Embracing True Servanthood: The Essence of Apostolic Leadership
Ezekiel 3-4; 2 Corinthians 7; Proverbs 15
The true apostolic, in whatever else it may entail, is surely encapsulated in this:
2 Corinthians 7: 2 “Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.”
The true apostolic isn’t about dates on a calendar. It’s not about conferences and accolades. It’s not about titles.
If we are going to press into the foundations of our faith, and we absolutely should, then please, let’s not overlook this:
“We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.”
Jack Deere, in his recent article about Paul Cain, and not just Paul Cain, but the entire prophetic and apostolic movement, wrote something I have not been able to shake. To share it, I must add some context from the article.
“I was thirty-nine years old when Paul promised me great power. I had just begun to pray that God would grant me a work of the Holy Spirit, to love the Son of God like his Father in heaven loved him. I had learned this prayer from my new friend Mike Bickle. This was years before I knew how to feel the affection of Jesus or that Jesus wanted to be friends with me. So I was only a beginner in knowing and experiencing the love of God. I continued to count on power to do for me what only the love of God could do. The pure and godly part of me pursued power because I wanted to see God exalted and people helped. The impure part of me pursued power to validate myself and show people I was special. And I believed that Paul would lead me into greater power than John Wimber had.
John had loved me. He taught me to hear God’s voice and how to pray for the sick. He paid for me and Leesa to go to conferences all over the country so I could learn the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Airline tickets, car rentals, hotels, food—anything we needed John took care of because he loved us. John gave me a place on his stage. He introduced me to leaders, movements, and churches around the world.
John gave.
Paul took.
I chose Paul.”
Here’s the full-length article. It’s worth the entire read for sure.
Why do we choose the takers? I don’t know why, but we do. We all do.
While the Lord only gives, He never takes, and yet, we’ve all spent years of our lives pursuing His enemy, the Taker.
May we all come to our senses. The Father, who is always keeping watch for us, will run to us, even as we are a long way off. He runs to us! Think of that.
Father, raise up the true apostolic once again. Certainly not for their namesake, but for yours. Raise up the true Mothers and Fathers, those who will say, “We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.”
Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts
- Reflect on your own journey with leadership within the church or spiritual communities. Have you ever experienced leadership that felt more like taking than giving? How did it affect your faith and relationship with God?
- Consider the characteristics of true apostolic leadership as described in 2 Corinthians 7:2 – not wronging, corrupting, or taking advantage of anyone. Write about a leader who has embodied these qualities in your life and how they’ve impacted your spiritual growth.
- Jack Deere’s article discusses the allure of power and how it can sometimes lead us away from the true essence of God’s love. Reflect on a time when you pursued something for the power or validation it promised. How did it compare to experiences where you pursued something out of love for God and others?
- The post mentions the concept of the “true apostolic” being about giving rather than taking. In what ways can you incorporate more giving into your spiritual practices or community involvement?
- The Father’s readiness to run to us, even when we are far off, is a powerful image of God’s love and grace. Spend some time reflecting on this image. Have you ever had a “prodigal son” moment where you felt God running to you? Write about that experience and what it taught you about God’s character.
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