"HE who says he abides in Him ought HIMSELF ALSO TO WALK JUST AS HE [Jesus] WALKED."
1 John 2:6 (NKJV)
"You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; AND THEY SHALL WALK WITH ME IN WHITE, FOR THEY ARE WORTHY."
Revelation 3:4 (NKJV)
• A Ministry leader, like every believer, is primarily called to walk with God (Genesis 17:1).
- If God will use you, He must have trained you in walking with Him. Your obedience to the instructions given you by God, determines the depth of the covenant He establishes with you.
- The secrets of the Kingdom are for those who walk with Him:
"THE SECRET OF THE LORD IS WITH THOSE WHO FEAR HIM, And He will SHOW THEM HIS COVENANT" (Psalm 25:14 NKJV).
READ: Proverbs 3:32 - If you are not walking with Him intimately, how can you hear Him and obey Him. You have to know His Will before you can obey Him.
- If you cannot discern God's voice, you cannot lead other people (Romans 8:14). It would be difficult for someone to, when such does not know how to hear Him.
- If a blind does lead the blind, both will fall into the ditch:
"LET them alone. They are BLIND LEADERS of the blind. AND IF THE BLIND LEADS THE BLIND, BOTH WILL FALL INTO A DITCH" (Matthew 15:14 NKJV). - If you did not know the Way, how would you lead others. If you attempted to lead without a close fellowship or walking with God, you will surely lead the people astray.
• Leadership starts with walking with God, because being with God, fellowship or communion with God; is the primary assignment of a ministry leader:
13 And He [Jesus] went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. 14 Then He appointed twelve, THAT THEY MIGHT BE WITH HIM [being with Him preceded being sent to preach] and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have power [authority] to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons" (Mark 3:13-15 NKJV).
- The person who would lead others successfully in the Kingdom is, someone who has close fellowship or communion with God—someone who is intimate with Him enough, to hear from Him whenever He speaks (Colossians 1:10).
- Hearing from God gives you the opportunity to know what to do per time—the way forward in every circumstance. As a result of it, you will not be leading the people blindly.
- When the blind leads the blind both will fall into the ditch. Thus, the leadership journey starts with hearing from God!
• How to hear from God.
- There are things to do, spiritual exercises, that would help sharpen your perceptiveness—ability to discern.
- I want to encourage you to consider and pay attention to the points we want to share in this piece:
(i) Let the Word of God be number one in your life; in the studying of it, meditating or pondering on it, and the practicing of it (Joshua 1:8; James 1:22,25).
(ii) Always acknowledge the presence of God, in the person of the Holy Spirit on the inside of you (John 14:17; Proverbs 3:5,6).
a. Your relationship with God, through the person of the Holy Spirit on the inside of you, should be valued with high esteem:
23 Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; 24 BUT LET HIM WHO GLORIES GLORY IN THIS, THAT HE UNDERSTANDS AND KNOWS ME, THAT I AM THE LORD, exercising loving-kindness, judgement [justice], and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD" (Jeremiah 9:23,24 NKJV).
b. Carry Him along in whatever you may want to do, and be sincere in your walking with Him—in all your dealings with Him (1 Chronicles 28:9).
c. And pray often, without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17), in the language of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 14:2; Jude17). Pray on, and about, everything, even the minutest things.
d. Add fasting to your prayers, It would make your spirit strong and you will be more sensitive to God's voice or His leadings (Matthew 17:21; Acts 13:2,3; 14:23; 2 Corinthians 6:5; 11:27); - If your relationship with God were intimate, hearing from Him would not be a difficult thing (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18).
e. When you heard from God, do not pretend not to have heard Him. And do not trivialize whatever He told you.
f. Ask to know things that may not be clear to you, and do not assume—assumption could be detrimental to your progress. Because He does want to be obeyed to the letter!
g. Wait to receive an answer on whatever you have asked Him. Waiting is a way of teaching you perseverance or patience in walking with Him (1 Samuel 13:8-14; James 1:4). You have to be painstaking in your walking with God, If you actually wanted to hear from Him.
h. Always wait on Him to know His mind on whatever step you may want to take (Proverbs 3:5,6). Do not rush, God is never in a hurry, and He cannot come late, whenever He says He is coming.
(iii) Discipline yourself in talking (Proverbs 10:19; 17:27,28).
(iv) Any relationship, someone or people, that would not help your walk with Him, should be called a quit—cut off from such a person or people.
(v) Share your experience in your relationship with Him, with others (Luke 22:32; John 21:15-17).
• If you succeeded in being sensitive to God, that is, in the hearing of Him; you will surely succeed in your leadership assignment.
- Love God with all your heart (Matthew 22:37), and humble yourself before Him (James 4:10), He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5,6).
- Pride makes some not to receive from God. He will not speak or reveal His secrets to whoever is proud (Psalm 25:9; 1 Peter 5:5,6).
- If pride is found in someone's life, success in ministry would be a mirage to such a person (James 4:6,10).
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED