Crossfire Expresses Grace, Not Entitlement

This week I’m talking about last days leadership. Many people in church leadership have taught us that because we are Christians we are entitled to blessing, entitled to prosperity, entitled to health, entitled to anything we want. That teaching creates an "entitlement attitude."

Jesus taught and lived from a position of grace. He offered us a new attitude where we can receive what we don’t deserve: God’s blessing, God’s love, God’s forgiveness, and God’s favor. We receive it not because of who we are but because of who He is in us. If you’re looking for a church where leaders express this new attitude of grace, try Crossfire. We’re a church with a grace foundation and a prophetic edge. We love to build people rather than build buildings. Come visit us this weekend at 10:00 a.m. Sunday.

Pictured: Last days leader and Crossfire member Lydia U. praying for a fellow believer in Brazil 2007.

Are Americans Entitled to More?

This week I’m talking about last days leadership. The culture of America has become an entitlement culture. It’s a culture where people feel they deserve certain benefits of being American. They feel entitled to own a house, drive a new car, wear designer clothes, have a bigger flat screen TV, have low cost health care, high salaries, and cheap gasoline.

In reality we are entitled to none of these. We are very fortunate and blessed to have some of these some of the time, but there is a prevailing feeling that Americans are entitled to them. From God’s perspective, we are entitled only to death and hell because of the sin issue. He chose to extend His favor and blessing to us in the form of Jesus Christ. He offered His favor (Luke 4:18-19) not because we deserved it but because He desired it. Because of God’s goodness we can experience the culture of undeserved favor in our hearts and in our circumstances.

We Receive God's Grace as Believers, Not as Leaders

This week I’m talking about last days leadership. Many leaders in the body of Christ have an entitlement attitude. This is an attitude founded in the belief that they deserve certain things from God and from people. The entitlement attitude is dangerous and undermines the very nature of our calling-- that of being a servant rather than of being served.

Many ministry leaders have gotten it all wrong; we don’t deserve anything simply because we are leaders. But by God’s grace we get to participate in His divine nature, to experience His love, to bask in His presence, and to receive his undeserved favor. And this, not because we are leaders, but because we are believers, not because of what we do, but because of what He did. The last days leader must return to the attitude of a servant, tossing away the attitude of entitlement. This is the only way we will reveal the heart of God to the people.

Paul Was Knocked Off His High Horse

This week I’m talking about last days leadership. Paul said, "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (Phil. 3:8). Paul saw his call as an apostle with eyes of humility rather than entitlement. Prior to his conversion Paul was a Pharisee, who saw himself as one entitled to certain benefits and honor as a result of his position. It took the Damascus road experience, being literally knocked off his high horse to bring him to a place of humility-- understanding God’s incredible undeserved grace.

So it is with today's leaders in the church. Many of us need to be knocked off our high horse of entitlement to again embrace grace, the undeserved blessings of God; to embrace humility and rejoice in the honor of being a leader in the body of Christ. Many of us have far too long felt entitled to honor, entitled to financial prosperity, or entitled to respect simply because we have a title. Paul considered all of his entitlements a loss compared to knowing Christ.

Last Days Leaders Cannot Be Concerned with Titles or Entitlements

This week I’m talking about last days leadership. Leaders in these times must be humble, with their hearts completely oriented toward God. We can no longer be concerned about titles or entitlements. Paul said in 1 Cor. 15:9, "For I am the least of the apostles and do not deserve to be called an apostle." A leader in the body of Christ is not entitled to anything other than serving God as a leader. We are not entitled to be called apostle, pastor, prophet or any other title simply because God called us to be His servant. We are not entitled to have a big house, a nice car, or any other amenity simply because we are a leader.

I thank God that some may honor us. I thank God we may have some of these things because of God’s grace, but as Paul said, "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (Phil. 3:8). Today’s leaders must look to grace--that undeserved gift-- as they walk the walk of a last days leader.

Crossfire Raises Up Last Days Leaders

This week I’ve been talking about Last Days Leadership. This kind of leader will go places others dare not go. This kind of leader will take risks that others will not. And this kind of leader will lay down their life for people they do not even know for the sake of the gospel.

Our ministry is raising up such leaders. We desire to build people, not buildings. We desire to have sending capacity, not seating capacity. Crossfire is such a ministry. We are a church that loves people and we reach people across the planet. We have a strong focus on sending people out to be effective for the kingdom of God; people who will put the kingdom of God first and the kingdom of man second. We’d love for you to visit this Sunday at 10am near south University Blvd. and Arapahoe Road.

Pictured: A sign in Brazil advertising a "miracle service" with Deborah Wittmier 2006.

Leaders Must Be Willing to Go Anywhere

This week I’m talking about Last Days Leadership. Leaders in the last days must reflect the attitudes and flexibility of leaders in the book of Acts. They went wherever the Holy Spirit asked. Paul went into the face of persecution knowing there was great opposition. Paul went to Macedonia when things were going well in Asia. Philip preached in Samaria because he had to escape from Jerusalem.

Leaders today must be willing and able to go where others do not and do what others can not. Jesus promised that there would be a testimony to ALL nations in these last days. Are you willing to go to any nation? Are you willing to spend your personal or ministry time and money in places such as Vietnam, Bolivia, or Pakistan? Are you willing to face persecution and even death? If you answer yes, you may be a last days leader.

Last Days Means Ample Opportunity

This week I’m talking about Last Days Leadership again. One of the great promises for the believer in the last days is that those who stand firm will not only be saved, but will preach the good news of Jesus to the whole world. My wife, Deborah, and I have preached in fifteen countries. We're only two people. What can a passion remnant of last days leaders do? Wow! What an opportunity for the gospel.

If you have the stability and commitment in your faith, you will have ample opportunity in these difficult times. But you must be firmly established in grace as your firm foundation or you will be tempted into works righteousness and performance based ministry. You’ll be into performance if your ministry is all about numbers and notoriety rather than hearts and humility. Last days ministry will require great grace. Tune into it now and get ready.

Pictured: a crowd in Brazil listening to Deborah preach 2008.

Leaders Cannot Afford To Burn Wasted Energy

This week I’m talking about Last Days Leadership again. Jesus told us in Matt. Chapter 24 that bad things would happen as we lead up to the end times. However, there will be great opportunity to propel passion among the people who are firm in faith and steadfast in spirit. It will be the passion of the Spirit.

In the last days we will not be able to only rely upon our five senses to live each day. We will need the 6th dimension of the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit will propel the passion of leaders to do things never thought possible. The Holy Spirit will propel leaders to touch people never thought touchable. We need the Holy Spirit of the book of Acts to lead in these last days. If you’re a leader in the body of Christ, you cannot afford to have programs and processes that are not initiated and ministered by the Holy Spirit. You can’t afford to burn your energy simply making people feel good.

Leaders Should Not Pamper

This week once again I’ll be talking about Last Days Leadership. Jesus told us in Matt. Chapter 24 that bad things would happen leading up to the end times. One of the signs Jesus mentioned was that the love of many would grow cold. They grow cold because church leadership pampers their five senses. The seeker-sensitive movement strives to attract and retain seekers by not offending or confronting. We then end up with people with shallow love-- a love that can grow cold quickly.

While most pastors so not seek to offend people, the preaching of the gospel will often do just that. Worshiping in spirit and in truth will often do just that. Declaring the abundance of God’s grace will even do just that. Allowing the Holy Spirit to move in His gifts will do just that. Last days leaders must not pamper the five senses, but rather ignite the fire of God’s spirit within those they lead.

Crossfire Embraces the Five-Fold Ministry Gifts

Eph. 4:11-13 tells us the role of the five-fold ministry gifts of pastor, apostle, evangelist, teacher, and prophet in building up the body of Christ. The purpose of these gifts is to prepare God’s people for work in the church, which leads to believers fully embracing all that Jesus is. If you’re looking for a church where these ministry gifts are all present, try Crossfire in Centennial. We have a small body of believers, many of which are powerfully gifted. We have dynamic, prophetic worship with a message of grace and faith righteousness. We love people and we love to reach people across the planet. We’d love for you to visit this Sunday at 10am near south University Blvd. and Arapahoe Road.

Pictured: Crossfire member Vickie D., shown playing her hammer dulcimer at the 2008 Women's Gala. She is gifted in playing prophetically.

Leaders Must Fully Embrace All of the Five-Fold Ministry Gifts

Eph. 4:11-13 tells us the role of the five-fold ministry gifts of pastor, apostle, evangelist, teacher, and prophet in building up the body of Christ. The purpose of these gifts is to prepare God’s people for work in the Church that leads to believers fully embracing all that Jesus is. Every leader must have these gifts in their life.

This means the pastor must have prophets in their life. The evangelist must have an apostle in their life. These ministry roles are as prominent today as they were in the book of Acts. The pastor needs to have the prophet speaking into his or her life. He can’t effectively run his local church without those gifts working through that church. The last days leader will fully embrace all five gifts and make room for them in their life, their ministry, their church.

Complement One Another, Don't Compete With One Another

This week I’m talking about Last Days Leadership. Eph. 4:11-13 tells us the role of the five-fold ministry gifts of pastor, apostle, evangelist, teacher and prophet in building up the body of Christ. To effectively build up believers all five gifts must be present, effective, and without competition. The teacher must not compete with the prophet or the teacher’s effectiveness will diminish. The prophet must not try to upstage the apostle or the prophet’s impact will diminish. Today there is no room for competition, but much room for complementing of the gifts. Focus on your primary call and you’ll be all God desires you to be.

Leaders Need to Know What Their Primary Gifting Is

This week I'm be talking about Last Days Leadership. Leaders in these last days must know what God has called them to be and do. Eph. 4:11-13 tells us the role of the five-fold ministry gifts of pastor, apostle, evangelist, teacher, and prophet. While we may have a little of each of these gifts in us, there will be one that is dominant in our ministry. It is that dominant gift that will flow most freely and result in greatest effectiveness for the kingdom of God.

The pastor may evangelize, but he should not play a major role as evangelist. Doing so will only diminish his primary call and effectiveness for the kingdom. He or she cannot afford diminished effectiveness in the last days. We must be focused and highly effective if we are to fulfill God’s call in our lives.

Leaders Must Be Firmly Established In God's Acceptance

This week I'm talking about Last Days Leadership. Leaders in these times must know that God the Father is not mad at them. They must be firmly established in God’s love and acceptance of them if they are to be effective. 1 Thes. 5:9 says that “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We must understand and believe that God’s wrath is not for us. We are in Christ, protected by Christ, and the Father sees us through the "lens" of Christ.

As we understand and walk in this acceptance we will not be swayed by the temptation to perform in order to prove our leadership. The devil tempted Jesus to perform in the wilderness, but just as Jesus refused because He knew he was fully accepted by the Father, so last days leaders will refuse to perform to prove their leadership anointing.

Is Your Church Passionate About Being Led By the Holy Spirit?

This week I’m talking about Last Days Leadership. During these troubling times in our nation and across the world we need to be well grounded in a local church that is prepared for the last days-- not a church that is gloom and doom, but a church that is vibrant with things of the Spirit of God; a church that is passionate about being led by the Holy Spirit; a church that is living and moving and having its being through Jesus Christ; a church with a prophetic edge to cut through the fog of complacency.

Crossfire is such a church. We love people and we love to reach people across the planet. We’ll help you cut through the fog and see clearly things that are of the Spirit of God.

Pictured: Crossfire member Cindy W. building relationship with Vietnamese college students in Vietnam 2008.

The Remnant Will Declare Good News

This week I’m talking about Last Days Leadership. Jesus told us in Matt. 24 that a sign of the end times would be that the love of many would grow cold. Last days leaders can expect difficulty in motivating and leading many cold Christians. Without love, many will be drawn by their five natural senses to other things not of the Holy Spirit. They will be lured toward the latest and the loudest new thing that some church or person is using to attract attention.

However, leaders who stand firm in the gospel of grace will draw a powerful remnant of believers who are grounded in the love of Jesus and will declare good news to nations. The cold won’t do it. The remnant will do it. While small in number, they’re equipped with a depth of conviction, passion and purpose to be a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come.

Draw From the Well of the Spirit

This week I’m talking about Last Days Leadership. Jesus told us in Matt. 24 that a sign of the end times would be that the love of many would grow cold. We see this today as many believers simply run out of energy. They are drawing their love from a shallow well. It is the well of their own soul rather than the well of their born-again spirit.

Our spirit is directly connected to the Holy Spirit who has a deep well of love and passion. It is from this well of love that a remnant of believers will draw their love and it will not grow cold. It will increase and flow like a river. Last days leaders MUST draw from this well. It is the only well that will sustain you. It is the only well that will nourish you. It is the only well that will overcome disappointment and opposition in your ministry.

The Love of Many Believers Will Wax Cold

This week I’m talking about Last Days Leadership. Jesus told us in Matt. 24 that a sign of the end times would be that the love of many would grow cold. Jesus was not referring to people who do not know Him, but to people who do know Him. He was saying that the love of many believers would grow cold. This will be a great challenge for leaders in the local church.

As leaders in the Church, You will be faced with opposition for preaching truth, opposition for deviating from the "Sunday program", opposition for allowing the gifts of the Holy Spirit to flow, opposition for much of what should be normal in the local church. The good news is that not all believers' love will grow cold. Every pastor and church leader who stands firm will discover a remnant whose love will grow hotter and more passionate. It is this remnant that will do mighty things.

Grace Will Always Win

This week I’ll be talking about Last Days Leadership. Jesus told us in Matt. 24 that near the time of his coming evil would increase. Most of us would agree today that evil is increasing. There is an assault on virtually every moral and spiritual front.

But there is good news! The Bible says that where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. There is great grace for the last days leader. There is great grace to empower those who stand firm in declaring the good news of Jesus Christ.

Great grace overcame evil at the cross and at the resurrection. Great grace will overcome the evil today because grace must always win. Leaders who stay tapped into God’s grace will see incredible power as they preach and practice it and they will impact nations.

Crossfire Reaches the Nations

This week I’m talking about Last Days Leadership. Being a leader as the world winds down on the time clock is already challenging. Matthew 24:14 says that in these days “this gospel will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Not only will the last days be challenging, but we will have open doors to declare good news to all nations. Yes, you and I must be positioned as leaders to go internationally to spread the gospel.

If you’re looking for a church where we not only preach about reaching nations, but we actually do it, try Crossfire Church in Centennial. We’ve touched fifteen countries already and just traveled to two more last year. We have dynamic, prophetic worship with a message of grace and faith righteousness. We love people and we love to reach people across the planet. We’d love for you to visit this Sunday!

Pictured: Crossfire members Kaycee W. and Karol W. (left and center) sharing in a home Bible study in Nepal 2007.

Leaders Who Stand Firm in Christ Will See His Power

This week I’m talking about Last Days Leadership. The Bible is very clear that the last days will be chaotic and crisis-laden for people across the world. However, leaders who stand firm in Christ will see great and mighty works of God.

The current global financial crisis is luring many Christians to look not to God, but to a man or a political system to solve problems. We must stand firm in our resolve to look to God for solution and resolution. The leaders who keep their eyes and hearts oriented toward God will see our Father’s power, love, and prophetic move by His Spirit.

As last days leaders we must stand firm that God has answers. As we do, our businesses and churches will not only endure the current crisis, but will excel in doing Kingdom business. So look forward in anticipation for what is about to happen!