Conversations with Fathers Of The Faith

“ So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”  Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am . This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ “  Exodus 3;10-14

I think the key to leadership is that somewhere deep in your soul, you’ve got to have that feeling, and it comes in different ways, that God has called you to do this… 20 years ago in Mississippi, God let me know deep down in my soul that He had called me to be a leader.  Just like you had to have that feeling that God had called you to be the pastor and I find that – and I tell young folks in leadership, “Somewhere deep in your soul, you’ve got to feel like God has called you to do this.”

~John Perkins
A Conversation on A Leader’s Heart
www.fathersofthefaith.com

“When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”  John 11:43-44 (NASB)

I think often of Jesus raising Lazarus and how he was bound as he came out of the grave.  And he said to the people, “Unwind him and let him go.”  And that’s the word I hear from the Lord when I get controlling over and over again. He said, “Unwind her, let her go.  Let her be free.”  “Unwind him,” whether it be a son, wife, friends or staff.  Very often I get very controlling and the Lord says, “Okay, you’re out of the grave.”

~Lloyd Ogilvie
A Conversation on Leadership Challenges
www.fathersofthefaith.com

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children ²and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2

I remember on occasion having to deal with the question of legacy.  I realized that if I start thinking about legacy you start thinking about memorial stones, eulogies, and you start down the wrong path. I think just live life faithfully before the Lord.  Value people.  I want to be three things.  I want to be genuine, generous and gracious.  I just want to be that.  If I’m genuine, I will constantly be real.  If I’m generous, then I’m constantly giving.  If I’m gracious, then I am always making more space for places that people tend not to give space.

~Jack Hayford
A Conversation on A Leader’s Heart
www.fathersofthefaith.com

^“We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you.” 2 Corinthians 10:12-13

The trouble with Jesus, He acts like He’s God or something and He just steps in and takes your life over.  So you don’t have to compare yourself to somebody else because they’re not your ultimate boss, He is.

~Winkie Pratney
A Conversation on A Leader’s Heart
www.fathersofthefaith.com

“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy. Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.”  I Peter 1: 15-17

We are conservative theologically, but often, we are practical atheists.  We do not live out in our experience what we say we believe.  For instance, “Be holy, because I am holy.”  That’s not a suggestion; that’s a command.  But people want God to make himself real without holiness, and they want revival without cleansing and repenting.  To experience God, you have to know Him, know what He is saying, believe Him and then live it out.

~ Henry Blackaby
A Conversation on Jesus
www.fathersofthefaith.com

“Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:37-39 (New International Version)

When we talk about spiritual discipline, it brings to mind a rigidity, a scheduling.  You know, the Pharisees were best at that, and they were not exactly praised by Jesus.  But it’s the commitment (which is discipline) to love.  Love God with all your heart is the number one law.  You might ask, “How can love be a law?”  But that’s what it is. Loving God with all your heart, mind soul and strength, loving your neighbor as yourself, and even loving yourself.  In that process, there’s a discipline of the spirit.  Jesus says, “If you know me, you’ll love me.  If you love me, you’ll keep my commandments.”  It’s out of that love that our obedience comes.

~Loren Cunningham
A Conversation on Spiritual Health
www.fathersofthefaith.com

“I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” Revelation 2:19

The saddest thing in my life, as I look back over it, has been those people who I gave up on too quickly. I wish that I could go back and could have been more patient with them because I have a tendency, not a bragging right, to give up on people too quickly.  That’s a sadness that I have to live with.

~John Perkins
A Conversation on Leadership Challenges
www.fathersofthefaith.com

^“I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:31

We are so obsessed with our own image, our own success, our own status, that anything that hurts that probably needs to be crucified.  Paul talked about dying daily.  I think that so often when I’m upset, it’s because it might hurt my own career, my own status, or my own well being.  If I could say anything to a young leader, it would be to get to the place of surrendering so completely to Christ that it’s seeking His glory and not our own, and then getting free of constantly being hurt.

~Lloyd Ogilvie
A Conversation on Leadership Challenges

www.fathersofthefaith.com

“Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare”.  Isaiah 55:2

There are times to be at length with God, but thankfully, there are times to just enjoy His presence and enter a day with minutes, rather than an extended duration of time.  My pursuit of the Lord is to walk with Him everyday, for as many steps and openings that He draws me to, until I feel the warmth of His presence and the confidence of His hand on me.

~ Jack Hayford
A Conversation on Jesus
www.fathersofthefaith.com

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”  I Corinthians 1:25

A perfect coach is the one who knows exactly how much he can stretch you.  Just when you think you can’t take it anymore, he lets you go.  Then next time, he stretches you some more.  After 45 years, God plays me like an accordion because there’s never going to be an end to my learning.  Those angels around the throne never get bored with him.  If you hit a ceiling in your relationship with God, ask Him for a fresh revelation of who He is.  He’s happy to give it to you.

~ Winkie Pratney
A Conversation on Jesus
www.fathersofthefaith.com