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.

 

Holy Spirit 8

The aim of this devotional study is to reflect on God’s intent of infilling with the Holy Spirit.

Scripture

Exodus 31:1-11

1  The LORD said to Moses, 2  “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3  and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, 4  to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, 5  in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.

6  And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. And I have given to all able men ability, that they may make all that I have commanded you: 7  the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy seat that is on it, and all the furnishings of the tent, 8  the table and its utensils, and the pure lampstand with all its utensils, and the altar of incense, 9  and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, 10  and the finely worked garments, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, for their service as priests, 11  and the anointing oil and the fragrant incense for the Holy Place. According to all that I have commanded you, they shall do.”

Observations

Note: the context of this instruction of the Lord happened when Moses was called to the top of the mountain, just after the Exodus, to receive the Law of God by which God covenanted with the nation of Israel.

1. When you think of someone being filled with the Holy Spirit, what comes to mind?
2. Why did God choose Bazalel and fill him with His Spirit?
3. When did God fill him with the Spirit? (What is the context of this person being filled – what do we know of him/ these people?)
4. Why was it necessary for God to fill Bazalel with his Spirit to do these tasks? (Think of what this man did until that point in time…).  And what was the (intended) result of the Spirit’s infilling with in his life?
5. If you were to give one descriptive word for the “supernatural ability” that came through the infilling of the Spirit of God to this man – what would that attribute be? [hint: v4]
6. After God filled Bazalel with his Spirit to be able to do the things, who did the work?

Reflection

1. Do you think it foreign/ strange that God would fill someone with his Holy Spirit to do woodwork and metalwork and mix oils etc? Why/ why not?
2. What other character(s) can you think of in the Bible who were filled with the Holy Spirit to do things outside of preaching and ministry?
3. We are used to think that God empowers people to work in “church life”. Why would God want to fill someone with his Spirit for something beyond preaching and ministry?
4. Do you think God would want to empower you through his Spirit to do “everyday” work for his glory? Why/ why not?

Application and prayer

Spend some time to pray to God to empower you for your everyday life that he may be glorified and that the world may be blessed by God through your exceptional service.  And pray to God for the gift of creativity – to access his thoughts through to solve problems in a way we could not think of through the enablement of his Spirit!  Lastly, ask God for help with specific things you ought to do – through his Holy Spirit!