LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP (COUNSEL FOR YOUNGER MINISTERS ON CHOOSING LEADERSHIP) BY REV. SEGUN ONAYINKA

Many times we are confronted with what to do with some folks who show up in our churches demonstrating all the gifts of the Spirit, particularly those we feel we owe the duty of helping them further hone their gifts and ministries through the local church we oversee.

We then try to weigh ability over dependability tested over time. I laugh when I see younger ministers attempting to pray to know the next set of leaders. If you don't know who to place in leadership positions you must have been sleeping all along.

If you don't know who to place in leadership positions you must have been sleeping all along

1 Timothy 3:1 "This is a true saying, If a man desires the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work..."

In that Scripture, Paul taught Timothy how to choose. Even though it's good for all men to desire to be Bishops, they must meet certain specifications. Leadership must not be accidental but incidental upon meeting a certain criterion or more criteria.

Leadership must not be accidental but incidental upon meeting a certain criterion or more criteria.

1 Timothy 5:22 KJV "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure."

Do not choose anyhow, or suddenly. In the 1 Timothy 3 instructions, there were about 16 qualifications listed, only two have a semblance of charisma:

• ability to teach and

• ability to rule

All others are character-based, and all 16 are proven over time.

1 Timothy 3:6 KJV "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil."

We are usually faced with two scenarios:

1. Some heavily " worded" guy with gifts of the spirit flowing via dripping from his skin, yet he hardly attends workers meetings, hasn't been through foundation school or membership classes, hasn't joined any department, doesn't give to church projects. He arrives late for most services and yet you hardly can rebuke or correct him. He is his own man.

2. The second scenario has a brother/ sister who isn't at par with the former, even though full of the Spirit too but not with such catchy results, however, such is very consistent, dutiful and trustworthy. You have rebuked often, at times publicly yet he remains committed and dependable.

The former might serve some quick results, like helping out in Holy Ghost meetings, laying hands to minister, even asked to help out some ignorant folks but to place such in leadership is planting a time bomb, ticking which will eventually go off!

In the latter, you will find a long term asset, someone who will build with you; not a pulpit hungry brother.

Philippians 2:20-22 KJV "For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel."

The above comment was made by Paul about Timothy. And this too:

2 Timothy 3:14 KJV "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them"

Hence he could commit a major task to him. I learnt this from a man who tutored many of us growing up Uncle sola Oladele that "faithfulness weighs over ability" ( summarizing ).

Faithfulness Weighs Higher Than Ability

Don't gamble with the unknown. Those who try to pray about it miss the point. Faithfulness needs no revelation to see, it's ubiquitously noticed and seen of all. See the example that seemed to inform such a misstep. When Judas was to be replaced, the Disciples prayed but not for reasons some do today.

Acts 1:21-22 KJV "Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection."

The questions you should ask are:

• Who has been with us?

• Who has been there all along?

• Who was at Jordan?

• Who didn't miss camp meetings?

• Who stayed when the media moved against us?

• Who stayed when finances went bad or membership dropped badly? Who?

The reason they prayed was that two men featured who met the criteria, but they knew clearly what to choose by. Jesus committed His work first and foremost to his Apostles, every other ministry gift came after them.

In the local church, Paul gave Timothy the litmus test:

2 Timothy 2:2 KJV "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."

Ministry is not about a cv achieved outside this local church, indicating that before you got here you were so active and experienced in your prior local assembly. That's all story, prove yourself here. This is a new kettle of fish. Here is not there.

If you were so faithful there, why did they release you or why are you here?

Even if the basis listed above is questionable, as some leave churches for reasons, not of their own volition or making, you will need to be proven well here first!

1 Timothy 3:10 KJV 'And let these also first be proved;"

You will go through ALL the motions, Classes and Processes, irrespective. Jesus didn't adopt John's Disciples. He chose His! Prove people with bread and fish, crowd management, money, finding ships to use to teach, going to buy food, evangelism, follow up, giving, rebuke and response after etc. just like Jesus did His team.

Don't ever get carried away by charisma, or experience you didn't see! Jesus is Lord and I Call You Blessed!

May 18, 2015

- Culled from Revd. Chris Segun Onayinka's Past Articles