(By Derrick)
One of the core purposes of our ministry is to raise up young leaders who are after the heart of God. In this post, I want to throw light on 5 areas that prospective leaders need to work upon:
1. Are you looking after the sheep?
“There is still the youngest. He is tending the sheep,” Jesse answered ( 1 Samuel 16:11)
While David was spending night and day, taking care of his father’s sheep, God was setting a throne for him over Israel. Anyone who looks after the Father’s sheep is qualified to run His business! The rule still remains the same.
So you think you are called to lead? Are you taking care of the sheep? And no, that’s not your pastor’s job alone. It is all about loving your neighbor as yourself and placing others’ needs above yours.
The sheep may be smelly, injured, lost or insignificant in the eyes of others, but when you care for them selflessly, you touch the Father’s heart. (PS: Don’t have sheep? Go share the gospel and find some!)
2. Have you killed the lion and the bear?
When a lion or bear carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it and killed it (1 Samuel 17: 34-35).
When you have killed the lions and the bears in your private life, God will set the platform to kill the Goliaths for you. And that’s what happened with David.
The lions and bears that we face are not in flesh, but include our pride, fears, doubts, selfish motives – that are keeping us away from the Word and fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Some of us love to dream about raising the dead, when we are struggling to raise our own bodies from slumber!
Unless you have learnt to overcome the little battles in your life, and walk with God day in and day out, your knees will tremble when you face the giant. So watch out!
3. What is the platform for?
David got a platform – an opportunity – and he used it to destroy the works of the enemy.
The platform was never meant to display your gift or capabilities, but to push the enemy back. It saddens me to see men and women of God craving for a platform – from the outside, it looks for the latter reason, but deep inside (where God looks at), it is for self glory.
That’s the reason they are not ready to wait for God’s time, but are seeking the hand of man. But remember when God gives you a platform, His grace will be evident upon your life, whereas if man gives you a platform, your life will become a struggle to keep it.
4. What are you seeking?
David was the only person in the Old Testament who served in the office of the King and Prophet. David was also known as a man after God’s heart.
When your focus is God’s heart, you will by default be operating in all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
When you are seeking the gifts, you will drain yourself. But when you are busy running after Jesus, the gifts will simply overflow. Seek Him first!
5. When you don’t know what to do…
“Fill your horn with oil and be on your way. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, I have chosen one of his sons to be king” (1 Samuel 16:1)
God could have told Samuel straight away that he should be anointing David, the youngest of Jesse’s son to be the king. But He gave him only part of the instruction and Samuel had to depend on the leading of God every step of the way.
Here’s the lesson: As a leader don’t try to walk ahead of God. If you don’t know what to do, do what the Word of God says and you will get further revelation on the way. How many of us want to hear God speak to us, but we are not even doing what the He has written in His Word!
Do the written word first, and then the spoken Word of God will become real to you!
Hope the above blessed you. We are praying for godly men and women to rise and take their positions as leaders and influence the world for the glory of Jesus!