"Follow Christ.....Lead By Example"

“In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem.

² Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. ³ He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”   (2^nd Samuel 11:1-3 NLT)

There are many members of the church at large who aspire to hold a position in leadership and there is nothing wrong with having such aspirations…but too often people neglect to count the cost of leadership. These individuals also deny a need for leadership training and instead seek to establish their own rules and regulations by which they are not obligated to observe.

These kinds of attitudes and attributes are prescriptions for disaster that pave the way to bad leadership across the board, wrong decisions, and un-godly ideals and ultimately the dismantling of ministries, and congregations.

It has been commonly stated that in order to be a good leader, one must also be a good follower… Good leaders lead by example, they make every effort to meet deadlines, see to the needs of their staff, their superiors, and subordinates. Good leaders are not in the habit of being more concerned for themselves as they are of those whom they are responsible for and to. Good leaders adhere to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the instruction of their pastor, more importantly; good leaders never take advantage of their authority by allowing themselves to be distracted or drawn away from their post.

In the military every man and woman has 11 General Orders that they must obey while on sentry duty. The 5^th of these general orders is very distinct in its instruction:

“To quit my post only when properly relieved”

When a sentry abandons his or her post, it leaves the enemy access to infiltrate and commit sabotage against everything and everyone in their wake.

During the season when David was supposed to have been leading the armies of Israel against the Ammonites, he allowed himself to be distracted. David the king was drawn away from his post by a different enemy; lust. When reading the story of David’s sin with Bathsheba we must come to the realization that this wasn’t the first time he witnessed her bathing. Apparently Bathsheba was in the habit of washing herself in the late afternoon and upon learning of her routine, David was drawn away by his own lust and enticed. By being away from his post in the season when kings go off to battle, David was drawn into a gross abuse of power which led to adultery, deception, conspiracy, and finally murder. The reprisal of his actions would be felt throughout his family and the kingdom for generations.

We have all been placed in a particular season designed by God to bring out the best of us for the Kingdom…Set apart for the Masters use. This is not a time for invisible leadership.

The Lord needs us praying for the Body of Christ and the Body of Christ needs to know that we are prayed up to get a prayer through. As those entrusted with the spiritual lives of the congregations which we serve our lights must shine in a manner that sets examples of holiness by which the church will proudly follow. When we neglect to attend prayer, and Bible study; the dye is cast and those whom we lead will follow suit. If leaders refuse to tithe it becomes senseless to expect the congregation to tithe.

More importantly, when leaders use their authority as a means to cover-up sinful motives and behavior, it becomes a recipe for failure both in leadership and your Christian walk. Failure to lead as God has planned is a sure destroyer of your testimony.

Paul admonished the church at Corinth to “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1^st Corinthians 11:1).

God has empowered us with dominion and authority to be world changers. Therefore, if a good leader is truly a good follower; then I admonish you to “Follow Christ...and…Lead By Example”