Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

Matthew 7:24-27

You see, it must be understood, whenever a leader falls, it is solely, squarely, and positively because of what is in their heart.  This bears both great compassion and unswerving commitment to integrity.  Every leader that has ever fallen has fallen, not because of the devil, not because of other people, but solely and squarely because of themselves.

As a man helping to raise up a global prayer movement, Mike Bickle, said, “God won’t stop it.  The devil wont stop it.  Only you can stop it. This should not come as a surprise to the church. God has provided a better way in Jesus.

Jesus said,

But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.

Matthew 15:18-20

The ministry of the Gospel must always be done with a pure heart.  While the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels could be looked on as basic Christianity, it is also advanced leadership training, and every step along the way.

Jesus’ yoke was complete, and if we live it, and preach it, we may as well live and preach the whole thing the way we live it.

To leave out a key that brings you success, simply because of fear of it being misunderstood, causing offense, or any other thing, when the Holy Spirit is requiring it, is not the whole Gospel. Even in the name of being loving, if it is not the full yoke of Jesus, fully applied, it will fail, and cause failure.

If it’s worth living, it’s worth preaching.  And, no matter how hard it was on your own flesh, if it is the sharp, cutting, and dividing Word that brought you freedom, what freedom do you have to not share that same Word with others, in season?  But, do not awaken or arouse love until it so desires.

The key to self-discipline is desire.  Without a vision, the people cast of restraint (Proverbs 29:18).  If we do not know what we are fighting for, or if we lose our identity in the midst of the battle, we will have much lesser sticking power when the opposition to the vision arrives.

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

John 21:17 KJV

God’s desire is that His sheep be looked after.  And, the same course we have walked, the same bread that brought us life, from the very same hand, gives life to all the world.  It is written that he who waters will himself be watered (Proverbs 11:25).  This is His promise, that as we are generous and pour our from ourselves, we will be watered ourselves.  As we are faithful, He shows Himself faithful to us (Proverbs 18:25).

He is the only teacher, and He is the our only Lord.  The Father is our only Father, and the Spirit our only comforter.  Yet, as He pours Himself through us, and we are channels of His rivers, the same river that has welled up inside of our bellies (John 4:14) pours out to feed and water the world.  Indeed, Jesus said,

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.

John 7:38

The cry of the Spirit is, “When will you believe me?”  The heart of Jesus is that we would Hear His Words, believe on Him, and see His Spirit minister to the Earth.

In ourselves, that is, in our flesh, we can do nothing.  He asks us, when will believe that He is enough?  Not only for ourselves, but for the whole world?  When will we rely on His leading, His outpouring, and His ability, instead of our own?

In the Old Covenant, God said through the prophet Jeremiah,

But if they had stood in My council, Then they would have announced My words to My people, And would have turned them back from their evil way And from the evil of their deeds.

Jeremiah 23:22

Not even the prophets, the ones required to Hear His Voice had been willing to stand and wait for the Word of the Lord.  They each prophesied lies and divination of their own heart, and they spoke of dreams that they caused themselves to dream.  They all had their programs, promotions, and agendas, they all had their vision of how things were and ought to be.  And, eventually, when God, who never changed, showed up in the flesh in the nation of Israel, nearly the whole nation missed them.  And, the weight of the responsibility fell upon the leaders, the teachers, for the people looked to them to see if they would receive Jesus as their King or not.

When will we believe in Him and His Spirit?  When will we believe and trust in nothing else, for our lives, ministries, and all we encounter?  When will we reckon ourselves dead to this world (Romans 6:11), and look at everything of it as we would a corpse, and look only to His provision, His source, His Word.  For man shall not live by bread alone, but by every ever-proceeding Word from His mouth.

Only those that lead in the uncompromisingly righteous light of His Spirit will stand in these days.  The others, leaning to the right and the left will fall to the side, and be compromised.  For only the truth stands in the storm.  Yet, for the humble, for the broken, He is near them.  If we say we see, yet are blind, our sin remains.  And, if we cry out before Him, saying, Son of David, have mercy upon me, a sinner, He hears, comes near, and heals us, restoring our sight.

The true righteousness ready to appear upon the Earth is of such a quality that it will be undeniable.  Those who walk in it will be pure, they will be washed, and it will reflect in everything they do.  Yet, those who refuse to become separated from this world (John 17:17), will fall.

The Lord is coming like a mighty warrior, to cleanse and purify His bride.  And only those will clean hands will be able to stand in that place on that day.  This is the defining mark of those who walk after Christ in maturity and those who do not.  Let it be, Lord.  Let it be.

Psalm 24:3-6

Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?  Who may stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.
He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.
Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.   Selah