Message preached at the Leadership Training AIC FIRE CAMP/ MAY 8-11, 2019
VENUE: SHILOH REVIVAL CHURCH, HYDERABAD
Preached by Sis Bala Samson
(Co-leader of the Church, Preacher, Teacher, Principal & Writer)
THEME: STRONG & ABLE MEN/WOMEN FOR GOD!
Jethro Counsels Moses
Exodus 18:21 "Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
Introduction:
I share here the message that I preached in our ‘Leadership training camp’ held in May, 8-11, 2019, titled AIC – ‘ABIDE IN CHRIST’ CAMP. The predominant aim of the camp is to train people with zeal in leadership skills. Please be blessed with the materials that took me approximately six months to pray and prepare. Beginning of this year while I was praying for the theme for the camp, the above scripture captivated my attention and I was 100% sure that God wanted me to preach on this scripture; however, besides this anchor scripture, I will be breaking the message into various segments so that the people get it deep into their hearts.
Allow me to break the above scripture into four parts, and I will be further elaborating and talking on each of them as separate titles, which are very profound qualities for a leader :
• able men
• who fear God,
• men of truth,
• those who hate dishonest gain;
Further Jethro said, “and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands,
of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.”
ABOUT WORKERS/LABORERS: Besides our Church ministry, we are also running a regular English medium 100 percent free school, ABIDE SCHOOL and free hostel for the poor in Hyderabad with children from various backgrounds studying and staying in our school. We offer free lunch for the students and hence in order to keep the school functioning we need a horde of WORKERS: teachers, cook, cleaners, security, assistants, office staff, helpers etc., without them we come to a standstill. I do understand from experience the need for loyal, good, committed and hardworking LABORERS . Children ministry can exhaust you immensely and zap your energy, hence good workers are like boon for the ministry.
Useful tool for God
2 Chronicles 2:2 “So Solomon assigned 70,000 men to carry loads and 80,000 men to quarry stone in the mountains and 3,600 to supervise them.”
Solomon after he received wisdom, knowledge, riches, wealth and honor, he immediately gets down to work, to build a house for the name of the LORD and a royal palace for himself. The gifts that we receive from God is not for self glory but it was given to glorify God, hence look what Solomon does: Solomon assigned “70,000 men to carry loads and 80,000 men to quarry stone in the mountains and 3,600 to supervise them.” My eyes went to the 3600 men that he appointed as leaders to look after the other workers, did you see that? The first job that Solomon did was to appoint workers, God helped him from all sides, though. It was my passion to train people and watch them go and be a blessing for others. I remember a young girl who came to work during her holidays in our school, she thought it would be fun but never realized that I was a tough boss. She was made to come on time to school, be serious with her teaching, be strict with the students, keep her mobile away during working hours and many such things. Besides, she got to also hear the Gospel during the assembly and came to know about Jesus, when she left, she said, “I got good training here while working in your school.” Glory to Jesus!
While I was reading the book of Philippians, I found every chapter from the book to be a treasure and it was kind of instruction manual for what I was preparing for the camp. Every word came bouncing out of the book and spoke to me, so I started reading the book every day during my Bible reading time, by May, I had completed the book around 75 times. I was quoting Philippians even in my bed, such was my passion for the book. The four chapters from the book of Philippians amazingly touched the people at the camp, and I hope to spread the same fire on you too. My mom 79 years old now, attended the four days camp and sat through the entire day that included the afternoon session also in the midst of this hot summer in Hyderabad; it’s just not my mom alone there were other elderly people who attended the camp too but my mom was the senior most. Whenever I looked at her sitting in the chair and attending the camp, my heart melted, on the last day she looked totally depleted and exhausted, we got worried but she recouped. Now the story is not over, the next day she travelled 14 hours to go to her city, a couple of days later when I called her she said that she was getting ready to preach from the book of Philippians at the prayer cell conducted in her house. Glory to Jesus! Fire spreads!
Friend, it’s just not about living a mundane life without doing anything for God, be a useful tool in your life and impact people around you!
Now let me go to the first point:
1) ABLE MEN:
When we talk about ‘Able men/women’, we are not talking about muscle power, educational achievements, gift of the gab or charm but ‘able men’ from God. Amen.
Let me take you to 1 Chronicles 26: 4-6 where we read about the family of Obed-Edom:
“Obed-Edom also had sons:
Shemaiah the firstborn,
Jehozabad the second,
Joah the third,
Sakar the fourth,
Nethanel the fifth,
5 Ammiel the sixth,
Issachar the seventh
and Peullethai the eighth.
(For God had blessed Obed-Edom.)
6 Obed-Edom’s son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders in their father’s family because they were very capable men. 7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also able men. 8 All these were descendants of Obed-Edom; they and their sons and their relatives were capable men with the strength to do the work—descendants of Obed-Edom, 62 in all! WOW! Don’t skip scriptures, read them all to be blessed!
From where did these ‘CAPABLE MEN’ come from? The sons were blessed because of the good deed done by Obed-Edom their father, who took care of the ARK OF GOD. We read about Obed Edom in 2 Samuel 6:11” Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.” Obed-edom came forward to embrace the Ark of God and take in home when everybody were scared of it. The Ark of God represented the presence of God. Imagine saying NO to God! David was scared because of the death of Uzzah who died because he touched the Ark, God struck him down there for his irreverence. Caveat! Let us have holy fear for God and His presence! But one man daringly came forward to take the Ark home! Hurray! Now I am sure the whole town were watching the house of Obed-edom with angst and fear; but on the contrary there was mirth, joy, peace, happiness, love, kindness, gentleness, prosperity and health that came out of Obed-edom’s house and surprised the people of the town. Quickly the message reached king David. Now do you think God was going to forget Obed-Edom? Never. His generations became extremely capable men for God’s work. Clap your hands for God! Amen. These are the TRUE ABLE MEN like diamond for the Vineyard of God.
2. ABLE MEN SUFFER PATIENTLY:
2 Thessalonians 4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.
5 This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
ILLUSTRATION: Ps. Yessana, Hosanna Ministries:
Phil 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.."
Friend, we need to learn to stand firm in the midst of our afflictions and be not swayed by troubles. After we relocated our ministry to Hyderabad, I came to know of a humble servant of God Pastor Yessanna, his testimony, life, songs, his magnificent church and ministry is amazing. He was a hindu convert, as a young boy he was demonically possessed, ran away from his home, was coughing blood in the streets, Jesus awesomely visited him one day and delivered him from all his sickness and problems, further he was also called for ministry. Now, after many struggles God blessed Ps Yessana with a church; however, one day during a heavy cyclone his church building collapsed and all belongings of his team were also swept away; however, Ps Yesanna was safe. While the Government were giving money for the people who lost their homes in the cyclone, Ps Yesanna also stood in the queue but the officials bluntly refused stating, ‘money will not be given for church buildings.’ This was a most horrifying and humiliating experience for him but pastor did not lose hope but remained faithful to God, are you listening? God had splendid plans for Ps Yesanna and he built one of the most huge, marvelous church called the ‘Hosanna Mandir’, besides this, they have several churches in many other states as well. Hence, we got to be patient during times of loss and pain and wait patiently for God to lead us. Let me tell you something, ‘PATIENCE’ is not about remaining silent and calm, some silent people are the most impatient ones. True mark of patience is waiting on God to move no matter what the time space is! Such people are IMMOVABLE!
