Understanding Church Leadership 11
By Pastor Raphael Adegoke
16Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning. 17Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness. (Eccl 10: 16-17)
Blessed be the name of the Lord who has not abandoned us bus has continued to hold us close to himself. May God name be praised forever. Amen. Last Tuesday, we discussed empathy as one of the attributes of a servant-leader. Today, in continuation of the series, we shall be considering awareness.
One of the virtues everyone needs in life to survive is awareness, but this, leaders need in abundant measures. Awareness is the knowledge that something exists, or understanding of a situation or subject at the present time based on information or experience.
Life is such designed that we don’t live in isolation. We live interdependently and our ability to discern this system in which we live will determine how much of the good of the system we’ll enjoy. In understanding this, there is a need for us to be aware of the divine presence, demonic influences, human beings and nature around us. But for leaders, they don’t just become aware of these around them, but also around those they lead.
It is unfortunate today that we have leaders who deny the realities around them and the people they lead. This is injurious to their lives and that of the ones they lead. On several occasions in the Bible, we see how Jesus made Himself responsible for the ones He led and charged them to do likewise. “31Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32). 40Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter. 41“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” (Matthew 26:40-41)
Awareness is not just about the knowledge of the existence of something, but also the understanding of it and the mastery of the same. This is necessary because leaders are responsible for the ones they lead. “17Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” (John 21:17)
We need not to forget that awareness is not just about mastery of a situation, but must be mastery based on information and experience. Leaders don’t lead a people by assumption, but based on verified truth available to them in their experiential walk with Christ and the realities around them for just judgments or conclusions. “He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach”. A man who has not been with Jesus is not qualified to lead a people for Him.
Pastor Raphael Adegoke is a Pastor in Christ Apostolic Church (Nigeria & Overseas) and a Lecturer in Christ Apostolic Church Theological Seminary.
