How can church leaders ensure they don't "abandon the law of the LORD"? Scripture Focus “After Rehoboam had established his sovereignty and royal power, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD.” (2 Chronicles 12:1) Why Rehoboam’s Slip Matters Today • Stability and success can breed complacency. • Influence multiplies the consequences of neglect. • A leader’s drift invites a congregation’s drift as well. Early Warning Signs for Leaders • Diminished personal time in the Word (Joshua 1:8). • Selective teaching—skipping “hard” passages (Acts 20:27). • More attention on programs, platforms, or politics than on holiness. • Isolation from godly accountability (Proverbs 27:17). • Substituting charisma or tradition for Spirit-led obedience (Galatians 3:3). Guardrails That Keep Shepherds on Track Daily Immersion • Read, meditate on, and memorize Scripture. • Pray it back to God; evaluate life and ministry by it (Psalm 119:9-11). Whole-Counsel Teaching • Plan expositional series that cover both comfort and conviction (2 Timothy 3:16-17). • Resist pressure to dilute truth for cultural approval (Jeremiah 23:28-29). Personal Application First • Ask, “How must I obey this passage before I preach it?” (James 1:22). • Confess and repent quickly when the Spirit exposes sin (1 John 1:9). Shared Accountability • Invite elders and trusted peers to speak into your life (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Establish clear, measurable checks on doctrine, finances, and relationships (1 Timothy 5:19-20). Shepherd-Hearted Oversight • “Keep watch over yourselves and the entire flock” (Acts 20:28). • Prioritize presence with people over mere administration (1 Peter 5:2-3). Written Reminders • Like Israel’s kings, “write for himself a copy of this Law… and read it all the days of his life” (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). • Post key verses where you study, meet, and counsel. Patterns of Faithful Leaders in Scripture • Moses—regularly returned to the tent of meeting for God’s word (Exodus 33:11). • Ezra—“set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, to practice it, and to teach” (Ezra 7:10). • Paul—never stopped “warning everyone night and day with tears” (Acts 20:31). Sustaining Power: Dependence on the Spirit • Law without the Spirit leads to legalism; Spirit without the Law drifts into mysticism. • “Walk by the Spirit” so you’re empowered to fulfill God’s commands (Galatians 5:16-18). • Ask daily for fresh filling to illuminate Scripture and energize obedience (Ephesians 5:18). Key Takeaway Leaders abandon the law of the LORD when comfort eclipses conviction. Counteract the drift through constant Scripture saturation, transparent accountability, Spirit-powered obedience, and a shepherd’s love for the flock. |
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