A prophetess once shared about how her giftedness pushed her out of the covering and tutelage of her pastor. She would get invitations from all over the places. It so got into her head that she began to boycott kingdom processes that should mature her in ministry. The results were avoidable mistakes that almost drowned her in life and ministry.
Friend, you need to understand the place of maturity if you would manifest safely and successfully in destiny. This is why in the choice of leadership in the local Church, Paul told Timothy that the prospective candidate should not be a novice, or someone who has not gone through the right kingdom process (1 Timothy 3:6).
A novice is not necessarily someone without knowledge or ability. He is someone who has not gone through the right process that would mature him to handle life. In most cases, gifted people are novices who need to be truthfully told they need to learn. Leaders must not be carried away by the giftedness of people so as not to help them go through the right kingdom processes (Acts 18:24-26).
Don’t pastor someone you cannot talk to; correct, encourage and charge. If you love yourself too, don’t go to any church where you cannot listen to the pastor. You would only endanger your life and destiny. Better still, no matter where you are, take the posture of a listener and a learner. Don’t think you know it all, else, you would be left to die in your ignorance (Proverbs 1:5, 9:9, 21:16).
We are in a world where people speak derogatorily to people, asking them; “Are you a learner?” This has made a lot of people think that being a learner is something to be ashamed of. When you know that you are supposed to be a lifelong learner, you would be proud to be called one, and you would be ready to learn. The cure for ignorance is not prayer or laying on of hands. It is knowledge. This knowledge is acquired via process (John 8:31-32).
The process of learning is as important as the lesson itself. Process shapes us. It shakes us. It reveals our errors and mistakes. It shows us who we truly are and gives us the opportunity to make the right adjustments. Novices are susceptible to the sin of pride (1 Timothy 3:6). What would kill pride in you is not just prayer. It is the God ordained process that you have gone through; it breaks its hold on your life!
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria