Leadership skills

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One morning the Lord led me to a remarkable piece of scripture.

Right at a time in ministry, when we were about to step into a new season, as Leaders ourselves. So I was trying to hear what the Lord was saying personally to me. In order to help encourage the ones under my leadership, to catch the vision, word and direction from Him.

Have you ever gone to the Lord and heard Him say to do something. Then with excitement, expressed this to the ones you lead. Whether in ministry, business, a club, family etc and they just don’t get it! I have many times ! To be honest, it is frustrating place to stand in.

These people can’t see it from your perspective and sometimes even speak and stand up against, the very thing the Lord, asked you all to do. The reason for this is, you may be carrying a vision (a word from God) yet the people you lead, have simply not captured it. The Word says “that without a vision people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).

 

So how do you help your leaders capture, the vision? If I’m honest in the past, I would have just kept showing and talking about the vision . Which I found made it even worse and often created a divide or division. As we know without unity GOD cannot release the fullness of His blessing (Psalm 133:1-3).

The other way could be to force the decision, like a military decision. But this also can cause other problems, like resentment, bitter anger etc. So although your people may follow you, their heart’s are not in it. Which is not a place of unity either.

So what’s the answer and how does God do it, with us, I started thinking ?

 This was when the Lord led me to a remarkable scripture.

A scripture that provides a different and more productive way! I love the title as it is a Prophecy from the Lord of what will happen.

Let’s read it

 

1 Samuel 23:1-2



David Saves the City of Keilah

“Then they told David, saying, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.”

Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?”

And the LORD said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.”

 

1 Samuel 23:3-4

“But David’s men said to him, “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?” Then David inquired of the LORD once again.

And the LORD answered him and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

 

1 Samuel 23:5 (NKJV)

“And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah”.

 

Did you see it? Yes, The Lord has given David both the vision and instruction. Yet when he shares it, the men don’t capture it. They tell David , “Look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?”

 

What does David do? He inquired of the LORD once again. Yes He did not complain, try to defend the position, or command the men to do anything. He goes back to seek the Lord! 

 

 

And that needs to be our go to! But why is that so important? The Lord has the ability to do what we cannot and will not ever be able to do!  

 

He is the Only One who can change or turn hearts, release revelation, bring conviction and much more!

 

Proverbs 21:1 (NKJV)

1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD,

Like the rivers of water;

He turns it wherever He wishes.

 

 

I believe David knew this and so instead of using or abusing his authority muscle, he went LOW and HUMBLE to the ONE, who was able to Make A WAY – He went to the Lord.

 

This time the Lord said, “Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” Yet the most fascinating is in the following verse it says “And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines”.

So what happened in between the men being afraid and David going away to inquire of the Lord then returning?

We do not know for sure, I believe  a BUT GOD experience! it does not even say David shared what the Lord said, yet I think he did!  What matters most is the big change in the hearts of the men! Going from afraid- to going and fighting- to victory as the last verse says “they struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah”.

 

In conclusion David received a report stating about an injustice against Keilah. So he takes the situation in front of Him, to the quiet place with the Lord (in prayer). The Lord gives him a word in season (a vision) that he knows and believes is to be true!

He then shares this with his men, since they don’t get it. he goes back to the Lord to inquire what to do next?! When he returns to his men they are ready (they have captured the vision)  so he leads them in to the vision, it comes to completion with of Victory!

 

Here’s the Keys!

 

1. When you receive information, a report on a situation or circumstance. We must take it to the Lord and inquire what to do with what we got! Asking questions like   Do we pick it up or lay it down? Do we go or stand. If we do something what will happen? Finding the Lord’s will for us and the people we lead
2. Then share these words as clearly as possible with the people you lead. Not from a place of telling them the vision. But with a heart of suggestion or invitation. So that they can capture the vision (just like the Lord does with us)
3. If they don’t get it or capture the vision. Accept people for who and where they are. Yet go back to the Lord and inquire of Him for His next step. Ask questions like Lord I ask that you will show me more clearly. That I may share it more clearly. Father I ask that you will bring a heart felt conviction, fresh revelation and understanding of the vision. To the people you are wanting to be part of it.
4. Do what He says next, for He may ask you to do things in your life first or make adjustments. In how you speak, share or place a seed in provision etc 
5. If they don’t get it the second time they hear it, then return to the Lord. For maybe you missed something or maybe there is another way the Lord has for you to share the vision etc 
6. Finally, when you are all one accord, move for this is the time of completion and victory. Notice in the verse every man went out to fight! 
7. Finally Give Thanks to the Lord for His vision, direction, completion and victory also His word AMEN

 

Father I ask that you grant favour, over your leaders, as they do your will. Through the roles you have given them. In Jesus name, AMEN

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Craig Patten 

Founding Pastor/Prophet

Encounter Centre and Ministries