Lessons in leadership
1Timothy 2:1-7
Last time in this series, I was bragging about our new born again president.
Well, he has been in leadership for over six months now. What can I say but that the Biblical instruction to pray for our leaders is to be followed, to the letter.
The challenges of being any leader are numerous and heavy on the head that bears the crown. No different for our president. It is not an easy task. What, with opponents and detractors? It does not help that some of the loudest noisemakers are people of his faith, Christians. The man is known to the faith, why not seek an audience with him and engage him privately? Or with the men of faith who are known to be close to him? Why all this public fighting and condemnation of the man? This is not what scripture tells us to do. If we want a quiet and peaceful life, we are to pray for him and those in authority. We are not to condemn him and make snide remarks and comments targeting him in any way.
Ok, We down to the bone Christians love President Ruto and of course can see no wrong in what he does. Yes, I admit, we are heavily biased towards him. We hear criticisms leveled against him but already we have forgiven him. We have no access to him and are unlikely to meet him personally but we hope and pray that his tenure stands out like a bright light in a country that is full of mysteries.
I admit that at some point after the elections, a good number of us were battle weary and just sunk back into our armchairs with a ,”Whew! O GOD, thank YOU!” . Then we forgot or neglected to pray for the new president. This is a reminder, let us pray for him, even when we can pray no more, let us continue lifting him up before The LORD. May we be cured instantly of the “We as Christians have arrived syndrome”. We have not arrived. The harvest is still plenty.
So, what do we do as Christians? What do we do when our man is in power?
Some people who identify as Christians have openly denounced President Ruto and his faith. This is not the way to go brethren. We are reminded to pray for him. I must admit that the euphoric feeling of having one of our own in power left me drunk with joy among other feelings, so drunk we have not been praying fervently for him.
Brethren, if you are in a country where the leadership openly professes Christianity as his faith and our SAVIOR JESUS as his LORD and SAVIOR. Do not engage with those who are out to demonstrate his fallen nature as a man. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD. We are instructed to pray for our leaders. How much more the ones who are not ashamed of CHRIST?
Engaging with and discussing the behavior of our leaders in public with those who have cleverer and deceptive arguments, with those who are out to bruise or kill your faith is detrimental to you and others who are yet to come into the Kingdom of GOD.
Are we not warned in scripture not to engage in endless and senseless debates? Are we not warned in scriptures to focus on what is good and true? Are we not warned in scripture to guard our hearts?
Beloved, let us stop engaging in evil talk about Christian leaders. Let us not wash our dirty linen in public and certainly let us not humiliate one of our own. Think of those whose faith is still small and weak.
Secondly, Beloved, let us stop satirizing our faith and making jokes about our faith and those affiliated with it. At least stop forwarding these jokes , memes or whatever they are called. These are not beneficial to the kingdom.
Thirdly, Beloved, let us behave in accordance with the tenets of our faith. No exceptions.
Fourthly, let us pray for the man. I know the Christians in the USA have walked this route before. Having had a Christian man supported by evangelicals in power serving one term. And now we hear that Americans can’t tell the difference between a man and a woman. Brethren in America, what is happening? Are you telling us that this is where we are heading? Ok, brethren in America, maybe you did not pray for President Trump but help us and pray for both him and President Ruto. Some prophecies abound that Trump will return as President. I do not advocate for or against such, what I know is that the scripture says pray for those in leadership. President Ruto is in leadership. President Trump has access to leadership. Let us pray for them and all other Christians in positions of leadership.
We do not want a scenario where spiritual confusion reigns because the evil wind follows soon thereafter. Imagine that, we have allowed strange things to enter our lives, confusion to brainwash our children. And GOD raises a man called Matt Walsh to help us all remember the definition of a woman. Because we as Christians can’t agree among ourselves. We are busy fighting each other and condemning each other. LORD GOD help us.
Fifthly, let us cut out the complaining and grumbling. The amount of complaining in this land is too much. We complain about everything. We complain as if there is no GOD. Complaining and grumbling are signs of lack of trust in GOD. One is reminded of the noise making against Moses on the way to the promised land. I think we forget that that generation did not make it. The grumbling and complaining finally reached the ears of The ALMIGHTY and judgment was passed leading to forty years of wandering in the desert. I don’t want to wander anywhere. Wandering and roaming is work that the devil does.
Beloved, a Christian should not grumble, complain and wish for past better days. We are told in scripture that, faith , hope and love remain. Where is our hope? Complaining, lamenting and grumbling lead to rebellion. Rebellion and witchcraft are in the same league and will be punished and crushed sooner or later. So, let us get out of this terrible habit.
Beloved, so what is the point of all this. This is a call to prayer. Fervent prayer. Let us have fervent prayer for our leaders especially those who have told us that they are born again. We pray for them whether we like them or not. This is not a popularity contest but a battle between light and darkness. This is a matter of life and death.
I remember, how fervently we prayed before and during the elections. Let us go back to that and let us not depart from that.
Our brethren in Nigeria, also had a born again candidate running for the presidency. Needless to say, his loss was gut wrenching to believers in The LORD JESUS CHRIST. But we know that all things work together for those who love THE LORD. Brethren , be encouraged in The LORD.
But HE told us to pray, and to pray in unison. In unity.
May we not reach a point where we start wondering where the rain started beating us.
Beloved, keep your name in The LAMB’s Book of Life.
Do you want to know JESUS as your personal Lord and Savior? Your eternity is at stake! JESUS has opened the door of salvation to every person. But there is coming a day when the door will be closed. Today is the day of salvation. Choose to be in the family of GOD. JESUS died so that we can spend eternity in Heaven with HIM. Don't delay! And if you want to begin a relationship with GOD or resume a broken one, say this: O GOD, I come to YOU today. I know I am a sinner. I believe that JESUS died on the cross to save me and HE resurrected on the third day. I repent of my sins and forsake them. I confess JESUS as my LORD and SAVIOR . I invite JESUS into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank YOU JESUS for saving me and making me a child of GOD. Amen
