RUBBER STAMP LEADERS

READ: 1 SAMUEL 15:1, 11-14

One condition many who have been anointed of God are suffering today is rejection. It is terrible for the One who chose and ordained you to turn His back on you. May the Lord never reject you in Jesus name. In 1 Samuel 15:1, 11-14, the Lord said king Saul has stopped following Him and had continued to select which parts of God’s commands he would obey and the ones he would ignore. Then God regretted making him king over His people. In chapter 16:1, God said He had rejected him from being king. Yet for several years, he continued to occupy that position. Everywhere he went, his ignorant subjects still referred to him as, “Your majesty.” But as far as God was concerned the moment He rejected him, David had been anointed to take over. From then, the Lord began to lay the burden of His people on young David. The anointing to operate as king was taken from Saul and given to David. Before long David came into limelight, defeated Goliath; killed 10 times as many Philistines than Saul and stood a champion. He had become Israel’s unofficial but heaven-approved leader!
As leaders we must be very careful with God. The presence of the Ark of the Covenant could not guarantee victory for Israel because their head had been rejected. On our altars today, several pastors and church leaders are there who like king Saul, have been rejected by the One who called them. Some workers have been decommissioned by God because they have persistently grieved His heart. In 1 Samuel 4:11-22, while Eli remained and was accorded the honour as the high priest, only young Samuel knew that the glory had departed from him.
If God has rejected an individual, such a fellow maintains his or her office only as a rubber stamp leader. He would have a form of godliness but lack power. He will be totally empty of God. The longer he stays, the longer those under him are unduly exposed to torture, satanic attacks, failure and shame. If God has rejected you, you have no business handling the things of God. Those people who have been rejected and know it, but instead of resigning or going for early retirement, sit tight for fear of shame, will experience disgrace at the end. A pastor, who lives in sin, has no business with the altar. Take a leave and go and settle with God first. Do not bring unnecessary judgement on yourself. Or do you not fear God? May God not reject you. Check your life today. Have you been grieving the Spirit over a particular matter? Yield to Him now.

MEMORIZE: 2 TIMOTHY 3:5 –Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.

BENEFICIAL LOSSES

READ: MATTHEW 5:29-30

Are you married to Jesus? Keep that relationship intact. I thank God for doctors. Before I was born again, I would have been a dead man if not for them. However, since I got married to Jesus, they have not seen me in their hospitals. And they never will. The reason is that you cannot be a wife of the Greatest Physician and lack medical care. The best possible treatment on earth and in heaven will be at your beck and call. When you are married to the right man, all your burdens, assets and liabilities will become His. That is why Philippians 4:19 says, “But God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. By your marriage to Him, you have become His responsibility.
The enjoyment and glory awaiting all who will finally make it to heaven is so great that the average human heart finds it difficult to comprehend. In Matthew 5:29-30, Jesus gives an idea. He said if your right hand will hinder you from entering heaven, cut it off. As a new born babe in Christ, something I kept asking the Lord was: If you really love me, why would you ask me to cut off my right hand? In answer, the Lord showed me a vision. I saw a multitude of Christians joyfully singing and strolling towards heaven. All of a sudden, I saw a man coming from the rear. He was in a mad rush and pushed just anyone who will hinder him. In my mind, I was wondering if the man was a Christian when Matthew 11:12 was impressed on my heart.
While meditating on this verse, I saw why the man was running unlike those who were strolling. The gates of Heaven -one huge sliding door- was closing. He rushed further and by the time he got there the gap left could only take him entering sideways. As he entered, the gate finally shut and his right hand was still outside. Then the angel inside told him, “Sir, it has been decided that nothing more can come in but something can still go out. To enable me shut this gate properly, sir, you will either have to go out or we would have to cut off your right hand”. If you were the man, which will you choose? To lose a hand and remain in heaven or to be whole but outside heaven? Not all born again Christians will make it to heaven. If you must enter heaven you need to run in your commitment, obedience and in your present level of walking with God. Take a look at your life. What are those things that will hinder you from entering? Cut them off today. No matter how close or valuable: cut them off now. They are beneficial losses.

MEMORIZE: HEBREWS 11:16 –But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared for them a city.

ATTRACTING YOUR HELPERS

READ: PROVERBS 18:20-24

John 12:24 says until a corn of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. What does it mean to be alone? It is dangerous to be alone, humanly speaking. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says two are better than one. Also, if one stumbles over a problem, his partner will lift him. When blessing comes, your partner will also share the joy with you, which is why people organize parties.
It is terrible thing not to have somebody share your joy with you. The mother of a wealthy man who hails from my town died sometime ago. Since he could afford it, he prepared plenty of food and drinks and invited the whole town, but not a single person went. It is even worse not to have someone share your burden with.
At Gethsemane, Jesus had Peter, James and John to share the agony of the cross with. You must have a prayer partner. Matthew 18:19 says if you and your partner can agree on anything it shall be established. Some believers do not have friends, even ministers. Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.” Some complain they do not have friends. Are you friendly yourself? The helpers God has prepared to assist many in fulfilling their ministries or destinies have been rebuffed by our unfriendly attitudes. Whatever you tell him by morning somebody else will it to your face by evening of the same day.
Those with loose tongues and lousy characters cannot have true friends except those like themselves whom Satan has sent to seal up their eternal destiny in hell. Some pastors create room for gossip. They enjoy having people gossip about others to them. Some even plant spies to bring rumors to them on a regular basis. Apart from you heading to hell, your ‘rumor mates’ are going there with you also. By such acts, you are partaking in sowing seeds of discord among the brethren. No wonder those who have experienced you prefer to keep you at a distance. To receive the partners that God has for you, drop your bad habits, break off from rumor mills and become friendly.

MEMORIZE: PROVERBS 18:24 –A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother.