The Rise and Fall of the Power-Seeker

Throughout history, man has fought his way to greatness—be it by enslavement of others, conquering others, lording over others, demanding the respect of others—simply climbing up on their self-made pedestal or stage or slinking behind a pulpit and from there inciting others to bow down their hearts offering honor and high praise for their magnificent position of power and prestige.

Power-seekers and dominating figures have dotted history since the earliest of times. Sadly, the same mindset infiltrated the very early church, even before its birth, and progressively worsened at times, even going so far as destroying lives and entire civilizations of people who refused to convert to their falsified doctrines and beliefs.

The same power-mindset resides in many “Christian” circles today, and I use that term loosely as I am not certain many of these truly carry identifying characteristics of Christlikeness. Their distortion of God’s Word, whether it be through adding to it by modern “words of prophecy” or deletions made because one simply doesn’t agree with certain passages or Biblical doctrines, has become much too prevalent and widespread. 

Lying and deceiving God’s people by errant words and thoughts, by the promotion of the idea that “all you need is love” while leaving out the truth of the cross, the sinfulness of all humanity and the mercy and grace of God that makes salvation possible; these are all deceptive means that have filtered in and taken the hearts and minds of God’s people captive and continue leading them astray.

A growing trend encircles the idea that the anointing of God trumps having an in-depth knowledge and understanding of God’s Word gained through being a true student of the Word. The anointing of God falls upon the man or woman of God who has filled their heart and life with the Words of God; the anointing of the Spirit of God is the empowerment behind those embedded words that brings them to life through the Spirit-filled preaching and delivery of God’s Word by the Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered person of the Word.

I find many have traded in or given second-place to God’s Word, choosing rather to preach out of the book of another. It is the truth of the Word of God that brings change to the sin-sick heart of humanity. No other will ever do and no other book should ever be allowed to trump the truth of the Words of God.

Power-seekers have become wealthy off of their lies and deceit while leading those seeking to know God down a path of defeat. What has become of the once humble settings where the fire of the Word was ruled? What has changed?

Why have we allowed our centers of worship to become centers of entertainment and show? People can get that anywhere…but what they can’t get just anywhere is the life-changing Words of truth that people so desperately need in today’s chaotic world! It is the responsibility and obligation of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ to proclaim and pronounce that truth.

Jesus walked along with His disciples one day intimately sharing the horrendous acts that were about to be perpetrated against Him leading up to and including His crucifixion. Two of His close disciples, who remind me a great deal of many of the power-seekers in churches today, replied to Him, Oh yeah, hey Jesus by the way, after all that’s over, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left” (Mark 10:37 NLT).

Totally oblivious to what Jesus had been teaching them, to what He was truly all about, to what following Him was all about—all that concerned them was a place of prominence! Hey look at me! Hey listen to me!

Jesus shockingly to them replied: “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink? Are you able to be baptized with the baptism of suffering I must be baptized with?” (v. 38). To which they quickly, without thinking, responded, Oh yeah, we got it! We can handle it! We got this!

When power-seeking goes to the head, power-seekers are born who have no clue what they’re doing or what their true destiny has for them. They see bright lights and people falling down in worship before them, guilty of turning people from the worship of God to their own pedestal of worship. To these, the eventual fall will come hard.

Power-seekers come in many forms and fashion in today’s church. You may find them in the pulpit, on the deacon or elder board, teaching classes or simply sitting in the pew. Anyone who would place themselves or be placed into a position of authority can easily succumb to the struggle for power. Churches have been torn to pieces by these people and they don’t care as long as they can continue to exert their authority.

In the world, greatness is measured by power. In God’s kingdom, greatness is measured by humility. Consider what Jesus said: “But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant” (Luke 22:26).

The church needs servant-leaders today—those who will lead with the humbleness of a slave and the heart of Christ. May God grant you the ability to recognize your worth in His kingdom as you seek to serve Him and those He has sent you to lead.

Scripture Reading: “The disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 18:1-4 NLT)

Prayer: Father in heaven, forgive me if I have stood in the way of Your kingdom moving forward in power and grace. Forgive me if I have allowed power and the seeking after power to hinder me from being the servant You have called me to be. I pray that my heart and my life reflect Jesus and my servanthood to Him. I pray that my motives be pure and godly. I pray that I will do nothing out of ambition for what I can get but always seeking to enrich the kingdom of God. Lord, I love You and praise You in all things. I ask You to lead me to where You would have me to always be. I give myself completely over to You…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!