If You're A Child of God, You're A Leader.

"As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. 'Must you come here drunk?' he demanded. 'Throw away your wine!'"-1 Samuel 1: 12-14

This man, Eli, has always disturbed me. Every time I think of him, I ask myself a thousand questions. Here is one of those questions: “How can a spiritual leader be so blinded and go totally against God and His ways?”

In this story, Hannah and her husband went on their yearly trip to worship and make their sacrifice to the Lord. Surely, he had seen her there year after year. She never was drunk. So why make the accusation now?

God showed me, as I began my study on the book of Samuel, something very important. Even ministry heads misjudge people. So, my next obvious question is, “How can it be?” Hear me please, the moment you allow selfish ambitions in your life, the Spirit of God leaves. When the Spirit of God leaves, everything you do now becomes carnal. You are no longer led by God’s Spirit. You have grieved the Spirit. You now begin to make fatal mistakes.

Hannah was praying to God. Her heart was heavy and broken. She was at the alter praying in, “Her heart.” Did you catch that? She wasn’t praying out loud for everyone to hear her. She was praying in her heart. May I humbly say, “Stop judging people!” Leaders of God, especially, are to be very careful what they say about other Godly people.

You know what the mistakes Eli made here were? Let me explain. First of all he “Observed her mouth.” You see, he was watching her mouth, concluded she was drunk, and then made an accusation. Friends, be very careful when you, “Observe” people and conclude things in your mind, and then accuse them of things they haven’t done.

Second mistake, Eli didn’t act like a Godly Priest should have acted. He should have gone to Hannah and spoken to her before the accusation. Then, he would have known she wasn’t drunk. Hannah, on the other hand, was godly. She still showed honor and respect to a man that didn’t deserve her respect. She respected him so much that she placed her son, Samuel, in his care, as she promised God she would bring her son to the temple and leave him there to serve God.

Let me skip a head to this story to make my point clear today. When Samuel got older, God used Samuel to tell Eli, God wasn’t pleased with his two sons. Now, the story gets even more sad to me. Eli was so busy judging everyone else, he was looking the other way when it came to the evil sins his two sons were committing before the eyes of God.

I’ve said a thousand times and will continue to do so. God never ever looks the other way especially when someone says he/she is a minister of God’s Word. Eli was observing a godly woman and not his own evil two sons. What’s worse is that God told Eli to correct his sons, and he didn’t do it. How can it be? He was so eager to accuse Hannah and totally ignore the direct command God gave him to correct his sons? I’ll tell you why. It’s called a seared conscience. This what happens when we go our own way and do our own thing.

The ending of Eli and his sons was death. His two sons died on the same day. Eli falls off his chair, breaks his neck, and dies. Could all of this have been prevented? Yes, absolutely, one hundred percent, if they had done what was right and repented. How sad is this story?

The truth is people of God still judge others. Leaders do not lead in godly manner, bringing disaster to them, their families, and God’s people. When a leader decides to go and purposely hurt one of God’s children it should send a loud message to everyone around them. People around should start seeing something isn’t right in the life of that leader. God is clear, evil cannot and will not stand in His presence. Therefore, in what spirit is the leader leading?

We are all leaders when we say we are children of God. How are you leading? Are you right in the eyes of God? Is there another believer you are hurting? God DOES NOT play games. We must be very careful what we do and say about others. Here’s my policy, I only judge facts -cold, hard, indisputable facts. You see, Eli, was told by the people his children were stealing the sacrificial offering, and having sex with the women. Can you even fathom this behavior before the house of God? Today, leaders are still committing sins that block the blessings of God. Unfortunately, those who follow those leaders are reaping the consequences, too.

I know this is a hard word today, but it’s not my word. It is coming from the throne room of God. I can’t say, “No, God, I’m not going to write what you just told me to write.” I didn’t go searching for a topic. I was led by God’s Spirit to study the book of Samuel.

I want to be crystal clear. God’s people act like the world. We should know better. Do you want God’s blessings? Do you want the calling on your life to bring forth a great harvest? Get on your knees and repent. Ask God to show you everything that’s wicked in you. Have the courage to rebuke those who are sinning and those who are on your staff.

I have a good habit. I go to three people, periodically. I ask them point blank. Do you see anything sinful in my life? Are you praying for me? Has God revealed anything that I’m in danger of doing? Then I ask them, “Please, can you spend sometime in prayer and ask God to reveal to you if I’m doing anything?” You see, this is a good practice for all of us.

Correction is a vital part of a person’s life. If you can’t take correction, please pardon me to say, you're a foolish person. Eli gave correction that was wrong, but he couldn’t take correction that was right. What a recipe for disaster. God Himself told Eli to get his house in order. He addressed it with his sons but didn’t remove them from office. That was the end for him. God took control and removed them by death. Am I the only one who is scared to death today?

I can’t even believe it myself. Eli was a high priest who couldn’t take God’s correction. God wasn’t pleased. God didn't look at the wicked and didn't let them get away with it. He took all three of their lives. God, open our deceitful eyes and ears, and we repent. Forgive us, God.

We need to take heed, and let go of all sins especially condemning, accusing, and tolerating evil behaviors. We are not to be encouraging others to commit sins, and it happens all the time when we don’t check out the stories we are told. We, especially as leaders never ends well when we don’t ask God to show us truth.

Let us go before God in a humble and repented way. God is quick to forgive and give us a second chance. Be real leaders, filled with knowledge, and exercise our power to uphold truth, honor, and godly behaviors.

Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You alone are the Only Lawgiver and the Only Judge. Thank You for being the God of Truth and of Honor. Lord, I ask humbly that You continue to instruct me in Your ways and to produce the fruit of the Spirit You want me to have, that I would continue to grow in truth and honor and all that is pleasing to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Linda A. Knowles

#TopicArticle #leadership #obedience #correction #behavior #truth #mentors #laypeople #layministers #pastors #evangelists #instruction #churchleadership #honor