A snake can detect even the impact of a mouse’s feet on sand. When a mouse moves within 15cm of the snake’s head, a snake is bound to know that prey is within striking range. When a viper rests its jaw on the ground, any vibrations on the ground are amplified enormously. That’s how sensitive it is! And this characteristic makes it a successful predator!
You must sense it when people do not have faith in you. You must be sensitive to the faith or doubts of your disciples. Not everyone believes in everything you are saying and doing. Sometimes, I sense a lack of confidence coming from certain individuals.
And they reasoned among themselves, saying it is because we have taken no bread. Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, o ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread? Matthew 16:7-8
As a good leader, you must recognize the different levels of confidence in the people around you. You must not be deluded about how much you are loved and how much you are trusted. You must think maturely, sensing doubt when there is doubt and sensing fear when there is fear!
You must sense it when people have faith in you! Why is it important to notice when people have faith in you? The reason is that you must spend your time ministering to those who have faith in you. You must go where people believe in you! You must spend time with people who trust you! You must avoid those who do not like you and believe in you! Do not deceive yourself that everyone likes you or believes in you! God has chosen certain people to like you, to trust you and to have faith in you. Begin to perceive and pick up these little differences that make a big difference.
And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And WHEN HE SAW THEIR FAITH, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
Luke 5:18-20
Many pastors are sad when there are no miracles. Most of us are depressed when there seems to be no anointing and no flow of the Spirit. We often blame ourselves for the lack of joy and the lack of a powerful anointing. Perhaps, you did not pray enough? Perhaps you did not fast? Perhaps you committed a sin, so God has withheld His power! These are some of the thoughts that go through our minds when we do not sense the presence of God. However, with time you will learn that the flow of the anointing depends more on the people you are ministering to than on yourself. If the people are hungry for God and have faith in your ministry, the power of God will flow.
Remember that Jesus could not do miracles in His own hometown. The Son of God Himself could not do miracles because the people were sceptical. If the Son of God was limited by the congregation, how much more you and I?
One day, the Lord appeared in a vision to a great prophet and gave him a gift. The instructions He gave to the prophet were interesting. He said to him, ‘Tell the people I appeared to you! Tell the people I gave you a gift! If they believe that I appeared to you, the anointing will flow into them and they will be healed.’ I always wondered, ‘Why did the prophet have to say, “Jesus appeared to me.”’ The answer is simple. It is important for people to believe in God and also to believe in the vessel that is ministering. Indeed, the faith of the congregation is very important. It is even more important than the minister’s faith! Begin to sense and assess the faith of the people you are speaking to.
The apostle Paul sensed when people around him had faith in his ministry. This is a very important thing to sense when you are in the ministry. Paul perceived that the man had faith for healing, and then he moved!
The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
Acts 14:9
A good leader is very sensitive, perceiving all sorts of sensations and taking decisions based on them. Not many people are so sensitive and accurate with what they perceive. However, we can learn a lot from the wisdom above and begin to use our senses as God expects us to. Perhaps, we would live longer and achieve much more if we were more perspicacious and sensitive.
theaol@ymail.com
By Dag Heward-Mills