The world is changing. So we have to change. Business knows this. You can’t just cater to people like you etc. Leadership is not about planning to be where you are but having foresight- to see where you’re going.

Jesus said, ‘Go into all the world and reach all kinds of people,’ Not just your neighbourhood. All the world.

Understand your responsibility. Great leaders take the risk of getting out front. That’s where you get shot at!  Because you are a ‘forward thinker.’

When Ruth talked with Naomi, she said, ‘I’m going with you – where you go I will go.’ Didn’t know that would take her outside her comfort zone.

She was by the edges of the field, but got called into the centre of the field. Don’t hide  in the corner. Get into the thrust of things. Otherwise if we just minister in our little communities, we WILL end up obsolete.

On your marks, get set – GO! Where? Not just where you have been,,,

GO Into all the world and PREACH the gospel to EVERY living creature. Because God is going to do a new thing in your life. We live in crazy times.

If Ruth had been stuck in a corner, gleaning, she would not have met Boaz; but in the centre she met him and ended up owning that field!

There are some giant killers, planet shakers, some treasure – here today! You can’t change the world from the corner. His name is Emmanuel – because his tabernacle was in the centre – in the centre of the tribes, so nine of thme owned his glory.

When people retreat into what’s safe – they are NOT leaders. You can’t play it safe and be a leader- you have to get out front. You will get shot at – but the angel of the Lord encamps around them that fear him. And greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world! So get some backbone.

We have a broader reach to touch more – but are we armed with the language that touches them. The Disciples wrote the NT to show how the church connected with the culture. You can’t have a multi-cultural church and not be a multi-cultural person. You have to sit with them at your table. You have to eat different food.

Leaders are forward thinking people who are stretched, it happens first in PRIVATE.

Run the risk of saying something stupid. Because the only way to learn how not to say something stupid, is to say some stupid things.

God spoke different languages.

Eg he spoke fly and frog and to water – to connect to Pharoah. He could speak to anyone.

You can tell who you speak to by who you call.

Do the phone test. Who’s in your phone? If pretty much everyone in there is like you – this is the time to break the rule. Preachers shouldn’t just talk to preachers. Women shouldn’t talk with just women about what’s wrong with men (this is why women’s mags are wrong – they’re all written by women- talk to your MAN! Even though we don’t talk, we grunt. The grunt means something.).  You must have cultural development – to learn how to learn the language of the masses.

We are responsible to lead the direction of the next generation.

‘If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be where you are.’

If you’re in a fish tank but you’re called to an ocean. There are some fish, if you put them in a bigger tank they grow accordingly. God wants to put you in the ocean.

How about going where you feel out of place? Where is that – Ballet? Opera?

If you are struggling with the stress of trying to respond to everyone – if you are always the smartest person in the room – get out of that room. Go out of your element; because that’s where God says ‘this is the year I’m going to stretch you.’ Go to some new places.

Go where you don’t just teach, but LEARN. Every speaker has to be a great listener. If you cannot HEAR (in the natural And in the Spirit) it effects how you speak.

GO.

Go scared if you have to, but GO. Because people are hungry  to know you and starving to be known, they long to be understood – because we are all fighting the same battles.

God is not hiding in the corner, he says, ‘Let my glory be in the centre.’ Then when we all get together,we build a picture of who God is.

God will not allow sameness to procreate. Because fruit is only borne when differences come together. Cross pollination. We are called to be more fruitful than ever.

The only thing to avoid is… CHICKEN.

The Bible talks about Eagles a lot. They have a wingspan of 9 feet.. They can soar above the storms, see for miles. But they do not mess with chickens. Eagles make love in high places in mid air, in soaring intimate embrace in teh sky – so that no eagle has to ever wonder, ‘Am I holding a chicken?’

Because chickens can’t fly that high!

Chickens go 3 feet high. They live in one dimension.

Only eagles make love in the air.

Are you going to be an eagle – or stay in the corner, on ground level, like a chicken?

It’ time to spread your wings. You can fly!

those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

I believe YOU can fly!