God puts godly leadership in our lives to equps us to fulfill the destiny of His heart.
1 Chronicles 13:1 Then David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. 2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us; 3 "and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul." 4 Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.
God has divine order. King David and the people of Israel decided to move the ark of the covenant to David’s hometown Jerusalem . It was a noble and correct cause. However, in this first attempt to move the ark of the covenant they loaded it upon a cart with oxen pulling. This was against divine order. They came ready for celebration and rejoicing that the ark was coming. The oxen stumbled and a man reached out his hand to steady the ark. God’s anger arose and struck the man that touched the ark. King David and His people has consulted one another but had not consulted God for the divine order to move the ark.
1 Chronicles 15:12 He said to them, "You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. 13 "For because you did not do it the first time, the LORD our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order."
This passage is the second attempt for the ark of the covenant to move. This is where we learn they were out of God’s divine order using a cart pulled by oxen. When the Levites carried the ark of the covenant in God prescribed order the mission was successful. Divine order is important and can not be ignored no matter who you are! Following godly leadership is part of God’s divine order in this covenant of grace.
1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages.“ 19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. 21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.
Godly leadership and especially those who labor in the word of God are worthy of double honor. The laborer is worthy of his wages. D on’t even receive an accusation against an elder except there be two or three witnesses that agree! God does not call us to follow any man blindly. Follow the man of God as He follows Christ. Following the man of God is not about some man ruling your life. It is about you receiving the word of God that is being preached!
Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
The fivefold ministry is given to the church for the equipping of the saints. Some have excused themselves from the fivefold ministry by not being plugged into a local church body. Home church cuts you off from the fivefold ministry and an equipping will be missing.
Hebrews 13:7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.
Men have not been called to rule over men by dominion over another’s faith. True shepherding of the flock is ruling by example. Consider the outcome of the leader’s conduct. God has not called us to follow blindly! God’s leadership will speak the word of God to you, pointing to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Beware of men who what to rule as lording over the sheep.
Hebrews 13:16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
There is a call directly from the word of God to obey those who rule over you! Obey the word of God they are speaking. Yes, this word even calls for us to be submissive to the godly leadership, God has placed in our lives. Godly leadership must give an account for your soul. This is not a very American word. Nonetheless, the word of God is eternal and needs taught properly so divine order can be in place in the assembly. We must respect the man of God as the man of God to receive from the gift God has placed in him.
Matthew 10:41 "He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
Not too long after I starting attending Overflow I was on my way to see pastor Jeff. My thought was “I am going to see my buddy Jeff”. The Holy Spirit spoke to me immediately. No not your buddy Jeff but the Man of God Jeff. God was teaching me a very valuable lesson. If I was going to go see my buddy Jeff I was about to get a buddies reward. However if I was going to see the prophet of God I was opening myself up to receive the prophets reward. We must give honor to whom honor is due. If I want to receive the greatest reward from encountering Jeff, it must be from the perspective of the gifting and callings God has placed in his life. I would far rather receive from the gifting God has placed in Pastor Jeff than to receive from my good buddy Jeff! It is imperative for us to learn to see one another after God’s point of view!
Numbers 12:1 Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. 2 So they said, "Has the LOR D indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?" And the LOR D heard it. 3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.) 4 Suddenly the LOR D said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, "Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!" So the three came out. 5 Then the LOR D came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward. 6 Then He said, "Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LOR D , make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. 7 Not so with My servant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. 8 I speak with him face to face, Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the LOR D . Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?“ 9 So the anger of the LOR D was aroused against them, and He departed. 10 And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper. 11 So Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned.
This passage speaks volumes all by itself. May we learn to honor the leadership God places us under! This passage was put in the word for our benefit and learning.
Psalm 105:15 Saying, "Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.“
God’s is jealous for His people; it is His word that speaks to all the world not to touch His anointed ones, and do His prophets no harm. We will do well to heed this truth.
Psalm 92:13 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD Shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing,
The best way to flourish under Godly leadership is to be planted in a good church. Being planted in the house of the Lord comes with promise!
Galatians 6:6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.
Paul the teacher of this precious grace message instructed those who were learning to share with the one who is teaching you the word.
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
The new covenant church has been commanded to come together in assembly. Jesus is coming very soon and now that we see the day approaching we should be coming together all the more!
1 Corinthians 4:14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.
God has called us to imitate Godly leadership; yes, here it is in the word!
2 Corinthians 1:24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.
True Godly leadership will always point you to following Jesus and the object of your faith being in Jesus Christ alone! It is by faith in Jesus Christ that you stand!
1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
Godly leadership does not push, shove, or manipulate you; godly leadership imitates Jesus! Godly leadership always calls you to follow Jesus Christ.
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