A LEADERS PREPARATION A Leaders Preparation Every leader

A LEADER’S PREPARATION

A Leader’s Preparation • Every leader whom God uses must first be prepared to function in that capacity. • Many leaders greatly desire to function effectively, but far fewer are willing to pay the price of being made ready for the task.

A Leader’s Preparation • God has a tailor-made training for each individual • God is a God of details

• To make ready for special purpose, to make suitable • To train for specific task • To cultivate for fruitful reproduction

Definition of Preparation • To set the groundwork and foundation of building for construction • To foresee problems

Three (3) Areas where preparation is visible 1. The Law of preparation in nature A. Animal B. Ground • rain and sun are part of ground preparation

Three (3) Areas where preparation is visible 1. The Law of preparation in nature A. Animal B. Ground C. Stone

Three (3) Areas where preparation is visible

Three (3) Areas where preparation is visible 2. The Law of preparation in craftsmanship A. Skilled Craftsmanship Mechanic, Welder, Carpenter, Painter B. Trade of Profession Lawyer, Doctor, Engineer, Teacher Isaiah 45: 9; Jeremiah 18: 1 -4

Three (3) Areas where preparation is visible Isaiah 45: 9, “Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you making? ’ Does your work say, ‘He has no hands’?

Three (3) Areas where preparation is visible Jeremiah 18: 1 -4, 1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message. ” 3 So I went down to the potter's house,

Three (3) Areas where preparation is visible Jeremiah 18: 1 -4, I saw him working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

List of preparations and processes in making clay pot: a. Dug from the ground, blasted and separated b. Washed and soaked in water c. Smitten and thoroughly worked by the Potter’s hand d. Investigated for air bubbles by a thin wire

List of preparations and processes in making clay pot: e. Perfectly centered on the wheel for shaping f. Stretched and pulled up and down to be molded seamlessly g. Set aside on the shelf to dry and harden h. Undergo firing in the kiln to develop ceramic qualities

List of preparations and processes in making clay pot: Craftsmanship demands years of apprenticeship. How much more we Christian leaders, under the school of the Holy Spirit?

List of preparations and processes in making clay pot: 3. The Law of preparation in Scripture A. Preparation of the people to pass over the Jordan

List of preparations and processes in making clay pot: Joshua 1: 11, “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own. ’”

List of preparations and processes in making clay pot: 3. The Law of preparation in Scripture A. Preparation of the people to pass over the Jordan B. Preparation of the way for the Messiah

List of preparations and processes in making clay pot: Matthew 3: 1 -3, 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near. ” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

List of preparations and processes in making clay pot: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. ’”

List of preparations and processes in making clay pot: 3. The Law of preparation in Scripture A. Preparation of the people to pass over the Jordan B. Preparation of the way for the Messiah C. Preparation for the child

List of preparations and processes in making clay pot: Proverbs 22: 6, “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. ”

List of preparations and processes in making clay pot: 3. The Law of preparation in Scripture A. Preparation of the people to pass over the Jordan B. Preparation of the way for the Messiah C. Preparation for the child D. Preparation of the Bride of Christ

List of preparations and processes in making clay pot: Revelations 19: 7, “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. ”

List of preparations and processes in making clay pot: Revelation 21: 2 (NIV), “ 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ”

List of preparations and processes in making clay pot: • The Church does not need mainly degreed people; • It needs those that are trained by the Lord

THE SEASONS OF PREPARATION Ministry Planted as Ministry Birth as Ministry Tested as Ministry Matured as a Seed a Sprout a Plant a Fruit Bearing Tree

Five (5) important points of preparation: Isaiah 49: 1 -2, 1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. 2 And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

Five (5) important points of preparation: 1. The LORD called me from the womb Isaiah 49: 1, Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; the LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

Five (5) important points of preparation: 1. The LORD called me from the womb Every servant must determine with confidence that he has indeed heard the true call of the Lord

Five (5) important points of preparation: 2. He makes my mouth like a sharp sword Isaiah 49: 2, And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

Five (5) important points of preparation: 2. He makes my mouth like a sharp sword • It speaks of the word ministry of the servant of the Lord Ephesians 6: 17, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. ”

Five (5) important points of preparation: 2. He makes my mouth like a sharp sword • Sharp sword means to reveal the truth

Five (5) important points of preparation: 2. He makes my mouth like a sharp sword Hebrews 4: 12, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul And spirit, joints and marrow; it Judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”

Five (5) important points of preparation: 2. He makes my mouth like a sharp sword • Rebuke has two kinds: Restore and revile, which one do you use more often? • Does your mouth give life or death? • What comes from it, water or gasoline?

Five (5) important points of preparation: 3. In the shadow of his hands hath he hid me Isaiah 49: 2, And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

Five (5) important points of preparation: 3. In the shadow of his hands hath he hid me • Test of internal character • The veiling of the Lord’s servant: a. Moses was hidden for 40 years at the backside of the desert

Five (5) important points of preparation: 3. In the shadow of his hands hath he hid me b. Jesus was hidden for 30 years before he was released at the Jordan River c. Paul was hidden for 3 years at Arabia

Five (5) important points of preparation: 3. In the shadow of his hands hath he hid me • Did they take advantage of this training or did they get impatient?

Five (5) important points of preparation: 4. He also made me a polished shaft Isaiah 49: 2, And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

head speaks of the person’s ministry is one of the arrow’s important component shaft MARK speaks of the character of a person If the arrow’s shaft is misaligned, the arrow will not hit its mark ARROW Polishing is sanding, purging, & kiln drying

Preparation of an arrow: a. Stripping of leaves; b. Straightening using tightly secured pegs; c. Applying of oil to soften the wood before the final sanding; d. Receiving its tip after sanding the shaft

Spiritual application: a. God does the choosing; we are not perfect; b. He will stripped us of things that will not be of use; c. He will straighten our character, our hearts, and sharpen our heads; d. He will anoint us.

Five (5) important points of preparation: 5. In his quiver hath he hid me Isaiah 49: 2, And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;

Shaft of an arrow Quiver

The quiver experience: a. Responding to the calling; b. Enduring the stripping process; c. Persevering the straightening process d. Polishing

The quiver experience: e. Sanding f. Waiting period Why the waiting period? The quiver experience is not less important than the stripping process.

The quiver experience: The stripping process is mainly for the external, the quiver is for the internal God has a perfect time for everything