CHAPTER 5
BELIEVING
For any leader to be successful there has to be a belief in what you are doing, in knowing that what you are doing is right. You have to be convinced that you will be successful. The more you believe, the stronger your leadership, the easier to convince others and motivate them to pursue your goals. Any doubts, any double-mindedness, will be transmitted to your followers through your emotions, your actions or lack thereof. How can your followers believe if you do not? How can you expect them to follow you if they have doubts about the confidence you have to achieve success? Deep inside of you there may be a tree of doubt, but this is something that has to stay deep inside of you. If your followers know of it and have to bear it with you they are likely to let go if it becomes too heavy, but if they do not know they are carrying it, if you exude confidence and a strong belief in what you are doing, then they will continue to the end.
In Christian parlance – believing is faith and the father of faith, according to the Bible, is Abraham, and Abraham’s first step in assuming the lead in believing in one God was a risk. His family was a group of idol worshippers, and he grew up surrounded by idols, he knew nothing else until a still, quiet voice spoke to him one day. He had no idea where he would end up, no idea what would happen, only a strong belief in the Voice that called him. Listening to the voice of God, a God totally unlike any that he or his father had known (Joshua 24:2), Abraham left all that he had known behind.
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.
And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. (Gen12:1-5)
Abraham was no religious leader, he was a herdsman, a farmer, yet he believed that success would be his and this belief was transmitted to those who went with him. He believed that he would be the founder of a nation. He knew it, he lived it, even having his name changed to remind him daily thereof:
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
(Gen.17:5-6)
Moses, too, had leadership thrust upon him. The calling of one – Abraham – had grown over the years into a large nation held captive by the Egyptians, and once again, God looked to a herdsman living in a foreign land to lead them out. Reluctant at first, Moses accepted the calling, and led the Israelites to freedom. As is the case with all Christian leaders, their calling usually leads to higher things, achieving more than they thought possible, and for Moses, it led to the establishment of a theocracy (rule of God) and the implementation of God’s law, commonly referred to as the Law of Moses.
How often Moses must have thought of giving up, especially when his own brother and sister turned against him, but an unwavering belief in what he was doing, in the direction he was moving, in spite of the many calls to return to Egypt, kept him going. At times he was driven to anger; other times he sang songs of praise, but never once did he concede defeat. Even when the people refused to enter Canaan when they first came to its borders, he stayed true to his calling and persevered for 40 more years.
After Moses, came Joshua a soldier, who led the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan, the Promised Land.
The success of these leaders can be attributed to the fact that they placed themselves in God’s hands. They were willing to trust Him with their all. The same can be said of Noah, the builder of a boat, in the middle of the desert. He was probably ridiculed by his neighbours, laughed at by his friends, the butt of family jokes, but he believed and he persevered and because he did, we are here today. All men have descended from Adam through Noah.
But it was not only the great men of the Bible, the ones we are so familiar with that had this belief in what they were doing, there are others, lesser known, hidden within the pages of this great Book that need considering.
Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah, men who led the exiles back to Jerusalem, reconstructed the temple, re-instituted the law and rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls. Each one a leader extraordinaire, each one filled with an absolute belief in what he was doing never wavering, never tolerating any doubt or attempt to undermine their faith, casting down arguments and casting out doubters.
But within the pages of this great book, the Bible, we also have the doubters, and the double-minded, the cheaters, and those who cared for nothing except their own immediate pleasures. People like Ahab (1 Kings 16:29; 1 Kings 22:39) king of Israel. His title says it all, ‘king of Israel’, his role as leader was to protect and inspire Israel to greater things, but he seemed only intent on his own comfort, his own well-being. At Carmel, God displayed His awesome power and defeated the priests of Baal and Ahab turned tail and ran back to his queen Jezebel, the arch-supporter of Baal –incredible as it may seem the king of God’s chosen people consulted with the queen of falsehood for advice – no wonder the country fell into disarray. Even though he was constantly reminded and warned, Ahab’s indecisiveness and reliance on that which had proven a failure, cost him his life.
For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James1:6-8)
The title Doubting Thomas, endures till today because of Thomas’ one moment of doubt and unbelief. Remember, Thomas had seen the miracles of Jesus, he himself had been sent out and performed wonders in Jesus’ name, no wonder the stigma that has become attached to his name. It is good for us to remember Jesus’ words to Thomas:
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John.20:19)
Success is there for the leader who believes in what he is doing, knows where he is going, in which direction he is taking his followers, for the one who does not waver and stands up for what is right.
Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.
A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.
The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish. (Psalm.112:1-10)
Unshakable belief in what he is doing ensures success, in family (v2), in wealth (v3), in life (v4), in business (v5) and in trials (v6-8).
There is a beautiful description, a prayer and a miracle concerning unbelief in the book of Mark.
A father had come in faith, seeking healing for his son, hoping that it could be done, but deep down within there was doubt, another voice telling him that it was impossible, fear that he would never see his son healed, but Jesus reminded him:
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (Mark.9:23)
And the father in desperation cried out:
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.(Mark.9:24)
A prayer many of us can utter with certainty, knowing that Jesus heard and healed the father’s son. Believe that He can help you, guide you, lead you, show you, strengthen you when doubts threaten to overwhelm and undermine your leadership, and it will be done.