A Leader's First Responsibility by Mark Pfeifer

I’m not much into formulas when it comes to spiritual things, but what I read in Leviticus 9:23-24 did get me thinking…

 “And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people, and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.”

 There seems to be an important pattern in this scripture for leaders.  Consider these three things:

 FIRST. Ministry Begins in the Presence of the Lord

 This seems to me to be a pattern for leaders.  we start our ministries in the presence of the Lord!  Leaders can, unfortunately, do the work of God without knowing the God of the work. 

 Public ministry must begin with ministry to the Lord.  Everything we do must emanate from time spent in personal worship, prayer and reading of the Bible – not just in sermon prep – but in personal nourishment, instruction and edification.

 SECOND, Ministry is all About the People.

 Ministry is about blessing others, not about promoting ourselves.  When ministry is used to create celebrities and leaders are motivated for the sake of fame and popularity, ministry leaves the realm of the Kingdom of God and degrades into something resembling the Whore of Babylon.

 Ministry for sale! 

 When an entertaining spirit invades the church, it’s like a Trojan Horse.  Hidden inside are all the worldly trappings of immorality found in Hollywood. 

 And we wonder why so much sin and debauchery is now being uncovered in the church! 

 We are reaping the consequences of a generation of leaders who have viewed ministry as a means to become rich and famous instead of becoming a servant at the door who washes the feet of God’s children.

 THIRD, Glory and Fire Both Fell on the Congregation.

 Glory and fire go hand-in-hand. I’m not sure you can have (or want) one without the other.

 Glory without fire produces spiritual junkies who love the presence of God but without any real change in their lives.

 Fire without glory consumes people in a religious fervor that eventually burns them up and then burns them out. 

 But glory combined with fire produces a balance between the immediate blessing of power and the long-term growth of holiness and maturity.

 Glory is the exalted presence of God for which every human heart was created, and in whose company, every human being is made whole.  Fire is His consuming presence that eradicates sin and all things that hinder our full manifestation as sons and daughters of God. 

 One imparts and the other extracts. 

 Both are necessary. 

 RESULT:  When the people saw glory and fire, they fell on their faces.

 What a beautiful picture of worship, submission, honor and respect!  We will not see an awakening and renewal in the world until we first see glory and fire in the pulpits and in the church. 

 The good news is that it is happening!  There is an awakening upon us.  People are starting to wake up and see themselves and the world in the light of glory and fire!

 As leaders, let’s make sure we are prioritizing and starting each day in the secret place.  Allow your ministry to radiate from time spent in the presence of the Lord. 

 If we develop a secret place, we are less likely to have a secret life. 

 And nobody wants to see another leader fail!

  © 2024 Mark Pfeifer