"HERE I AM. WITNESS AGAINST ME [Samuel] BEFORE THE LORD AND BEFORE HIS ANOINTED [King Saul]: WHOSE ox have I taken, OR whose donkey have I taken, OR whom have I cheated? WHOM have I oppressed, OR FROM WHOSE HAND HAVE I RECEIVED ANY BRIBE WITH WHICH TO BLIND MY EYES? I WILL RESTORE IT TO YOU.”
1 Samuel 12:3 (NKJV)
• Samuel towards the end of his life and Ministry addresses the people of Israel, asking for whoever has anything to say, that is, any accusation against him; that such a person should say it openly before the whole Nation.
- A leader must be above board in all their dealings. Samuel proved to be a man of integrity.
INTEGRITY is defined as a quality of being honest and upright in character. - Samuel could stand to challenge the people because he did not have any skeleton in his cupboard.
- As a Ministry leader, you should have a clean hand, both before God and the people:
7 IN ALL THINGS SHOWING YOURSELF TO BE A PATTERN OF good WORKS; in doctrine SHOWING INTEGRITY, reverence, INCORRUPTIBILITY, 8 SOUND speech that cannot be condemned, THAT ONE WHO IS AN OPPONENT MAY BE ASHAMED, HAVING NOTHING EVIL TO SAY OF YOU" (Titus 2:7,8 NKJV). - If you want to last in the ministry work, and do not want to lose your leadership, you must be a person of integrity.
ARE you honest and upright in your character?
• As you become a leader, you become a subject of scrutiny.
- Your life becomes visible, come under close scrutiny, and the people want to see and know your uprightness.
EVEN those who are not morally sound or good would be watching you to find if there is any fault in you. - You should be determined, NOT to let God down, by living uprightly:
"BE CAREFUL HOW YOU BEHAVE AMONG YOUR UNSAVED NEIGHBOURS; FOR then, EVEN if they are suspicious of you and TALK AGAINST YOU, THEY WILL END UP PRAISING GOD FOR YOUR GOOD WORKS when Christ RETURNS" (1 Peter 2:12 Living Bible). - When they eventually see that you did not compromise your stand or faith, you do not give up on your convictions, they would want to celebrate you and honour you.
- It is expected of whoever is leading to set a good standard for others—be a good example for others to follow:
"LET no one DESPISE your YOUTH, BUT BE AN EXAMPLE TO THE BELIEVERS IN WORD, IN CONDUCT, in love, in spirit, in faith, IN PURITY" (1 Timothy 4:12 NKJV).
READ: 2 Thessalonians 3:9; 1 Peter 2:21; 5:3 - God also expected and required more from whoever is given the privilege to serve in the Ministry:
"FOR EVERYONE TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, FROM HIM MUCH WILL BE REQUIRED; AND to whom MUCH has been COMMITTED, OF him they will ASK THE MORE" (Luke 12:48 NKJV). - A ministry leader is God's representative, he or she should not let down the God Who reposes trust in him or her. Such should be a good example to the people they are leading (Philippians 3:17; 1 Peter 5:3).
• It should be known to whoever is serving in the Ministry, if you are lacking in integrity, you cannot go far with the work (2 Timothy 2:19).
- If you want to truly walk with God, you should be ready to live right:
3 WHO MAY ASCEND INTO THE HILL OF THE LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 HE WHO HAS CLEAN HANDS AND A PURE HEART, WHO HAS NOT LIFTED UP HIS SOUL TO AN IDOL, NOR SWORN DECEITFULLY. 5 HE shall receive BLESSING from the LORD, AND righteousness from the God of his SALVATION" (Psalm 24:3-5 NKJV). - As you are progressing in your Walk with God, He would be demanding from you, a total obedience. Requiring that, you move up in your Commitments and consecrations:
"NEVERTHELESS THE SOLID FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDS, having this seal: “THE LORD KNOWS THOSE WHO ARE HIS,” AND, “LET EVERYONE WHO NAMES THE NAME OF CHRIST DEPART FROM INIQUITY" (2 Timothy 2:19 (NKJV). - God expected you to move up the level you are in character, in the knowledge of His Word, in prayer and fasting, and in every other area of your Life.
• You cannot be stagnant in God. It is either you are progressing or regressing.
GOD will use circumstances of life to move you up: in the knowledge of His Word, prayer and fasting, and other spiritual exercises, to a higher level.
- God would not want you to drop from the spiritual level which you had attained during your predicaments, Rather, He wants you to move up and keep soaring higher-up.
- Living right is a choice you have to make. Samuel made the choice to live right and he maintained it throughout his lifetime. He was even sort for in the grave (1 Samuel 28:7-19).
- Can you challenge the people under your leadership as Samuel did, in order to prove your uprightness?
THAT if there is any incriminating evidence against you, such should be brought to the limelight.
IF you cannot do it, It means you would need to work on your character. - God expects you to make progress, move from one level of glory to another in your Christian journey and Ministry life.
HE detests stagnation in every facet of a Believer's life.
• If you disobeyed God, you will be chastised:
5 AND you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “MY SON, DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, NOR BE DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED BY HIM; 6 FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 IF YOU ENDURE CHASTENING, GOD DEALS WITH YOU AS WITH SONS; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?" (Hebrews 12:5–7 (NKJV).
- In your leadership role, God expects truthfulness, integrity, at every level He takes you (1 Timothy 4:12).
- God is holy, He wants maturity, and perfection, from whoever is walking with Him (1 Peter 1:15,16).
GOD will hold you responsible for every disobedience of yours to His Word—the commands or instructions given you by Him.
• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED