it appears the answer is yes.
Finally, in verse 13 of Ephesians 4, Paul tells us we are to do this work “til we all come to the unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ…” That little word, “til” (Greek mechri) means we are headed to a divine, predetermined endpoint. We are to continue growing, learning, and exercising the gifts God has bestowed on us through His Son until we arrive at that end. We are not finished as long as we are alive on this earth. Keep exercising those gifts as the purposeful leader you are called to be.