Dealing With The Mountain of Burnout
By Pastor Vinnie MacIsaac

Click to listen to an audio version of this article 

How much can you give before you are completely spent? We all recharge our phones at least once daily (some of us more). Even as we take our phones off the charger, we know full well they will run out again—and likely at the moment we need them most, during the heaviest usage when the demands on the battery are highest. Does that mean the phone is defective or that the charger is not strong enough? No. It means that all powerful devices need to be plugged in more than once if they are going to keep powering our lives.

Have you ever felt like you’ve poured out everything you have, only to find yourself running on empty? It’s a strange paradox, isn’t it? You’ve given your best, done the work you felt God called you to do, and even seen results. Yet somehow, after the victory, you find yourself weary, drained, and wondering if you can keep going.

You’re not alone. Burnout isn’t just a modern phenomenon; it’s as old as the Scriptures. Today, nearly 40% of pastors report experiencing burnout. For church members and volunteers, the numbers are equally troubling. Studies show that as many as 20% of volunteers discontinue their service within a year, with burnout being a major contributing factor. Even more sobering, many churches are struggling to retain volunteers or recruit new ones, with over half of nonprofit organizations reporting losses in their volunteer base.

Burnout is real, and it’s affecting those who are most committed to serving God. But it’s not the end of the story. Elijah, one of the greatest prophets in the Bible, experienced burnout too. And his story in 1 Kings 19 shows us how God meets us in our exhaustion, renews our purpose, and calls us into a deeper, more committed walk with Him.

Elijah’s Journey to Victory and Collapse

Elijah’s life is one of the most remarkable in Scripture. He was a prophet called to minister to a divided and idolatrous Israel during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. His mission was clear: to call the people back to worship the one true God, Yahweh.

From the very start, Elijah’s ministry was marked by boldness. In 1 Kings 17, he appeared out of nowhere to declare a drought in Israel, a direct challenge to the false god Baal, who was believed to control the weather. During this drought, God provided for Elijah—sending ravens to feed him, multiplying flour and oil for a widow, and even raising the widow’s son from the dead. These stories are core to so many of our sermons, devotions, and even children’s lessons. Everyone knows Elijah is all about victory! After all, God Himself takes him directly to heaven in heaven’s own limousine—a chariot of fire.

And how many powerful, inspiring sermons have we all heard and given about the defining moment of Elijah’s life: the showdown on Mount Carmel? With fiery courage, Elijah called the people of Israel to choose:

“If Yahweh is God, worship Him; if Baal is god, follow him.”

In one of the most dramatic scenes in Scripture, Elijah prayed, and fire fell from heaven, consuming the altar, the sacrifice, and even the water poured over it. The people fell on their faces, declaring:

“The Lord—He is God!”

It was the pinnacle of Elijah’s ministry. But mountaintop moments are often followed by deep valleys.

As a pastor and as a leader, I can tell you I am most tired after I preach a powerful sermon or lead a board successfully through a great challenge. And that is also the time I am most vulnerable because I am most spent because I gave all I had to God to use me. People won’t stop to remember that leaders and volunteers need to recharge, but God is tracking your battery’s limits at all times.

Burnout After the Mountaintop

Not long after this great victory, Queen Jezebel sent a message to Elijah: she was going to kill him. And he fled into the wilderness like a weak, scared upstart. This bold prophet, who had just called down fire from heaven, now sat under a broom tree, begging God to take his life.

“I have had enough, Lord,” he prayed. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” (1 Kings 19:4)

I don’t think Elijah was just physically exhausted. This was something deeper. He felt isolated, discouraged, and utterly spent. Despite the miraculous victory on Mount Carmel, Elijah felt as though his efforts had been in vain.

Sound familiar? Many of us have been there. Whether you’re a pastor, a church leader, or a volunteer, the pressures of ministry can leave you drained. Studies show that burnout often comes not after failure, but after significant achievements, when we’ve poured ourselves out completely and failed to replenish.

For church volunteers, burnout is particularly common. Twenty percent of volunteers stop serving within a year, and over half of nonprofits report struggling to retain or recruit volunteers. Even when the work feels meaningful, the relentless demands can take their toll.

Elijah’s story reminds us that burnout doesn’t discriminate—it can affect even the strongest among us. But it also shows us how God meets us in that place.

Making It to the Mountain

God’s response to Elijah’s burnout is one of the most beautiful parts of this story. He doesn’t rebuke Elijah for running or criticize him for feeling weak. Instead, He begins with care.

An angel wakes Elijah—not to give him instructions, but to give him food:

“Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” (1 Kings 19:7)

Elijah eats, sleeps, and eats again. God knows that Elijah needs physical restoration before he can hear anything else.

After this, Elijah travels forty days and nights to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. And please, don’t miss this: God called him to Mount Horeb! That is not a small detail, no matter how easy it is to skip over in our rush to the bigger picture. It is the big picture, and Elijah knew what God meant when He said, “Go to Mount Horeb.”

The location is the call. The location is the message. The location is the restoration. The location is God telling Elijah just how big his role was and what was at stake.

Listen, when I noticed the importance of being called to Mount Horeb, it changed so much about the way I think about burnout so let’s not skip this key lesson. Mount Horeb is the place of Moses. Elijah knew that, and he could not escape the fact that this was a call to finish the ministry in the power of God—or die, never entering the Promised Land with his people.

Mount Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai, is a location of immense significance in biblical history, but especially to Elijah and Moses. Moses was given the Ten Commandments there (Exodus 19-20). Moses was forced to deal with the rebellion of his people worshiping the golden calf there (Exodus 32-34). God showed Moses His glory there (Exodus 33:18-23). But most importantly, God called Moses into ministry at the burning bush there (Exodus 3:1-12).

When the Israelites complained of thirst in the wilderness, God instructed Moses to strike a rock at Horeb, and water flowed out to sustain the people (Exodus 17:1-7). However, it is also believed to be the place where Moses, later in frustration, wrongly struck the rock again and forfeited his ministry and his entrance into the Promised Land (Numbers 20:10-13).

Mount Horeb: A Place of Identity and Risk

Do you get it? Do you see it yet? Do you see what Elijah saw when summoned there? Mount Horeb is the place where your ministry becomes your identity and what I mean but that is your real purpose and passion. It is also the place where you can lose it all because you think your identity is rooted in what you can or cannot keep doing for God.

What is your Mount Horeb? It’s the thing that makes you great, happy, and fulfilled, but it’s also the thing that can take even great leaders like Moses and Elijah down into burnout and bad decisions.

What is your Mount Horeb?  Burnout doesn’t happen at Mount Carmel; it happens when we stop hearing God at Mount Horeb!

Whisper On Me, Sweet Jesus, Whisper On Me

There, in a cave at Mount Horeb, Elijah poured out his heart:

“I have been very zealous for the Lord, but the Israelites have rejected Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and put Your prophets to death. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (1 Kings 19:10)

Elijah’s words are raw and vulnerable. He isn’t holding back his frustration, fear, or despair. And God listens.

Then comes the moment that defines not just Elijah’s life, but the way we understand God’s presence. God tells Elijah to stand on the mountain, for He is about to pass by.

What happens next is extraordinary. A powerful wind tears through the mountains, but God isn’t in the wind. Then an earthquake shakes the ground, but God isn’t in the earthquake. After that, a fire blazes, but God isn’t in the fire either.

Finally, there’s a gentle whisper.

The word for wind in this story, רוּחַ (ruach), is the same word used for both “wind” and “spirit” in the Hebrew Bible. Are there times when we are so tired that the demands of life and ministry knock the wind (ruach) out of us—the very Spirit of God out of us?

This was at this same mountain that a great earthquake shook Moses and his people, symbolizing judgment (Exodus 19:18). When God descended on Mount Sinai to give the law, the mountain trembled violently, underscoring His holiness and the gravity of the covenant being established with Israel. Earthquakes often accompany God’s direct presence, emphasizing His overwhelming power and majesty. They signal a divine encounter or the seriousness of God’s intervention.

After the earthquake came fire, which in the Torah often symbolized not only purifying power but also God’s guidance for His people. A pillar of fire led Moses and the Israelites through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21). The entire covenant with Abraham was sealed with God showing up in fire, illuminating the way to atonement (Genesis 15:17).

Burned Out but Not Burned Up

Sometimes, we can get so “spent” that we stop breathing the רוּחַ (ruach), the breath of God. And if you are not breathing God’s Spirit, how will you be recharged? How will you feel the earthquake under your feet, reminding you of His presence in this place? How will you be led by His guiding pillar of fire?

You may feel burned out, but the fire of God—the pillar of God guiding your life—never goes out.

What happens when you can’t feel God’s Spirit, God’s fire, or God’s movement? Listen for the whisper of Jesus!

It’s in that whisper that Elijah finds God. Not in the dramatic, but in the stillness. Not in the chaos, but in the quiet.

This moment redefines Elijah’s understanding of God’s presence. On Mount Carmel, God had shown up in fire, but here on Mount Horeb, He reveals Himself in a whisper. It’s a reminder that God’s power isn’t always about spectacle—it’s about intimacy. Let Jesus whisper in your ear about the reason you’re called and why the story isn’t over.

Renewal and Recommitment

The gentle whisper wasn’t just comfort for Elijah; it was a call forward. God reminded Elijah that he wasn’t alone:

“There are still seven thousand in Israel who have not bowed to Baal.” (1 Kings 19:18)

God gave Elijah a new mission: to anoint new leaders and to prepare Elisha, the prophet who would carry on his work.

You may feel alone in your ministry—I get it; I’ve been there. But feeling alone and being alone are not the same thing. You may say, “I have no one to help me; look around!” I say to you, listen for the whisper, for God has not abandoned you. There are still seven thousand.

You may feel like you’re on your own, but the whisper of God tells us otherwise. There are still people who have not bowed to the pressures of this world, people who are waiting to walk alongside you in ministry. Elijah’s renewal came with a new mission—mentoring Elisha. Burnout happens when we pour out without pouring into others. Mentoring isn’t just about helping others; it’s about growing your own capacity as a leader. If you’re a Moses, don’t forget your Joshua and Caleb. If you’re an Elijah, let the whisper of God remind you that an Elisha is waiting to carry forward the work God has entrusted to you.

This moment became the anchor of Elijah’s life. His burnout wasn’t the end—it was a turning point. From here, Elijah’s ministry shifted. He became a mentor, a man focused not just on the present but on the legacy of God’s work through future generations.

Meeting Jesus at the Mountain

Elijah’s story teaches us that burnout isn’t failure, and it isn’t the end. It’s a signal that we need to pause and let God meet us in our weariness.

It all comes full circle at yet another mountain—Mount Tabor (as described in Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36).

Jesus Himself experienced a moment that could be likened to burnout. Why do I call it burnout? Burnout is defined by what happens when you can’t go forward. Even Jesus, in His humanity, faced moments of struggle. And who did He call on? Moses and Elijah—because only those who have been there can minister to us when we get there.

Jesus led Peter, James, and John—three of His closest disciples—up a “high mountain” to pray. These three often accompanied Jesus during significant moments of His ministry, such as in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew the cross was before Him, and He also knew that Peter, James, and John would soon fail Him in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46, and briefly in John 18:1).

So, on this mountain, Jesus called on those who had been to their own Mount Horebs, who had heard the whisper in the cave. When your closest friends fail you in your moment of burnout, God won’t. He will send to you those who have walked the path before you, so that you can lead those who are walking it behind you.

Dealing with burnout is not just about rest; it’s about real leadership. It’s about knowing where you have been, what it meant, and how to discern where God is sending you next so that you don’t succumb to the anxieties of the unknown. There will be days when you’ll feel like Moses, striking the rock in frustration, and days when you’ll be like Elijah, hearing the whisper, but both days are days that Jesus recharges your batteries with his whisper.  Jesus knows how to whisper to you in your season. He has nothing but love and empathy for you because He, too, needed Moses and Elijah to whisper encouragement back into His life, like he had into their lives.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)

The Whisper in the Cave

If you’re feeling burned out—whether you’re a pastor, a volunteer, or a weary believer—take heart. God meets you where you are, just as He met Elijah. He doesn’t rush you or rebuke you for being tired. Instead, He comes to you with tenderness, offering rest, nourishment, and His presence.But most importantly, He offers Elisha. You are not alone. Stop believing it was ever all about you. Start building your Elisha, Peter, John,  and James team. Teach them the secrets whispered to you in the cave at Mount Horeb. If you resist giving up, the seven thousand who have not bowed will come to join the fight with you.

Don’t make burnout the last chapter in your book, because the secret whispered in the cave is simply this:

“I got you. I always had you. Your greatest success will never be Mount Carmel. It will always be those you bless with a double portion of the Holy Spirit (2 Kings 2:9-10) and the legacy you pass to them because of what you learned in this cave.”

He calls you forward. The gentle whisper isn’t just a moment of comfort; it’s a call to recommit—to trust that God isn’t finished with you yet. Like Elijah, your story isn’t over.

The God who met Elijah in the whisper is waiting to meet you too.

Will you step out of the cave?

Elisha, James, John, and even Peter, need you, so show them the way to meet Jesus at Mount Horeb but that will require you to notice that burnout is not about you, it’s about learning it is never about you, and that you’re not alone. And you only feel so tired because you were not called to be the cool, tough, gritty, Lone Ranger we think leaders are. This has never been God’s plan. God doesn’t need heroes because he is the Hero. He needs leaders to build the future Elishas, James, Johns, and even Peters. It’s about recharging with those who have been there in order to charge up those who one day will go there.

It’s about the whisper, “I got you. I always had you. Your greatest success will never be Mount Carmel. It will always be those you bless with a double portion of the Holy Spirit. Staying in the cave will mean you die alone. Go forward! Elisha needs you, and you need your Elisha. Defeating burnout is a team sport.”

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Change Cycles: Can Churches and Leaders Grow Together?

By Vinnie MacIsaac | November 2024

LISTEN: Click here for Pastor Vinnie’s narration if you’d rather listen to this article. 

Imagine sitting in a worship service, surrounded by familiar faces, singing your favorite songs, and soaking in the comforting vibe of cherished traditions. Suddenly, your pastor steps onto the stage, quoting statistics and talking about the decline in church attendance[i]. He confronts you with the reality that the Christian church in America is in serious decline. Then, he announces a new direction for the church—a shift that challenges everything familiar. For many church members, change stirs deep-seated anxiety and resistance, as it disrupts long-held practices and routines. For pastors and church leaders, however, change feels urgent—an essential step to keep the church vibrant and faithful in a rapidly evolving world.

Both perspectives are real, valid, and filled with passion. Change is challenging, yet essential. It’s not about seeking comfort but pursuing growth, health, and, above all, loyalty to Jesus. The Church Change Cycle framework presents five distinct phases (0-4) that churches typically experience when adapting to change. Each phase highlights the characteristics, challenges, and leadership focus needed to move the church community from resistance to active participation and co-ownership of the church’s mission.

Phase 0: Stagnation – No Transformative Cycles

In this initial phase, the church shows signs of decline or stagnation, potentially even facing closure due to a lack of movement and adaptation. Todd Bolsinger captures this in Canoeing the Mountains, saying, “Nothing in God’s creation was designed to stay the same. Change is inevitable; growth is optional.” When a church resists change, it risks losing its mission, purpose, and vibrancy. Just as in nature, what doesn’t move forward will eventually wither and die.

In stagnant churches, phrases like “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” or “We’ve never done it that way before” become walls that block fresh ideas and prevent innovation. This resistance keeps the church stuck in the past, hindering growth.

Leadership Focus: Leaders must first recommit to the purpose and mission of the church, realigning with Jesus and seeking His guidance. Leadership may need to evolve or step aside, as clinging to comfort can inhibit the church’s potential. Jim Collins emphasizes this in Good to Great, stating, “Good is the enemy of great.” Leaders who settle for “good enough” may stifle the church’s journey toward greatness.

Reflection: If your church feels stagnant, ask yourself, “Are we maintaining comfort at the expense of what’s truly life-giving? Where is God calling us to grow, even if it challenges our current comfort?”

Phase 1: Resistance to Change

In this phase, members resist new ideas, challenge leaders, and cling to the familiar, often out of fear of losing control. While some members recognize the need for growth, they may prioritize maintaining control over embracing the church’s future.

For example, introducing a new fellowship area or coffee space may be viewed as a threat to tradition rather than a welcoming gesture for newcomers. Misunderstandings about the intent behind such changes often lead to heightened resistance.

Leadership Focus: Building trust is crucial. Leaders need to demonstrate competency and reliability while encouraging open dialogue. Listening to concerns doesn’t prevent change but shows respect for members’ voices. In A Failure of Nerve, Edwin Friedman advises, “A leader must remain calm, connected, and confident when others are anxious and reactive.” Leaders must also align changes with the church’s mission, helping members see a shared purpose.

Reflection: For members resisting change, consider, “What fears are driving this resistance?” For leaders, ask, “How can I honor these fears while guiding the church toward necessary growth?”

Phase 2: Tentative Buy-In

In this phase, members begin to release their resistance, albeit tentatively. They offer limited trust to leadership, allowing small adjustments but still holding back from full engagement. This cautious acceptance signals budding trust but lacks enthusiastic investment.

This phase can be frustrating for leaders, as members agree with the need for change but remain passively supportive, adopting a “wait-and-see” attitude. Disconnection from the larger vision often hinders deeper involvement.

Leadership Focus: Leaders must articulate a clear and compelling vision. Carey Nieuwhof writes in Overcoming the 7 Greatest Challenges, “People want to follow a leader who has a clear vision and knows where they’re going.” Leaders should highlight the big picture, helping members understand that the mission is greater than individual preferences. Todd Bolsinger, in Canoeing the Mountains, echoes this: “Leadership is taking people where they need to go, not where they want to go.”

Consistent communication is essential to maintain momentum. Leaders can build gradual engagement by offering manageable ways for members to participate, fostering ownership and direction. Developing people at this stage involves investing in future leaders and modeling vision-driven direction.

Reflection: Leaders, consider how you can make the vision clearer and more inspiring. Members, ask yourself, “Are you willing to let go of personal preferences for a purpose that serves the greater good?”

Phase 3: Invested Understanding

At this stage, members actively support the need for change. They experience a shift in perspective, recognizing how these adjustments benefit the church as a whole. With this invested understanding, members are eager to contribute to positive transformation, yet they rely on leadership to organize and implement changes.

Enthusiasm for immediate results may sometimes outpace leadership’s ability to respond, leading to frustration if expectations for rapid change aren’t met. Brian Moss captures this sentiment in Dream Church, noting, “People don’t mind change as much as they mind loss.” Miscommunication or unmet expectations can spark frustration, often directed at leadership.

Leadership Focus: Leaders should communicate transparently, keeping members informed about plans, timelines, and challenges to manage expectations and maintain trust. Balancing enthusiasm with patience is key. Ronald Heifetz, in Leadership on the Line, reminds us, “The hard work of leadership involves giving people hope while also being realistic.” Empowering co-creation by involving members in solution-building reinforces collaboration while integrating feedback shows that members’ voices are essential in shaping the church’s future.

Reflection: Leaders, can you invite members to be co-creators in this journey? Members, ask yourself, “What talents or insights can I contribute to our shared transformation?”

Phase 4: Full Buy-In and Independent Initiative

In the final phase, members fully embrace change and actively initiate new projects and solutions. They operate as co-creators, working alongside leadership to advance the church’s mission. Their commitment extends beyond mere acceptance—they independently innovate and implement changes that benefit the whole community.

One challenge here is that new members may struggle to find their place within this cohesive environment. While well-intentioned, their integration may inadvertently disrupt established workflows as they adapt.

Leadership Focus: Leaders should focus on promoting an inclusive culture, creating pathways for new members to feel welcomed and connected to the church’s mission. Carey Nieuwhof, in his podcast, emphasizes, “People crave belonging before they believe.” Recognizing members’ contributions fosters a culture of appreciation while encouraging ongoing innovation empowers the community to collaborate effectively. As Edwin Friedman notes in A Failure of Nerve, “Leadership is essentially about influence and helping others go where they wouldn’t otherwise go.”

Reflection: Leaders, how can you foster a culture where everyone feels empowered? Members, consider how you can support and encourage others in their roles to create an environment where everyone thrives.

The Path Forward for Churches Embracing Change

Navigating change within the church is a journey filled with challenges, but each phase in the Church Change Cycle provides a roadmap. This framework reminds us that while change can be difficult, it is often essential for growth, health, and loyalty to Jesus’ mission for His church. Ideally, your church is not at Phase 0, but the reality is that many churches in North America may find themselves there. As you progress through Phases 0 to 4, you will face radical challenges and changes, but the reward is growth and thriving together.

However, after reaching Phase 4, a critical decision looms. As Todd Bolsinger says, “Nothing in God’s creation was designed to stay the same. Change is inevitable; growth is optional.” You cannot remain at Phase 4 indefinitely. You will either return to Phase 1, beginning the cycle anew, or risk stagnating in Phase 0. The choice is clear: embrace reinvention and growth, or risk decline. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life—choose life, choose growth, and keep moving forward.

With Jesus, church members and leaders can navigate the cycles of change together, building a thriving, faith-filled, ever-evolving community.

Endnotes:

[i] According to a 2019 Pew study, the percentage of Americans identifying as Christians dropped from 77% in 2009 to 65% in 2019. During the same period, the percentage of those identifying as religiously unaffiliated (often referred to as “nones”) rose from 17% to 26%. Further research by the Barna Group in 2020 found that church attendance (both in-person and online) has also declined, with one in three practicing Christians (about 32%) having stopped attending church altogether during the COVID-19 pandemic. This suggests a significant shift in church engagement that may have long-term implications for the church’s future in North America. These statistics underscore the urgency for churches to adapt, as they face changing cultural attitudes, increasing secularization, and new challenges in engaging communities in meaningful ways.

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Are You Catching Kenosis?

By Pastor Vinnie

Related PODCAST Embedded Below

Kenosis (κένωσις, kenosis) is a theological term that dates back the earliest of Christian times. We could consider it the path that Christ took to become incarnate with humanity. That is to say, it is the method by which Christ who is fully God also became fully man by humbling himself to be born as a baby in a manger. It is the voluntary subjection to the humiliation of the creator becoming one with the creation for the sake of uplifting and redeeming the creation to its original status before the fall.

Christ emptied himself out, his rights out, his privilege out, his royalty out, so that he could serve mankind. However; the word Paul uses for servant really means slave (Doulos). God himself lowered his being to the level of a mere human so that he could go from the creator of all to the lowest of all, a slave.

Australian New Testament scholar, Peter O’Brian explains what happened this way;

“Christ voluntarily chose the path of obedient humiliation that led to his incarnation and death. He who was God and never ceased to be otherwise humbled himself in the incarnation. He emptied himself by taking the form of a slave…”^[1]

The word Kenosis itself appears in Philippians 2:7 and it literally means to be “emptied out”, but some translations translate it as “made of no reputation,” or “made himself nothing.”  It is to become as if you were empty of value or position. The God who was worth everything let himself been as nothing. He willingly became the “Nothing-Man.” For our sake, he became of no reputation.

Scholars refer to this as the kenosis, from the Greek. By becoming a man, Jesus did not lay aside his deity but rather let it be hidden to better identify to you and me and someone we could relate to. God came to our level to bring us to his level! Charles C. Ryrie sheds light on this event:

“Christ didn’t become any less God, but he chose not to use some of his divine attributes. This involved a veiling of his pre-incarnate glory.^[2]

This emptying of reputation is not seen to actually be an emptying of any divinity at all but rather the claim of its regard or reputation; hence the reason some translators use the phrase “made of no reputation.”Jesus, although God himself, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, was born among the lowest of all. He was giving no favor or advantage, but rather bored hardships like all men. He willingly subjected himself to the struggles of poverty, and a bad family name being regarded as being born out of wedlock; when he should have been taken to the temple, anointed with oil and made the king. He did nothing to purposely alert people to his divinity, and often tried to postpone miracles, “It is not yet my time,” or deny credit, “tell no one what I have done.” In fact, for his first thirty years on earth we heard nothing of significance from him or about him that should have given him royalty.

Tyndale Bible handbook unpacks the idea:

He did, for a while, hide his heavenly fame in an earthly frame. Even though he retained every single attribute of deity while on earth, he surrendered the independent exercise of those divine characteristics^[3]

Philippians 2:5-11 is believed to be taken for an early Christian hymn^[4] which some claim may have come from an early Christian creed, that Paul repurposed for his epistle. It is poetic, it has a rhythm of ideas, and is it emotionally moving as it describes the path of Jesus in Kenosis. Paul selected it wisely seeking to capture the basic beauty of Jesus Christ and his journey to us.  It goes like this:

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation [KENOSOS], and took upon him the form of a servant [SLAVE], and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”[5]

Directions:

As we look at this passage that was once likely an ancient hymn it does not take long to see a pattern of Jesus lowering and lowering himself and God is lifting him up!

Kenosis is all about your direction.

JESUS Made Low

1. Made Himself nothing

2. Made Himself a slave

3. Became Human

4. Obedient unto death

5. Obedient to the call of the cross.

Results: God lifts Him up and every knee will bow and confess Him as Lord.

Now look at this contrasting passage, that is not about Christ but his Adversary, Lucifer!

“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit. (Isaiah 14:12-14)

Satan Seeks to be Lift High

1. I will ascend

2. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God

3. I will also sit on the mount of the congregation

4. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds

5. I will be like the Most High

Results: God will cast him down to the grave [Death and destruction] and into the Pit [Hell].

Which direction are you traveling to?

Leadership and Advancement Implications:

What is your plan to get ahead? How do you lead others? You see, all seeking to be lifted up and noticed will be cast down. All trying to grasp and grab glory will get the lowest depths of the pit. No man (or woman) seeking to lift themselves up, to be glorified will find anything other than God’s disapproval. But he (or she) who is humble and meek, full of love that drives us to service will bury themselves in the work of a slave, seeking no pay, seeking no reward: and in due season God will lift you up!

It takes only five steps upward to end up downward being cast down into hell. Seeking your own glory can never be seeking Christ’s glory for while both take the same amount of steps they, in fact, go in different directions. One direction seeks to make others slaves and the other simply bows, with a towel, and washes the feet of others. It does not seek slaves, it is willing to be a slave; it lifts another out of the filth. It never wants the best seats at a banquet, it is a spirit that considers what is best as if it is nothing worthy to grasp for,  because it is a spirit that knows the Father would withhold no good thing form those who love like Him.

If you want to lead like Jesus, lead from the bottom. Avoid the top at all costs. Seek only ever to be last. The Rabbi made leadership simple: “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:16)

• Be last. Be low. Be lifted.

• Be first. Be proud. Be cast down. 

Lord, may we learn to be nothing [Kenosis] that you may be all. That is leadership because the goal is not our greatness but displaying His! Lead in a way that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father –not you!

A Song About The Kenosis Life

Cover of Casting Crowns “Nobody.”

Related PODCAST Episode On Kenosis.

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Footnote:

^[1] O’Brien, P. T. (1991). The Epistle to the Philippians: a commentary on the Greek text (p. 216). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.

^[2] Anders, M. (1999). Galatians-Colossians (Vol. 8, p. 225). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

^[3] Willmington, H. L. (1997). Willmington’s Bible handbook (p. 711). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

^[4] Foulkes, F. (1994). Philippians. In D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham (Eds.), New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 1253). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.

[5] Philippians 2:5-11, KJV

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