Fortune favours the bold … or so the saying goes. You, pastor, are a spiritual leader; so be bold and lead; encourage and inspire your people in these challenging times. Have faith!

2 Corinthians 4:13 says confidently, “It is written: ‘I believed; therefore I have spoken.’ With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak.” What an awesome thought!

As spiritual leaders we are responsible to set the spiritual climate, create the spiritual environments and lead our people during this global financial challenge. We lead our people by what we believe about God and money and by what we say! We lead our people by how we walk, how we talk and by the expression of our faith in God.

This economic situation is real and very challenging. But regardless of what we see around us we must point people towards eternal realities. We must inspire them in their faith, teach them about God, how to thrive in these challenging circumstances and that this season will pass.

Things we need to avoid as leaders:

1. Stop listening to CNN (that stands for Constantly Negative News). Read the word; centre and focus your attention on who God is and what God’s purpose is for the church. We provide foundation to faith when we go on to remind people of the positive character and nature of God.

2. Stop ignoring the crunch! Name it as a season of faith; embrace the times; call it a challenge and then encourage your people that we are up for it! Talk about it publically. But be optimistic, full of faith. Start telling your people we can overcome! Inspire faith!

3. Stop worrying. Matthew 6:31, 33 says “Do not worry, but seek first His kingdom.” God’s not running out of cash, God has no toxic debts, and God does not need a bailout plan! Teach people the power of prayer and lead them to “seek first” God’s kingdom and His righteousness. Make sure you pray for your people publicly and privately, in church and as individual. Pray for needs and give reports of God’s provision every week. This is a spiritual problem at its very root, you are a spiritual leader; pray.

4. Stop submitting to the world’s economic system. God laid down clear principles in His word about money, wealth and how the house of God is financed. Boldly communicate His word and its life’s transforming principles. Teach people this is not the time to stop giving this is a time for them to be inspired by God’s word to give … “even beyond their ability; entirely on their own.” (2 Corinthians 8:3). Inspire your people in becoming extravagant givers; continue to teach tithing.

5. Stop looking at the gates of Hell. There has never been such a good time to preach the good news about Jesus and we are seeing in our UK church people coming to Christ in large numbers. It really is Jesus who is building His Church! Keep your focus on Him, inspire people to focus their attention on Him and whatever you do lift Him up!

6. Stop thinking you are in charge! Jesus said, “I will build my church.” He is Jehovah Jireh, God is in charge.  

“Let God arise let His enemies be scattered.” So says Psalms 68:1. I’m sure this inspires us to know that God promises to arise and scatter His enemies. It’s a good prayer especially when we feel the pinch in leadership when people may oppose us.

But God says … “Make sure your enemies are My enemies!”

Matthew 5:44-45 demonstrates another side, “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” The main point is of course our responses to our enemies; love and prayer for them.

But these words of Jesus also make it clear we will have enemies. Jesus had those who conspired against Him; He wasn’t paranoid either; there were real people who wanted Him silenced. There were real people who were trying to kill Him and neutralise His influence.

The truth of the matter is, if we are seeking to fulfil God’s plan and purpose in the earth, we will face opposition. We will come against people who will resist us and many will be unconvinced.  How we respond will frame us as leaders. How we respond to our detractors will define us and determine the level of our leadership.

Jesus said to love and pray for them. 2 Timothy 2:24-25 says we “[The servants of the Lord] must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct.”

The spiritual dimension: Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood.” There is a very real Devil out there who hates you.

The earthly dimension; 2 Timothy 4:14-15, “Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.”

Love and pray for people and remember that God will arise and scatter His enemies; rest in the understanding that nothing can really thwart the plans of the Almighty. Don’t come down to the level of the earthly fray but stay close to Jesus in “heavenly places.”

Isaiah 14:27, “For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?”

We are spiritual leaders. At the end of the day structures, systems and practicalities, vital as they are, pale into insignificance compared to our role as spiritual leaders.