15/06/12

Be rooted before you start to lead

1 Timothy 3:6 - Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.


There are people who believe in pushing people into the water to teach them to swim. They consider it a waste of time to tell then the basics of swimming and movements.

There was a man of great faith who also believed in encouraging people who had just come into the Lord to lay hands, to do deliverance of people troubled by spirits and to stand and preach to others. This did do wonders in the start but then most of these people were on shaky grounds. As far as healing and deliverance was concern it was good but then those who were put to preach very few remained in the Kingdom of God others preached about God but as the worldly kingdom. He did this because he himself did not have someone to guide him. He claimed the Holy Spirit was leading him but he did not give the Holy Spirit time to work in him. What happened to him is what happened to many others, he too was taken into deceit himself.

We all read Acts 9 about Saul and his becoming Paul later. People assume it happened in a few day or max months, they do not realize the period between Saul becoming Paul took nearly 8 years.

If we read in the initial days of the Church the Apostles put new people even though they were full of anointing to serve the people, like serving tables and social work. They did not just make anyone stand before people to preach or to lead people.

Some translations translate the Greek word 'neophutos' translated as 'novice' also as 'recent convert'. The word actually means 'newly planted'.

The Lord is saying we need to be rooted in Him before we start to lead others. We can help others but we need to take help from well rooted people to grow. It is foolishness to think today I came to know the love of Jesus, received His Spirit and tomorrow I am going to go out and proclaim to the whole world about Jesus and start a Church.

When I was born-again (started) in the Lord, the Lord did not let me go out to preach for more than 1 year. I sat with Him on a day to day basis learning from Him and building my relationship with Him. Today I may preach the Gospel and guide others but yet I cannot boast of being ready for yet I know the Lord is working in me to set me to my next stage of spiritual work in Him. Although He told me what I am to do in Him, yet I know He has His work to finish in me before I do His plan.

We need to give time to the Lord to work in us and build us. We cannot take the risk of someone else's life on our hands. Like a surgeon we need to not only have the knowledge but also grow in skill to do the saving of lives.

For God all things are possible but yet He gave nearly 2 thousand years to change and become like His Son, even though He gave us His Spirit. The very same Spirit Who created all things in a moment takes time to recreate us from within. If the world is so beautiful then imagine the great beauty He is creating in us that is causing Him to take time.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You created all things by your Word. All things are set according to your plan and You are in charge and in control of it. Lord, teach us patience to trust in You and your timing. You know how delicate we are and how easy it is for us to break so You take time and care to build us according to your purpose in us. Lord, we pray the leaders of the congregations guide your people rightly and guide them not according to their wisdom and plans but according to your wisdom and plan...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Acts 5:1-8
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)