Transforming Nations: Win The Leaders!

Lightbearers MinistriesUncategorized

Author’s note: the following is adapted from notes to an address to
the TRANSFORMING NATIONS CONFERENCE in Cotonou, Benin, earlier this
month.

All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s
household. Philippians 4:22 NKJV

Things don’t ‘just happen.’ They happen because someone makes them
happen. As it is true in our individual lives, so it is with the
transformation of nations! Nations are made up of people, and people
are influenced and led by leaders. The Church has failed to think
strategically about nation transformation. We set up our crusades in
the marketplace, thinking we will impact the community, but we fail
over and over again. Why? Leaders don’t go to the marketplace. If
anything, they send someone on their behalf. We think we can change
the nation from the ground up. Not so! We must reach the nation from
the top down, as well as from the ground up. We will see that this
approach was taken over and over by the early Church…

A leader is simply someone who has followers, who has influence over others.

There are two types of leaders: positional or formal, and informal or
natural. A positional leader gains his authority from the
organizational position he occupies. A natural leader gains his
authority by the free will acceptance of others. A natural leader
says, “I’m going fishing!” His followers say, “Hey, fishing sounds
like fun! Let’s go!” A positional leader may not be a natural leader,
which makes following them something that is forced or out of
obligation. But when you have a positional leader who is also a
natural leader, you have one dynamic individual.

Leaders can be powerful individuals, but they also can have great
needs because of very weak and disintegrating personal lives. Many
times they have sacrificed all for their leadership, so their
marriages and families are ruined. Often a charismatic personality
props up a weak and damaged life that will surely end in failure
without the saving of their souls. Even the greatest among us must be
born again and filled with the Spirit of God!

FOUR CASE STUDIES

A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Proverbs 18:16 NKJV

In our first case study, we will see how two sentences spoken by a
simple, Spirit filled saint changed the life of a great leader, and
effected the destinies of two nations.

Please read 2 Kings 5:1-19.

Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great
and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord
had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a
leper. And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back
captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s
wife. Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the
prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.” 2
Kings 5:1-4 NKJV

Words uttered by the gift of prophecy have the anointing to impart
earth-shaking faith. The words of this little woman moved the hearts
of two kings, plus a military commander, Naaman, and the prophet
Elisha. You can do the same thing! The key to reaching the hearts of
leaders is to speak to them by the Spirit of God. Let them hear from
God!

You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it
will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. Therefore settle
it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will
not be able to contradict or resist. Luke 21:12-16 NKJV

Please also see John 14:26, Mark 13:11, 12, and 1 Corinthians 14:3.

( At this point in the address, the author prophesied over two
individuals, and then activated the whole conference in the gift of
prophecy. Many attested that they heard from God! )

In our second case study, a man of God wins a natural leader by
demonstrating the power of God. This changes a whole city!

Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he
continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs
which were done. Acts 8:13 NKJV

Please read Acts 8:5-13.

Simon was an informal or natural leader, with a talent for promoting
himself using witchcraft. Everybody listened to this guy! I have found
that when people are hungry for spiritual things they are really
hungry for the living God. This is why Philip got such a reception in
Samaria! He spoke, and demonstrated the resurrected Christ, and the
people found the true Source of their hunger. God does not meet you at
the point of your need. He meets you when you are hungry!

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 NKJV

In our third case study, we will see that the devil seeks to influence
positional leaders, but the power of God crushes him.

Please read Acts 13: 6 -12.

And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking
someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he
saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
Acts 13:11-12 NKJV

Paul spoke a word of prophecy, not to the proconsul, but to the false
prophet, a Jew named Bar ( son of  ) Jesus. This prophecy had such an
effect that the false prophet was shut down, becoming ineffective ( by
God’s mercy he apparently lived ), and the proconsul believed the word
of God spoken by Barnabas and Paul.

This is the key – prophesy to, or in front of, great leaders when God
brings you into their presence. Your gift will make room for you! Look
into your heart, and speak the word that the Spirit has put there. It
seems that most religious people, when they come into the presence of
great leaders, have their hands out, looking for money. These men and
women hate this practice! You are not there to receive…YOU ARE THERE
TO GIVE!

Our leaders must repent of having any other agenda than the pure love
of Christ when they are brought before great men and women. You are
there to represent Him in word and power, not to be a beggar for the
kingdom of God. The simple, pure-hearted love of God will empower you
to reach the heart of that great one!

Leaders naturally evaluate character, and they do it instantly. They
will see you as a deceiver if you come with anything other than the
pure love of Christ. They will be cordial to you, but they will
dismiss you, if they see you have a worthless character, and nothing
for them. Be who God has made you to be!

In our fourth case study, we will see that the Gospel reached the very
pinnacles of political power.

Please read Philippians 1:12 -18, and Acts 28:17 – 30.

All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s
household. Philippians 4:22 NKJV

Caesar’s household may have been his home born slaves, or it may have
been his sons and daughters. You can bet that the saints reached out
the big fellow himself! Paul had won many of the palace guard who had
watched him. They then in turn witnessed to those around them, and the
whole household of the emperor was filled with the gospel, like leaven
in a loaf of bread. Hallelujah!

We could have looked at Peter with Cornelius in Acts Ten, or Paul’s
friends, the Asiarchs, the chief of Asia in Acts Nineteen, or Paul
before Agrippa, but you ‘get the picture.’ They reached out to
leaders, and won them…

CONCLUSIONS

A man’s gift will make room for him, and bring him before great men. I
would suggest that you identify and target twenty leaders in your
community, state and nation. Look for leaders in all categories of
life, even religious leaders of other religions, and witchdoctors.
Organize prayer for them, and pray for them yourself. Make a plan and
go meet them. Do so with the pure love of Christ! When you can, look
them in the eye and speak the words God gives you. Follow through with
them and make a friend. Demonstrate the power of God. You can
transform nations of people very quickly by reaching those who lead
them!

Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…