We should all be mature, there’s something ugly about an immature leader, but some leaders get so mature they start believing their own press, they take themselves far too seriously, and they forget how to have fun. They then lose humility. We have to Enter the kingdom like children (Matthew 18.3) – and often Pastors are the exact opposite of children. They become unteachable. I know a lot of pastors who never listen to sermons, they would never ever respond to an altar call no matter how specific the word was for them and how much they need prayer. 

Many pastors never mature because they are over-mature, they are not child-like. Right now I am in Manchester opening a new church and a huge part of why Tree of Life Church is so successful is that I am child like. I am not over mature. A lot of pastors never enter a new dimension of ministry because they cannot learn from others, they cannot step out in faith, they cannot even say “amen” at a good sermon. That’s true, I know pastors who just sit there silently if another is preaching – woe betide if they get excited. They never lift their hands during worship, they never flow in the gifts. They are too concerned what the cool “older” kids think of them to do what the Spirit leads!

Some pastors are over mature in their preaching, they never get excited about anything they are preaching about, they preach from their mind, from a place of the mind and thinking, they never preach something exciting. Their sermons never wake anyone up. And those people always judge the more exciting preachers – “Oh, they never said much, they didn’t have any substance, they didn’t use enough Scriptures” – where as a child in the kingdom would have received so much from that message!

If you can only receive from some speakers, it is because you are not child-like enough, and are childish. You look down on anointed people and dismiss them as irrelevant even if they are more fruitful than you. Children know they need to learn more and look to learn from everyone.

If you want deeper ministry, you need to learn how to learn from people. If you want a Healing Ministry, then the first step is to admit you don’t have one yet. The second step is to find people who do and read their books, listen to their CDs, go to their conferences and learn. When they say something you disagree with, don’t go over-mature and judge and look down the end of your nose at them, realize they know more than you and learn something. There is no other way to enter into a healing ministry – you cannot enter into the kingdom unless you do it as a child. You cannot enter into a healing ministry unless like a child. That’s how I did it, that’s how anyone who has done it has done it. There is no other path.

Stop worrying about what everyone is thinking and dance like a child, flow in the gifts like a child, preach with passion like a child, learn from others like a child.

Be humble! If you are not learning from other people, you are not humble. If you cannot tell me who you are actively learning from, you are not humble, and pastor you are heading for a fall!

Just receive. Selah!