Leadership
Jeroboam ministry
God was displeased with King Solomon. King Solomon went after other gods. I king 13:4-9. It was a great backsliding for the wisest king of his time. God’s response to this crime was to divide the kingdom. “I will surely rent the kingdom from your hand and will give it to your servant”
Jeroboam was that servant. Unfortunately, he couldn’t wait. He attempted to work out the prophecy. Many people are guilty of similar offence in our generation. Indeed, these people may have been confronted with a calling, but we must also understand that we are not to use ourselves or execute the fulfillment of the processes and promises. Our major responsibility is obedience to God’s instructions.
In 1994 I sensed God was in need of something in my hands. Then it was becoming obvious, since some songs, poems and articles had been written. Indeed, I tried to plough the mind of God with zeal, thinking it is time to enter into ministry! Imagine! In one of my prayer’s moments, I confronted the Lord with a question, “when is it going to be? This was the common language of those days. I believed God had mercy on my ignorance about His principles of handling His work! He said through the Holy Spirit “you have not learnt anything about the real work; you have not even started the introductive part of it, get down and learn!” I was shocked. I thought I had gifts, and call to begin with, what many refer to as ministry. That day my ignorant zeal deflated. I would have missed a great deal of learning, which I have not exhausted a greater part till now. I know He was saying son, patiently get down and learn. I thank the Lord that I’d not sent any of these works out then until 2004. Ten years after, I reviewed some of these works, beloved; they were just product of zeal, while inspiration was paraded as shadow. I learnt this important lesson that our zeal must be conducted with wisdom if they will be properly utilized!
There is a time to receive the call of God and fulfill it. Between this, is a great deal of training, learning, dealings, patience and obedience to instructions? If anyone will make a lasting impact, he must not cut corners or jump gun!
King Solomon made jeroboam superintendent while building the fortress Mello in Jerusalem. Prophet Ahijah in 1 Kings 11:29-39 gave him the words of the Lord and he attempted to take over the throne forcefully. When discovered, he fled to Egypt until the death of Solomon. After this, he returned and was made leader of the delegation who dialogued with king Rehoboam. King Rehoboam refused to reason with them. This led to the withdrawing of ten tribes’ allegiance to the house of David and proclaimed Jeroboam their king. However, the southern part remained with Rehobaom, also, the temple of the Lord was still in Jerusalem and according to God’s instruction, and they have to go there to worship!
The blessed kingdom (church )
The blessed kingdom of the church has really witnessed the blessing of God. She had been blessed wonderfully. The same had witnessed series of confrontation and plaque with some attempt to cause her instability. The church has really been blessed with wonders, great wisdom and manifestation of God’s miracles. However, in the process of time lots of altars and houses have been built for various gods and goddesses in the church (Structure). For obvious reason and according to the determination of God, He must cause some renting to the structure that makes up the artificial churches (denominations). Man are called out from various structures today to project a message that probably was neglected and adulterated
Why do we have various denominations at the moment, it is partly as a result of God renting the kingdom of many, and some as result of jeroboam ministry -The ministry of distraction and diversion.
Though the kingdom was divided, but they still have to go to Jerusalem to worship. The arrangement was disrupted by the institution of two idols by jeroboam, one in Bethel and the other in Dan. This was done as a result of insecurities in his life.
While the church was coming up, there were many treasures and promises spoken into her. Apostle and preachers were fervent and had to risk their lives and love. There were discoveries of many portions of the scripture and the difference between the human structure and scripture started unfolding..
The church was an institution of the Lord Jesus Christ. The kingdom of David was also established because of his relationship with God. It caused David lots of sacrifices and pains to have the everlasting promises for the establishment of the kingdom. Likewise the church.it cost the Lord Jesus Christ a necessary vacation from the throne, nomadic-ally went about after 30 years for three and half years to preach and latter was crucified and resurrected. David was deprived of the opportunities of building the temple. God preferred his son, Solomon to build, he only made available materials for the building. Just that same manner, Christ with his life and blood instituted a better covenant on which the church was established. It took him 3 and ½ years, his disciples were to continuing this assignment of the church.
A generation came on board to build the temple David couldn’t build. At the beginning of his reign, Solomon heart’s was perfect towards the Lord and by this, won the commitment and love of God. God appeared to him twice, and blessed Solomon beyond the wisdom, the principal thing he requested for.
Jesus spent quite much by blood and life to get back for us the lost redemption in the kingdom. Subsequently, the disciples carried on after him just as brother Paul said in the book of I Corinthian For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. By the to accomplish His will . The church in spite of the threat, moved forward. Lives and convenience were sacrificed for this purpose , but God did keep moving forward. Against many heretical views, the church kept moving. Subsequently, many institution and structures were introduced. The combination of which has inspiration, philosophy and tradition as the back ground. just like Solomon, who brought in many idol worshiping, the privilege generation of church did and some brought in many strange ideas in contrary to God’s instructions and the overall assessment of the church (structure) and was just evil 1 king 11:1 and he decided to rent the kingdom of the church(structure) he rent(re-organisation) it, and did not destroy it and the renting gave birth to many groups and denomination.
A leader of a denomination once complained after observation of the exodus of his members to another denomination and thereafter reproduced a similar program. Inspiration or competition, this he did not bother to consider. With verbal instructions via pulpit that none of his member should go there. This was laced with series of pulpit castigation and sharp critism! Countless of worship methods and programs emerged, obviously to retain membership. Many group leaders may have fallen into this error, courtesy of insecurities, fears, ambition, lack of trust in God and greed for control. Just like jeroboam instituted two idols! He did that with sole intentions to distract and divert attention of people from Rehoboam, but he was operating against God’s methods and purpose. He started Programs well packaged and fortified with the resources and authorities of the nation! Jeroboam’s insecurities got him to institute idols and call them, the God of Israel.
Actually, it is the role of pastors and council of elders to protect the members of the congregation spiritually, martially, physically, emotionally and in every other necessary area but not to isolate them from God. It is not in God’s interest if programs, policies and principles become idols instituted to replace His instructions, words and prevent people from right pattern of worship.
If any have to serve personal intentions, it is unfortunate! The division of the kingdom under the leadership of Rehoboam was God’s intension but never to isolate these people from God and pattern and method of worship; this Jeroboam initiated! Similarly, the Church: many denominations! When God’s people are disconnected, distracted and deceived from true worship in the name of denominational’ principles, policies and programs, this will be seen by God in the contest of jeroboam’s sin. Jeroboam became the pioneer of people who de-focus people on God. In order to encourage uniformity of purpose and worship from difference locations, God instituted places where he will place his name. These places were certified for people to come and worship Him with their lives, gifts and resources (Deuteronomy_12:5, 14:23 16:2 16:6 18:5 ). Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD Deuteronomy_12:11 .
It is one of God’s wonderful designs to have many branches on a vine just like Christ specifically called himself. However, no branch is capable of surviving without the vine. These many branches must depend on the supplies from the vine for their full expression on leaves and fruits. Isolating branches from a vine is a quick death sentence for such. When a branch is isolated deliberately or forcefully such is at risk no future, fulfillment and likewise the leaves and fruits associated with it.
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