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So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands -Psalm 78:72, ASV.
David took care of them with unselfish devotion and led them with skill -Psalm 78:72, GNB.
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many -Matthew 20:25-28.
Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted -Matthew 23:2-12.
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; As I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;
Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD; Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them -Ezekiel 34:7-10.
There was a time in the Pentecostal Church when it was considered sacrilegious to call a leader or pastor “Father.” We felt some Orthodox churches were doing it against God’s word. We used scriptures such as the one in Matthew 23:2-21 to buttress our point, and for us, they are the very words of Jesus, which supersedes everybody else’s word.
Over time, someone woke up in the morning and caught a ‘new revelation’- Elisha called Elijah “My father, my father” (2 Kings 2:12), so some decided that they wanted “to be another Elijah here”. Others felt they needed to have a double anointing and decided to start “pouring water” on ‘Elijah’s’ hands (2 Kings 3:11).
As it is now, I am wondering- the anointing we have received in Christ, is it ‘double’, ‘triple’ or ‘quadruple’? Is the ‘Elisha double anointing’ greater than the believer’s anointing in Christ?
Someone help me! Let us not talk here of the various kinds of anointing(s) that are being cooked up for various kinds of breakthroughs supported by one kind of offering or the other.
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him -1 John 2:27.
For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts -2 Corinthians 1:20-22.
For some the Old Testament support was inadequate, after all, we are no longer under the Old Testament. But wait, Paul called Timothy, Titus and Onesimus his sons in the faith. (1 Tim 1:2, 18; 2 Tim 2:1; Tit 1:4; Philemon 1:10). We then began to have “daddy”, “mummy”, “papa”, “mama” in the Lord. Why not? After all, we have ‘baby’, ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ in the Lord.
By the testimony of scripture, the pattern of leadership in the world and leadership in the kingdom are not the same, they are actually in contrast, or even at variance. But today they are in practice in the Church very much comparable.
In his book Pathway to Leadership, Gbile Akanni takes time to contrast the pattern of leadership in the world with that of the kingdom. Therein he writes: “Leadership… is actually to be ahead… to be the first… but first in suffering, first to endure… first to be denied and first to do. It is to be a continuous example… someone who is always sent rather than one who sends… Not necessarily to be on issuing commands. But even when he must give orders, he is not exempted from receiving orders himself; and all for the benefit of others and not for what he can get. Christ patterned leadership is designed to point people to Christ, to make them His disciples; to train them to trust and depend absolutely on Him.”
In 1990 or 91, I attended a leadership conference organized by the late Pastor Hafford Iloputaife, in which Pastor Creflo Dollar was also a speaker.
Pastor Hafford gave the testimony of a pastor who asked him, “Why do you teach your people all the things you teach them? Ultimately when they know these things they would not need you any longer.” That is, invariably, they would be able to stand on their own”.
He replied, “I’m called to teach them the truth, and that is what I’m doing. Besides, my people are smart, whether I teach them or not they would get to know the truth.” I feel he was more like telling the man, I have no intention of raising spiritually ignorant folks if that is your vision.
The above-quoted verse in the Psalms 78:72, concerning David is an instruction in biblical leadership. The Good News Bible says, “David took care of them with unselfish devotion and led them with skill.”
Where is unselfish devotion? Where is the skill of transforming ordinary men and women to people “after God’s own heart” and to be great instruments in His hands? Is this the pattern of your leadership?
Today the passion of many ‘men of God’ is not for the people; is not to teach them the truth and care for them, but for titles and positions that will give them the pre-eminence in the church.
They get angry when you do not address them with their title, “Apostle John-bull!” They crave positions that would give them access to large honorariums and several other privileges that have no bearing with the Master’s call upon their lives. This is the spirit of Diotrephes (3 Jn 1:9).
And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king -2 Chronicles 1:11.
And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not -Jeremiah 45:5a.
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine -1 Timothy 5:17.
Spiritual leadership is not for self-aggrandizement, though there is honour in it. However, if that is all you seek, then leadership in the Body of Christ is not the place for you.
There is a delicate balance between the instruction not to seek “great things for thyself” and to “serve in a manner worthy of double honour”. That balance is manifested in our level of spiritual maturity, which stems from the depth of our relationship with the Lord and not in the “charismata” (grace gifts).
We must not sacrifice depth for breadth, though they are not mutually exclusive, for Judah still needs to take root downward if the fruit he bears upward would be enduring and worthy of the Lord (see 2 Kings 19:30).
Are you a leader in the Body of Christ? The Bible admonishes you:
Just as shepherds watch over their sheep, you must watch over everyone God has placed in your care. Do it willingly in order to please God, and not simply because you think you must. Let it be something you want to do, instead of something you do merely to make money.
Don’t be bossy to those people who are in your care, but set an example for them. Then when Christ the Chief Shepherd returns, you will be given a crown that will never lose its glory -1 Peter 5:2-4, CEV.
Christian leadership has both temporal and eternal reward. But we must always have it in mind that we shall give an account of our stewardship.
Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you -Hebrews 13:17.
At this juncture, I must concede that there are often situations and instances in which brethren place their leaders and pastors on pedestals that God has not placed them, which tempt them towards worldly leadership patterns. Satan can take advantage of leaders on such accounts and lead them astray. Brethren should be equally as watchful as leaders should be in these matters.
Friend this has been an extract from my book Criminals Behind the Pulpit: Exposing False Ministry and Unveiling True Ministry in the Church.
God is calling us to Christ patterned leadership, because if you influence someone then you are a leader. How do you lead God’s people and to where are you leading them?
Thank you. Do not forget to keep living. Loving and learning.
