Sunday, September 4, 2011
SEPARATE LEADERS FROM FEAR
Memorise: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Tim 1:7).
Read: Acts 1:12-14
Before any leader will make it in ministry, there is a need to back up such an individual with prayers. It took much intercessory prayers from Jesus on behalf of Peter, to move from a point of denying Jesus to the other extreme of performing special miracles (Acts 5:15-16). For your leader to succeed, you need to invest in prayers for him or her. If you fail to pray for your leaders, do not complain when they fall into temptations or take wrong decisions. You are part of the cause. However, if you pray for your leader and yet he fails, you may want to believe that it was still partly your fault: that is, you did not pray enough. When last did you spend one solid hour interceding for your leader?
There are areas you need to pray specifically about concerning spiritual leaders. Such breakthrough prayers will help to take care of the barriers in their way. The first of these is fear. Fear is not a strange phenomenon as far as ministerial work is concerned. Even the disciples that went through the physical training of Jesus had to contend with fear. They could not publicly declare Jesus for fear of persecution. They had to lock up themselves in the upper room until the Holy Ghost was sent.
Fear can make a spiritual leader to compromise. This is why some leaders cannot preach restitution for fear of losing rich members. For this same reason, sermons against polygamy are unpopular in many churches today. Any spiritual leader that has not overcome fear may never really become a vessel of honour to God. Anything you fear dominates your life (Rom 6:16). Some pastors and leaders are afraid to go to their place of posting. Some find it difficult to go to remote towns and villages, especially after hearing the history of witchcraft activities there. If you fail to break this yoke in the lives of your leaders, you will remain limited. You may never be able to hear the full Gospel through them. They will not be able to give their best, and your blessings could be hindered. Arise and intercede for your leaders, breaking the yoke of fear in their lives.
Prayer Point:
Father, break the yoke of fear in the life of my pastor, and fill him with the Spirit of holiness to enable him declare the full counsel of God.
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