Leaders should grow in the skill to facilitate Spirit-driven ministry

Good Christian leaders are skilled in discerning the leading of the Holy Spirit, helping others follow His working and creating space for them to minister in God’s power.  Life is not a one-man-show!

Scripture

1 Corinthians 14:26-33

26  …When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27  If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28  But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29  Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30  If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31  For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32  and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33  For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

 

Observation and reflection questions

Context: The Apostle Paul is addressing the issue of order and clarity in the very spiritual congregation in Corinth.

1. Paul is giving clear instructions in this letter about how to conduct yourself in a Christian assembly. Why? (verses 32-33)

• What does this suggest of the task of leadership even when the Holy Spirit prompts and empowers individuals for ministry?

2. What must remain the motive for spirit-directed ministry? (verse 26)

• What does this suggest of the task of leadership when individuals starts ministering in the group?

3. This epistle was written to a highly spiritual, disorganized congregation. Would you expect the congregation to be perfectly peaceful and ordered after these instructions was read?

• What does this suggest of the task of leadership to order ministry?

4. Note verse 26 regarding preparation for ministry. What does this suggest about the Holy Spirit’s work before the group assembles?

• What does this suggest of the task of leadership and the Holy Spirit’s prompting and empowerment of individuals for ministry?

5. In some communities there may be a hesitation to flow in the spiritual gifts as deemed normative in this portion of Scripture. Considering the portion of Scripture, what should the leader do to promote and facilitate the ministry of the Holy Spirit among gifted believers?

Personal Reflection and Application

The Lord is Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:17) and ministers to people by gifting and prompting his children to speak and act in faith.  Yet leadership is still required to facilitate this working – to preserve order and ensure sincerity and accuracy, so that God’s peace may remain the seal for His work.

1. Think of your own fellowship group.

• How much freedom is there for Spirit-prompted and –directed ministry?
• How much freedom and power to you give to others to lead as the Holy Spirit prompts?
• How much order is there during Spirit-prompted and –directed ministry?
• How much security and peace do you ensure by marinating order?
• Following the pattern in this epistle, what can you do to insure more effective Spirit-directed ministry? Do this for/ at the next fellowship meeting. [hint: preparation, delegation, inspiration…?]

Prayer

Thank God His Holy Spirit’s empowerment and guidance.  Do you tend to quench and ignore His prompting? The confess and repent of this.  Do you tend to neglect leadership and maintain order and peace?  Then confess and repent of this.  Ask for inspiration and boldness to lead in the next fellowship group.

Leadership requires Charisma

What is the nature of leadership? What sets someone aside as a leader? Who gives one person permission or power to lead others?

To give a wider context to our devotional study today, enjoy this short inspirational video of how God empowers leaders. (https://youtu.be/6B-gQSBznmI)

Scripture

1 Samuel 16:1,11-13

1  The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”

11  Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.”  12  And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.”

13  Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

 

Observation and reflection questions

Context: To “anoint” literally means to pour fragrant oil over his head, or to rub it on his forehead as symbolic indication that the Lord called him as king, and as catalyst for God’s supernatural empowerment by His Spirit.

1. When King Saul was anointed before David, the Spirit of the Lord “rushed upon” him so that he was “turned into a new man” and he began prophesying (1 Sam 10:6; 11:6). Similarly, the Spirit also “rushed upon Samson” before he tore the lion in pieces, destroyed 30’000 Philistines and tore the ropes with which he was tied down (14:6, 19; 15:14). With this in mind, what is meant with the phrase “the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David?” (v13) 
2. God called David to rule over Israel. Why did the “Spirit of the LORD” need to “rush upon him”?
3. Look at verse 13 again. How long did the Spirit remain with David?
4. Why did the Lord send Samuel to appoint David for the task? What were the benefits of that public commissioning? (for David, his family, and the nation?)
5. Consider (from memory) the history and legacy of King David. What about his life was extra-ordinary?  In which ways was he empowered for his call to leadership?
6. In spite of his empowerment by the Spirit of God and love for God, King David was clearly sinful. Consider (from memory) David’s recorded moral and ethical flaws.  In which ways was he weak to temptation as leader, as a husband, and as a father?

Personal reflection questions

King David was called as leader and reformer in Israel, securing the nations physical and spiritual legacy.  For this he was anointed and empowered by the Spirit of God.  However, this empowerment did not make him immune to the seduction of riches, power and the flesh.

1. Consider your current leadership responsibilities. Where do you exert leadership at the moment? (Note all the major areas – don’t forget your own home as David did!)
   1. When and where has someone laid hands on you in the presence of God to commission you for these tasks? [If you have not been commissioned for this task, speak to your elder/ pastor / small group leader about this. It needs to be verified and you need to be commissioned.]
   2. In which ways are you empowered by God for the tasks he has called you?
   3. In which areas are you weak to temptation?
   4. Consider this article on Friendship Accountability – someone needs to pray for you about these two aspects of your call! (https://walklikejesus.net/2014/10/09/accountability-in-friendship/)

Prayer

Thank God for your call to leadership – reaffirm your service to God in these areas.  Ask God for grace (empowerment and help) in these areas of service.  And ask the Lord for grace to not fall into temptation that you may continue to serve him well today.