ICS Daily Devotions
Provide Support To The Leaders
No one starts in life as a leader. If you want to be a leader, you need to go through stages of supportive ministry first. To observe and learn things, to see the joy and pain, to humble yourself before the task. You need to “earn the right” to lead. Good leaders need to be good followers so they could also become good leaders one day. Paul the apostle says:
Romans 1:11-12: For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be well established—that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.
The supportive minister can be any person that serves God and assists another, provides stability, lends strength, undergirds, and offers support through serving. Moses was supported by Aaron or Joshua, David had Jonathan, Elijah had Elisha, Jesus had twelve apostles, Paul had Timothy and Titus. If the support is lacking, the leaders serve further but become loners. They are also human and hard circumstances can make them feel really discouraged.
Luke 9:30-31: And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease (exodus) which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
The three great biblical leaders, including Jesus, all met on the Mount of Transfiguration on a very special “Ministry Head meeting” where they talked about God’s plan of salvation. They are actual representatives of the whole Bible: The Law, The Prophets, and the New Covenant. It is hard to find someone more competent. They discussed the ultimate “Exodus” that was started by Moses delivering the people from the land of Egypt to the Promised Land and now was about to be completed in Jerusalem by Jesus, delivering the people from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of heaven. But even these three “star” leaders suffered during their earthly ministry when they lacked support.
See the frustration of Moses:
Numbers 11:11-15: So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I beget them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a guardian carries a nursing child,’ to the land which You swore to their fathers? Where am I to get meat to give to all these people? For they weep all over me, saying, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ I am not able to bear all these people alone, because the burden is too heavy for me. If You treat me like this, please kill me here and now—if I have found favor in Your sight—and do not let me see my wretchedness!”
The mighty prophet Elijah was extremely discouraged when fleeing from the wicked queen Jezebel:
I Kings 19:4: But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”
Similarly, Jesus was deserted by all the disciples in Gethsemane:
Matt 26:38,40: Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”… Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?
Their soul was about to die in how discouraged they were. They lacked support. But it changed when they were joined by faithful coworkers! Moses delegated his authority to supporting servants after the advice given to him by his father-in-law Jethro. He also found Joshua and the things stabilized. Similarly, Elijah had to find support in Elisha. He was never discouraged after that again. And Peter and the other apostles raised up and carried on the work started by Jesus after the Church was born and they received the Holy Spirit. God searches for supportive ministers and servants.
2 Chronicles 16:9: For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.
Joshua, Elisha or Peter were loyal to God, to His task, and to their spiritual authority. Therefore, they themselves later became great leaders for the people. God is searching supportive ministers for the work on His Kingdom!
Series: In Search of a Supportive Minister (Part 2)
