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One very important fact to note is that not all those working in the office of an assistant are true assistants. Everybody will say “I am an assistant”, but how many of those people can stand the test of time. In the beginning, the disciples of Jesus Christ said they were all his assistants, but when the appointed time came, the true assistants were seen. Isn’t it amazing to know that
Jesus chose the disciples after fasting and prayers, yet one of them rebelled? And isn’t it shocking to also know that about one third (1/3) of the angels that God himself created rebelled. Let us advice one another and have in mind that no matter what happens, some assistants will definitely rebel. Undoubtedly, in Gehazi’s case the potential of rebelliousness was already there, it was only looking for an opportunity to manifest. That is the only distinguishing feature between a true assistant and a rebel is the ability of an assistant to stand firm in his service no matter the surrounding circumstances. It doesn’t really matter what the one is saying.
ACTIVITY 3.0
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THE TESTING
It is very easy for every assistant to say that he can do something to help the leader .But are you sure that what you are doing is what the leader wants done?
Many assistant begin complaining when they are moved to department the leader want them to be and not where they, the assistant want to be. In that case will you say you are assisting your leader? Will you call yourself an assistant?
A typical example here is the surgical theatre. In the theatre, there’s a lead doctor, and other doctors and nurses around. When the lead doctor (one in charge) commands or gives instruction no one argues or thinks contrary or does anything different from what was instructed by the doctor. Whether the doctor is right or wrong, or whether the other doctors think they can do better than him or not, they still carry out the given instructions specifically.
This setting is the same in the church of God. God’s work is being done, souls are being won, and when the leader gives an instruction, someone says “it’s not my duty”. These sort of simple instructions are tests leaders use to find out if someone is a true assistant or not and also to check one’s commitment and loyalty.
Take Gehazi’s for instance, Naaman the army commander brought gold and other valuable items. And he took nothing than the sand under the feet of the man of God. Naaman valued where the man of God was standing more than what he had. But there at that instance, Gehazi followed the money the earthly possession of Naaman and failed the test. Do you think Elisha didn’t know that Gehazi wanted the money? It was probably because of this he didn’t take the money. Elisha wanted to prove to Gehazi that if all his service was for earthly riches or reward, then he was totally mistaken about what assisting in the ministry really meant. When Gehazi was tested, he failed.
ACTIVITY 4.0
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THE DECEPTION OF LOOKING AT PHYSICAL APPEARANCE
[1 Samuel 16: 6-10]
6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the LORD'S anointed is
before Him."
7 but the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature,
because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the
outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
8 So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the
chosen this one."
9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."
10 Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD
has not chosen these."[NKJV]
In this text, Samuel the prophet was looking at the physical, outward appearance to choose at the one to anoint. God looks at the heart, he want people with a clean and pure heart. As a servant you have to watch your heart. Certain things that will destroy you, you need to keep them far away from you. Are you sure your heart is pure enough for you leader to use you in his ministry? Remember that the anointing of God comes to those with a pure heart. Therefore don’t look at the physical things and judge.
ACTIVITY 5.0
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THE VALUE YOU PLACE ON LEADERS.
[Mat 26: 14-16]
14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests
15 and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?" And they counted out to
him thirty pieces of silver.
16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.[NKJV]
Assistants can easily cheapen or devalue their leaders or pastors by their attitudes and their choice of descriptive words. Judas Iscariot, for instance reduced the value of Jesus to 30 silver coins. The value that others see you the assistant place on your leader will be the value that they will also place on him. If you elevate your leader among your peers, colleagues, and before everyone, they will also value him highly and elevate him as well. And remember, the measure you give to your leader today, will be the same measure you get when you also become a leader or someone in authority. Everybody sees things differently and though people call themselves servant they still end up destroying what they claim they are supporting. What worth/value have you placed on your leader? How high do you value your pastor? Is he just another man to you? What type of confessions do you make about him each time you talk with your friends?
ACTIVITY 6.0
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PASTORAL CALLING.
[2 Kings 4:27]
27 Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, "Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me."[NKJV]
Gehazi the servant had his own vision aside the vision of the man of God. While his pastor/leader was
around, he was also trying to pastor the Shunamite woman or keep her for himself. He portrayed this by forcefully pushing her away from the man of God. This woman however had been very helpful to Elisha’s ministry from him. Gehazi had started saying to himself that he could do what his leader was doing and maybe better. He, the servant, had started comparing himself to the leader noticing his flaws and difficulties and he had concluded that he too could do the same and even better. As soon as you start saying or thinking to yourself that you can do better than your pastor or your leader, then you should be very careful because at that stage you are a disaster waiting to happen. These are early signs of the Gehazi spirit.
ACTIVITY 7.0
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PRIORITY.
Gehazi, to the best of our knowledge seemed to be an assistant. He seemed to be working for the ministry, but when the money and gifts came from Naaman, then we realized that, that being an assistant may not have been his real aim. When the servant saw the money, then he showed his real intentions. To Gehazi serving the man of God was just a temporary place for him. He was just waiting for his real opportunity; his priority was the hope of better life somewhere someday, but while he hoped, he would linger around the man of God creating the impression that he was his assistant. What is your priority as a servant? Are you assisting now because you haven’t yet reached your goal or you are here because your real opportunity is delaying?
ACTIVITY 8.0
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MANY ABANDON THEIR LEADERS.
[2 Tim 4:10]
10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for
Thessalonica--Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.[NKJV]
Like Gehazi, Demas also showed his true priority and abandoned the other brothers. When Gehazi saw the world of Naaman he realized that life would be better off than what he was living now. It may be true that while you are serving today, you may not have anything but be patient for the future will be far greater that you expect
IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU.
[Phil 1:15]
15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will:[NKJV]
For some assistants, everything should be given to them to supervise once they are not leading a delegation or a committee, then whatever that is being done is of no concern to them. For Gehazi, he had waited for a longtime yet he wasn’t getting what he truly wanted. Are you pretending to be an assistant because of what you are going to get? When Naaman brought the gifts, all Gehazi was thinking was about himself, and how his life would be different if he had the money and gifts. It takes a lot for someone to be a leader so do well to appreciate the leadership by working so well as an assistant. Do you involve yourself in the ministry you are assisting? Or you are waiting for a special appointment from your leader before you start participating actively? Should all be about you before you make a move?
ACTIVITY 9.0
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[2 Kings 8: 4 - 5]
4 Then the king talked with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, "Tell me, please, all
the great things Elisha has done."
5 Now it happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored the dead to life, that there
was the woman whose son he had restored to life, appealing to the king for her house and
for her land. And Gehazi said, "My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son whom
Elisha restored to life."[NKJV]
CONCLUSION.
Finally Gehazi having lost all the anointing and power, was with the king speaking about the Shunamite woman and the things he used to do with the man of God. All those who leave come back sooner or later after realizing their mistake, yet while they are coming back, others will be grumbling and leaving. Why should assistants be destroying what they claim they are helping to build?
Take for instance, when Naaman got to his city what do you think he would have told the people? He would probably have forgotten about the miracle and talked about the man of God as poverty stricken hypocrites. Because to him they needed the money, yet pretended not to care, later the man of God now sends his servant to come for it on their way home.
Many people listen to what assistants say about their leaders, please protect your leader, don’t say or do things that will undermine the power of God on his life and ministry.
In the end Gehazi lost it all, he didn’t receive anything
SUMMARY
In this manual, we have talked about how many people call themselves assistants yet they end up destroying the very thing they claim to uphold. We looked at the relationship between Elisha and Elijah comparing it to that of Elisha and Gehazi. We have also discussed some of the reasons why Gehazi ended up with a disease instead of an anointing, and the way his actions as an assistant dragged the name of the man of God in the mud. We have also discussed how to be a true assistant and stand the test of time, making sure to prevail during the testing period.
ASSIGNMENT.
PUT SOME QUESTIONS AND IDEAS TO THINK ABOUT HERE AS AN ACTIVITY FOR THE POINT EXPLAINED
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