Sunday, 5th August 2018
Kingdom Leadership
God is the One who never leaves the one behind! Throughout various passages, parables and promises He assures us that each and every one of us is precious in His sight. “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:10 Just as heaven rejoices over every soul, we should value each soul the same, recklessly lavishing the love of God on others with no distinction between rich and poor, the outer appearance or any other irrelevant factors. On this Sunday we were reminded that the Lord is the Good Shepherd, the Shepherd who will leave the 99 secured and go looking for the one that is lost. Therefore we are supposed to do the same, valuing and showing God’s love to each and every person we come across.
In his sermon, Pastor Dada reminded us that the Good Shepherd is the model for Kingdom Leadership. In emulating God, our kingdom leadership also requires love, humility and service. After all, as we were reminded, “Jesus did not come to be served, He came to serve. Christianity likewise is a call to service and slavery,” Pastor Dada. We each have a special calling on our life, gifts that God has equipped us with and a purpose which we are to fulfill. In Jeremiah 1:5 God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Our ministry to the nations varies from person to person. While we have all been given life primarily to serve God, that service unfolds in different ways as we are all different members of one body (of Christ). As we intentionally and consistently walk in love, eat consistently of the Word of God which is spirit and life, and live a life of intimacy with the Father, His vision for our lives will become clearer. The place to pursue the revelation of this vision is in the spirit. After all as Pastor Dad reminded us, ‘God’s plans for our lives are already in existence and if we seek Him we shall find Him, He shall grant us a deeper revelation of His plans for us and establish the works of our hands.’
As Pastor Dada reminded us, true fulfillment cannot be achieved when we are not fulfilling the call of God on our lives. God is speaking to us always. He is sharing the plans He has for us and the times and locations for our divine appointments. Therefore we must seek Him intentionally, pray and listen, spending time in His presence that we might hear what He is saying to us. Since we have been given life primarily to serve God we must ensure that we are producing for God. We were created to be more than a pharmacist, a secretary, a teacher, a business owner, a senator or a fashion designer. We were created to show forth God’s glory, therefore we must ensure that we are carrying out our God given ministry. The only way to do so is to remain connected to our source, God. Our ministry must bless others, encourage others and build them up. While producing for God can take place at our work place, within the work we have been called to do, we will not know for sure unless we strive to produce for God, to hear Him, to obey Him and to follow the plans He has for us.
Looking forward to meeting again online and in the house of our Lord. May God continue to bless and favour us all.
Zeni Christine St. John
