The first thing we will be examining here is: The Principle of Discernment and Subjection to the "Right Leadership." Apostle Peter in his reply to Jesus said; "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68). Such a statement from a man who discerned. His reasons were simply that His "words" not "word", has the capacity to produce eternal life. They are words that are spirit and they are life. It shows a replication over time, so all His words made impact in their lives. It produced results and they are words of truth. If you find such Leadership, submit to it no matter how long or whatever it may cost, those words can build you up, and when you are being built up, you will become mighty - doing mighty things.

 

Let us see a Scripture in Romans 10:1-3. I would like to point out a few things to us then we move on. It says: "Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. ² For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God."

 

This is Apostle Paul talking here, he was saying his desire and prayer to God is that a certain people, nation, destiny or church be saved. He says he bears them witness that they have a zeal for God. Why should apostle Paul be praying for a people, nation or destiny who already has a zeal for God to be saved? It means something is wrong somewhere. And what was wrong? Their zeal was not according to knowledge. And verse three says; "For they being ignorant." See where the problem lies? They have a zeal, but they do not have the knowledge.  and so, their zeal was fuelled by ignorance.

 

You can imagine what it means to have a zeal or a passion being channelled or being misdirected. So much effort but no results showing forth. Apostle Paul was like that; the course he was pursuing and fighting for was actually the wrong purpose for His life. So, because these people were ignorant, the last verse in that Scripture says; “they refused to submit to the righteousness of God.” It is not enough to have zeal, it is required that the man of God have the right knowledge, not just having knowledge but to submit to the right Leadership. 

 

Now this is the problem, see what Romans 12:2 says: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Let us also see Hebrews 5:14. It says; "But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." The principle of Discernment and subjection to the "right Leadership" simply talks about being able to distinguish between two things, and to perceive the direction a particular thing is headed.

 

It emphasizes the fact that there would be a problem if a young minister does not have eyes that see, ears that hear, and heart that perceives. Borrowing from the first Scripture we read in Romans 12:2, this law states that; if you must know what is the will of God, or what is good, or what is acceptable, you must first be able to discern and if you will ever be able to discern, it is because your mind has been transformed." Now when your mind gets transformed as you grow, then according to the second Scripture, you can begin to feed on solid food.

 

It highlighted the fact that there is what is called "the power of discernment" and this power can increase from one measure to another only if it is put into use. This principle states that; differentiating good and evil is a power of discernment enjoyed at the babe level, but when you become mature, your discernment at maturity level requires that you must prove and have an excellent knowledge of what is the will of God. From where we read in Romans 10:1-3, the Scripture pointed out to us that there was a zeal that was misguided and misdirected simply because they lacked the knowledge or discernment of who they should submit to.

 

Churches, businesses, ministries and the destinies of so many men and women today are torn in-between the old and the new, who to follow and who to unfollow, especially in the area of Leadership and how fast the world is evolving. It is just like a scenario in Israel at a time where the people didn't know who to be subjected to as king over them, who to listen to and obey their command. The reason why they did not know was because something happened in the spirit realm that they didn't understand, which is; Saul has been rejected as king over Israel. Don't forget that the rejection was done by God who is Spirit.

 

Although Saul was sitting on the throne, he was rejected. Although Eli was still the priest but God was not pleased with Him. The people were listening to John the Baptist, they were not aware that the ministry of Jesus was increasing while that of John the Baptist was decreasing. So, if you will ever make exploits or become a voice in your generation, it is important to discern and know what kind of Leadership you must subject yourself to. This is where real influence and authority begin.

 

One thing I would like you to understand before we begin is that; like humans and other living things; it is very possible that ministries, businesses become old and eventually die. However, your discernment at any of this stages is very important to staying afloat and maximize the time. While this statement may be true it is also not true for those who could discern the state of their spiritual health and they get it treated immediately.

 

When you read the book of John chapter one and from verse 35 and 38, you would realize that while John the Baptist spoke about Jesus to His two disciples, they left him and began to follow Jesus. They were not confused, verse 37 said; "the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus". By virtue of discernment, they knew that John and Jesus were both anointed but one's ministry is fading and the other’s ministry is a burning and a shining light. Are you discerning to know the spiritual state you are in right now? Are you not willing to cross over to the other side?

 

The 400 men of David knew that; they spiritually discerned that there has been a shift, there has been a rejection of others who still on the throne but it's a disguise. They chose to subject themselves under David even though he was in the cave, they knew that his moving to the palace was just a matter of time. How many us like Ruth is determined to follow and say; "wherever you go I will go and wherever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people, and your God will be my God ", how many of us will say like Peter to whom shall we go you have the word of life.

 

The 400 men discerned Leadership and the move of God in a certain period of time. No wonder they became the mighty men of David and giant killers. Why? Because they were trained by a warrior, they became a warrior. If you can't be built in the cave, you will have no place in the palace. They were so skilled. Do you know why? They were trained by a man that "God teaches his fingers to fight and hands to war". So, if you are perfectly trained you will definitely become like your master or teacher. The Scripture says; "be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" If He is not perfect, He won't expect perfection from you. That is how it works in the kingdom.

 

But the problem is that a lot of us do not know who the true leader is, we can't discern the agenda of God per time. We have a zeal but ignorant of God's righteousness. The Bible says; "of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command" (1 Chronicle 12:32). The sons of Issachar were only 200, and because they knew what they ought to do, about a million or more of their other brethren were subject to them. The knowledge of knowing what to be done per time and in any season, puts you in command. We could see what became of the two disciples of John the Baptist who followed Jesus and the 400 men of David. It doesn't matter at what stage the Leadership is; what matters is where that Leadership or ministry is heading to and how they have aligned with the will of God per time.

 

Your Leadership could be at the infant stage, or growing stage, the peak or plateau stage or even the declining stage, the most important thing is to know where it is heading; “though your beginning may be small, but your later end will greatly increase.” So, the ministry of David could be at the birth, infant or growing stage or like that of Saul which is at a declining or dying stage. What is most important is that every phase must be discerned and put in proper perspective. Discernment explains that a Jonathan that continues to remain in the camp of Saul is heading towards destruction. How influential you will become is premised on how well you handle your Leadership phase and who you align with.

 

Thank you for reading!

Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Apeh Francis Abah!

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