The Role of Knowledge and Power in the Field of Fruitful Leadership
Leadership is one of
the most important truth humankind ignores. We must realize that the development
and poverty of nations, organizations, businesses, and families rest on the
shoulders of leadership.
Even in the animal
kingdom, they build by leadership. This is one reason God commanded humankind
in the Word (Holy Scriptures) to imitate the ant's wisdom.
Go to the ant, thou
sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Which having no guide,
overseer, or ruler,
Provideth her meat in
the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
Proverbs
6:6-8 KJV
One important truth you
must know in life is that leadership starts with yourself. Until you lead
yourself, you can never lead others. You cannot discipline others if you are
not disciplined. You cannot lead others if you cannot manage yourself.
Leading yourself means
you have the right attitude. You know your priorities. You have emotional
intelligence. Morally, you are upright. Your thinking faculty is stable in all
circumstances. That is self-leadership.
God created us in His
image and likeness. He is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent, yet He created
the angelic beings and humankind to help Him manage creation. God is light, yet
He created the sun, the moon, and stars for Himself, spiritual beings, and
humanity to benefit.
If God created angelic beings to assist Him in His leadership, then humankind must not ignore the essence of wisdom, power, and leadership on the earth realm.
- God could save the animals and Noah's family from destruction, yet He commanded Noah to prepare an ark. That is wisdom and leadership.
- God could kill the uncircumcised philistine (Goliath) that blasphemed His name and children (Israelites), yet He used a man called David to eliminate Goliath. That is leadership and wisdom.
- God could save the Israelites from the deception of the witch (Jezebel), wicked king Ahab, and Baal prophets, yet He used Elijah, Jehu, and the Eunuch’s to dismantle their evil powers. That is leadership and wisdom.
- God could save humankind from Sin and Satan, yet He sent His Son (Christ Jesus) to save humanity. That is wisdom and leadership.
God is all-powerful, but He works with laws (wisdom and knowledge).
God will not do for
humankind what His law commands. He has given us the mind (wisdom) to think and
make critical decisions on earth. God has given us His Word to enable us to
know His thoughts.
Thy word is a lamp unto
my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalms
119:105 KJV
God will not do what
humankind can do. He will not descend from heaven to do something we can do
because He works with human vessels. In the book of Jeremiah, we see a profound
scripture.
The words of Jeremiah
the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of
Benjamin:
To whom the word of the
LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the
thirteenth year of his reign.
It came also in the
days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh
year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of
Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
Then the word of the
LORD came unto me, saying,
Before I formed thee in
the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified
thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Then said I, Ah, Lord
GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
But the LORD said unto
me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and
whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
Be not afraid of their
faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
Then the LORD put forth
his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put
my words in thy mouth.
See, I have this day
set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down,
and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
Jeremiah
1:1-10 KJV
In verse ten of
Jeremiah chapter one, God declared that He would use Jeremiah to build and destroy
kingdoms. This means God works through man (it can be a woman). God decreed
that He will root out kingdoms, pull down kingdoms, destroy kingdoms, throw
down kingdoms, build kingdoms, and plant kingdoms because He has made Jeremiah
the leader of these kingdoms.
Jeremiah became the
hand (remote control) of God on earth. Through Jeremiah, God ruled His people. When
Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, Pharaoh knew no man was Spirit-filled,
wise, and knowledgeable than Joseph, so he appointed Joseph as a leader in
Egypt.
And Pharaoh said unto
his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of
God is?
And Pharaoh said unto
Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet
and wise as thou art:
Thou shalt be over my
house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the
throne will I be greater than thou.
And Pharaoh said unto
Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
Genesis
41:38-41 KJV
Many countries are
failing because they lack Spirit-filled, wise, god-fearing, and knowledgeable
leaders. Pharaoh chose Joseph as a leader because Joseph was god-fearing,
discreet, wise, and Spirit-filled.
Many nations,
organizations, and businesses are not progressing because they have failed to
understand that development rests in the heart and power of humankind. God
works through human leadership. He has set humanity as leaders of the world to
manage His affairs.
And God said, Let us
make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish
of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the
earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
So God created man in
his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he
them.
And God blessed them,
and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and
subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the
air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Genesis
1:26-28 KJV
God has delegated the
management and development of the earth to humankind. We are supposed to manage
the economy, natural resources, businesses, animals, trees, water bodies, and
everything on this earth.
It is not the responsibility
of God to manage the economy and natural resouces. Although there are times, we
need God's intervention. I will write on that point in the latter part of this
article because wisdom and power work together.
I want to tackle the
issue of wisdom because it is a significant key in leadership. God has
established governmental leadership on earth, and He expects us to govern the
economy.
Let every soul be subject
unto the higher powers.
For there is no power
but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore
resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall
receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a
terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the
power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
Romans
13:1-3 KJV
Child of God, never
expect God to do something you are supposed to do. Prayer is good, but there
are some things God expects us to do! For example, if you plant a seed of maize
in fertile soil, it will germinate.
You don’t have to fast
and pray for the seed to germinate because God has programmed the earth to multiply
the seed you plant in it. Have you ever asked yourself why most developed
countries are advancing despite their hatred for God and the church?
It is because they
apply wisdom in their government, business and lives. Most undeveloped and
developing countries, especially African countries, expect God to do something
they are supposed to do.
You will see some
people fasting and praying for something God has already provided the solution
to. Can I present to you that God is not obligated to perform what He has
mandated us to do?
God expects us to
manage the affairs of the earth (See Genesis 1:26-28). God has established
governmental leaders to manage the economy and businesses on earth (See Romans
13:1-3). Like Jeremiah, God declared He would use Jeremiah to pull down
rebellious kingdoms and uplift faithful kingdoms.
It is time undeveloped
and developing countries start thinking. It is time Africans and other
developing countries apply wisdom in their leadership. Like the ant, He has
mastered the principles of management and wisdom; therefore, God commands us to
learn from her (See Proverbs 6:6-8).
If God is commanding
humankind to imitate the wisdom of ants, what stops us from applying wisdom in
our churches, business, and government? Analyze the developed countries, and
you will realize that they applied wisdom and knowledge in their leadership.
God created us to think
and apply wisdom in every decision we make. God could save the whole world from
destruction, yet He became a man (Christ Jesus) to enable Him accomplish the
task. Christ Jesus passed through pain, rejection, persecution, and death to
enable humankind to receive salvation (See John 1:1-14, 1 Timothy 3:16).
That is wisdom and
leadership. God expects us to use our minds in leadership and the journey of
life. God could save the Israelites from the Egyptians, yet He used Moses and
Aaron to set them free.
The reason why many
countries are poor is that the leaders have failed to apply wisdom and
knowledge. A country like Singapore had no natural resources. They were in
abject poverty. It took the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew to make Singapore a
world-class country.
I believe God gave Lee Kuan Yew the wisdom to make important decisions in his time of leadership. It is believed that Lee Kuan Yew advocated and enforced several policies in his time of leadership. He did some of these things to uplift the economy of Singapore to world-class status.
1.
Promoting education (strict adherence to proper and technical education within
the country). This helped the citizens to adopt his policies.
2.
Lee Kuan Yew applied free-market capitalism, which attracted business people
and investors into the country.
3.
Lee Kuan Yew enforced globalization which opened Singapore to the world.
4.
Lee Kuan Yew enforced strict pragmatic ideas (policies).
These four points (globalization, free market capitalism, education, and strict pragmatic polices) were taken from Sunday Adelaja’s book,
Problems Your Shortcut to Prominence, with my added emphasis.
It is time for
leadership to research how some countries became world-class and enforce their
strategies. Leadership in developing countries should humble themselves and
search for reasons why they are not progressing and why other countries are
progressing.
Discovering the root
cause of poverty in the country will help leadership apply the best principle
(wisdom and knowledge). Some statisticians have predicted that the population of
Ghana is likely to double in the next thirty to fifty years.
Suppose it is true that
the population of Ghana and different countries are likely to double in the
next thirty to fifty years, what visionary and pragmatic decisions are the
leaders and politicians making? We cannot expect God to do what leadership is
supposed to do. As the Holy Scriptures
declares,
Where there is no
vision, the people perish…
Proverbs
29:18 KJV
Wisdom and knowledge
play an important leadership role. I believe in prayers because it works. We
must also realize that prayer work with laws. God will not and cannot do what
He programmed humankind to do.
God is a loving Father,
yet many people die every minute because of hunger, sickness, and poverty. Is
God wicked to ignore the weak and vulnerable? Never! God works with laws and
principles (wisdom and knowledge). You can read my series of articles, How God Judges Cases and other
articles (Understanding the systems label) for more profound revelations.
Until we apply wisdom
in our leadership and daily lives, we remain in the dark. I heard a minister of
the gospel said, “Africa is not cursed.” I believe that statement because most
African countries and leaders have failed to apply wisdom and knowledge in
their leadership.
We have depended on God
for a long time. On the other hand, God expects us to use our minds. God expects
us to think and apply wisdom! God is saying, my people (leaders) are perishing
because they lack knowledge (See Hosea 4:6).
God says that China,
Singapore, the USA, the UK, and other advanced countries are growing in
infrastructures, businesses, finance, personal lives, and GDP because they
apply wisdom and knowledge.
Do African leaders and
other developing countries have a vision? Are we always relying on God for help?
God is sad because Africa and some poor countries have failed to apply wisdom
and knowledge in leadership.
All we know is power. Dear
leader, power is good, but it has limitations. We don’t only develop a nation
with power. Wisdom and knowledge is an essential principle for a nation’s
development.
Politics in most undeveloped
and developing countries is all about power. The opposition party will never allow
its opponent to rise because it has become a competition. Instead of these
leaders realizing that it is not power needed to develop the nation but wisdom,
knowledge, and unity, they will forever walk in darkness.
African leaders and
ungodly leaders must repent for a turnaround. The Holy Scriptures declare that
leadership with no vision enters a realm of destruction.
Where there is no
vision, the people perish…
Proverbs
29:18 KJV
Governmental leadership
needs a national plan (agenda). With one vision, the leadership becomes focused and programmed for development. It is
time politicians and leaders stop the unnecessary conflicts (propagandas) and
set up systems to govern the economy. The system will serve as a performance checkup.
Jesus the Christ said,
…Can the blind lead the
blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
Luke
6:39 KJV
Leaders with no vision,
plans, wisdom, strong systems, and moral integrity can never grow countries,
businesses, and organizations. Christ Jesus has several attributes. He is the
source of power and wisdom. Failure to use wisdom limits the power.
…Christ the power of
God, and the wisdom of God.
1
Corinthians 1:24 KJV
Wisdom has a role to
play in leadership, whiles power has a role to play in leadership. God loves
humankind, but He does not interfere in some aspects of our lives. We have our
free will. God did not create us to behave like robots.
This is one reason we
will stand before the judgment seat of Christ Jesus and give an account (See 2
Corinthians 5:10, Matthew 25:31-46, Hebrews 9:27) on the judgment day. God has
given us the mind to think.
He expects us to apply
wisdom in our journey of life. Have you realize that some animals constantly think.
Analyze domestic animals and watch wildlife, and you would observe that animals
apply wisdom in life. Domestic animals like dogs monitor the traffic on the
road before crossing to the other side.
When you are hungry or
tasty, do you pray to God to feed you from heaven? God created your hands,
legs, teeth, eyes, head, stomach, and every organ of your body for a purpose. When
you are hungry or tasty, either you buy food and prepare it yourself to quench
your hunger.
You don’t expect God to
feed you when you have the strength to work. You cannot expect God to develop
the nation when He has set up leadership to grow the economy. Jesus Christ knew
His disciples would need divine power for the ministerial work, so He commanded
them to wait in the upper room for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
God always provides the necessary things (wisdom and resources) we need to embark on the assignment (nation and church growth). He has given many African countries the natural resources, wealth, and leaders to grow the nation. It is time for leadership to utilize these resources to build their economy.
- We cannot pray to God to build the economy with the availability of natural resources. It is our responsibility to use these resources to develop the nation.
- We cannot pray to God to develop our nation because He has given us His Word as a guide. It is our responsibilities to study the Holy Scriptures and apply the principles.
- We cannot pray to God to develop our nation because He has given us brains (wisdom) to think.
- We cannot pray to God to develop our nation because He has delegated the management of the earth to us (See Genesis 1:26-28).
In the book of Matthew,
we see a profound Word.
For the kingdom of
heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants,
and delivered unto them his goods.
And unto one he gave five
talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his
several ability; and straightway took his journey.
Then he that had
received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five
talents.
And likewise he that
had received two, he also gained other two.
But he that had
received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
After a long time the
lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
And so he that had
received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou
deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five
talents more.
His lord said unto him,
Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few
things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy
lord.
He also that had
received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents:
behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
His lord said unto him,
Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few
things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy
lord.
Then he which had
received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard
man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not
strawed:
And I was afraid, and
went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
His lord answered and
said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where
I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Thou oughtest therefore
to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have
received mine own with usury.
Take therefore the
talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
For unto every one that
hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not
shall be taken away even that which he hath.
And cast ye the unprofitable
servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew
25:14-30 KJV
God has given us
leadership abilities (talents). He has given us the resources (wisdom) to make
things happen on earth. God expects us to work and grow the business, economy, organization.
You may think God is responsible for your failure.
It is our
responsibility to change the world with the talent God has invested in us. That
is our dominion mandate. Leaders who failed to use the resource to build the
economy, business, and organization will face the wrath of God on judgment day.
God created us in His
image and likeness, so whatever God can do, we can also do. God knew the light
would help humankind, so He created the sun, moon, and stars to operate in the
day and night.
God knew that we would
need chairs, tables and other furniture’s, so He created trees. Any godly
invention came from the inspiration of God. God worked through inventors,
scientists, researchers, and various leaders to build businesses and economies.
God knew the birds of
the air would step on electric lines, so he made them immune to electricity. God
knew humankind will need air so He created trees to produce it. He knew women
would take care of children, so He gave them a strong heart.
God knew men would work
to provide for the family, so he made us strong. That is the wisdom and
leadership of God. God knew we would need food, so He programmed fishes to reproduce
in water bodies and food to grow in the soil.
Every organ in the body
plays an important role in life. That is the wisdom and leadership of God. God
knows every country needs excellent roads, light, infrastructures, jobs,
businesses, money, and other important accessories, so He has given us wisdom,
natural resources, wise people, and other assets to make them happen.
God will not descend
from heaven to build better roads, schools, businesses, and other earthly treasures
for humanity because He has given us the resource and wisdom to build them. It
is time we stop worrying God and His angels for things He has already provided.
…thou shalt remember
the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth…
Deuteronomy
8:18 KJV
God has given us the
power, strength, wisdom, knowledge to prosper (build our economy and lives).
You cannot pray to God to develop the business and nation when He has given you
the necessary resources. Christ Jesus said we are the light and salt of this
world.
Ye are the salt of the
earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it
is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under
foot of men.
Ye are the light of the
world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a
candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light
unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is
in heaven.
Matthew
5:13-16 KJV
Christ Jesus expects us
to shine (lead) in this world. In my article and book, Why Christians Must Occupy Every Leadership Position, I explained why every
Spirit-filled Christian believer must take leadership positions in the
government, business, and various organizations.
If Spirit-filled
Christians and morally upright leaders take leadership positions with the mindset
that whatever happens to the economy, family, church, and business is their responsibility,
Africa and other developing countries will advance.
We have depended on God
for a long time; meanwhile, God expects us to build (with our mind and resources).
We have failed to apply wisdom in various leadership centres because all we
know is the prayer and divine power.
How can a country with
little or no fear for God develop its country and help religious countries? I
mean countries that reverence God, yet most irreligious countries (leaders)
support the religious government (countries)?
Isn’t that an insult to
God Almighty for unbelievers to support believers? Many religious countries
depend on other countries because the religious and developing countries
(leaders) have failed to apply wisdom in leadership. The religious countries
have failed to apply an aspect of Christ Jesus.
…Christ the power of
God, and the wisdom of God.
1
Corinthians 1:24 KJV
The religious country
has imitated one side of Christ's nature (power) and forsaken wisdom. If the economy,
business, and organization will grow, we must prioritize wisdom in leadership.
On the other side, power counts because the Holy Scriptures command Christian
believers to pray for leadership.
I exhort therefore,
that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of
thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all
that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all
godliness and honesty.
For this is good and
acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
Who will have all men
to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1
Timothy 3:1-4 KJV
This is where the power
and intervention of Christ Jesus and the church come in because, without
fasting and prayers, the forces of darkness will dominate the leadership
leading to bad decisions.
Finally, my brethren,
be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Put on the whole armour
of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we wrestle not against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you
the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having
your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of
righteousness;
And your feet shod with
the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the
shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked.
And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Praying always with all
prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all
perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Ephesians
6:10-18 KJV
Although the evil
spirits and wicked people can speak to leadership and us, they cannot force us
to enforce their decisions. The god of this world has blinded some people and
leadership, and it takes prayer of the Spirit-filled Christian believer to
cause a change in the spiritual realm.
Prayer is good, but it
will not work until we take responsibility (application of wisdom and
knowledge). You can read my series of books for
more profound revelations.
The Fourteen Divine Principles of Connecting with the Seed of God
The Top Eighteen Errors People Make in Life
The Top Eleven Errors People Make in Life
Why Christians Must Occupy Every Leadership Position
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