Years ago, I sat in a conference listening to my spiritual father. I didn’t know when these words jumped out of my heart and mouth, “Daddy has a followable faith!” I was encouraged to keep on following him afterwards. I saw that he could be followed. His faith is not mystical. It can be learned and applied practically in my own life and context with visible results.
Friend, there is a way to follow fruitfully. Leaders must have followable faith. We have been called to follow the faith of those ahead of us, not just their fashion. We follow substance, not style. We follow their spirit, not their swag. We follow their principles, not their hair style. We follow their story, not their glory.
You can be under the right leader but following the wrong things. Gehazi and Judas followed money and material things, not life formation (2 Kings 5:26, Matthew 26:15). Unlike Elisha, the sons of the prophet followed gists and information, not revelation and impartation (2 Kings 2:3-15). The sons of the concubine followed gifts, but Isaac followed the Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 25:5-6).
The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of following and becoming (Hebrews 13:7). Until you follow, you cannot become, and until you follow right, you cannot turn out right in life and destiny. Following is an art. It requires some skills. It thrives well on understanding. It is something crucial and not frivolous. It is based on revelation, not emotionalism. It is based on principles, not sentiments.
Who you follow determines what follows you. We should follow leaders to the extent that they are following Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Leaders must be transparent enough for us to see Christ in and through them (Hebrews 13:7). The moment someone’s lifestyle contradicts his results, we are not bound to follow such a person.
Kingdom leaders must have followable faith, not mystical faith. Elisha did exactly what he saw Elijah did, and he got exactly the same result (2 Kings 2:14). The disciples could reproduce the works of Christ because He was followable (John 14:12, 20:21). There was nothing hidden. He was not trying to prove mysterious. Who are you following? How are you following? Are you followable?
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria