Text
: 1 Samuel 12 :1-5
Topic
: Leadership without blemish (Prophet Samuel a case study)
*Sub Headings:
*
Background
*
A prayer answered
*
Called and Positioned by God
*
Grew up in a terrible environment
*
Accountable in words and deeds
*
Few hints on how to live a leading life without blemish
Background
1 Sam 8 details how the children of Israel requested
for a king against Gods plan and arrangement for their lives.
v.7. Latter in that chapter vs 10ff precisely God warned them through Prophet Samuel about
what the king would do but they were recalcitrant vs 19.Chapter 9 God
elects Saul who was anointed in Chapter 10. Chapter 11 The king becomes fully operational after God
gave him victory over the Ammonites, leading to the sort of valedictory/
accountability speech in chapter 12
which is our focus Tonight.
A
prayer answered
He was a prayer answered, Elkanah had two wives but
the first wife had children while Hannah didn't 1 Sam 1:1-2. "Situation happens the most important
thing is how do we react" ?
what is your situation and how are you reacting?
Hannah prays Continually to God for a solution vs 3-7,
God answered her with Samuel vs 15-19
Just to apply this a little further lets note this.
*Some person’s presence/ ministry/leadership or other
persons exit from the same/similar scene/spot is answered prayers the choice is
always ours to determine which is an answered prayer. let’s think about it
Your leadership presence or exit which do you want to
be a prayer answered.
We all know
what happened when the news was announced of Abacha's death, hope we have not
become abachas in our sphere of influence?
Called
and Placed by God
1 Sam 3:
1-21 with special emphasis on verses 19-21.
1 Sam 3: 19-21. God called Samuel and all Israel could
attest to it and God continued to appear to give messages to Him at Shiloh. Man
of God what is/are the arears that God gives message or messages to you? food
for thought.
Those not
called by God or placed by God have no GRACE to fall from, they are already on
the floor.
As far as
calling and positioning are concerned.
* They can't but be with scars,
* blemishes
* and injuries to themselves and
* The people they lead. It is like forcing a round peg
into a square hole.
In Ministry,
Only God calls and places people in leadership, anything short of this is problem and will give birth to more
problems.
It should
also be noted that those called and placed by God also can Fall from GRACE even
as tenet 11 of CAC says, the scripture also says in 1 Sam.2: 27-36.
Grew
up in the worst of environment 1 Sam.3: 11-14
* Lived under
the same roof with blasphemous children vs 13
Saw Impatience around but didn't learn it 1
Sam.2:12-17
* Saw
Immorality at close range and in high places, sleeping with women who were not
their wives 1Sam.2 :22
* Prophet
Samuel grew up in a very horrible environment, a semblance of Sodom and
Gomorrah and maybe our environment today yet he stood for God we wont have an
excuse.
Accountable in word and deed.
* The life of Prophet Samuel is a great life to learn from, he served as a leader long
enough( for most of his life) to bully everyone to silence even if he was off
the track/ misbehaving yet he gave the people chance to access his leadership.
A very rare action/attitude amongst leaders today.
He did this by:
* Providing a
platform of discussion as he was even going off the stage and indirectly
rejected 1 Sam 12:1-2.
*. He asked with a sincere view to get sincere response
.
v3. possibly
about his cheating, stealing, bribes and oppression.
* He gave room
for response.
* Not just
talking to make an impression or deceive/ bully people.
V 4 & 5 He didn't use his rejection as an escape
root for his possible misbehavior may God help us all in Jesus mighty name.
CONCLUSION:
Few hints on how to live a leading life without
blemish Gen 39:9, Ps 119:11
*. Make up your
mind to be without blemish as a leader. Dan.1:8,Gen 39:9
* Always
remember God (His word and Spirit should be our guide) in all decisions and
interactions as a leader. Gen 39:9
*. Keep Godly companion Prov. 13:20, Prov. 11:14
*. Pray to God
for supplies & strength Ps 121:1 ff ( lack may makes a leader become the
led or compromise)
*. Be accountable to people, you will earn their trust
and you will know you are checked/ or will be checked someday both by God and
men.
*. don't go to
debt or pay them as God blesses it is a major stain on leaders. Prov.22:7
God gives the empowerment/capacity to be without
blemish but man has to start the process with a decision
Our
generation is bedeviled with selfish/demonic/self-seeking leaders ranging from
political, academic, societal and unfortunately Spiritual.
Prayer: God
help us not to become part of the decadence of the world especially as it
relates to leadership in Jesus mighty name(Amen).
Go and become a better leader in Jesus mighty name
(Amen).
