THE ART OF FOLLOWING
“REMEMBER those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, WHOSE FAITH FOLLOW, CONSIDERING THE OUTCOME OF THEIR CONDUCT.”
Hebrews 13:7 (NKJV)
We follow people's faith to get to where we are going. In Paul's words to Timothy: “BUT YOU HAVE CAREFULLY FOLLOWED MY DOCTRINE, MANNER OF LIFE, PURPOSE, FAITH, LONG-SUFFERING, LOVE, PERSEVERANCE" (2 Timothy 3:10).
Timothy followed Paul with all his heart.
I have seen people who claim to be following a particular leader, but their conduct, heart condition, is far different from that of the leader they claim to be following:
4 FOR IT WAS SO, WHEN SOLOMON WAS OLD, THAT HIS WIVES TURNED HIS HEART AFTER OTHER gods; AND HIS HEART WAS NOT LOYAL TO THE LORD HIS GOD, AS WAS THE HEART OF HIS FATHER DAVID. 6 SOLOMON DID EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, AND DID NOT FULLY FOLLOW THE LORD, AS DID HIS FATHER DAVID” (1 Kings 11:4,6 NKJV).
Solomon did not have the kind of heart that David his father had for God.
This shows us one of the reasons why some who claim to be following a particular leader could not get the kind of results which the leader had—their heart condition is usually the problem.
Your heart condition can short-circuit the flow of God's power or blessing in your life or ministry. God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). What He did for a particular leader can be done for you and your ministry, if you have the kind of heart the leader has.
David had passion for God, but Solomon who claimed to be following him did not have the same passion as David his father did (1 King 11:1-6).
You should strive to take what is said in this Bible passage seriously: “BUT YOU MUST CONTINUE IN THE THINGS WHICH YOU HAVE LEARNED AND BEEN ASSURED OF, KNOWING FROM WHOM YOU HAVE LEARNED THEM" (2 Timothy 3:14 NKJV).
If there are good attributes in the life of the person you are following, you must know that the good attributes are parts of what God considered before He promoted or lifted him or her.
It is not enough to follow someone's faith for result, you should follow the good attributes that are found in the person's life as well.
You may be following someone's faith on giving or generousity, however, if you did not have his kind of heart, motivation and demeanor, on giving or generousity; you may not have his type of results.
God works with our hearts; If your heart condition is wrong, practicing godly principles may not produce the desired results that is expected in your life.
The fact that you are following a particular leader, practicing the biblical principles he is practicing, does not mean you will automatically get his type of results.
For you not to be surprised and disappointed: if you are following a leader in order to get results in your life and ministry or on whatever you are doing; do not follow his faith and patterns only, get to know his heart, good attitudes and motivations, and imbibe such things.
Many have been disappointed in following a great leader when they could not get the kind of results the leader had. God is not partial in blessing His children generally, whatever He did for A could be done for B as well. However, the only thing that could be a barrier in getting the type of the leader's results is the heart condition of the person following!
Success and greatness is not exclusive, God is no respecter of persons—the colour of skin, language or whatever, are not considered by God. He however considers the heart condition of individual believers:
34 THEN PETER OPENED HIS MOUTH, AND SAID, OF A TRUTH I PERCEIVE THAT GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS: 35 BUT IN EVERY NATION HE THAT FEARETH HIM, AND WORKETH RIGHTEOUSNESS, IS ACCEPTED BY HIM” (Acts 10:34,35 KJV).
That being said, know that:
• Your personality must not be cast away when you are following someone.
• Also, you should endeavour to follow the good attributes of the person, not the bad ones. Every human being has one weakness or the other, you should not emulate someone's weaknesses in the name of following.
Consequently, the point being made is, you should follow the good aspects of the person's life—aspects of his life that tallied or aligned with the Word of God.
Some leaders' manner of life, attitudes, are not good enough when you weigh them in the light of God's Word, but you can pick the good ones and shut your eyes to the ones that are not good enough.
Howbeit, there are leaders who have impeccable manner of life, a life that is worthy of emulation: Apostle Paul admonished Timothy to follow things he had learned from him, knowing the integrity of person he learnt them from:
10 BUT YOU HAVE CAREFULLY FOLLOWED MY DOCTRINE, MANNER OF LIFE, PURPOSE, FAITH, LONG-SUFFERING, LOVE, PERSEVERANCE, 11 PERSECUTIONS, AFFLICTIONS, WHICH HAPPENED TO ME AT ANTIOCH, AT ICONIUM, AT LYSTRA—WHAT PERSECUTIONS I ENDURED. AND OUT OF THEM ALL THE LORD DELIVERED ME. 14. BUT YOU MUST CONTINUE IN THE THINGS WHICH YOU HAVE LEARNED AND BEEN ASSURED OF, KNOWING FROM WHOM YOU HAVE LEARNED THEM.”
2 Timothy 3:10,11,14 (NKJV)
7 FOR YOU YOURSELVES KNOW HOW YOU OUGHT TO FOLLOW US, FOR WE WERE NOT DISORDERLY AMONG YOU;
9 . . . TO MAKE OURSELVES AN EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU SHOULD FOLLOW US.”
2 Thessalonians 3:7,9 (NKJV)
We consider the conduct of the person(s) we are following plus their faith to get the results we are desiring.
Your desired result in following a particular leader would be a mirage, if you did not pay attention to the simple facts expatiated in this piece.
You have the potential to have greater results than the person you are following, if you pay attention to the facts expatiated in this teaching.
You will not fail in Jesus' name. Peace!