Discipleship

Are Women Allowed To Be Pastors ?

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Here are 10 key lessons from "Leaders Don't Command" by Jorge Cuervo:

1. Leadership is Influence, Not Authority: True leadership is about influencing others through trust and respect, not commanding or exerting authority.

2. Lead by Example: Leaders should embody the values and behaviors they wish to see in their team. Leading by example fosters credibility and trust.

3. Empower Others: Effective leaders empower their team members by giving them autonomy and encouraging their personal and professional growth.

4. Listen Actively: Active listening is crucial for understanding the needs, concerns, and ideas of your team. It helps in building strong relationships and making informed decisions.

5. Foster Collaboration: Collaborative environments lead to better decision-making and innovation. Cuervo emphasizes the importance of teamwork and shared responsibility.

6. Emotional Intelligence is Key: A leader's ability to manage their own emotions and understand those of others is essential for building strong, empathetic teams.

7. Adaptability is Essential: Leaders must be adaptable and open to change. The ability to pivot and adjust strategies in response to new challenges is crucial for long-term success.

8. Build a Positive Culture: A positive organizational culture drives motivation and engagement. Cuervo stresses the importance of creating a culture where people feel valued and supported.

9. Develop Future Leaders: Part of a leader's role is to mentor and develop future leaders. Investing in the growth of your team ensures the long-term success of the organization.

10. Humility and Servant Leadership: Great leaders serve their teams rather than dominate them. Cuervo advocates for humility and a servant leadership approach, where the leader's role is to support and uplift their team.

2 KINGS 2
LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF

ELIJAH AND ELISHA


"SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE"

This chapter gives us a detailed account of the movements of Elisha in the company of Elijah, furnishing us with teaching of spiritual and practical import for the day in which we live! How significant the places mentioned as the two journeyed on! Gilgal, this was the first place touched by Israel when they had crossed the Jordan. (Joshua, ch. 4). The sharp knife was used upon the flesh, have we learned this lesson that the flesh is evil, and must be mortified (Col. 3:5) Next they came to Bethel, if at Gilgal we learn that the flesh is evil, at Bethel we learn that God is faithful, (Gen. 35:7) “He built there an altar and called the place El-beth-el” here Jacob had a revelation of the character of God, he had his name changed (Gen. 32:28) again it was here that he was assured of the continued presence of God. (Gen. 28:15). Jericho is now mentioned, here we are reminded of the power of our God. Jericho was a fortress of the enemy, impeding the progress of the children of Israel, how true are the words of (Rom. 8:31) “If God be for us who can be against us?” Lastly the prophets came to the Jordan, and crossed over dry shod, do we know what it is to stand on resurrection ground with Him, says (Col. 3:3) “for ye died” (Col. 3:1) “If ye then were raised with Christ.”

1Kings 19:19 marks out Elisha as God’s successor to Elijah, here we have a Divine principle that we find through out Scripture, namely that God’s choice is always of those who are diligent in their earthly calling (compare Amos 7:14 and Mark 1:16). A physically lazy man. lethargic with regard to his daily calling will seldom be used of God to expedite spiritual work! It is tragic to see those who have failed in business and others who are unhappy in their employment using these circumstances as a reason for embarking upon service for God.

Let us journey on in the company of Elijah and Elisha, and learn the lessons that experience alone can teach;

“Elijah WENT WITH Elisha” — UNITY (v. 1).

This surely is essential if our service for God is to be fruitful, a oneness of mind relative to the work of the Lord! We hear much about unity today! The unity which Christendom is clamouring for, is not the unity described in the Word of God, Christendom which disregards, and denies the truth of God’s Word are destroying the very foundations of true unity, namely the authority of the Scriptures of Truth and the Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ. The unity in the local assembly has been much assailed by Satan to the dishonouring of His Name. “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Psalm 133:1. “Can two walk together except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3. Peter stood up with the eleven (Acts 2:14). “Striving together for the faith of the Gospel” Phillipians 1:27.

“They WENT DOWN to Bethel” — HUMILITY (v. 2).

Oh that we might be delivered from pride, if ever there was an obstacle relative to our testimony as individuals and as a collective company, it is pride, how many have been brought to spiritual ruin because they failed to deal with the pride of their own hearts. The downfall of Lucifer in Isa. 14:13 was his desire to go up, the order must be reversed in the experience of the Child of God, if we have to know real blessing (James 4:10).

“He that is down need fear no fall,He that is low no pride,He that is humble ever shall,Have God to be his guide.

There are four kinds of pride which we should fear ;

Pride of Face. The mirror of God’s Word would cure this affliction.

Pride of Place. Mark Ch 9:34 “Who should be the greatest.”

Pride of Race. Phillipians, Ch. 3:8. “I count ALL things but loss.”

Pride of Grace. Romans, Ch. 11:20. “Thou standest by FAITH, be not highminded but fear.

“And they two “WENT ON” — CONTINUITY (v. 6).

This was a feature which characterised the early disciples, a steadfast continuance in the apostles’s doctrine (Acts 2:42). The exhortation of Hebrews 6:1 is needed today “Let us go on” to know Him! The Hebrews had failed to make progress in Divine things, they were spiritual dwarfs, how tragic! this teaching is connected with spiritual maturity and not wth age, the idea is “Full growth” we are reminded of the blessed man of Psalm 1 “He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither” firm, fadeless, and fruitful, this surely is a result of progress. We would do well to take a sounding (Acts 27:28) to see if our course and chart correspond, that we may in a coming day be able to say “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7).

“And they two “WENT OVER” — VICTORY (v. 8).

Elijah and Elisha passed over dry shod, but when the ark passed over in Joshua 4:18 the Jordan was over-flowing, a picture of the One who on Calvary’s Cross, exhausted the storm of Divine judgement, which should have been our eternal portion now we can rejoice in the face of death and say “Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Cor. 15:57). Again, have we in spirit passed over Jordan standing as it were on resurrection ground, to enjoy our portion, and in the good of our position in Christ. The two and a half tribes who stayed on the east side of Jordan, stopped short of that which God had intended for them, and they became an easy prey for the enemy being the first to be carried off into captivity (Num. 32:19). Israel left Egypt but alas! Egypt never left them, the desire for the leeks and garlic was still very much in evidence (Num. 11:5). We shall never have an appetite for the heavenly manna unless we in spirit have crossed over Jordan.

“And WENT BACK” — DUTY (v. 13).

Elisha recrossed the Jordan in order to commence his great work in Israel. Does not this correspond with the words of the Lord Jesus in His great intercessory prayer in John’s Gospel Ch. 17: We are …

a gift from the Father to the Son “out of the world” (John 17:6) this is SPIRITUALLY.

“Not of the world” (John 17:14-16). MORALLY.

Still in the world (John 17:11). PHYSICALLY.

Sent into the world (John 17:18). REPRESENTATIVELY.

The truth of the second and fourth point applies to our study. “Not of the world” we have in spirit crossed over Jordan, again, “sent into the world,” just as Elisha crossed over Jordan to carry on the work of his absent master! He smote the Jordan with the mantle of Elijah “Where is the God of Elijah” with his own garments rent in two before taking up the mantle of Elijah, he thus declared that the flesh must be crucified if Christ would be magnified, there was no doubt in this instance that “the spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha” (2Kings 2:15). Are we recognised because of our likeness to our ascended soon coming Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:13).

“He WENT UP” — GLORY (v. 23).

“Soon with joyful glad surprise,We shall hear His Word arise,Mounting upward to the skies,Glory, glory, glory.”

Our destiny is heavenly, we wait for the trumpet sound, and the assembling shout, to usher us in to His eternal presence.

“We wait for the hope of righteousness through the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:5).

“We wait to wit the redemption of the body.” (Rom. 8:23).

“We wait for His Son from heaven.” (1Thess. 1:10).

“Behold I come quickly, even so come Lord Jesus!” (Rev.22:20).

Topic: "...But a Pharisee named Gamaliel"
Text: Act. 5:33-40

1. He ALARMED the people to be CAREFUL about God's Ministry (33-37)

-He spoke about the PAST actions
*You failed in the past actions as they came to nothing against God's ministry (36)

2. He ADVISED the people to be THOUGHTFUL about God's People (38)
-He spoke about the PRESENT action
*you will fail against God's people (38)

3. He AWAKENED the people to be WATCHFUL about God's doing (39)

-He spoke about the PERFECT action
*You will not be able to STOP God's perfect actions (39)

He PROMOTED God's Ministry
He PROTECTED God's People
He PREACHED about God's doings
He PRODUCED God's Apostle (Paul)

KEEP YOUR FOCUS ALIVE

Your focus is as important as your assignment -Neh 2:1-3

As you can see in that scripture, focus and assignment ( Ministry ) can not be divorced. Focus lost is assignment lost-Judge 16:21.

As you can see in that scripture, he lost his assignment because his focus was altered!

Your greatest battle in ministry is the battle to keep your focus Alive from the beginning to the end -Lk 2:49 ; Mt 26:64

Please kindly take a closer look at those two scriptures again!

From the beginning to the end of Jesus ministry, the battle was to swift His focus from His assignment. They wanted to make Him a king . They brought allegations against Him, His parents wanted Him to be around them etc.

Some ministers will accept offers of appoints that have no bearings with their assignment because of the honour and benefits in the appointments. Many have lost their original assignment of call for this reason. Please hear again and again:

' Focus lost is assignment lost !'

Jesus kept focus Akive-Mt 26:64

As you can see in that scripture, the challenges at hand did not alter His focus. You never fulfil any dream if your focus is lost.-Neh 6:1-3

As you can see in that scripture, Nehemiah will not leave his assignment to attend to irrelevant matters. His love and interest were on his assignment, knowing fully well that his assignment would be lost if his focus is altered.

Many churches are stagnant because the focus of the pastor has been altered. The call is genuine but the focus is in question.

Nothing moves until focus is repositioned-Lk 15:17-18

The problem of that young man in that scripture was decision. His decision broght him into the mess and another decision took him out of the mess!

Ministry will move if you take a decision to repisition your focus.

Please Keep Us in Your Prayers