ADVANCING TOWARDS HIGHER PRODUCTIVE LEADERSHIP
TEXT: John 15:1-2, 4-5, 7-8
It is good to be a leader but it is not good to just occupy the position of leadership. We need to understand why God raised us, what He wants us to do and accomplish, and the need to go higher in productive leadership.
The Lord purges us so that we can bear more fruits. With Christ, we can do everything, but without Him, we can do nothing
I.ABIDING IN HIS STRENGTH FOR PRODUCTIVE LEADERSHIP.
John 15:2, I John 2:6, Ephesians 6:10-20
Every branch that bears fruits: man, woman, women leader or adult church leader, youth, campus, language church leaders. He loves everyone of us and He has put us in places where He wants us to bear fruits. Why does God need to purge a branch that is already bearing fruits? There are some hindering parasites that may be hanging on the fruit bearing branches which He would want to clear away, so that the things you have learnt, and the grace and vision you have, no parasite will abide in your life, family and ministry in Jesus name. The Lord will purge so that you will bear more fruits.
The evidence of being a disciple of Christ, that we are still attached to and following Him is that we are bearing fruits and much fruits. Go to your district, area and community and bear fruits for the Lord, and your fruits will remain and abide. It is in abiding that strength, power and anointing we need flows into our lives. A believer ought to live a holy, righteous and pure life, following the example of our Lord. How did He work? He preached the gospel, healed the sick, counseled people and led them to salvation and eternal life. We also must evangelize and edify the church.
We have overcome the wicked one. Who is the overcomer? He is the one who will not run away from the field because the wicked one is there, or because of persecutors, opposers, and contradicters.
What did you hear from the beginning? Go to the world and preach the gospel, all that the minister, leader or a soul winner had heard from the beginning. A minister must not always interpret the Bible on the surface like ordinary believers, and he should carry out all he has heard.
Sin is the transgression of the law. He who knows how to do good but does it not is a sinner. Whatever is not of faith is sin. Abiding in Christ is winning souls .
No one needs this admonition more than the minister of God who has a burden to bear and a load to carry. He cannot do all he has to do by His power. As we go to the field, the devil may want to discourage us, but we will stand against all his wiles, he will not destroy our consecration in Jesus name. Some leaders do not know that we wrestle, they feel dejected and discouraged when powers of darkness rear their ugly heads. We have the name of Jesus, and the power of the Spirit behind us.
Some people say the devil is more powerful and the demons more wise today than they used to be, that sinners of these days do not respond well to the preaching of the word, it seems as if one is talking to a wall. But we should be positive and say that we are able and we will overcome and conquer.
Some people say that they do not know how to pray. Prayers do not have to be long. Just saying, “Lord help and strengthen me” is enough. Peter did not have the time to close his eyes or kneel down to pray when he was sinking in the ocean. All he did was to call on the Lord to save him and his prayer was answered. If you find yourself getting weak and weary, just call on the Lord to help you and He will.
All a minister needs to do is to commit his ministration, evangelistic outreach, crusade, teaching sessions to the Lord, that He will give him utterances, and God will hear, sinners will be saved, believers will be edified, and sanctified believers will be filled with the power of the Holy Ghost. Some people are naturally timid and reserved, their self confidence very low but when they get baptized in the Holy Ghost, the power of God bypasses their timidity and make them bold and courageous like David before Goliath and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego before Nebuchadnezzar, and Daniel in the lion’s den. None of us will die before our time is up.
May you have grace to speak boldly as you ought to speak in the district church, and in any programme in Jesus name. You will be a productive leader, the strength of the Lord will abide with you in Jesus name.
II. ADMONITION FROM THE STEADFASTNESS OF PAST LEADERS.
James 5:10-11, 2 Corinthians 10:11, Romans 15:4, James 5:17, Mark 2:14, Colossians 4:12, Acts 18:24-28, Daniel 6:22, Acts 24:16, 1 Kings 19:16,19, II Kings 3:11, Jeremiah 35:1-6, Habakkuk 2:1, 1 Chronicles 12:32, Acts 8:5-8
I need to remind you of something: there were leaders whom God has written their history for us in scriptures to challenge, inspire and make us think what we would have done if we are in the situation they were in. We must always know that the same grace that was available for them is there for us today ( Study the life of such men of God and learn from their strength and victory. Studying the lives of such men is for our learning, admonition and encouragement.
Elijah lived during a very difficult time with oppositions here and there. He prayed earnestly that it should not rain for 3 years and half, and it happened. He prayed again and the rains came back. These men of God exercised their gifts, they remained in the ministry, abiding all the time and they were productive. We also will be productive in Jesus name.
#L-LEVI. Jesus saw and called Levi, also called Matthew at the seat of the customs and he followed Him immediately without weighing the pros and cons, dilly-dallying or delaying. This same grace is available for us today. Levi started evangelism that same day he was called, he invited his friends and colleagues to listen to the word of salvation from Jesus.
#E-EPAPHRAS. He was always labouring for the kingdom of God fervently, not taking leave, not giving up. He was always hoping that the Colossians will become perfect.
You also will pray, preach and labour to perfect the people of God.
#A-APOLLOS.We see Apollos here who loves, reads, meditates on and become so mighty in scriptures. He received the word of God with a warm heart, not a cold one. He taught the word of God diligently, based on the knowledge he had. Later, Aquila and Priscilla took and worked more on him, and when he moved to another city, he helped the work of God so much.
#D-DANIEL.Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den but they could not eat him because God sent His angel to deliver him. There were still so many revelations of things to come which God would reveal through Daniel, so He preserved him. Till we finish all the work we need to do on earth, either by writing or preaching, nothing will touch our lives. The lions of this world will neither crack your bones nor suck your blood, they will not destroy you. The end will not come until you have ended your ministry. Daniel ensured that he had a clean and clear conscience at all times.
#E-ELISHA. Elisha was the servant given to Elijah to anoint to be prophet in his place. Eventually, when he saw him, he threw his mantle upon him, he did not do any praise-singing of himself. When on Elijah’s enquiry about what he wanted and Elisha answered that he wanted a double portion of his anointing, he did not lay hands upon him or say, I have been waiting for this time, he just dropped his mantle upon him and Elisha picked up the mantle and used it to part River Jordan, shouting.
All the time Elijah was on earth, Elisha was busy pouring water on his hands. May you not miss your calling. He did not complain to Elijah that he was idle, that had he known, he would not have left his farming work. He was patient and waited for his time. May you have this grace in Jesus name.
#R-THE RECHABITES. The one that God will use must learn to listen and be obedient to the word of his father in the Lord. The Rechabites would not drink wine, even though it was presented to them by a genuine man of God.
As a result of their steadfastness, God, through Jeremiah gave them a covenant of perpetuity in His presence.
#S-SILAS. Silas, being a prophet exhorted and confirmed the brethren. Later he was recommended for Apostle Paul to be his partner. Because of the deliverance God wrought through them, they were beaten and locked up in prison. Silas did not complain to Paul. Some people, when they go through some difficulties will decide to never come to the church the following week.
Instead of complaining, they sang and prayed and there was an earthquake, and their bands were loosed.
#H-HABAKKUK. He was eager to receive revelations from God. This is how leaders should be eager to hear from God in order to give to the people.
#I-ISACCHAR. The descendants of Isacchar were men who had knowledge of the times. As believers, we must have knowledge of the times in which we are ministering: what is going on in your country and to know what the congregation ought to do. When brethren know that you know what you ought to know, they will follow you and the work will prosper in your hands.
#P-PILLIP. Great joy following your ministry and you will heal the sick, deliver the oppressed and the Lord will do great and wonderful things in your life and ministry like He did in the life of Philip in Jesus name.
III. AWAKENING THE SPIRIT OF PASSIVE LEADERS.
Isaiah 52:1-2,
You will wake up and everything causing drowsiness, weakness and tiredness will be taken away from you Power, fervency, zeal, excitement and earnestness will come back in Jesus name. Now that we have been awakened by looking at the great leaders gone before us, what are we to do?
- #L-Labour, Love, Learn more
- #E-Evangelize more
- #A-Aspire more
- #D-Do more
- #E-Endure more
- #R-Release (energy) more
- #S-Serve more
- #H-Help more
- #I-Intercede more
- #P-Preach, Pray and Persevere more
You will go higher and reach farther in Jesus name.