A Season of Stepping Up, Stepping In, and Stepping Out

There are moments in life that feel less like endings and more like beautiful new beginnings. Times when what appears to be a transition is actually a divine orchestration—a carefully crafted plan that's been unfolding for years. Today, we're exploring what it means to embrace change with faith, to pass the baton with grace, and to step boldly into the freedom God has prepared for us.

The Power of Legacy Leadership

Legacy isn't about preserving your name—it's about preserving what God has built through you by raising others. There's a profound truth we often miss: success without a successor is actually failure. Think about that for a moment. You can accomplish incredible things, build something beautiful, and serve faithfully for years, but if it all dies with you, what was the point?

God Himself models this generational approach. He's the God of Abraham's generation, Isaac's generation, and Jacob's generation. He doesn't just work in one season; He works across time, building His kingdom through successive waves of faithful servants.

In Numbers 27, we see Moses facing the reality that he won't enter the Promised Land. But instead of becoming bitter or clinging to control, he prays one of the most selfless prayers in Scripture: "Lord, may you raise up a leader among your people who will lead them out and bring them in, so they don't become like sheep without a shepherd." God's answer? Joshua.

Moses understood something essential: leadership is a relay race, not a solo sprint. It's not a one-generation game. The vision God gives you isn't meant to die with you—it's meant to multiply through those you've invested in.

When Heaven Touches Earth

There's something supernatural that happens when spiritual leaders gather in unity. When Moses met with the elders on Mount Sinai, the Bible records that the ground beneath them became blue like sapphire—a stunning image of heaven touching earth. This wasn't just a business meeting; it was a divine encounter.

The same pattern appears in Acts 13. The elders gathered to pray and fast, and the Holy Spirit spoke clearly: "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Out of that prayer meeting came the missionary journeys that would change the world.

Unity in leadership isn't optional—it's essential. When leaders come together not to compete but to worship, not to control but to listen, heaven breaks through. Prayer becomes more than words; it becomes the atmosphere where God's strategies are revealed and His power is released.

The Sixteen-Year Journey

Transformation doesn't happen overnight. Sometimes God plants a seed and asks you to water it faithfully for years before you see the full harvest. Sixteen years of consistent, faithful service. Sixteen years of keeping Jesus at the center. Sixteen years of saying yes to God's call, even when it was hard, even when it felt like nobody was watching.

Consider what faithfulness over time produces: 1,300 sermons preached. 85,000 people watching the gospel on a screen. 4,000 people going through Alpha courses. Over 400,000 visitors to Christmas events. Countless baptisms. Lives transformed. Families restored. A city impacted.

But here's what makes this story remarkable—it wasn't about building a personal empire. From day one, the question was always: "What am I doing today to prepare my successor?" That's the heart of a true spiritual father.

From the Sheep Pen to the Spotlight

God has a pattern of calling unlikely people to extraordinary assignments. David was tending sheep when Samuel came to anoint him. Moses was in the wilderness when God appeared in the burning bush. Gideon was hiding from enemies when the angel called him a mighty warrior.

Sometimes the person God is preparing for significant leadership is just a kid from the sheep pen and cow fields, wearing a hat when nobody else is, with long hair when everyone else has short hair. But God sees beyond the exterior. He sees the heart. He sees the faithfulness in small things that qualifies someone for greater things.

For fifteen and a half years, preparation was happening behind the scenes. Not just learning to preach or lead worship or manage programs, but character development. Faithfulness when nobody was watching. Serving in the dirty, yucky jobs without needing attention or applause. Learning to balance life with Sabbath rest. Building a ministry around the mission of the church rather than personal ambition.

This is how God develops leaders—not in the spotlight, but in the unseen places where roots grow deep.

The Blessing of Spiritual Authority

First Peter 5 gives us a beautiful picture of spiritual leadership. It asks leaders to shepherd God's flock willingly, not because they must, but because they want to. To watch over the people not by lording it over them, but by being examples they can follow. And to those being led, it calls for submission and humility.

When these dynamics are in place, something powerful is released. Leaders receive the authority to break demonic strategies through prayer. They're empowered to release gifts of healing, power, and miracles. They're given supernatural vision to see what heaven is doing and to preempt what the enemy wants to undo.

This isn't about positional authority—it's about spiritual authority that comes from intimacy with God and humble service to people.

The Greatest Threat: Distraction

In a season of new beginnings and fresh vision, what's the one thing that could derail everything? Distraction.

It's as simple as your phone. Endless streaming. Binge-watching. Getting caught up in political echo chambers. Wasting time on things that don't matter while missing what does.

The call is clear: come with more clarity and intensity than ever before. Serve with all your heart. Give generously. Pray fervently. Love deeply. This isn't just an invitation to leaders—it's an invitation to the entire body of Christ.

A Year of Freedom

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Not the freedom to do whatever we want, but the freedom to become who God created us to be. Freedom from the things that have held us back. Freedom in our finances. Spiritual freedom from bondage. New courage to hear and live God's truth. Permission to step into greater influence in our neighborhoods and cities.

What if this is the year God sets you free from that thing you've been carrying for so long? What if this is the year that dream He planted in your heart finally begins to unfold? What if God wants to do more through you this year than you could ask, think, or imagine?

The Invitation

The bread and cup remind us what this is all about—the presence of Jesus. Not programs or buildings or impressive ministries, but Jesus Himself in our midst. His body broken for us. His blood poured out for us. His Spirit empowering us.

And because of Jesus, we can step into whatever He's calling us to with confidence. We can embrace change without fear. We can release control without anxiety. We can trust that the same God who was faithful in the past will be faithful in the future.

This is not an ending—it's a beginning. Not a funeral—it's a wedding celebration. Not a time to mourn—it's a time to rejoice in what God has done and anticipate what He's about to do.

The question is simple: Are you in?

Will you step up to the call on your life? Will you step in to the opportunities God is opening? Will you step out with the church to transform your region for Jesus?

The relay baton is being passed. The race continues. And heaven is cheering us on.