TEXT: 1Ki 12:13-17
“Then the king
answered the people roughly, and rejected the advice which the elders had given
him and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying,
"My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father
chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges! So the king
did not listen to the people; .. Now when all Israel Israel Israel
departed to their tents but Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah
In the previous article, we were exploring
leadership misdeeds and inactions which cause church members (and in some
cases, some church leaders) to leave the church. The text for today reveals how Rehoboam’s
utterance caused Israel
< · REHOBOAMS:
They signify immature and fame-seeking leaders. They refuse to grow and hinder
the progress of those they lead. Rehoboam typifies such church leaders. He was
the most fortunate of all the kings of Israel Israel
He at once sought to recover the revolted tribes by force; and though directed by God not to make war, he did not long delay hostilities, and these continued during his whole reign. The people also fell into idolatry, and were punished in the fifth year of Rehoboam by an Egyptian army, which subjected them to a heavy tribute. All these resulted from Rehoboam’s immaturity. If church leaders fail to handle dicey situations with the proper approach, some members leave the church.
He at once sought to recover the revolted tribes by force; and though directed by God not to make war, he did not long delay hostilities, and these continued during his whole reign. The people also fell into idolatry, and were punished in the fifth year of Rehoboam by an Egyptian army, which subjected them to a heavy tribute. All these resulted from Rehoboam’s immaturity. If church leaders fail to handle dicey situations with the proper approach, some members leave the church.
· RECABITES: They signify very conservative church leadership. Jehonadab forbade his descendants to drink wine or to live in cities. They were commanded to always lead nomadic lives. They adhered to the law laid down by Jonadab, and were noted for their fidelity to the old-established custom of their family in the days of Jeremiah and this feature of their character is referred to by the prophet for the purpose of giving point to his own exhortation. (Jer 35:2-11).
Conservatism is good when it comes to the basic tenets of belief. Do not use it as an excuse to dabble in mediocrity, because we are living in a dynamic world. When conservatism is overstretched with regard to church practice, some members will definitely leave the church.
< · PHARAOHS:
The Pharaoh-type church leaders are callous and stone hearted, Ex 5:1-14:31. They
take decisions which eventually bring hardships on their church members. Some
of them have always been running around. They are too busy for their members to
have access to them. Some of them have also lost touch with their ordinary
members; they always move with the well to do members and never go down to the
level of the down trodden.
Some of them also surround themselves with sycophants: their yes-men who shower on them praises. Some are also engrossed in their ambitious projects so much so that the spiritual upkeep of church members is neglected. They eventually destroy the legacy of the church or its achievements. Because of this, the crop of people who leave their churches are the very influential and enlightened ones.
Some of them also surround themselves with sycophants: their yes-men who shower on them praises. Some are also engrossed in their ambitious projects so much so that the spiritual upkeep of church members is neglected. They eventually destroy the legacy of the church or its achievements. Because of this, the crop of people who leave their churches are the very influential and enlightened ones.
< · SAMSONS:
They are the strong but undisciplined church leaders. They are very strong when
it comes to planning and disciplining other leaders and members. Their
indiscipline is greatly exposed when it comes to financial mismanagement and
immorality. In Judges 13:1-16:31, we see the story of Samson. His birth was miraculously foretold; he was a
Nazirite from infancy and the strongest of men; and was equally celebrated for
his fearless and wonderful exploits, for his moral infirmities, and for his
tragic end.
Some of such leaders are very charismatic, powerful speakers but with controversial character. Critical people will never stay in a church where the leader’s character is bankrupt.
Some of such leaders are very charismatic, powerful speakers but with controversial character. Critical people will never stay in a church where the leader’s character is bankrupt.
From
the discussion so far, we can easily deduce one fact: most of the problems
which make people leave our churches have more to do with the leaders. May the
Lord God Almighty help us to identify all these and find solutions to them as
early as possible. But we have not
exhausted these leadership deficiencies. Watch out for the final part next
week. Meanwhile, stay blessed and keep yourself active in the Lord’s service.
PASTOR
WILLIAM BOACHIE-ANSAH
THE
CHURCH OF PENTECOST
P.O.
BOX 10
NSAWKAW-B/A,
GHANA
+233
244137880
copnsawkaw@yahoo.com
