I Need You, You Need Me

Summary: Designed to improve the relationship between believers and their leaders

Ps. 122; 133; Eph. 4:7, 11-16.

Bishop David Ibeleme

The idea of Leadership was instituted by God not man – Jer. 3:15; Eph. 4:7, 11ff.

 He set the whole thing in place – 1 Cor. 12:28.

 He chooses whom He pleases to choose – Ps. 75:5-6.

It was (and is) designed for our good – Jer. 3:15; 23:3ff; Rom. 13:1-8.

 Leaders were designed by God to model Him to His people – Ex. 3:7ff; 18:19.

 Leaders are not set up as a terror to God’s flock – 1 Pet. 5:1ff; Acts 20:28ff.

God graces us to function both as leaders and flock – 1 Cor. 15:10; Phil. 2:12ff.

 As leaders to build up the flock – 1 Pet. 5:1ff.

 As flock or followers to submit to the leadership He has set over us – Heb. 13:7-8; 117ff; 1 Thess. 5:12ff.

 As human beings none of us (leaders and the rest of the flock) is perfect without flaws – Ps. 103:8ff; 1 Jn. 1:8-10.

 Leadership is not the absence of a flaw but the willingness to overcome it.

 Don’t judge, but see the good in each other – Mic. 7:7; Eph. 2:10; Rom. 15:14.

 We can only lead or follow by the grace of God – Heb. 13:20-21.

We are never called to react but rather to respond to one another.

 We are called to Act and Respond in Love – 1 Cor. 13:1ff.

 He who reacts is controlled by the action he reacts to but he who responds controls the action he responds to – Gal. 5:22-23; 1 Cor. 9:27.

 Note that, your function as a leader is not dependent primarily on the action of the flock.

 Neither is your function as a follower dependent primarily on the action of the leader.

 Our actions and responses must always be as unto the Lord not as unto man – Eph. 6:1ff; 1 Pet. 2:13-14.

 Every man, leader or follower is responsible for his own action – Is. 24:1ff; 1 Cor. 11:1.

There are grave consequences when we do not respond appropriately – Jer. 23:1ff; Eze. 34:1ff; Heb. 13:17; Matt. 18:5-6; Lk. 17:1-2.

 Noah’s son, Ham – Gen. 9:20-27.

 David’s son Absolaom. – 2 Sam. 15-20.

 Jesus and Judas Iscariot – Acts 1.

 Paul’s disciples, Hymenaeus and Alexander – 1 Tim. 1:20.

There are great rewards for responding appropriately – 1 Thess. 5:12ff; Prov. 27:18.

 David and Saul.

 Elisha and Elijah.

 Timothy and Paul.

 Jesus and His disciples

Victorious Faith Ministries, P.O. Box 4378, St. Ann’s, Trinidad. W.I.

(868) 625-6863 / 623-1020 (fax)E-mail: vfmwo@hotmail.com,davidibeleme@hotmail.com