SUCCESS IN LEADERSHIP The story of David and Goliath is a great story on leadership. The Philistines never fought nor did the Israelites fight, it was their chosen leaders who engaged into war. Goliath demanded to be given a man (1Sam 17:18).God always seek for a man (Ezekiel 22:30). That man is the leader. IF GOD GETS THE MAN, THE BATTLE IS WON. The enemy also seeks to fight the shepherd so that the sheep will scatter (Zechariah 13:7) David chose five smooth stones from the brook (1Sam 17:40). These stones were made smooth by the raging waters of the brook and they were now usable in the hands of David. In leadership we become smooth and the rough edges and the rough places of our lives are removed through the storms that hit us. It’s the afflictions we go through that smoothen us and makes us usable in God’s hands. The stone was worked on and smothered by the moving waters until it became so sharp that it could not miss its target. God sharpens us and makes us effective through the adversities of life. David chose the stones and God only chooses and uses those who have accepted to go through the furnace of afflictions. The five stones may be symbolic of the five fold ministry of the church that is needed to bring down the giants of this world. The five stones also represent the five enemies that David will have to destroy in his lifetime. In David’s life five notable enemies had to be destroyed so that David could reach his destiny, they were Goliath the intimidator, Saul the persecutor, Nabal the ungrateful rich fool, Bathsheba the tempter and Absalom the rebellious son. The stones may also be symbolic of the five notable people who will influence and determine the destiny of David. They were Samuel the anointer, Jonathan the supporter, Abigail the helper, The Mighty Men of David who helped him possess the kingdom and Solomon the successor. The five stones also represent the five principles, characteristics and issues that David would need so as to reach his destiny. SPIRITUAL FATHERHOOD Samuel was the spiritual father of David. It was Samuel who anointed David to be the second king of Israel. Anytime David needed counsel and direction, he sought for the wisdom of Samuel. IN LEADERSHIP, YOU NEED SOMEONE TOBE ABOVE YOU. YOU NEED A MAN TO COVER YOU AND COUNSEL YOU. A spiritual father is above us in experience and wisdom and we need an impartation from him. You need an Elijah to give you a double portion of his anointing. You need a Paul to impart a spiritual gift in you. You need a spiritual father who can prophesy and speak into your life. You need a mentor who can give you a mantle for ministry. You need a coach who can train you and teach you to be skillful and effective. Many people mess in ministry and make many avoidable mistakes because they have no one to mentor them. Seek for this stone called spiritual fatherhood so that you can succeed in your leadership. Submit under a spiritual mentor and you will enjoy success. Don’t be a lone ranger, seek for a role model who can mould and shape your life. SPIRITUALITY In this story of David vs. Goliath we see Goliath cursing David by his gods.(1Sam 17:43) Goliath was` also a spiritual enemy who knew how to curse. Goliath knew that if he would curse David in the spirit realm he would defeat him in the earthly realm. David also changed his level of operation from the human level to the spiritual level. David did not keep silent as the enemy tried to oppress them spiritually. David used the name of Jehovah God who is Jehovah Nissi the banner of victory. A leader should not be carnal but spiritual. A leader should have discernment and not ignorant of the devices of the enemy. We see so many spiritual characteristics in the life of David. We see him obeying his earthly father Jesse as he went to take food to his brothers in the battlefield (1st Sam 17:17). Leaders should be obedient. The leader should have an obedient heart towards God. David greatness began by that one step of obedience in small matters. WE BECOME SUCCESSFUL ONE STEP AT A TIME THROUGH OBEDIENCE. We see David’s humility as he speak to Saul and he calls himself a servant (1Sam 17:36). Even after killing Goliath we see David humble even in victory and he calls himself a servant (1Sam 17:58). We see David as a person of spiritual faith. We see his boldness, courage and confidence to face the giant. We see his positive confession (1st Sam 17:46). We see David having a spiritual vision of victory. David describes what he would do to the giant and it exactly turns that way. We see David as confidential leader. He does not reveal all his secrets to his enemy. David hides the killer stones and Goliath only sees the shepherd staff (1 Sam 17:43). David heart was clean and clear, David declared that the victory will be the doing of the Lord(1st Sam 17:47). David wanted to glorify God and not himself. In leadership, we should have the right motives. The only motive for ministry is to honor God. The only motivation should be love for God. SERVANTHOOD In this story we see David as a faithful responsible servant. David took care of his father’s sheep. Even after being anointed by Samuel; he still goes back to the forest to take care of his father’s flock. In the forest he makes sure that not even a lamb is killed by the wild animals, David was` faithful even in humble matters. A LEADER IS A STEWARD, AND IT IS REQUIRED OF THE STEWARD TO BE FAITHFUL AND ACCOUNTABLE EVEN IN SMALL DETAILS. When David was sent by his father to take food to his brothers in the battle, we see him delegating his responsibilities to another shepherd (1Sam17:20), we see David entrusting his baggage in the care of the baggage keeper (1st Sam17:22). David was a responsible leader. A leader should never be careless. A leader should be responsible and account able. When duties increase, the leader should delegate those duties to faithful men. A servant must be faithful in small matters so that he can be entrusted in big matters. Before God entrusted David with the kingdom, David proved faithful in taking care of his father’s sheep, he proved faithful in training 400 men who were in debts, discouraged and dissatisfied, he proved faithful in being a bodyguard to Saul the king and he also proved faithful in playing the guitar so as to break the oppression in Saul’s life. David served his father and also served the king before he served God as the greatest king in Israel. A leader is expected to have a servant attitude. Servanthood is the path to greatness. Servanthood is the way to promotion. SUFFERING IN TRAINING GOD ONLY TRUSTS THE MEN HE HAS TRIED AND TESTED. Just as David chose the smooth stones in the brook, David’s life had been battered and beaten by storms until he became smooth and usable in God’s hands. Before David wears the crown of glory; he has to go through pains of the cross. Before he goes to the throne, he has to go through the thorns of pain. Saul persecuted David in every turn. Eliab his elder brother discouraged him. You cannot reach your destiny without going through the desert of discouragement.(1Sam17:28). Before David killed Goliath; he first of all killed the lion and the bear in the forest. God was preparing his warrior king in the wilderness. God was developing the CV of David in the darkness of the forest. God has to prepare a leader in the backside of the forest before he brings him to the limelight. God shapes us in the unseen and then manifests us publicly. Before God gives a leader power, he takes him through pain. Before God gives you strength, He takes you through struggles and sufferings. You need the stone of suffering so that you can become compassionate to those who are in need. IT’S DANGEROUS TO HAVE POWER WITHOUT COMPASSION. David suffered in the wilderness for more than fourteen years. Being anointed doesn’t mean that you won’t suffer. The wilderness is God’s school of preparation for promotion. For those who God is working on in the wilderness, it’s important to know that your suffering are seasonal and when you are tried and tested through the furnace of afflictions, you will come out with great glory and honor. God promised you the kingdom and He must give it to you. YOU CANNOT BE SWEETLY ANOINTED UNLESS YOU ARE FIRST TRIED AND TESTED. The purpose of this stone is to smoothen the rough places of our lies and make the crooked ways straight. SUCCESSION A LEADER BECOMES SUCCESSFUL ONCE HE FINDS AND TRAINS HIS SUCCESSOR. SUCCESS IS NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT A SUCCESSOR. A leader is a father who must raise sons. The future of any organization is determined by the kind of leaders it raises. You were anointed; you should anoint others to take your place. You were mentored, you should mentor others. Someone raised you and you should also lift others. The leader must find a son, and sow in him a seed of destiny. David raised Solomon to succeed him. A leader should replace himself. Jesus spent more of his time with the twelve emerging leaders than the time he spent with the multitude. Jesus spotted Peter and promised him the keys of the kingdom. Although Peter failed many times, Jesus never gave up on him and at the end Peter became a powerful leader of the early church. A leader should spot a son, sow a seed and grow the son until he mature to take the mantle. Sons are not perfect and so the father should have a big heart to accommodate even the weakness of the son. The future of your ministry will not be determined by the number of followers but by the sons you raise. For you to be called an effective leader, you need to build a foundation that your sons can build on. The leader needs the stone of Samuel (the father) and the stone of Solomon (the son). By raising a son, the leader passes what he received from God to the next generation. A LEADER IS A GIANT KILLER AND THE SUCCESS OF THE LEADER IS MEASURED NOT BY THE GIANTS HE HAS KILLED BUT BY HOW MANY GIANT KILLERS HE RAISED.A leader should equip others and by doing so pass the baton. For those facing giants in their lives, families, ministry, work and business it’s important to know that the giant was not sent to kill you but you are anointed to kill it. THE GIANT IS A GATE TO YOUR GREATNESS. David was unknown until he killed goliath. Face your giants in God’s power and you will prevail and be promoted. YOU CAN CONQUER THAT CHALLENGE. YOU CAN OVERCOME THAT OPPOSITION.YOU CAN WIN THAT WAR. YOU ARE ANOINTED TO OVERCOME THOSE ATTACKS. Between you and your next level, there is a giant but your God is greater than your giants and you will win.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 12:56:28 +0000
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