THE PRICE OF LEADERSHIP.

John 18:6-9  As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

What a great way for a leader to pay supreme price while still protecting the interest of his followers. Jesus Christ at the point of arrest tactically protected the interest of his followers paving way for their escape from being arrested along with him. 

This is an Hallmark of perfect leader always willing to pay any price to protect the followers.

Mind you leadership starts from home, the simplest unit of human organization. What type of father, mother, sister or brother are you? 

Learn from the master leader, Jesus Christ.

Interfacing with God

God understands we have weaknesses that's why he provides us with His GRACE to overcome them with the help of Holy Spirit. Ezra 9:8 Titus 2:11

God knows, while we work on our weaknesses with the help of Holy Spirit there may be disaster unexpected, that's why He provides us with His MERCY. Luke 1:50, Romans 9 :15

When we delay in overcoming our weaknesses God helps us by allowing TEMPTATION to speed up the process. James 1:12-14

When we meet God's expectation at the appropriate time God's FAITHFULNESS brings the REWARD .Psalm 119:90

When we declined after all avenues have been exhausted, God cannot help His JUDGEMENT. Exodus 34:7

Three basic steps to overcome

1. Obtain salvation John 3:3

2. Sustain salvation. Philippians 2:12

3. Fulfill divine purposes. Romans 8:28

God helps us.

Except Ye Repent

"Luke 13:4-6  Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.

Luke 13:7-9  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?

And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 

And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down."

We are called to bear fruit. Hence, the phrase 'except ye repent' 

So then what are we to repent from: a fruitless life. What is then a fruitless life.

1. A life without salvation. John 3:3, John 3:16.

2. A life not in tune with divine purpose. Act 19:25, Act 26:16, Rom 8:28, Rom. 9:17, Ephesians 1:11, Timothy 1:19, 1 John 3:8

Remain blessed.

Leadership and Passion for Humanity.

2 Kings 6:28-30  And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow.

So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.

And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh.

Jehoram the son of Ahab was the king of Israel when King of Syria made a siege against Samaria , the royal city of divided Isreal.

The siege or barricade created famine of the worst dimension in human history and this resulted to cannibalism among citizens against their own children.

There was a case of breach of agreement between two women on how to take turns to feed on their children to survive. The King of Isreal heard about this and following were his reaction:

1. He tored his royal robe  in the public.

2. He changed into sackcloath and appeared in the public with them 2King 6:30

3. He descended on highly placed public office spiritual leader in the person of Elisha issuing out instant execution order as purnishment for his failure.2King 6:31

Moral lessons.

1.Passion for humanity is greatly exhibited buy this leaders action.

2.This King was ready to tread on big toes for the sake of common people.

3. This leadership trait brought about speedy result within 24 hours.2King7:1

Conclusion

Today one wonders how leaders still go about in shinning apparels in Nigeria in the mist of National affliction.

Some host elaborate wedding ceremony for their children while children of the poor are in sex slavery and captivity.

Some hide their children in schools abroad while the children of the poor are left to face the risk of being kidnapped from schools.

There is need for people especially from Africa to know that leadership is a calling. 

If you know you don't possess passion and compassion for humanity, then be rest assured LEADERSHIP is not your calling.

THIS GENERATION SHALL NOT PASS.

Matthew 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

Matthew 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

What exactly did the Jesus mean in the above statement of verse 34 ?  Is this another controversial statement credited to Him?  How many generations have passed since more than 2000 years ago when the statement was made?

A dictionary meaning of "generation" can be: age, age group, peer group, cohort, stage of life

To understand this statement in the Matthew 24:34  let us focus on "generation" as "age" or "stage of life".

Human civilization according to historians, has passed through ages or stages. Prominent among these are: stone age, agrarian age, industrial revolution age, information age and now Artificial Intelligence age.

Stone age is characterized by man in culture of making use of stone as weapon and equipment.

Agrarian age is marked by men using simple machine as farm implement and weapon. It's man's major preoccupation was agriculture. This was the stage at time of Jesus Christ.

Industrial age is defined industrial revolution, when man started using energy driven complex machines for agriculture and production.

Information age came with man started using extremely fast machines.

Now artificial intelligence age means man started using intelligent or smart machines.

So back to the statement of Mathew 24:34 we need to understand that up till today all the features of all past ages are still present in the world today despite the stage of civilization as at now 

We still have stone, agrarian, Industrial ages culture among some people in many regions of the world that are regarded as modern civilization till now.

 High level of illetracy, farmine, food scarcity, malnutrition, poverty, pandemic and disaster which were all attendant features of past ages are still with us till today.

So in effect what the Holy Spirit want us to know in the statement  is that, the iminience of the end of the world shall be so soon that many parts of the world would still exhibit characteristics of agrarian age which was when Jesus was making that statement in Matthew 24:34 .

May we be found worthy to meet Him when He returns.