By Wanda Alger. Wanda has been in ministry for over 35 years as a worship leader, teacher, author, deliverance counsellor, and speaker. The author of nine books, Wanda inspires believers to walk in the power of the Spirit and to mature through the Word and wisdom of God. Being a church planter and married to a pastor, she also speaks about godly leadership and equipping the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13).
The ongoing exposure of various sins and compromised leadership practices that have been operating within churches has caused a sobering recognition of years-long festering corruption. And even those who are watching from the sidelines agree that God is clearly cleaning house. My husband, a pastor of a non-denominational church in Virginia, recently sensed that still small voice of the Lord saying that He was “pruning” the Church, and I agree. As ministries continue to be exposed, many in the Church are feeling the pains of what The Vinedresser is cutting away. Rotting and diseased roots are being revealed, and that which is barren and not yielding any fruit is being cut back and even removed. Yet it’s not just the rotten and diseased parts being stripped away. Consider what John 15:2 says, that He prunes the already fruitful branches so that they will be even more fruitful. Indeed, God doesn’t always cut away that which is bad; He also cuts away what is deemed to be “good.” And that can often be even more painful.
We see the pruning of what seems good and fruitful, and become discouraged, fearing that something may be lost. But it, too, must be cut back so that new growth can come. Because this is what He does for an even greater harvest. This is a time of not only pruning, but separation — distinguishing between the flesh and the spirit. It is a process of identifying that which is true and holy, and that which is carnal and defiled. It’s the Holy One confronting mixture and double-mindedness in the Body of Christ, and we shouldn’t be surprised. This is what happens for any of us who desire to abide in the Vine, for His desire is that we bear much fruit for the Kingdom and for His glory. Thankfully, for those who have had “ears to hear and eyes to see” what is coming out this pruning season, there has been some good and much-needed fruit that has emerged. Even though there are disagreements concerning some of the charges and allegations against various leaders, and ongoing debate about the process involved, particularly given the imperfect fora that is social media, indisputably good fruit is beginning to bud.
Amid this cleansing, I have personally seen believers starting to ask more questions about who they follow and reconsidering what scripturally qualifies someone who claims spiritual authority. Many are also beginning to take more time to study what the Word says about the supernatural, godly leadership, and how the church should be governed. The gifts of the Spirit are being examined more carefully according to scriptural protocols instead of cultural preferences or personal experiences. Leaders are becoming more aware of the responsibility they have to their followers and are reassessing some of their ministry procedures and practices. Social media users are now more aware of what is posted online and stepping up to discern and weigh it rightly, in light of Scripture. I am also witnessing a new, budding generation of leaders embracing the challenges and starting to bring reformation to both sound doctrine and operating in the gifts of the Spirit. Teachers of the Word and prophets in the Spirit are beginning to collaborate and consult together in order for the Word and Spirit to walk side by side, for there was never meant to be any division between them.
To disheartened believers who have long prayed and yearned for the Church to be all she is called to be, and who are understandably exhausted and heartbroken by all the scandals, instead of seeing this refining and pruning season as a negative or even as a destructive work of man, consider seeing it is a sovereign work of the Spirit that is only just beginning to blossom. That’s something to look forward to, because ultimately anything that comes from the True Vine will not only last, but thrive.
Source: Christian Post