"Obey those who rule [lead] over you, AND BE SUBMISSIVE, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."
Hebrews 13:17 (NKJV)
• If you have a mentor, a spiritual father, in your life and you are following properly, you will have people under your leadership who are obedient to you also.
- Having said that, you should be sure that whoever you are following is following Christ.
- If you have an urge to follow someone, God probably stirred your heart to do it, however, if the person whom you are following misses it, do not follow that.
- Follow whomever you are following as long as he or she is following the Lord.
YOU can follow someone's faith without following his or her doctrine.
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."
1 Corinthians 11:1 (KJV)
- "For you yourselves know how you OUGHT TO FOLLOW US, FOR WE WERE NOT DISORDERLY AMONG YOU;
- ... TO MAKE OURSELVES AN EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU SHOULD FOLLOW us."
2 Thessalonians 3:7,9 (NKJV)
- If you are submissive to whoever God stirred your heart to be submissive to, you also will have those who are submissive to you.
- You would have submissive members and obedient followers because you sow the seed of it. Although some rebels might be among them, but only few.
"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; FOR WHATEVER A MAN SOWS, THAT HE WILL ALSO REAP."
Galatians 6:7 (NKJV)
• Being submissive to God and whoever has a spiritual oversight of you will move God to work on the hearts of those who are under your leadership to be submissive to you.
- Remember people submit willingly, you cannot intimidate, frighten or threaten, people to submit to your leadership.
- Those who will submit to you and follow you must have seen in you that you have the interest of peoples at heart.
- There are leaders who do not want those who are under them to prosper. THEY just want to keep the people to boost their egos—make a good showing or impression (Galatians 6:12).
THEY do not have plans for their growth and development and progress.
"Those false teachers are so eager to win your favour, BUT THEIR INTENTIONS ARE NOT GOOD. They are trying to shut you off from me [Paul] so that you will pay attention only to them."
Galatians 4:17 (NLT)
• People replicate or copy what they see in the life of their leaders, thus you have a responsibility to live right that those who are under your leadership would have something good to emulate.
- If you do not tithe but you ask the people under your leadership to do it, they might NOT.
- Everything, incomes in your ministry, should not end up with you.
YOU should tithe your income. - A giving leader will have a giving follower.
A giving pastor will have a giving congregation. - It is NOT only on monetary issues that a leader should be impeccable, but on every area of his or her life.
- "For neither at any time did we [Paul and his team] use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness [pretext for greed]—God is witness.
- You are witnesses, and God also, HOW DEVOUTLY AND JUSTLY AND BLAMELESSLY WE BEHAVED OURSELVES AMONG YOU WHO BELIEVE;
- as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged [implored] every one of you, as a father does his own children,
- that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory."
1 Thessalonians 2:5,10-12 (NKJV)
• What are the people under your leadership learning from you?
IS your life, ways and manners of life, impacting them positively?
IF the people emulate you, live after you, copy and pattern their lives after you, would they make heaven?
- "Let no one despise your youth [look down on your youthfulness], but be an EXAMPLE to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
- MEDITATE on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your PROGRESS may be evident to all.
- TAKE HEED TO YOURSELF AND TO THE DOCTRINE. CONTINUE IN THEM, FOR IN DOING THIS YOU WILL SAVE BOTH YOURSELF AND THOSE WHO HEAR YOU."
1 Timothy 4:12,15,16 (NKJV)
• There is wisdom in submission.
- Submission is not a weakness or stupidity.
- If God wants you to submit or follow someone in order to learn, do, however, follow as long as he or she is following Christ.
• You will not fail in Jesus' Name.
Peace!