Spring Series: Leaders, Stand in MY Council to Receive Your Healing

Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he? - Isaiah 2:22

It was 9am and the familiar trumpet sounded from the Temple in Jerusalem, proclaiming that the morning sacrifice was about ready to commence. A sacrificial lamb was brought to the altar and sacrificed for the sins of the people. The priest would take the blood of the sacrifice and sprinkle it on the altar in the Holy of Holies, where only the priest was allowed to enter. The same was done at 3pm. When the trumpet sounded people must have stopped what they were doing and focused on a prayer for that moment. It was a time of reflection and a reminder of God’s holiness and forgiving power. Yet this day was different. Thousands of people were in Jerusalem for the Passover. The streets were filled with people from all over the region. The trumpet blows for the morning sacrifice. At the same time, outside the walls of Jerusalem , Christ was being nailed to the cross (we are told this in Mark 15:25). It was as if God himself was saying, “Here, I present my sacrifice for all of mankind.” At the ninth hour (3pm) the trumpet sounds and the sacrifice takes place. At the very same time people stop to reflect God’s favor, Christ breathed his last breath (Matt. 27:45-56; Mark 15:33-41; Luke 23:44-49). The priest who are ready to take the sacrificial blood into the Holy of Holies are shocked as they witness the tearing of the curtain that separated man from God in the temple (Matt. 27:51; Mark 15:38). It was as if God was saying, “No more restrictions, ALL men are welcomed into my presence!” God’s sacrifice for all mankind was complete.

What I love about the Easter weekend is not only the reflection of Christ death, BUT his resurrection! That’s what Easter is about. Christ conquering death and the salvation we find through him. Look at what Paul says!

"Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith."(1 Corinthians 15:1-14)

Why bring up all of this….because a leader cannot be effective in the marketplace without dealing with his or her pain, hurts, and wrong doings. Sometimes we have to be reminded of the sacrifice given for you and me to bring us back to the place of humility and say God, “Here are my needs, my fears and my hurts, my sins.”

Jeremiah 23:22-24 reads,

But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.

“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?
Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?” declares the LORD.

“Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the LORD.

There are three things I need to point out with this passage.

First, in order to receive God’s words for our lives and forgiveness, we must stand in his council. It is in his council that words are given to impact those we come in contact with! It is in His council that we receive the healing words that wipe away the pain! It is in his council that we receive the words “You are forgiven!” For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Second, God is one who is nearby. He is not a distant God who has no relationship with his creation.

“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” (Colossians 1:15-23)

To fill the pain and hurt, we may try to do things that we feel are comfortable to help ease the pain. It may take away some of the feelings and make you feel good at the moment, but the issue is still there. We may even think that there is no way God can touch my heart. We even tell ourselves, “I have done too many “bad things”, there is no way God would forgive me.” My dear friends, no matter the pain. No matter the hurt. No matter the sin. God is closer than you may think! He is just waiting for you to say, “Lord, I can’t do this on my own!”

Third, God ends with a question, ”Do not I fill heaven and earth?”. Take a look around at all life and things unseen that has been created by God! Look to the stars and the universe and stand in awe of the power of God! People…No pain, hurt or sin is greater than God! Look at some of the examples given to us through Scripture.

Abraham: liar (Gen. 12:10-20)
Moses: murderer (Ex.
2:12)
David: adultery, murderer ( 2 Sam. 11)
The sinful woman who anoints Jesus feet (Luke 7:36-50)
Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-26)
Zacchaeus (Luke 19:9)
Paul: murderer (Galatians 1:11-24)

All forgiven! All healed of their hurts and pains! All were given peace and salvation, because they dared stand in the council of God. In order to be poured out to others, we ourselves must be poured out before God.
Let the healing power of the cross bring peace, and the power of the resurrection of Christ bring confidence, that with all things, God can break the bondage that hinders us from fully using our God given gifts! You are a leader that God wants to use at this time and hour. If today you are a broken leader, I challenge you to enter the council of the Lord, and see what happens! Praise be to the One who can heal the broken heart!



His call. His gift to you. Your purpose. Irrevocable!