In the Lord’s gospel enterprise believers are to help each other as coworkers, partners and co-disciples.

Mature sheep, not lambs, hear the Master’s voice. As there is grace for the immature, there is a responsibility for the mature sheep to be good examples to the lambs.

The Lord puts the onus on the believer, not the leaders, to discern the character, practice and utterance of their leaders. The unrighteous leader will face his judgment (Ezekiel 34) but you are admonished several times:

Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention. “Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned. Matthew 7:13-20 (MSG)

And for competent teachers who know the letter like the Pharisees, hear what the Lord said:

But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but they don’t live it. They don’t take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It’s all spit-and-polish veneer. Matthew 23:3b (MSG)

The Lord warned specifically in Revelation 3:11 (MSG)

I’m on my way; I’ll be there soon. Keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steals your crown

Each of the follower apostles referred to this. Peter warned the believer after the pattern of Matthew 24:45-51 showing the responsibility of a faithful servant shepherd in 1 Peter 5:2-6

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 1 Peter 5:2-6

with enduring humility and submission to God being the things to watch for in any leader before you submit to such, as you both mutually submit to God willingly dispensing the truth of Christ (John 13:16-17; 1 Corinthians 9:17). The higher your calling, the lower you must become in your own estimation. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, rather thinking of yourself less!

Dear children of God take responsibility for your soul, working out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Any leader who does not fit this mold is not worth following! Shalom.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele