Throughout our journey in life with God He often sends other individuals across our path in order to warn, encourage, assist, and give or to simply serve. Sometimes there are periods of life that can be compared to a desert where the Lord is waiting upon His children to return for a drink. As we learn to follow the direction of God it is not our place to challenge or take over something given by the Lord but to assist as a midwife in the birth and then to wait upon the Lord in His peace and understanding while trusting in Him for our future.
If God gives a direct order then we are to follow and to deliver but if not then we are to recognize the needs within the mission and learn to serve those needs to the best of our God given abilities. You will find that when something is being led by the Lord it will be moving forward at a gradual rate based upon the maturity of the people. It is the individual’s responsibility with the vision to insure the first steps taken and to not allow the excitement or the emotions to push something before its time. Not only is it the leaders position to insure the first steps with the Lord but it is his or her place to delegate specific responsibilities to the individuals based upon their God given talents and understanding. This confirmation between individuals comes in the spirit as Jonathan confirmed with David. Jonathan had no doubts of the love of God that was in David and he knew whatever took place that it was in the Lord’s hands. Another important part to recognize is what happens when we challenge the positions that have been given by the Lord due to our own lack of understanding. Through Gods Word we gain liberty, achieve honor and maintain order as we learn the importance of obedience to our Creator through His mercy and unfailing grace.
We learn these leadership characteristics through the life of many individuals throughout history but most of all from Jesus Christ who taught us the art of being a living sacrifice. The life of Moses and Joshua teach us many lessons within leadership, the passing of the mantle and the proper function of the body. In the first attempt to reach their destination Moses could have attempted to rally the troops after they returned with doubts but he knew then it would have been short lived due to acting on emotions instead of being led within the confidence of God that we develop as our relationship builds as we spend time with Him. We also learn what happens when authority is challenged as the family and followers of Korah were consumed by the world when they came against the authorities established by God. One other valuable lesson is how the murmuring and disobedience of the body prolonged the blessings of the Lord simply due to the lack of trust and disobedience to His instruction.
Often you will find in the birth of something new many who will come and many that will go. The reason for this is often due to someone’s lack of understanding in the Word of God within the mission or in any new organization. Sometimes missions are on individual basis and sometimes they are on corporate levels. On corporate levels of success the one with the original vision must wait upon the Lord to bring the people together in order to move forward toward the Promises of God. How we confirm these individuals is by the parts of the overall vision that God gives them, their willingness to assist with understanding and through the confirmation of the spirit. There is an established order by God within any organization just as it is within our homes and if we neglect this order then this will eventually bring confusion and division within the body structure.
It is very wise for every individual to understand our service or submission is unto the Lord and not unto man. On corporate levels, as individuals it is very wise to stay in tune with the Lord to insure the inner drive is to serve the people and not upon the returns. Our returns are not earthly returns but are of the eternal Kingdom of God.
One of the hardest things to overcome in our human nature is looking beyond what we see to recall the instruction of the Lord and acting within His Word when we face confrontation or obstacles in this temporary life. We learn in 2 Chronicles 34 of a new king Josiah that was only 8 years old at the time he received kingship. With the elders that submitted under his authority this displays the Lords instruction and obedience within their own lives. They could have been bitter because of his age or rebellious due to coveting someone else’s position but instead they chose to serve as Gods Word instructs. On the other hand we learn another lesson in 1 Kings 12 with another youth that refused to listen for the Godly council of the elders and this brought oppression upon the people. Another lesson was the political marriage of Ahab and Jezebel. Ahab allowed the persuasion of the world to rob him and those that he served due to only thinking of the monetary returns. Without the discipline of God man cannot handle power and the only way is through the humble example of Jesus Christ.
Spiritually Satan uses many tactics to hinder or prevent something of God and sometimes when he misses one generation he strikes through the next. This lesson was taught through the lesson of the beheading of John the Baptist. The Kings wife carried a grudge and it was this generational grudge that was carried out through her daughter. Unlike Jonathan who recognized something wrong of God within his father Saul, the daughter carried out the sin instead of breaking the chain of evil. We learn of many things throughout the Word of God that teach us how to maintain our homes, our careers and our nation but if we can’t learn to keep God’s Word in front of all things and teach the Word to our children then it is only a matter of time before we stumble and fall. I praise God today for this drink in the desert and it is my prayer for God’s children to stand again united in One to drink from the well of God and help serve the people from the bread of life in Jesus Christ…amen
“But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves”…Luke 22
James A. Harrison
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