Thoughts from my journey with JESUS. Bible readings - Luke 11:1-4 and 12:13-21 Everything Jesus said and did was in some way related to the Kingdom of God. It had to do with the rule of God in the lives of individuals and societies. Christian people were to be primarily ‘Kingdom people’, regardless of where they lived or their circumstances in life. The Lord’s prayer, Luke 11:1-4, includes Jesus’ words to the Father, “Your kingdom come”, which obviously looks to a future that is unfolding. Yet the kingdom has already come in Jesus Christ. He said, “But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you”, Luke 11:20 (italics mine). So Christian disciples were (and are) to pray God’s kingdom will come in the future, but they were also told by Jesus that it had already come in the ‘now’, by His living presence among them. Today as in Jesus’ day we live in the interim period, the time between the beginning of that rule – the kingdom of God in the coming of Jesus Christ – and its completion, which will be at the future end of our history. Current Christian struggles for peace and justice are part of our discipleship of Jesus as we work for and wait for the coming of that kingdom on earth. The kingdom coming is a gift from God.[1] I firmly believe our Lord Jesus wants us all to live our lives focussed on His kingdom, His rule, right now. All day, every day, we are to have our minds, hearts and actions centred on kingdom values, kingdom deeds, kingdom words and, of course, on the King Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ. Interestingly, in both Luke 6:20 and Matthew 5:3 Jesus’ own words link this kingdom of God to the poor and not to the powerful. “Looking at His disciples, He (Jesus) said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours (Jesus’ disciples) is the kingdom of God’”. “‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’”. The kingdom is not an earned reward for ‘the spiritually poor’. Putting their spiritual kingdom nature first should rather be seen as an evidence that they have been born again here on earth into God’s heavenly kingdom. We live in and for the kingdom now, while we wait for it to fully come at our Lord Jesus’ glorious return. When Jesus lived physically on earth people around Him “would understand the phrase “the kingdom of God” to describe a Jewish state where God alone was King”. Not a few were prepared to physically fight for it. “In contrast, Jesus declared that the kingdom was already present in the poor in spirit (not among the militant Zealots)”.[2] It was among those Christian disciples who made ‘living like Jesus’ their first priority 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, that His kingdom would be clearly shown to and seen by other people around these followers of Jesus. Their lives would be witnesses to Jesus’ kingdom in the present. Their words should also encourage everyone to get ready for the ultimate and visible coming of His heavenly kingdom here. But isn’t it my life? You may say, ‘Why should I live my life for God and not for myself?’ After all it is my life. No it is not! Everybody’s life is on loan from God. It is not theirs by right. God has the first claim on it. Think for a moment about our second Bible reading, known as the ‘parable of the rich fool’. Our Lord Jesus Himself told the story so we may learn the lesson from it. He used imaginary words spoken by this rich farmer who lived only to accumulate more and more grain, to have more and more money from the market sales, his heart set solely on this world’s goods, and nothing else: “Then he (the rich fool) said, “This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’” Our Lord Jesus added His application. “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich towards God”, Luke 12:13-21. In verses 17, 18, 19, the person God describes as a ‘fool’ in vs20 thinks to himself about ‘my crops’, ‘my barns’, ‘my surplus grain’ and ‘my life’s plan’. God’s use of ‘Fool’ is almost like a name for the chap! It describes the “lack of common sense perception of things natural and spiritual … the imprudent ordering of one’s life in regard to salvation”.[3] The fellow simply forgot Who his life belonged to, quite an easy thing for any of us to do. Your life is not yours, neither is my life mine. Our lives are loaned to us from God and He may demand their return at any time. This ‘fool’ found it out too late. His business and comfortable retirement plans were interrupted by a must-take call from the real Owner of his life. Seeing life as an outstanding loan to God As a Christian preacher and teacher I probably took my voice for granted in years of ministry from 1967 to 2006. Then God used an aggressive cancer to have my voice box removed. Although I now have an artificial voicing system I cannot preach and teach as I once did (except through audio and video recordings, some of which God enables us to share on our website).[4] God lent me that voice until I was 57 years old. Then He wanted it back and I couldn’t argue. God has every right over me because I belong to Him. I am His, I am not mine! I have friends in Sudan who rent their homes from other people, sometimes from church and mission groups. The building they live in they may say is ‘my home’, but in reality it belongs to someone else, not to them. I may say to them ‘this home is your home but at the same time it is not your home’! And I’d be right. It is usually the responsibility of the tenant to take good care of the building with adequate proper maintenance and general upkeep. We are certainly responsible to God for the way we look after and use the life He has given to us. Just pause to consider Who really owns everything. Please don’t be ‘a fool’. Your human life is a gift from God, it is not your human right! Use your life to benefit the kingdom of God. Be ‘God’s kingdom centric’. Since we know we are going to live in the heavenly kingdom of our Lord Jesus one day, when He returns or we die in order to live there with Him, we must practise ‘kingdom living’ now. Kingdom centric living by kingdom centric Christians In the King James Bible’s translation of the Lord’s Prayer it records Jesus’ teaching us to pray, "Father, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come”, Luke 11:2. If I may presume to put it into my own words, I would understand it to mean: ‘God, set me apart with Your holiness, holy as You already are. Help me to live in and for Your kingdom now. May every moment of my every day, until You bring everything to Your planned climax for future history, honour and please You’. Amen. Followers of Jesus must understand the Christian life we should be living every day is in fact the kingdom life of Jesus. That is: the life that God has created us for the life we are born again into by the conviction of our sinfulness through God the Holy Spirit by the salvation paid for in blood by God the Son our Lord Jesus Christ at His crucifixion, and by the loving and gracious mercy of God our Father Who calls and draws us sovereignly to Himself. Our kingdom life must be visible to people around us by Jesus Christ’s living presence among us. “True religion is a union of the soul with God, a real participation of the divine nature, the very image of God drawn on the soul, or, in the apostle’s phrase, it is, “Christ formed within us”. [5] “To them (all who see you) God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”, Colossians 1:27. When I was studying in Australia in 1969-1970 a Methodist minister ran an outreach mission. In a preparation message I attended he said something I have never forgotten. ‘If Jesus Christ was back on earth today He would be out among the lost people calling for the church to come out and help Him in His task’. I believe our churches must train Christians and give them opportunity for Jesus’ ‘fishers of people’ to catch people, Matthew 4:19. You don’t catch fish from a small bucket but from a big river, lake or sea. The bulk of church work must be seen as our congregations ‘out among the people’. Too many make the mistake of thinking our ministers and pastors do the work of the church by planning and performing services, weddings, funerals or conferences. As a pastor I always tried to remember the vast majority of ‘church/Christian work’ was done six days a week from dawn until dusk by my congregation – at their work, at their school or college, at their home with family and friends, at their recreation etc. – not by me from my pulpit or with my eldership team. My pastoral goal was to encourage everybody in our church to live ‘kingdom-focussed’ 100% of their lives. That way we begin to answer the prayer our Lord Jesus told us to pray: “Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, Luke 11:2, New King James Version. Pray for the kingdom of God and live showing Jesus the King I received this introduction on a friend’s prayer newsletter a week ago: “Dear friends, we have to get serious in our prayer life for ourselves but more so, for those who do not yet know this great kingdom life. Regardless of the "anti-this-life" circumstances we encounter, the kingdom centric life is the promise given to us by God for eternity. The kingdom centric life is not revocable, this life never ends and God wants us all to take our serious part in it. This life isn't about church, isn't about a destination, this life is about walking as Jesus walked, living as Jesus lived. For this life to be real we need to seriously take the position to PRAY FOR KINGDOM CENTRIC living by all Christians worldwide. To God be the glory for His kingdom. Amen”.[6] The last sermon I ever preached at Khartoum International Church was on 26th February 2006 and from 1 John 2:6, “Whoever claims to live in (Jesus) must live as Jesus did”. God teaches us believers His Christian culture, that is God’s own culture, so that we can live the right way within our own human culture. God’s culture must always take priority over our own if ever there is a clash. We owe God. It is the least we can do. We must walk through lives as our Lord Jesus walked through His life. He’ll walk in us as we do. Adapted from BiMonthly Encouragement 61, written 10th August 2019. Discussion guide 1. In Mark 1:14-15 Jesus starts ministry saying, “The kingdom of God has come near”. Read the whole text and share what you think ‘the kingdom of God’ means. What wasn’t there before? 2. The Jewish hope for ‘a Jewish state where God alone was King’ misses our Lord Jesus’ point in several ways. List as many differences as you can, big and small. 3. What are some of our responsibilities when we realise our lives are not ‘ours’, but ‘God’s’? Consider the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:13-21, and draw out points for your life application. 4. I suggest, “Our kingdom life must be visible to people around us by Jesus Christ’s living presence among us”. True or false? What are some of the special ways – the best ways – our neighbourhood, studying or working community can see our Lord Jesus in us? 5. 1 John 2:6 reads, “Whoever claims to live in (Jesus) must live as Jesus did”. Our Lord’s words and activities were kingdom centric. Suggest one or two specific items your group may pray for you to do this in your daily life. Then pray for one another. [1] Adapted from Kenneth Bailey Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes (SPCK: London) 2008, page 69. [2] Adapted from Kenneth Bailey Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes (SPCK: London) 2008, page 69. [3] W. E. Vine Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament words (Nelson: Nashville, TN) 1996. [4] www.colinsalter.net [5] Henry Scougal The Life of God in the Soul of Man originally written 1672/3, (IVP London), 1961. [6] Adapted from Byron Whetstone, Heartland International Ministries, Kansas, USA, 12th July 2019.

Bible reading: Micah 3:5-8. God Rules, O.K.? Communication is such an important part of human life. Animals and birds don’t write letters, send emails, speak on the phone or Skype across the world. They don’t read newspapers or listen to broadcasts and watch TV. Humankind does. It is part of our “created reflection of God Himself”. We are made “in God’s image”, Genesis 1:27. God communicates, and so do we. God shares His “thoughts, feelings, ideas, by speech, writing, gestures etc.” with us. God is not silent. We don’t need to feel empty like when no letter or call comes from home, when we may wonder what is going on. God is not disinterested in us: He always wants to listen to our ideas and feelings, and He wants to be always involved in helping us live our lives. Illustration: I wonder which is your favourite method of communication? The ‘Instant-ness’ of email? The personal phone call? The real touch and feel of a letter, enclosing photos? A remote message sent with someone else? Or personal face-to-face encounter? In Bible times God communicated often through Prophets. Nowhere in the Old Testament is a prophet defined, he is taken for granted. “The holy prophets of long ago” are mentioned in the Christmas story of Luke, 1:70, and the second recorded sermon of the New Testament church (and quoted in the first, on Pentecost) Acts 3:21. The people understood God to speak through a human mouthpiece. Somewhat unusually people called prophets in the Bible include Enoch, Abraham, the Patriarchs generally, Moses, Jude 14, Genesis 20:7, Psalm 105:15, Deuteronomy 18:15 – that is not only the usual Christian’s understanding: Elijah, Jeremiah etc. The best example of a prophet’s role is Exodus 7:1. God says: “See I have made you (Moses) like God to Pharaoh, and Aaron will be your prophet.” It is explained in Exodus 4:14-16 as Aaron spoke for Moses to Pharaoh, so the prophet speaks to people for God. (1) The prophet is God’s spokesman. The prophet’s message is (2) primarily to the people of his time, but (3) the revelation is given to him directly from God Himself, (4) can apply carefully in some way today as well. In the New Testament, 1 Peter 1:10-12 speak of Old Testament prophets seeking to understand what God had shown them especially concerning Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:19-21 tells of the Holy Spirit moving people to speak God’s word – as lights shining in darkness. 2:1 warns of “false prophets” as well as true. One useful, though not infallible test, was and is – [A] the lifestyle of the prophet. ‘The majority of (God’s true) prophets were (5) bitterly unpopular’. They seldom had a long hearing and their messages became blunt and pointed – often with (6) telling unmissable illustration verbally or dramatically acted out in life. (e.g. the plumb line of God against a crooked city; and dressing as a slave or rationing of food, Amos 7:7ff, Isaiah 20:1-6, Jeremiah 12:17-20). Peter warns “Many will follow” the false prophets – people who tell us what we want to hear rather than following the true prophets, telling what God wants us to know and do. [B] Another key test is the prophets’ view of God as “sovereign Lord”. Must God do what the people want? Or what the prophet wants? Or is he allowed to be God and we follow Him? Lifestyle and Lordship are two tests for a godly prophet. We’re trying to get a picture of a prophet! God’s spokesperson, to his own time and place, with specific illustrated revelation, often unpopular and self-costly. Affirmed by the prophet’s lifestyle and evident Lordship of the Sovereign God. One more New Testament clue is in Hebrews 11 – that great chapter on faith. Where do the prophets come in that? It’s almost like reading the small print on a contract or guarantee it is so easily missed. Read Hebrews 11vs32-38. Notice the Not, “the world was not worthy of them”. Be careful here. Don’t think ‘some of God’s prophets were successful, while others were not.’ Some conquered kingdoms, others lived in caves. All were successful since they delivered God’s message. Some were powerful in battle, others were put in prison. All were successful since they delivered God’s message. My dictionary has 4 definitions of success. Too many Christians go for No.2 when No.1 is the best. No.2 is “the attainment of wealth, fame etc.” glowing reports, great work, major advances for the gospel etc. No.1 is “the favourable outcome of something attempted.” If God has told you to teach, then you’re successful if you faithfully teach even those who become the worst criminals of Christian society! If God has told you to care, you are successful if you lovingly care for even those who later hinder the growth and advance of the gospel. Obedience to God = success for the Christian. In reading Hebrews 11:32-38 I deliberately missed out 7 words from vs38. The writer says of all who lived and ministered by faith in Jesus Christ, whatever the visible outcome “The world was not worthy of them.” Christian, this week’s goal (and why not for the rest of your life?) make the world around you embarrassed by your obedience to God. Live a prophetic life! In conclusion let’s read Micah 3:5-8. 1. God says: ‘There are false prophets among My people’, vs5. 2. Therefore God says: ‘I choose to withhold My message from you’, vs6, 7. 3. But that is not all, it is not the end. 4. God has Micah (in this instance), His true prophet. With three qualities in life and ministry to help fulfil your goal. 5. (a) Power overflowing. “filled with power”, affecting all contact with everyone. Illustration: exterior light by study, burst into flames, so it is now taped off. (b) Presence obvious “with the Spirit of the Lord”. Illustration: home in Bahri, lived in by pastor friend, with a family of five children 1-13 years (approx.). That is not like just Brenda and I living there – two older people with no family here. (c) Preaching obediently “to declare to people and nations their sin”. Stepping away from God – over the line God has drawn and where He said ‘No’! God communicated then – and He communicates now, through people filled with Himself, who live in His presence, and who speak His word – giving His (God’s) thoughts, feelings and perspective, even if it is unpopular! ‘God Rules’, OK? Our plans are to listen to one prophet almost every week for the next three months, with a break each month when someone else will fill the pulpit. Please pray that God will help us become the people He wants KIC to be as we receive His ideas and inspiration Sunday night by Sunday night. God Rules, O.K.? Khartoum International Church 11th August 2002.

Leadership, Integrity and Nation building. - by David Mamush Jangjuol I have observed that the state of leadership in the local church and national level worldwide is very wanting and that there is need to look at Jesus’ philosophy of leadership which should be the model for the family, church and the national institutions to follow. This will then help the appointed and elected leaders in public offices, organisations and churches, to be good leaders and guide the institutions they serve in the way that Jesus wants these organisations to move. When leaders are not leading in the right way, there is usually confusion and unrest in public institutions and churches but when the leadership is good then there is harmony. In this chapter, I will define the term leadership, address the issue of Jesus’ philosophy of leadership by looking into Jesus’ model on leadership and what contemporary Christian leaders should have as characteristics in their lives. At the conclusion I will give my own thoughts on the discussion of Jesus’ philosophy on leadership, including the application to regional, state and national government leadership. Definition of leadership The word “leadership” which is a noun comes from another noun “leader” which has been defined as “a person in front or goes first or a person who guides or directs a group or a movement.”[1] In this paper, while talking about “leadership”, I will be basing my discussion on the definition given by Ajith Fernando in his book “Leadership Lifestyle” because of the way he gives the definition of the term as viewed in the Bible. He says that “Leadership in the Bible is viewed first of all as the influence for good one has on another.”[2] Integrity One of today’s big questions is, ‘what is integrity’? Think about someone who has integrity… The basic meaning of “integrity” in the Old Testament is the soundness of character and adherence to moral principle; i.e. uprightness and honesty, “a clear conscience and clean hands”, Genesis 20:5. A common expression is to walk in integrity, indicating ‘an habitual manner of life’. In Proverbs integrity is seen as an essential characteristic of upright life: God will protect those who walk in it, 2:7, their security is assured, 2:21, it is a trustworthy guide for living, 11:3, and better than wealth, 19:1, 28:6. The word “integrity” does not occur in the New Testament, but its equivalents may be seen in sincerity, truth, the pure heart, and the single eyes, etc. In the above sense of simplicity of intention. It is equivalent to being honest, sincere, and genuine, all of which are fundamental to true character. In Sudan, Khartoum Christian Center (KCC), which was founded in 1999 under the denomination of Sudan Pentecostal Church, demonstrated a leadership style in the secular nation. KCC is a Christian institution (organisation/church) that “exists to glorify God, to build up the body of Christ, to preach the gospel to every tribe, tongue, people and nation”. Moreover, KCC’s vision still alive at International Christian Assembly (ICA) as the consequence of ‘genuineness and sincerity’ in the former assembly. Leaders must put character above wealth for a family, church and nation to thrive. In KCC accountability for the funds God has entrusted in our hands is the core for all KCC members, the leadership and partners who give generously to reach our vision. Therefore our integrity depends on using and accounting for these resources in ways that are consistent with what the Word of God teaches us. As you sow, so shall you reap 1 Corinthians 9:11. Every church, whatever its size, should conduct all its affairs in an organised manner, in particular financial affairs. In recent years concerns have been raised over the ethics and legality of the methods some churches use in handling of church funds, bookkeeping, unethical fund raising techniques and the misappropriation of donated monies. There have been many questions. The church leadership must take time to understand, agree on and follow standard procedures and policy guide lines put in place earlier. 2 Corinthians 8:21 gives a definition of accountability as “we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man”. Management of resources at an individual or entity level should lead to visible results in the form of either tangible goods or services.[3] For government and its agencies, this becomes evident in service delivery whose impact manifests in improvement of the economic development, general standards of living, poverty reduction, mitigation of inequalities in income distribution, and improvement in the general well-being of its citizens.[4] There have been continuous efforts by global stakeholders aimed at formulating and adopting strategies and practices to sustainably address issues of poor resources management and their consequences. In Africa these approaches include professionalisation of public services, democratic governance and adoption of decentralised governments.[5] The need for prudent management of funds if development objectives are to be achieved is emphasised in many circles. In discussing the importance of funds management in national and global agendas and practice, Andjun argues that efficient public finance management is an integral component of economic growth and has the ability to reduce poverty in a sustainable manner.[6] As well as national government and its agencies, churches too can benefit much from these principles – but only when they are put into action. Jesus’ style of leadership: 1. Servant leadership Jesus Christ in His leadership was a servant-leader. As a leader, He did not sit back and have the disciples do the hard work. He did the hard work and the disciples only helped out! He taught them that a good leader is the one who serves his people not the one who burdens them while he sits down and watches. In Mark 10: 42-45, Jesus says: “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”. From this passage, Jesus Christ “defined greatness as being a servant and being first as becoming a slave”.[7] When Jesus taught about servanthood and suffering, His intention was not merely to encourage good behaviour but He wanted to impart the spirit of servanthood, the sense of personal commitment and identity.[8] He says in Luke 22:27, “For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves”. As a servant, Jesus depended on God in everything that He did. He was God, with godly powers, but He only used His power as God the Father directed Him. He knew what it meant to submit as He submitted to God the Father. “. . . the Son can do nothing by himself; He can only do what He sees His Father doing . . .”, John 5:19. Jesus left His kingdom in heaven, came on earth to live with the people, go through what they were going through and understand them before ministering to them. He was born here, and brought up like any other child. He helped His ‘father’ Joseph to do carpentry. He knew what it meant to be hungry, sick and homeless as He encountered the hungry, sick and homeless. He knew what it meant to be tired and have nowhere to put His head. He knew what it meant to have someone you love die. The Bible says in John 11:35 that when He reached Lazarus’s tomb, “Jesus wept”. Because of these experiences, Jesus ministered to His followers well, because He understood them and felt their needs. He knew what it meant to suffer even suffering on the cross with all that humiliation. The above discussion on servant leadership by Jesus Christ can be summarised by what has been discussed by Philip Greenslade who says that ‘Servanthood’ according to Douglas Webster’s dictionary words means “to suggest a multi-service agency, responding to every request, rather like a continuing bob-a-job week but of course without a bob”.[9] Greenslade continues to say that, “a servant leader is God’s man first and foremost for he has been chosen by God, upheld by God and he delights in Him”.[10] He goes ahead and says that a servant leader does not “draw needless attention to himself, is marked by gentleness, keen to encourage the weak and bolster confidence of the timid, seeks to impart faith and hope to the dispirited and fan into flame potential gifts and abilities in others”.[11] I would like to conclude this section concerning servant leadership of Jesus Christ by quoting the following, “Jesus was a Servant Leader in every sense of the concept. He served His mission (in biblical language, ‘the will of [His] father’) and led by serving those He recruited to carry out that mission.”[12] Do you think that your style of leadership, in the sphere of national government, state and regional councils, tribal traditions or church ministry, is seen by others as being ‘majority servanthood’? What changes must you plan to make it so? Jesus’ style of leadership: 2. Good shepherd Another aspect that is seen of Jesus’ model for leadership is that of being a ‘Good Shepherd’. Of all the pictures of Jesus Christ given by the gospels, “the one which shows Him as a Shepherd has a particular appeal and special relevance to leadership”.[13] Jesus as the Good Shepherd, “would rule, feed, gather, carry and lead God’s people, lay down His life in a unique redemptive sacrifice, rise up in resurrection to confirm the covenant and reward the faithful under-shepherds”.[14] Greenslade discusses the aspect of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd by talking about the secrets of a Good Shepherd and supports his arguments with the Scriptures: The first characteristic of a Good Shepherd is that he goes through the same door as the sheep and Greenslade supports this argument with John 10:1 which says, “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber”. He, “calls his own sheep by name and leads them out”, John 10:3. He delivers his people, “When he has brought out all his own….” John 10:4. He leads from the front, “… he goes on ahead of them….” John 10:4. He is trusted for his voice John 10:4, “…, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice”. He always, guards the entrance to the fold. “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep”, John 10:7. He is not afraid of confrontation. “The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep”, John 10:12-13. He feeds the sheep. John 10:9 “and find pasture”. He cares for the sheep at cost to himself, John10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”. He is interested in the whole of God’s flock, John 10:16, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd”.[15] How many of these ten characteristics of ‘Good Shepherd leadership’ do you think that other people see in you? Wherever God has given you leadership, in secular or religious fields, to honour God you must become more and more like the Lord Jesus in caring for your people. Jesus’ style of leadership: 3. Living example Jesus lived His leadership. He stayed with His followers and showed them how to lead by modelling. He allowed them to see what good leadership is all about. He practised what He taught so that even His enemies had no true cause to accuse Him of. Jesus knew that this aspect of leadership was very important and yet His disciples seemed slow to understand. He taught by demonstrating what it meant for a leader to be a servant. He literally took a towel, tied it around His waist and washed the disciples’ feet (part of the body that was considered to be the dirtiest) and He urged them to do the same to others, John 13: 5–17. Jesus usually took time off to pray because He knew as a leader it was important for Him to seek God’s will every day. He even taught His disciples how to pray, Luke 11:1-4. Apart from just teaching this, He demonstrated it by actually living a life of prayer. He secluded Himself in the mornings to pray. He prayed for Himself, John 17:1-5, and His followers, John 17:6-25. He gave thanks to God for the provision of meals and even prayed for those who persecuted Him that God would forgive them. When He taught about being in authority and being subject to authority, He also demonstrated both. He did not tell people not to give taxes to Caesar when the Pharisees asked Him whether they should or should not give such taxes. Instead, He answered by saying: “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s”, Matthew 22:21. Another instance is when Peter was asked whether Jesus usually pays the temple tax, He answered that He does. Jesus then sent Peter to the lake to get a coin from the fish that will be fished out of the lake and use it to pay the tax, Matthew 17:24-27. Jesus’ style of leadership: 4. Power and authority One of the things that Jesus was known to possess was power and authority. He spoke with authority, acted with authority and taught with authority, Mark 1:22-27. When He gave a command, even the demons, the wind and the water obeyed Him. He used His authority responsibly for the wellbeing of His people. With His word He commanded sickness out, forgave sin and rebuked where it was needed. This authority just emanated from within Him. The crowds noted it was there, the Pharisees and the Scribes felt it, even demons recognised it. For Him power and authority went hand in hand without abuse or contradiction. Jesus had authority through the words that He spoke. He made it clear to the people that He had the power and authority to forgive sins, give life or take it, and even provide in abundance.[16] His word was power and it carried His authority. As a leader, He did not encourage injustice in the society. He rebuked the Pharisees for being bad leaders who did not do what they taught. He rebuked them further for being leaders who just wanted to show off but did not actually live to the expected standards. He used the power and authority that had been bestowed to Him to bring positive change in the community He lived in. Jesus’ style of leadership: 5. Delegation The type of leadership that Jesus lived was not that of selfishness. His leadership was one of sharing power. He started off by recruiting those He wanted to train as leaders. He chose the Twelve disciples and asked them to follow Him. He did not impose it on them but gave them a choice of whether to follow or not. This He did after prayer, Mark 3:13-19. The fact that He chose after prayer tells us that it is very important to seek God’s face before choosing leaders. He trained His disciples in their leadership duties by allowing them to be involved in His ministry, for example in the distribution of food to the crowds and collecting the leftovers. He then concentrated on the Twelve teaching them what He felt was relevant in this field, and when He felt that they were ready, He delegated some of the power and authority to them. He then sent them out to exercise that power and authority; giving them instructions on what to do and what to avoid, Matthew 10:1-42. The Lord Jesus warned them of some of the challenges they were likely to encounter and how to go about facing them. He made it clear to them that leadership was not an easy task; that they would be exposed to suffering and pain for the sake of the ministry but that they needed to be committed, patient and should develop endurance. He wanted the disciples to be great leaders just as He was, and needed them to have the experience of being in leadership before He ascended back to heaven. When they came back from this assignment that He had given them, He was there for them, ready to respond to their questions and challenges, in order to help them improve on their leadership techniques, Mark 6:30. He listened to them as they narrated their experiences and explained to them why they failed in particular areas. He, “shared responsibility and authority with those He had called to lead”,[17] a quality later copied by the Twelve, Acts 6:1-6. Every good leader keeps a loose grip on his/her position. The Christian in any leadership role always looks at enhancing other members of the team. Jesus’ style of leadership: 6. Vision He had a clear vision of where He wanted to take the Twelve whom He had chosen. They were to be with Him so that they would share from His life. He lived with them allowing them to get into His privacy, to try His patience by their unbelief and their slow understanding of issues and even share in His lack of food, home, etc.[18] After they had learned from Him, He was then to send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons thus gaining more experience for themselves, Mark 3:14-15. At the same time, Jesus had a vision of sharing with them His kingdom in heaven by making them co-heirs with Him. He had a vision to: “Create, articulate and communicate a compelling vision; to change what people talk about and dream of; to make His followers transcend self-interest; to enable us to see ourselves and the world in a new way; to provide prophetic insight into the very heart of things; and to bring about the highest order of change”.[19] Jesus’ style of leadership: 7. Stewardship Jesus was a good steward of everything that had been entrusted to Him by God the Father. He was accountable, responsible, trustworthy, etc. This He demonstrated and taught through the parables. In the parables, “the concept of ‘stewardship’ was one Jesus frequently employed….”.[20] There are three principles that clearly come out about stewardship which can be found in Luke 16:1-14, in the parable of the shrewd manager. These are: the man who is faithful in small things can be expected to handle big things. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much”, Luke 16:10.[21] Secondly, the man who is faithful in handling material things can be trusted to handle spiritual things. “…if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” Luke 16:11.[22] Thirdly, a man who is faithful in what belongs to someone else can be trusted with his own. “And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property who will give you property of your own?”, Luke 16:12.[23] The Lord Jesus was a good steward even where power and authority were concerned. He never misused His power just to brag that He had it, neither did He use it to harm others. Instead He allowed Himself to suffer and die on the cross – a shameful death – for the sake of His followers. He was faithful in all things small and big, material and spiritual because He knew everything belonged to the Father. This challenges all of today’s leaders to examine themselves regularly against the standards God Himself has set for them. Jesus’ style of leadership: 8. Communication Jesus was a good communicator. He was an excellent orator; how else could He draw to Himself such large crowds of people who listened whenever He stood up to speak? His words suited both the audience and the occasion.[24] His words could be both simple and mysterious. Whenever He spoke, the crowds marvelled at His words and followed Him in order to hear more of His teachings. In His communication, it can be deduced that He knew His audience well; thus He knew when to use parables, ask questions, listen or give commands. He knew how to capture the attention of His followers. He was a good listener too and the account of the Samaritan woman in John 4 signifies this well. The fact that He listened to her made a great impact on her, since being a “prostitute” she was despised by the society. He listened to the disciples, the centurion, the Pharisees and Scribes. He listened to the blind, and the lame, the children and the adults. He listened to all who talked to Him and responded to them as He felt best. The fact that He was a good listener made Him a good counsellor too. Jesus’ style of leadership: 9. Worked with a team Jesus could have done the work He came to do on His own. He was able to do it without anybody’s help but He did not. Instead He chose the Twelve disciples and organised them in to a team with whom He worked. “He built a sense of teamwork and loyalty among this disparate group of twelve individuals and through them turned the world upside-down. Jesus has been called the greatest leader of all time because He demonstrated servant leadership and made His disciples into team players”.[25] Jesus knew that if what He had started was to last, and if His mission was to be completed, then He could not work alone. He needed people to work with Him so that when He left, the work could continue. If He had not done this then maybe the work would have stopped, which was not His vision. When His term of three or so years was over Jesus handed the keys to Peter, who was to take over as leader of the team, and commanded him to “feed the sheep”. [26] So Jesus Christ built a team to carry out a worldwide vision”. [27] Jesus’ style of leadership: 10. Credibility Jesus was a credible leader. He was able to be believed and trusted. There is nowhere in the Scripture where He is said to have gone against His word. He always stood by the truth even if it meant suffering for it. He was a good steward of what God the Father had placed Him in charge of. He respected those in power but rebuked them when they went astray in their leadership. He paid taxes when He needed to and used His authority with great care. Jesus’ style of leadership: 11. Led by the Spirit Jesus did not start His ministry until the Holy Spirit of God came to Him, Matthew 3:16. He waited. When the Holy Spirit came to Him He led Him into the desert, Matthew 4:1, and strengthened Him before He started His ministry, Matthew 4:17. Thus all that He did was because of the leading of the Holy Spirit, not out of His fleshly desires or feelings. That is one of the reasons why He took time to pray, to continually get the strength and direction from the Holy Spirit. He emphasised the importance of a leader being filled with the Holy Spirit before embarking on ministry by urging the disciples to remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came upon them. Waiting was obedience before they went out to preach the Good News. This they did, and the effect was that they had their first powerful mission immediately the Holy Spirit came upon them, an outreach mission that saw many come to accept the message as stated in Acts 2:41, “Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day”. Jesus’ style of leadership: 12. A prayerful life “Prayer is the most ancient, most universal, most intense expression of the religious instinct. It touches infinite extremes, for it is at once the simplest form of speech that infant lips can try and the sublimest strains that reach the Majesty on high. It is indeed the Christian’s vital breath and native air”.[28] Jesus knew the power of prayer. He knew that with prayer and submission to God’s will, everything was possible. He therefore took time to pray and at times He spent nights in prayer, Luke 6:12. Other times He woke up very early in the mornings so as to have undisturbed communion with His Father, Mark 1:35. He made it clear by word and action that prayer was very important to Him, as it must be for all Christian leaders in whatever role they have, secular society or spiritual, Mark 6:30-31. Six characteristics of exemplary leaders in church, in government and in society After considering “Jesus’ model of leadership” I would now like to look into the characteristics that exemplary Christian leaders are expected to show in their contemporary society. “To become an exemplary leader, a person must be tested by God in every area of his life for his promotion, be tempted by the devil for his demotion, and be tried by people to reveal the quality of his character. He has to go through various adverse circumstances to prove him in his attitudes, actions and reactions.”[29] In our contemporary society I believe the characteristics God requires in every Christian leader, whatever his/her position, are: That he/she “is led by the Holy Spirit, for leaders who have a heart that seeks after God are attentive to His voice and sensitive to His leadings”.[30] That he/she “manifests Christ in whatever he thinks, says, and does, to glorify the Lord”.[31] The leaders should also have the character of being “ardent students of the scripture that enriches their lives with divine principles and guides them on the path of fulfilment and satisfaction in their own walk with God”.[32] That he/she stimulate and motivate others by his example of being “alive, vibrant and most challenging to all who observe his walk and performance. He stirs up in others the same desire that is burning in his own heart. His vision is contagious, his zeal and steadfastness of faith ignite divine fire and power in his followers”.[33] That he/she aspire to “represent God, desire to serve Him, glory in His name, live to extol Him, worship and adore Him”.[34] This characteristic will eventually attract people to Christ because of what they will be seeing in his/her life. That he/she is to lead by serving others the way our Lord Jesus Christ did as has been discussed in the earlier section of this paper. “A true leader is a servant at heart who by his total dedication captures the hearts of his followers who will go with him delightedly.”[35] Finally, an exemplary Christian leader should lead lovingly, for a “leader who leads lovingly is followed willingly, for love stimulates the will, invigorates the desire and solicits the full cooperation of his people.”[36] Conclusion In conclusion, I must say that the Lord Jesus was an exemplary leader whose footsteps are well worth following. He was a leader with a difference, who changed things for the better wherever He went. He was never too busy for the people He was leading. He lived with them and ate with them, sharing in what they were going through. He always worked at improving their status, giving Himself as a sacrifice for them. Truly there has never been a leader like Him. I am sure that all Christians in leadership roles should follow His example by leading in the same way that He did. Leaders should stop looking at their self-interests and look at the interests of the people they are responsible for leading by serving. As leaders, they should come up with strategies that will bring personal development, thus improving the status of the people they are leading. It is true that the church leadership locally and denominationally has failed in many areas, but it is not too late to make a resolution to change ways and determine to hold on to Jesus’ philosophy of leadership. I believe this is also true for civic figures, those who represent communities, those voted into parliament, those entrusted to serve all the varied people of our countries, South Sudan and Sudan. And tribal, clan or family leaders must evaluate their own traditions against the One Who was Creator God in the flesh. The crucified and risen Lord Jesus will, one day soon, be the Judge of the living and the dead. 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5. On a personal capacity, I would like to say that the contemporary Christian leaders in our churches today should strive to have the following personal characteristics in order to be effective examples to the Body of Jesus Christ. They should be filled with the Holy Spirit, manifest the character of Christ in all their undertakings, be students of the scriptures, motivate other believers, represent God in the right way, serve his/her followers wholeheartedly, and show love even where it seems as if it is ‘impossible’ to love. We need a deep spiritual awakening in our nations today more than ever before. Particularly in South Sudan and Sudan we must, as churches, combine prophetic preaching with prophetic praying. Men and women who lived on their knees, like the Bible’s Daniel, Nehemiah, Esther, Elijah and Elisha, were those God used as instruments to bring their nations back to God. Are we ready for God to raise up whoever He wants today? Perhaps our governments will follow our churches when our churches genuinely follow our Lord Jesus? Discussion guide Using this chapter and Scriptures quoted From reading the wisdom of Proverbs cited, share the value of “integrity” (sometimes translated “blameless”): Proverbs 2:7; 2:21; 11:3; 19:1; 28:26. Can you find any more occurrences of these words in Proverbs to add to the discussion? Thinking of Jesus’ servant leadership, answer David’s two questions: “Do you think that your style of leadership, in the sphere of national government, state and regional councils, tribal traditions or church ministry, is seen by others as being ‘majority servanthood’? What changes must you plan to make it so? In Mark 1:21-28 people recognised the authority of Jesus. Share other examples of this from the four Gospels. Are there any links between His authority and His integrity, His prayer life, etc.? Mark 1:35; 6:30-31; Luke 5:16; 6:12. How do they encourage us to live? “Every good leader keeps a loose grip on their position”. Why? Mark 3:13-19; Matthew 10:1-42 show our Lord Jesus bringing others into His ministry. How can we imitate this? 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; 1 Corinthians 4:17 and Philippians 2:22 show Paul bringing Timothy into ‘his’ ministry. What does this teach us? How? How can modern leaders “show Christ … in whatever they do”? Share practical ideas. Using the story of Elijah, 1 Kings 16:29-19:18, how did God use him in leading the nation back to Himself? Are there parallels for today? [1] David Ministries Foundation, The Complete Christian Dictionary For Home, School and Office (Illinois: Oasis International Ltd.) 2002, p.387. [2] Ajith Fernando, Leadership Lifestyle (Mumbai: GLS Publishing, 1985), p.15. [3] Sirmon D.G., Hitt M.A. & Ireland, R.D. Managing Firm Resources in Dynamic Environments to Create Value: looking inside the blackbox Academy of Management Review, 32 (1), p.273 – 292, 2007. [4] Kusumasari B., Alam Q. & Siddiqui K. Resource Capability for Local Government in Managing Disaster Disaster Prevention and Management, 19 (4), p.438 –451, 2010. [5] Dethier J. J., & de Janvry A. The World Bank and Governance : The Bank’s Efforts to Help Developing Countries Build State Capacity Washington: The World Bank, 2012. [6] Andjun J. R. B. Managing Financial Transactions Efficiently: a Transaction Cost Model of Public Financial Management. Financial Management Theory in The Public Sector, p.15, 43 – 56, 2010. [7]C. Gene Wilkes, Jesus On Leadership (Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers) 1998 p.9. [8] J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership (Chicago: Moody Press) 1967 p.23. [9] Philip Greenslade, Leadership Greatness and Servanthood (Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers) 1984, p.104. [10] Ibid. p.105. [11] Ibid. [12] C Gene Wilkes, p.9. [13] Philip Greenslade, Ibid. p.106. [14] Ibid. p.107. [15] Summarised from Philip Greenslade, Leadership Greatness and Servanthood (Minnesota: Bethany House) 1984, p.104ff. [16] Leighton Ford, Transforming Leadership: Jesus Way of Creating Vision, Shaping Values & Empowering Change. (Illinois: InterVarsity Press) 1991, p.134. [17] C Gene Wilkes, Ibid. p.9. [18] Philip Greenslade, Leadership: A Biblical Pattern for Today (Southampton: Input Typesetting Limited) 1984, p.111-112. [19] Leighton Ford, Ibid. p.102. [20] Greenslade, Ibid. p.116. [21] Greenslade Ibid. [22] Ibid. [23] Ibid. [24] Leighton Ford, Ibid. p.227. [25] James M Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner eds., Christian Reflections on The Leadership Challenge (San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass) 2004, p.87. [26] Kouses & Posner, Ibid. p.87. [27] C. Genes Wilkes, Ibid. p.12. [28] Sanders, Ibid. p.121. [29] Dr. Costa S. Deir, The Exemplary Leader (New York: International Leadership Seminars) 1996, p.3. [30] Ibid. p.12. [31] Ibid. p.18. [32] Ibid. p.24. [33] Ibid. p.33. [34] Dr Costa S. Deir Ibid. p.45. [35] Ibid. p.58. [36] Ibid. p.70.

Issues facing Christians in Sudan today. Integrity section. by Madut Tong Ngor Integrity is one vital virtue that every Christian believer must highly prize and embrace throughout their daily lives. It brings a soundness of character with adherence to good moral principles, for instance, uprightness and honesty. Remember though, to walk in integrity is to reveal a habitual manner of life. Living in Christian integrity is a 100% lifestyle, not just something done from time to time. One dictionary defines integrity as “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values, an unimpaired condition, the quality or state of being complete or undivided.” This implies that integrity involves incorruptibility, soundness, wholeness and completeness, all values that a Christian treasures. She cannot them earn by her own effort alone, but she can through the grace of God in her life. Christian integrity, once begun at conversion, develops throughout a Christian’s lifetime. It carries a responsibility with it. Every Christian believer should always live honestly before God and before all other people. The Old Testament uses Hebrew word tam for integrity, to refer to the “wholeness or completeness” of human character or behaviour. But the New Testament uses the Greek word politeuomai which originally means to live as the citizen of a city state. This is a reminder that every citizen has both privileges and responsibilities in his country. Furthermore, the ultimate citizenship of every Christian believer is in heaven, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ”, Philippians 3:20. This gives us greater privilege and higher responsibilities. In fact Christians are citizens of the two kingdoms, the temporal and the eternal. Sudanese and South Sudanese Christians are citizens of Sudan or South Sudan and of heaven! This condition requires us to faithfully and honestly carry out our responsibilities and thus enjoy our privileges. The argument in this chapter will be that Christians who confess their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s revelation and the work of the Holy Spirit, must demonstrate what they believe in their daily lives. They must show the world genuine Christian life characterised by integrity. The impact of this virtue called integrity should be visible, first in our relationships, second in our marriages, thirdly in our jobs. The impact Integrity has on our relationships Integrity is one of the most important and often cited virtues which should influence our characters as believers, producing fruit in daily life worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Integrity implies the wholeness of character and life, because a person of integrity maintains a good relationship within himself. This influences positively the way he acts morally. She will be Christianly different from those around her. The apostle Paul urges the Philippian church to conduct a life of integrity: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved – and that by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have”, Philippians1:27–30. Children of God must live according to the principles of their Father God in heaven, and not according to their own personal desires. Integrity is one of the virtues that our Heavenly Father wants us to embrace and reveal in our daily lives for His glory. Integrity implies sincerity of heart and motive, singleness of purpose, genuineness, truthfulness, and uprightness. David understood the importance of walking in God’s ways and determines: “I will be careful to lead a blameless life – when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with a blameless heart”, Psalm 101:2. In biblical thought moral character is not judged by absolutes or ideals as it is in Greek philosophy. Moral character is judged by relationship to God. God sets the standard by which every man and woman is judged. The only person who is perfect is the one whom God judges as perfect. Integrity thus marks the person who walks with single hearted devotion to God and who walks in honourable behaviour towards all people. For example the word of God says: “If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink”, Proverbs 25:21. Is this how we live as Christians in Sudan today? Both our Lord Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul reiterate the same comprehensive value, Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:20. Yet many who claim to be Christians pass by every day those they consider to be their enemies without even giving daily greeting which characterises Sudanese culture. Is that honestly loving our enemies? We need to walk in daily Christian integrity with honest and sincere hearts. This does not mean we will be without problems and conflicts. But our Father in heaven will give us ways to overcome whatever we face if we are submissive to His will and His desire. He will use this to heal our relationships. The word of God says “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1Corinthians 10:13. The assertions of integrity and innocence do not indicate a spirit of self righteousness or smug self-satisfaction as this Pharisee thought: “The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’” Luke 18:11-12. Rather, the great religious people who professed integrity, people like David, Job, the Psalmist, and Paul, are those most keenly aware of personal sin. David admits sin that he committed with Bathsheba: “Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord”. Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.”” 2 Samuel 12:13. This suggests that the whole drama of redemption makes it possible for the sinner to walk uprightly before God. Our sin is no excuse for a lack of integrity. The awareness of our personal weaknesses compels us to give time to those friends whose ideas oppose our own and cause relationship breakdown. We try to understand each other’s point of view. When we give ourselves opportunity and start listening to each other carefully – not so as to defend ourselves but to clarify their point of view – we will discover that we had a different concept of what we were disagreeing over. Integrity in personal contact paves the way for reconciliation. It helps us restore our relationships with other people. “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over”. Matthew 18:15. An honest Christian knows that he is a keeper of his brother (and therefore our brothers and sisters are keepers of us!). Paul tells us that we need each other in every overwhelming circumstance or situation, Galatians 6:1-3. Integrity is a value demanded from every believer in their daily lives because it grows from the penitent heart, Luke 3:8-14. Integrity leads to purity of heart, Matthew 5:8. Integrity develops singleness of eye, Matthew 6:22; Luke 11:34-36. Integrity strengthens purity of motive, Matthew 6:1-6;Matthew 6:16-18. Moreover, there are numerous injunctions to truthfulness, sincerity, and genuineness as being fundamental to Christian character and conduct. Integrity is an indispensable ingredient in Christian teaching: “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech”, Titus 2:7. We should know also that it is not enough to live only by an integrity which is most comfortable to us personally. We have to stretch our horizons, to strive to become whole and complete yet living with the pluralistic backgrounds of every tribe, clan, kin and kith of Sudan. Integrity may be very uncomfortable and demanding, but it is still necessary! Jesus Christ put down the basis for the kind of life we should live. “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34. Jesus loved His disciples and us to the extent of submitting willingly to unjust execution. We have to love one another in the same sacrificial way. Jesus’ new law is just waiting for Christians like us to live by in this third millennia era. Christian integrity shows visible love. The impact Integrity has in our Marriages Although the founder of marriage is God Himself, many misunderstand marriage to be merely a product of the cultures and traditions of nations. God the Creator established marriage. The Bible says that God created every living thing male and female. Every creature had its own partner, “but for Adam no suitable helper was found”. “Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib He had taken out of the man, and He brought her to the man”. Adam then sang his first wonderful song, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’, because she was taken out of man”. “For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother, and be united to his wife; and they will become one flesh.” Genesis 2:20-24. God completed the first man with a wife; someone who was a real part of himself and whom the man would care for just as he would care for his own body, soul and spirit. Here in Sudan we greatly need fidelity and integrity in family, marriage, and sexual behaviour. Monogamy is the God-ordained way of preserving humanity, and integrity should be the main characteristic of family relationships. Monogamy needs practice, but many African churchgoers live a long way off this habit. Perhaps they don’t understand? They sometimes take monogamy to be western practice and far different from African culture. They choose to ignore the fact that it is the ordained practice blessed by God. Polygamy, according to my understanding, is a product of human rebellion against God. It is a result of the fall from Paradise. Dishonesty in marriage is very destructive. I will give just one example, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (A.I.D.S.), which has infected people according to media headlines even in our beloved country these past several years. The government of Sudan announced that around ten thousand Sudanese are HIV/AIDS positive. The number may be higher and is certainly rising. This aggressive pandemic reaps souls every year. People die from A.I.D.S. Although this disease is transmittable through sexual intercourse it can also be transmitted through several other means. It is important for Sudanese to cling to the practice of God’s law: one wife for one man, one husband for one woman. Let Christians not compromise this wonderful pure and protecting law which emphasises human dignity. Let us reject the demeaning polygamy and profligacy of others around us. Let us live in integrity at home with our families. Every Christian person must cleave to their one spouse with love, submission, and service to each other, for the glory of our God, Ephesians 5:22 – 33. The impact Integrity has in our Ministry The church is the institution that God founded through the great redemptive work of His son Jesus Christ. The church is to bear witness to His person and work in the world. According to Walker Knight he church is: “an outpost of the kingdom of God, placed in a particular spot in the world to bear witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. A church is a mission living by the foolishness of God in a world that sometimes hates it, sometimes is indifferent, and sometimes seeks to take it captive. Any church that does not recognise the basic purpose for its existence is in jeopardy of its life”. The difficulty that the Sudanese church is facing is that it does not recognise that it is in a missionary situation. It has been taken captive by the world. It has to free itself from this captivity and to re-establish itself as an outpost of the kingdom of God as it comes to recognise that it must indeed exist within missionary situation. Christians are to be attractively different from those around us. Integrity demands that the church stay and minister in the whole country of Sudan, and that it become in reality what it purports to be, a fellowship of reconciled and reconciling people. There is a great need for a missionary faithfulness among our Christians if we want to influence our nation in every aspect of life. The majority of Sudanese church leaders always speak of mission and missionary in relation to western missionaries, those who established the first churches in Sudan which gradually transformed into Sudanese indigenous churches. I do not deny that there are mission-minded groups in this country, but I believe that the majority of Christians are not aware of their own purpose for existence! Churches just cling to their established congregations. When sometimes they open prayer centres, the new members are not new believers but simply relocating members of the mother church. The church of Christ should not be indifferent to the existing problems of its own communities. But it must stand steadfastly Christian to confront those problems in the light of God’s living truth. This is the hope for setting the nation free from the bondages of this world. Knight correctly asserts that, “It is naïve to assume you can go anywhere and put your head in the sand and escape the problem. The problem is here, and where the world is at its worst the church of Jesus Christ ought to be at its best. You cannot lose your integrity and become one with your culture, but you must live above your culture, you must stand over and against it, saying that God stands here and as long as we bear the mark of Christ we must stand with Him, even when it means standing against our culture. God reminds us that the people who refuse to do this, who let the distinction be erased between their Christianity and the world, lose their integrity and do in fact decay”. The church should not overlook their community problems or hide her head in the sand in an attempt to escape responsibility for them. It should address, confront and reveal falsehood to the community. It can only do this from a lifestyle of integrity. Jesus said the church is the light of the world, and the light cannot be hidden. Nor should the church hide! The church must be very clear to the world. The Bible says, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds, and praise your Father in heaven”. Matthew 5:14-16. We must do good Christian works where they can be seen and felt positively by the non-Christian community around us. The ultimate goal of the church is to penetrate the darkness of this world with its glorious light so that Jesus’ light can transform the face of the earth for the glory of our Heavenly Father. But how can that happen? Through Christian integrity. We need to demonstrate a lifestyle worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our habits, our attitudes and our standard values matter to the unbelieving world around us. The most frequent and embarrassing thing that keeps non-believers away from Christ is our unchristian, hypocritical, double-standard, attitudes. An example is when we fail to keep our promises. We do not do what we said we would do. This is a lack of faithfulness. It may even be dishonesty. These detestable habits should not be the way that children of Heavenly Father behave. On the contrary we should “let (our) light shine before men” for the glory of our “Father in heaven”. If we do not shine brightly, what are people around us going to think about our God? Actions are more eloquent than mere words. The mission of the church of Christ is to reconcile men to God. Those men will also do the work of reconciliation among themselves and extend that glorious message to the all people of their communities. I hope that God will hasten the day when our Sudanese church devises strategies of encouragement and support for churches in the whole country to rise and minister with integrity in the field of mission through every member in their everyday life. I hope the Holy Spirit opens our spiritual eyes to see what our Lord Jesus Christ has seen, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field”, Matthew 9:37-38. It is essential for the church to practise what it teaches, that Christ has died for all people. The honest projection of that message demands that the church should minister to all segments of the population. Successful church leadership should be based on the principle Jesus Christ calls a new commandment that He gave to His followers “…love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another”, John13:34. Although this principle is not totally new, Jesus Christ added a new dimension to it. The commandment is new because of Jesus’ profoundly new example of how to reach out to one another. As Jesus loved and served us, so we must love and serve other people. There are useful daily rules to be learnt from this commandment: Leaders have to give their best in the worst of times. When crises become too deep church attendance should help a Christian live at his or her best. Sadly it all too often tends to make little difference in terms of his ethical views and behaviour. Paul calls this the perilous times: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days”, 2 Timothy 3:1. Crisis situations demand us to demonstrate integrity of life. To do this we need the help of friends, brothers and sisters to keep us on the track because we are all keepers of one another. Are we ready to be accountable to each other? This is the only assured way to keep us on the track of total honesty. Leaders should look up to those under them. It is common for leaders to look down on those under them, on the pretext that they are superiors over them. But the wisdom of God asks us to esteem others more than ourselves. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others”, Philippians 2:3-4. It is important to give to those under you enough room so they can grow into giants! Leaders should stand up for their convictions. This does not imply insubordination, hostility, or rebellion, but it means esteeming others while holding strong Christian beliefs and gospel convictions. We should stand up for what we believe. At the same time we should humbly give ground if we are wrong. This kneeling for forgiveness is often the high peak of an honest heart. Leaders should love integrity. Let us be men and women of integrity to reverse the terrible trends to dishonesty and deception which currently exist in our communities. As discerning Christians watch out for the sort of people who want to be church leaders by any means and therefore lack integrity. A team of psychologists from the University of California discovered some characteristics of these people: They are aggressive against people who do not agree with them, or who do not do as they want them to. They are apprehensive that others are scheming against them, or their work. They accept the fatalistic concept that most of their workers are not to be trusted; and they are intolerant of other leaders. They are inflexible. They do not like change from the course they have set. They are prejudiced against certain social groups, companies, religions, or even nations. They demand rather than earn submission. Those who submit blindly to them follow forceful leaders of whom they are afraid. They do not lead as gentle shepherds. Although this study was done in the United States of America, the same characteristics are found even here in Sudan. I am not pointing at certain leaders, but we all have to take heed lest we fall into one or more of these categories. Such conduct is disgraceful behaviour before our Heavenly Father. It disappoints Him deeply. We have a daily choice to make. We have to decide to conduct a life of integrity if we want to please, honour, and exalt Jesus’ name in our lives and ministry. As the prophet Micah puts it “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”, Micah 6:8. Conclusion Integrity is the habit of doing what one promises to do. It is the attitude of heart which shows who we actually are, the children of God per se, or it shows we are not. Integrity should influence all aspects of our daily lives, our personal relationships, our family and marriage relationships, and our ministry. If our Christian integrity misses any part of our human life, then it is not yet what our Lord Jesus wants from us. We may have started out right, but there is currently much room for improvement. Discussion guide Using this chapter and the Scriptures quoted: 1. List some of the worst things that you think show a lack of integrity in some Christian living. 2. What affect does such poor Christian living have on our general Christian witness? 3. Since we are “children of God”, what characteristics of our Heavenly Father should we show to people around us? Share as many as you can. 4. How can we honestly “love our enemies” amongst whom we live and work everyday? (Take “enemies” to mean people of other tribal or faith background). Consider talking with them and practical ways to serve and build bridges to them, Proverbs 25:21, Matthew 5:44. 5. How is Christian integrity to be expressed (practically lived out) in marriage and family life? Consider relationships between husband and wife, parents and young children, older children and parents, adult children and parents, care for the elderly, single unmarried people, etc. Be as practical as you can in your answer. 6. Since a local church is placed where it is to be a witness to those around, describe how you feel Christians should become involved in their wider community. Explain how being “salt and light” influences your answer, Matthew 5:13-16. 7. List the blessings and the challenges for a Christian leader living in absolute integrity. Prayerfully consider what percentage of your own life is touched by Christian integrity.

Christian theology in a Sudanese context. The essential nature and character of God. The Holiness of God ‘Holiness’ can be described as being ‘other’. There is nothing and no-one who is close to being like God. God has no faults and is incapable of errors. God is distinctly different from our human expectations and values. He is attractive in His glory and yet, at the same time, we are fearful of His purity. Fire is sometimes used in the Bible as a symbol of God’s holiness. Like fire, God’s holiness shows us our lives by His warm light. Like fire, God’s holiness burns the dead, diseased and dirty from our lives. In Old Testament history, we see both destruction and salvation coming from God’s holiness (Exodus 15:1-10). The hymn of Exodus 15:11 declares this: “Who is like You – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” The English word ‘holy’ means ‘of, relating to, or associated with, God’. The Bible’s words, in Hebrew and Greek, carry the meaning of ‘being devoted to, or consecrated’ with ‘being separated, set apart’. Holiness for us has two sides. One is that we live totally committed to God. The other is that we live to very different standards from the world around us. Love for God is the root of holiness in our lives. Christians want to be like God, with His characteristics in our lives. The Christian church is described as “a holy temple in the Lord”, Ephesians 2:21. God’s holiness means that He seeks His own honour and glory as the Creator and Keeper of all things. We must live for this too (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15,16). When two soccer teams have a match with each other, let’s say El Hilal against El Merreikh in Omdurman, how do you know which player is playing for which team? You should be able to decide by watching the usual direction he is kicking the ball, the team members he is calling to and passing with, and of course from the colours of the shirt and shorts he is wearing. Blue with a crescent for El Hilal. Red and yellow with a star for El Merreikh. Our personal holiness should be visible to people around us, because we are followers of God Who is holy. American theologian R.C.Sproul writes: “God’s holy character has something to say about economics, politics, athletics, romance – everything that we are involved in. God is inescapable. There is no place we can hide from Him. Not only does He penetrate every aspect of our lives, but He also penetrates our lives in His majestic holiness. Therefore we must seek to understand what the holy is. There can be no worship, no spiritual growth, no true obedience without it. It defines our goal as Christians”. Because God is holy He hates all sin. This shows itself in His wrath. He strikes against sin in judgement. God’s holiness is perhaps best seen in Jesus’ death on the cross (Romans 1:18; Romans 2:5-8; Romans 5:8,9). Thinking it through. (a). What effect should God’s holiness have in our church? In our relationships with our neighbours of different faiths? In our politics? (b). If we sin easily or carelessly, what should we expect from the holiness of God?

Acts 15vs1-35. Church Growing Pains. Every human being likes the comfort of tradition. There can be great blessing in good tradition, but bad tradition can stifle God's work. It is quite probable that the opposition to the church that came from the Jews, the incitement and the stirring up to persecution, Acts 13vs50, the poisoning of minds, Acts 14vs2, the stoning of the gospel preachers, Acts 14vs19, was all easier to deal with than the opposition that came from Christian believers of a Jewish background within the church's own ranks, Acts 15vs1, 5. It is often hard to know the truth. When a major war, like the gulf war, is reported on television there are always exaggerations, omissions and one-sided reports and so the average viewer has to read between the lines to guess at the truth. Thirty times in Matthew's gospel Jesus Christ said: "I tell you the truth", for example Matthew 5vs18, 18vs3, 26vs34. In John 14vs6 He claimed to be the truth. He promised in John 16vs13 that the Holy Spirit would lead Christian disciples into all truth. It is quite reasonable to assume therefore, that there must be error. Trinity House only put lighthouses around the coasts of Great Britain where there are hazardous rocks and currents. The truthful positioning of the light is only necessary where there is the danger of damage or destruction on rocks. Our constant prayer should be with the Psalmist, "Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour", Psalm 25vs5. Truth and tradition are sometimes very difficult to sort out from each other, especially when we have held on to a tradition for almost an entire lifetime. Often practical traditions do not contain errors, but because they become outmoded in a constantly changing world, those traditions can become barriers to the truth being grasped. Trying to alter the starting time or the format of a church worship service would be a case in point. But these things are not as serious as beliefs that become accepted truths over many years, such as "the Bible prohibits a Christian from drinking alcohol". I got myself into a hot debate which lasted a few days with a church in the Red Sea's Port Sudan. A questioner from the floor asked "What does the Bible mean when it says 'Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses", 1 Timothy 5vs23. My reply was that it meant precisely what it said. Over a lovely breakfast of breads, curried meats, eggs and fruit the next morning I was told that the younger people would take my remark as freedom to go and get drunk on the many home-brews available in the camps of displaced people. I was shocked and so I asked why. I was told that the traditional teaching of the church was that a Christian could not drink alcohol and that the wine mentioned here in 1 Timothy would be non alcoholic. Every Scripture the dear brothers turned up for me to back up their church tradition spoke against drunkenness. I agreed wholeheartedly that drunkenness was wrong, see 1 Corinthians 6vs10. But I could not agree that the Bible teaches Christians to totally abstain from alcohol. A tradition had been pressed into a position of truth, and when challenged from the Bible by other thinking Christians, the basis for it being accepted as truth was found to be faulty. I was very quick to point out that there were very good reasons to teach that it would be wrong for a Christian to drink alcohol in Port Sudan. Firstly, it was not allowed by the law of the country and so Romans 13vs1, 2 would apply. "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Secondly, concern for other believers would mean very seriously considering what kind of example was being set, 1 Corinthians 8vs9. "Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak." (Verse 13 in the same chapter shows where a man with spiritual priorities would come down in his practice). These are good biblical reasons for total abstinence. But to say that the Bible teaches it is wrong to drink a glass of wine with a meal, or to partake of alcohol at all, is going beyond that truth into error. When challenged by a questioning younger generation the tradition would be exposed and the credibility of the church severely damaged. We must defend the truth and in doing so be ready to expose all our traditions, old and new to that Bible truth. In Acts 15 an ongoing wrangle between tradition and truth came to a head in Antioch. It had been like a volcano, lying dormant with fairly regular eruptions ever since Jesus Christ fulfilled all the Jewish laws as the Lamb of God suffering for sinful mankind. Intense racial and religious problems were two items that persistently threatened to wreck the early Christian church. There were tensions between "Grecian Jews" and "the Aramaic-speaking community" over "the daily distribution of food", Acts 6vs1. The Samaritans were reached with the Gospel, 8vs5; the Ethiopians were reached with the Gospel, 8vs27. The Jews opposed Paul's preaching in their synagogues that "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God", 9vs20, 22. The Grecian Jews plotted to kill Paul, 9vs29. When Roman centurion Cornelius believed the Gospel through Peter's preaching we read: "The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles", 10vs45. Peter was sharply criticised for going and enjoying hospitality with uncircumcised men. (Non-Jewish believers), 11vs2. Jews, Greeks, Samaritans and Africans at least had responded to the Gospel. Their political, religious and social backgrounds were very different, and kept them apart from each other, but Jesus Christ, His risen life, His forgiveness of their sins, brought them altogether. Keeping that unity in the church was not easy - it never is. There were some good points. The Greek Christians in Antioch gave generously to help bring relief among the Judean Christians in a severe famine, 11vs28, 29. But there were also some bad points. In Pisidian Antioch, "the Jews ... were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying", 13vs45. "They incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region", 13vs50. At Iconium "the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers." "The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles", 14vs2, 4. At Lystra these same people caused riots that ended with Paul stoned and left for dead, 14vs19. Now, some of this opposition came from outside the church, from non-Christian people. But some of it came from inside the church, from Christian brothers and sisters. Everything does not always go well between believers. You will not be a part of any Christian church for very long before you come across differences between people - debates over practices - discussions about principles. Do not let it be a stumbling block to you. It is for some, but it need not be. The Christian church lives in unity but not in uniformity. (a) Unity means that a group of people come together to form one unit, a local church. It means there is harmonious co-operation with an agreement of aims and interests. In the New Testament the Greek word UNITY appears twice in Ephesians 4, and nowhere else. (NIV has Colossians 3vs14 perfect, Romans 15vs5-6 likemindedness). Ephesians 4vs3 says "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." 4vs13 says that God has given different people different roles in the church to build up the body of Christ "until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God." Unity is something the church has through the Holy Spirit and must seek to maintain. Unity is maintained by a deeper collective knowledge of Jesus Christ. (b) Uniformity means the state of being exactly alike, unvarying. If we were all uniform we would be similar in every way, like baked bean tins coming off a production line! Many Christians mistakenly seek UNIFORMITY thinking they are seeking UNITY. The Ephesian Christians were told that there would be differences put in the church by God himself. "Some apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers", Ephesians 4vs11. Yet all would work together in unity. Take a rugby team for example. In rugby you have 15 players, basically divided into two groups, forwards and backs. The forwards have to be in the scrummages, the mauls, the rucks and the line outs, but the backs must not be involved there. Their role is to line up behind the focus of play and be ready to pass and run the ball as deeply as possible into the opponents' half. The aim of backs and forwards is the same - to score points and win the match. Their roles are different. They have unity, and even a team colour uniform, but not uniformity. Even within the two groups there are other differences. In the forwards the hooker must be small and nimble, to heel the ball back. The props need to be big and beefy to push the opposition back. The wing forwards must be only half in the scrummage and be ready to break away to tackle opponents or to pierce their defence. Unity, but not uniformity. Now, in Acts 15 we have the rumblings of division in the new testament church and we can learn a great deal from the chapter on this subject of God's way to deal with conflict. 1. Earnest dispute. "Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved'. This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them." The key issue here was this, "Do you have to be circumcised to be saved?" Paul preached, Acts 13vs38 "Through Jesus the forgiveness of sins." Peter preached, Acts 10vs43 "All the prophets testify about (Jesus) that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." Philip proclaimed Jesus Christ, 8vs5. But these men from Judea, who were believers (because they willingly submitted the matter to the apostles in Jerusalem for counsel) added a rider to the Christian gospel. In addition to repentance towards sin and faith in God through Jesus Christ, these men said "Unless you are circumcised, according to (Jewish Law), you cannot be saved," 15vs1. 'If a man is circumcised he will earn favour with God', they said. They were following God as best they could and this was their deduction from their understanding of Scripture and experience of life. Paul and Barnabas had a "sharp dispute and debate with them", vs2 "No small dissension and disputation" (Authorised Version). They had a stand up argument. They reasoned together, both parties totally convinced they were right and therefore the others were wrong. It was a public division too, because false teaching had gone on in public to begin with. When disputes come ... firstly recognise that God is omniscient and no-one else is, and secondly, remember that Jesus Christ is the truth, but that neither you, nor I, nor the greatest preacher, teacher, author, who ever lived will ever have a full understanding of God's truth expressed in Jesus. In Jude 3 we are told to "contend for the faith ... entrusted to the saints." It means we are to take an active part in pursuing and protecting the true Christian gospel. The words speak of an intense, agonising, struggle or contest. Because we are sincere we will believe in what we stand up for. Because we are sinners we may be wrong in what we understand. There will always be earnest dispute in the Christian church. But there is a right way to handle it. 2. Evident discussion. The dispute was not going to be allowed to fester and bring rancour between members of the body of Christ. It was going to be fully brought out, revealed and - maintaining the unity of the body of Christ (though not the uniformity) - it would be dealt with. To begin with they looked for the counsel of godly men, vs2. "Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question." The apostles and elders were experienced Christians, filled with God's Holy Spirit, men who had worked with God over many months or years and evidenced God's mind and will. Next they listened to the conflicting beliefs, vs5. "Some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, 'The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.'" They argued that circumcision was essential for salvation. True Jewish believers still maintained that an element of religion was earning God's favour by keeping the law. In vs6-11 Peter speaks about how God showed his acceptance of the Gentiles by pouring out his Holy Spirit upon them, and says, vs9 "God purified their hearts by faith." True religion for the Christian consists of casting oneself upon the grace of God. Then Paul and Barnabas began "telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them," 15vs12. The emphasis, as in vs4, was upon what God had done through them. The discussion included all the people directly involved - the Jewish converts, Paul and Barnabas, Peter (who had witnessed to Cornelius). Do you see the wisdom in doing this? Jerusalem was regarded as the source of authority. Many of the apostles and the most experienced Christians were there. The Judean Jews may not accept Paul's authority, but they would recognise those in Jerusalem. The odds were on a victory for the Jewish believers. But God spoke out through James! If you are on God's side never be afraid of putting your case before men even overwhelmingly opposed to you. The troublemakers were there. Those who held the truth were there. Those who gave testimony were there. We deal with conflicts by earnest dispute and evident discussion with all relevant parties. 3. Effective direction. Peter warned about the danger of putting burdens on new Christians, vs10. "Why do you test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?" The "yoke" was the emblem of slavery! Don't enslave Christians in legal lists of do's and don'ts!! James urges, vs19, "It is my judgement that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God." Do not block their way forward. The world will make it difficult enough without any help from the church! As brothers, vs23, "the apostles and elders" were brave in conclusion. They did not duck the issue. They distanced themselves from the troublemakers ("troubling your minds" vs24 is a word used of marauding robbers who steal anything). They (i) concur, this is what we believe; (ii) communicate, this is what you wanted to know; (iii) confirm by personal visits and a letter, and (iv) their council of reference was the "whole church", vs22, 30. Nothing was secret. Nothing was sly. It was a sensitive issue spiritually dealt with. Verse 28, 29 contain no references to any circumcision, or any other ritual, as being necessary for salvation i.e. for becoming Christians. But they do say that all Christians will be careful what they do! To eat strangled meat blood might stumble a Jew - so don't do it. And all forms of sexual immorality (even in the name of religion) are bad, so keep clear. Paul was later to write of becoming all things to all men to win some of them over. He wrote of the stronger Christians not putting barriers in front of the weak. And here we see the embryo of all that. Let's not add lists of do's and don'ts to Christian living. Let a man love God honestly and openly, and then do what his God tells him to do. What was the result of all this.? Verse 31, 32 "The people read (the letter) and were glad for its encouraging message". "Judas and Silas, the prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers." This Council did so well to effectively communicate their decisions personally (by sending some men), verbally (to confirm by mouth), in writing (the letter), collectively (with the whole church) and encouragingly. They gave it time too, vs33 "After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them." How easy it is to destroy and how hard it is to build. To encourage means "urge onwards, to give confidence to, to support." The Holy Spirit is given for our encouragement and one who encourages another works with God. The apostles enforce their order with the positive commendation of those that would comply with it, rather than with a negative condemnation of those that would ignore it. "You will do well to avoid these things." May God help all of us to handle conflicts in a way that honours Him, His word and all of His people. May we never replace any traditions with other traditions thinking that they are truth. And may we never quench the life of the truth, 2 Corinthians 3vs6. "He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." Discussion questions Share some of the "usually do" ways in your fellowship. Do other fellowships do things differently? Why are those things done that way? Is there good reason to change? Why? What Christian principles need to be in evidence in "earnest dispute" and "evident discussion"?

Bible readings: Numbers 13vs28-33; and chapter 32. My life (put) alongside God's word, volume 1. Have you ever been in a situation where people coveted land for grazing their herds? Do you know of people who will fight to get land that is not rightfully theirs? Both situations are found – and commented on – in Numbers 32. Two of Israel’s twelve tribes “had very large herds and flocks” and “saw that … lands … were suitable for livestock”, v1. They asked Moses, Eleazer and community leaders: “let this land be given to your servants as our possession” v5. There was something very reasonable about this request, but there was also something very wrong. The reasonableness can be seen in the fact that large herds need a lot of good grazing land. No one can possibly argue with that. But the wrongness is seen in that the land they asked for was not the land God had promised them – no matter how right and good it seemed to be, vv7, 15. Moses cited the example of the spies in Israelite history, who also found reason for not even trying to enter the land God had promised them, vv8-13. In both cases the issue was not about what was visibly seen. In case one “the people who live there are very powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large” Numbers 13:28. The inhabitants Israel would have to fight were people who “are stronger than we are … of a great size. We … seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes …” vv31-33. In case two “the lands the Lord subdued before the people of Israel … are suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock” Numbers 32:4. To the naked human eye, in two different situations, case one had huge obstacles and case two offered a good solution. But, in relation to the hearts of God’s people, both cases showed that their hearts were in the wrong place. In cases one and two God’s people discounted God’s promise clearly given to them. “And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites … a land flowing with milk and honey” Exodus 3:8,17. This omission was to arouse the Lord’s anger against the entire community of God’s people, Numbers 14:21-23, 32:10-13, which in turn disqualified the doubters from being able to claim God’s promises, vv11-12. What brought God’s anger to both cases was when God’s people chose on the basis of what they could see, instead of trusting with all of their hearts in God’s spoken promises. This brings us around to our questions in the opening paragraph of this chapter: How should we respond Christianly to issues of land and living? In Jesus’ sermon on the mount He urged His followers “do not worry about your life” Matthew 6:25. He said the birds we see everywhere around us day after day are constant visual aids that God will provide for us when we work hard, going where we can, gathering what is available to us, feeding ourselves and our family, v26. This includes both agriculturalists – those who plant crops, and pastoralists – those who graze herds of animals. God can and will provide for all of His people who seek the right way first of all. In His message summary Jesus draws a distinction between pagans – who are members of groups professing a polytheistic religion or any religion other than Christianity, Judaism or Islam; and people without any religion, heathens – a distinction between them and Christian believers, vv32-34. We must challenge ourselves with these hard questions: Is my reaction to these issues more pagan than Christian? Am I pleasing my Saviour with this, or am I simply pleasing myself? “All these things will be given to you as well”, v33. God promises everything necessary for life itself to those who fully trust in His promises. Jesus ends His sermon with the well-known parable of the two builders. To be a life-builder who pleases God we Christian disciples must be “like a wise man who builds his house on the rock”, “who hears these words of Mine (Jesus’) and puts them into practice” 7:24. Hearing alone is not enough! Action must be taken. Perhaps when all of us put this into practice – trusting God’s promises rather than trusting our own eyesight or traditional values – many inter-tribal wars would cease? It has to be worth giving it a reasonable time of trying. Discussion questions: 1. In Genesis 9:22 God promises continuous “harvest”, crop collection, the fruit of working in the right conditions. Sometimes this does not appear to happen. Why? 2. What would help in bringing a solution to the African problems of drought and hunger? How could these things be brought about? 3. From Matthew 6:25-34 describe how nature, birds and flowers especially, point to God’s provision. 4. How does James 2:14-18 tell Christians to respond to others in need? 5. Where does Isaiah 42:5-7 tell us our focus should be? Why?

Christian theology in a Sudanese context. The essential nature and character of God. The Holiness of God ‘Holiness’ can be described as being ‘other’. There is nothing and no-one who is close to being like God. God has no faults and is incapable of errors. God is distinctly different from our human expectations and values. He is attractive in His glory and yet, at the same time, we are fearful of His purity. Fire is sometimes used in the Bible as a symbol of God’s holiness. Like fire, God’s holiness shows us our lives by His warm light. Like fire, God’s holiness burns the dead, diseased and dirty from our lives. In Old Testament history, we see both destruction and salvation coming from God’s holiness (Exodus 15:1-10). The hymn of Exodus 15:11 declares this: “Who is like You – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” The English word ‘holy’ means ‘of, relating to, or associated with, God’. The Bible’s words, in Hebrew and Greek, carry the meaning of ‘being devoted to, or consecrated’ with ‘being separated, set apart’. Holiness for us has two sides. One is that we live totally committed to God. The other is that we live to very different standards from the world around us. Love for God is the root of holiness in our lives. Christians want to be like God, with His characteristics in our lives. The Christian church is described as “a holy temple in the Lord”, Ephesians 2:21. God’s holiness means that He seeks His own honour and glory as the Creator and Keeper of all things. We must live for this too (Leviticus 19:2; 1 Peter 1:15,16). When two soccer teams have a match with each other, let’s say El Hilal against El Merreikh in Omdurman, how do you know which player is playing for which team? You should be able to decide by watching the usual direction he is kicking the ball, the team members he is calling to and passing with, and of course from the colours of the shirt and shorts he is wearing. Blue with a crescent for El Hilal. Red and yellow with a star for El Merreikh. Our personal holiness should be visible to people around us, because we are followers of God Who is holy. American theologian R.C.Sproul writes: “God’s holy character has something to say about economics, politics, athletics, romance – everything that we are involved in. God is inescapable. There is no place we can hide from Him. Not only does He penetrate every aspect of our lives, but He also penetrates our lives in His majestic holiness. Therefore we must seek to understand what 'the holy' is. There can be no worship, no spiritual growth, no true obedience without it. It defines our goal as Christians”. Because God is holy He hates all sin. This shows itself in His wrath. He strikes against sin in judgement. God’s holiness is perhaps best seen in Jesus’ death on the cross (Romans 1:18; Romans 2:5-8; Romans 5:8,9). Thinking it through. (a). What effect should God’s holiness have in our church? (b) In our relationships with our neighbours of different faiths? (c) In our politics? (d). If we sin easily or carelessly, what should we expect from the holiness of God?

the message of the prophet Joel - read Joel 2:1; Deuteronomy 28:15, 38, 42. God Rules, O.K.? Perhaps one of the most famous prophecies in the Old Testament comes from Joel. 2:28-32 quoted, paraphrased, on the day of Pentecost by Peter, Acts 2:16 “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.” About Joel himself we know nothing apart from his father’s name, 1:1. Illustration: as common as Abdu Rahman or Mustapha are names here. Distinguishing him from 12 others in OT! Nobody knows exactly when the prophecy was written down. Commentators and study Bibles’ guess, but nobody knows for certain. We will study it using four handles. They actually underpin almost all Hebrew prophecy. (Probably why Scribes put Joel early on in the largely chronological order of these minor prophets. Yet there is a timelessness to Joel’s message. It is always relevant. We’ll examine 4 handles: 1. The Word of the Lord. 2. The day of the Lord. 3. The mercy of the Lord. 4. The promises of the Lord. You’ll notice these are God-centred. This is the message of the prophets. “God Rules,” OK? 1. “The word of the Lord that came to Joel.” 1:1. How did the word come? Was it his own thoughts inspired by the Holy Spirit? Was it an audible voice he could hear and remember? Was it an angelic messenger or meaningful dream or vision? We don’t know! But we know God did speak in some way to him. The ‘how’ is obviously less important that ‘what’ was said. As the ‘who’ spoke as prophet is less important than the God who initially revealed it. Joel’s message did not originate with himself. He had a word from the Lord, supremely authoritative and important. Joel lived at a time of devastating plague, drought and famine. As in Southern Africa today. Unlike everyone else, Joel used his spiritual resources as a man of faith to give a meaningful interpretation to the disaster. While everyone alive there was involved in the trauma of suffering, only God’s prophet saw the religious meaning and moral responsibility. Illustration: Locust plagues have been scientifically recorded covering 100 square miles in flight, 2000 square miles on the ground. They eat their own weight in green vegetation every day – up to 50,000 tons in Somalia in my lifetime. Joel knew that Moses’ law had warned “if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all His commands … these curses will come upon you. You will sow much seed in the field but you will harvest little, because locusts will devour it … Swarms of locusts will take over all your trees and the crops of your land.” Notice, the ‘Word of the Lord’ came to the prophet, not to the elders. The prophet had to speak it to the elders and the people, vs2. God only speaks to those who are ready to receive it. He shares His thoughts, feelings, heart and mind, with those who are sharing their daily lives with Him – not those living as if He didn’t exist. True in church life today! Not monopoly of Pastor or other officially seen elders. I found 16 responses invited by God to His word here, in Joel 1:1-14. (Highlighted in my Bible). Vs2 “hear”, “listen”, vs3 “tell”, vs5 “wake up”, “wail”, vs8 “mourn”, vs11 “despair”, vs11 “wail”, grieve”, vs13 “put on sackcloth (show repentance)”, “wail”, “come spend a while”, vs14 “declare a holy fast”, “call a sacred assembly”, “summon the elders”, “cry out to the Lord”. God was doing what He had warned He would do, judging His careless and disobedient people with locust plagues. He still judges His people today – barren lives, more dead than alive spiritually. 1:17, 18 past, present and future were under God’s judgement. Notice the tenses: “Store houses and granaries … ruined and broken down” past crops. “The cattle … the herds … the flocks are suffering” present livestock and livelihood. “Seeds are shrivelled beneath the clods” future crops. The eternal God said to His disobedient people ‘You have had your chances. You are not getting away any longer. “I Rule”, OK?’ Handle 1 to understanding Joel. 2. “The day of the Lord”. 5 times this awe-full phrase is used by Joel. 1:15 “the day of the Lord is near”. 2:1, 2 “The day of the Lord is coming … dark, gloomy and black”. 2:11 “The great and dreadful day of the Lord”. 2:31 “The coming, great and dreadful day of the Lord”. 3:14 “The day of the Lord is near for multitudes in the valley of decision.” Application: If you believe this word does not currently show the perfection of God’s rule, you are like the Old Testament Hebrews. If you think that the good and righteous people in this world do not fully reap their reward ask: Do you, like them, expect God to intervene and establish His perfect sovereignty over all things everywhere? Those Old Testament Hebrews looked for this in the expression “The day of the Lord”, many days of disaster which would foreshadow God’s ultimate judgement day, yet one of which would actually be it! Illustration: You do realise don’t you, that the horrific suffering of the war here in Sudan is like nothing compared to the pain and anguish of being on the wrong side at God’s judgement day? For Joel the present locust invasion and drought – sent by God to shock and waken a dangerously complacent people, 2:1-11, were only ominous portents (signs of calamity) of the visitation of judgement by the Lord still to come!! It is fearful in the hands of the living God. Illustration: Spider with a fly in its mouth, seen in window web when I was washing up. Illustration: While seeking peace in Sudan, talking folk, reading paper, hearing conference reports, I do not see enough ‘personal acceptance of “I am wrong”.’ I see far too much blaming others – ‘if we had a different government’, ‘if the colonials had done so and do’, ‘if they had not caused such atrocities’. The coming Peace will only last if everyone accepts personal responsibility to forgive ‘whoever’ for ‘whatever’ – and builds for the future, not blames for the past! On the ultimate judgement day, you and I will not be able to pass blame on to anybody else. We cannot undo history. Be ready tomorrow. It will be you on your own, me on my own, before Holy God – with Jesus as judge. 3. The mercy of the Lord. Joel tells hard-hearted people to soften their hearts before God, or be smashed to bits by His righteous judgement. God gives choice. 1:9, 12 speak of “mourning” as in bereavement and “loss of joy” because the living, life-giving presence of God was gone! Joy accompanies God’s presence in His people. His judgement removes joy. And in His mercy God will again be present in the hearts and lives of all who return to Him, 2:23. How does this happen? Three steps: Read carefully through vs12-19. Vs12 “Even now (1) return to Me”. God pleads: “come back”. Illustration: Like a parent, heartbroken for a runaway child. Vs13 (2) “Rend your heart and not your garment.” God is concerned for your inner spiritual life, not your outward appearances! Illustration: In Czech and German floods people lost their possessions and are in anguish. God pleads: “return to Me”. Illustration: “You’ve lost Me (God) in church planting, you’ve lost Me (God) in medical caring, you’ve lost Me in peace arranging, you’ve lost Me in theological educating, you’ve lost Me in business developing, you’ve lost Me in parenting, ‘you’ve lost Me in problem solving, you’ve lost Me in ministering to others: You’ve lost Me!” God says ‘I really want you, more than your service of Me.’ 4. Remember Who I am? Vs13 “a gracious (merciful), compassionate (loving), slow to anger (restrained in self-control), abounding in love (your “live with and do things together” lover). 5. Notice: you and I cannot demand mercy, but we can realistically hope for it! vs14 “who knows, (God) may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing” – the grain for offering and water for offering both currently unavailable of course because of the God-sent drought and famine, sent in God’s mercy to bring God’s people back to their spiritual senses. Application: Will you return, rending your heart, remembering Whom you are coming to? The promises of the Lord. Vs21-24 five repeated words “be not afraid … be glad.” Application: You only need to be afraid in God’s presence if you plan on staying disobedient! God promises – (6) 1. Vs25 repayment for wasted years in spiritual desert. 2. Vs27 revelation of Himself, as He is in truth. 3. Vs28 reception of Holy Spirit as His living presence within 4. Vs30 revelation of His greatness in the changing of nature’s constants. 5. 3:2, 4 reckoning for all on the unmissable day of judgement before God Himself. (This enables forgiveness of course. God will make past wrong right. I don’t have to!) 6. 3:16 And in that judgement “The Lord will be a refuge for His people.” Hallelujah, praise the Lord! 2 Peter 1:19-21. The prophets (Joel) spoke from God, carried along by the Holy Spirit. Are you listening? Will you live by God’s word this coming week? God Rules, O.K.? Khartoum International Church 18th August 2002.

Thoughts from my journey with JESUS. Bible reading Ecclesiastes 6:12-7:6. Perhaps because of my two battles with cancer and the unpleasant after effects of my treatments, I have spent a lot of time thinking about death and what follows it. It is a subject avoided by many people. Sudanese/South Sudanese people face up to death considerably more than most Europeans, because, in Europe, older people are frequently away from home in hospitals or other institutions when then die. For many Sudanese/South Sudanese, where families often live generation by generation side by side, it is usual for even young children to ‘experience’ death first hand. In my opinion this is one big advantage these dear African brothers and sisters have over Europeans like me! The tragic wars within and between the Sudan and South Sudan have also made their death tolls abnormally high. The lack of development outside major cities, with little or no good medical facilities, also contributes to a comparatively short life expectancy for the people. I want to argue that: 1) For all people, to think about their own death is a good and helpful thing Ecclesiastes 7:1-2 reads: “… and the day of death better than the day of birth. … for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart”. (italics mine). Death is equal for all human beings. Whichever tribe we come from, however rich or poor we are, whatever education we have had, the number of children we have had, however long we have lived – when we die we are all identically dead: Our dying may well have been considerably different: in hospital, at home, on the battlefield, in a road traffic accident, during flood, fire or famine, from old age or a terminal illness. Our death is uniformly common. People we used to know will then say, “they are dead”, and that is what we will be. In Bible teaching I am aware some scholars tell us that there is a world of difference between “wisdom” in Proverbs and “wisdom” in Ecclesiastes, with the latter often being written ironically – saying one thing while meaning the opposite. However, I am certain in my own mind that these thoughts on death are legitimately taken without twisting any Scriptures (you, the reader, must decide for yourself). 2) Either way may I please exalt Jesus Christ? In Philippians 1:20-24 Paul wrote from his prison cell, “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body”, (italics mine). If you do something by choice, you do it because you want to, not because you must. I was devotionally reading this part of the Bible around the time of my first cancer back in November 2006. In the commentary I wrote, “Lord, either for me. I really do not mind”. Paul urged the Philippian church to suffer and live in a way that: 1. Rests the fate of life and ministry in God Himself 2. Trusts implicitly in God’s sovereignty 3. 100% honours God in all of life and death 4. Reflects, to all, every Christian’s guaranteed heavenly citizenship. Here I am just a little bit like Paul. On days when all goes well I am happy to still be here on earth. On other days, bad days, I wish I was already in heaven! I wonder, how about you? Imagine a stool (below) with three equal-length wooden legs, ‘a), b), c),’ to keep you balanced and supported, while you sit to milk your cow. Keep these three principles in mind: a) Stool leg one, desire to depart, to be with Christ, which is better by far: In Philippians 1 Paul writes of “Christ Jesus” (or similar) eighteen times! … servants of Christ Jesus; holy people in Christ Jesus, vs1; peace … from the Lord Jesus Christ, vs2; until the day of Jesus Christ, vs6; the affection of Christ Jesus, vs8; blameless for the day of Christ, vs10; righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, vs11; in chains for Christ, vs13; preach Christ (x2), vs15,17; Christ is preached, vs18; the Spirit of Jesus Christ vs19; Christ will be exalted, vs20; to me to live is Christ, vs21; to depart and be with Christ, vs23; your boasting in Christ Jesus, vs26; the gospel of Christ, vs27; suffer – on behalf of Christ, vs29. Paul’s fixation with Jesus here developed his obsession to be with Him there. A right desire to depart and be with Jesus brings with it a very loose hold on one’s earthly possessions, on people, on plans, indeed on many, ‘things of this world’. It gets life here into a proper Christian perspective. b). Stool leg two, dedicate yourself to the Christian service of others “it is more necessary for you”, Philippians 1:24, (italics mine). Like parents, who give of themselves to bring up children Like sugar, which sacrifices itself into nothing to flavour a cup of tea Like the footballer who passes the ball to someone better placed, rather than shoots at goal himself, ‘for the good of the team’ Like church-people who attend services and other events to give, not just to get. Be as involved as you can when opportunities to serve come along c). Stool leg three, disciple yourself and others, Philippians 1:27-30 “Whatever happens”, vs27 – bad, worse, terrible, miserable, etc., or acceptable, fine, great, miraculous, etc., “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ”, vs27, (italics mine). 1. Stand firm – do not slip back from Christ into the world’s ways 2. Strive together as one – let Holy Spirit make you and use you as He wants 3. Suffer on behalf of Christ – vs29, Paul wrote from prison where: he was suffering, but not stopped, in serving Christ curtailed, but not cut out, in ministering to others Brenda and I left Khartoum International Church through illness finally in 2004. We were not even halfway through our own ’10 year plan’. But God had other ideas. Since then, using DVD and audio recordings, with publishing and writing books that God has enabled us to produce, He has advanced His ministry in Sudan and South Sudan, from preaching to 250 people weekly and regularly teaching small classes for 2 Bible/theological schools in Khartoum, to having written, edited, raised the finances for, published and printed almost 100,000 books in the three major used languages. “Christ is preached, and because of this (I honestly must admit, only on a good day) I rejoice”, Philippians 1:18. To God be all the honour, praise, thanks and glory. We are at best only unworthy and unprofitable servants, who have tried to do our duty, Luke 17:10. 3) Why do good people die? Finally, in our thoughts about death and its impact on our living today, let’s try to answer a frequently asked question: “Why do good people die?” The somewhat surprising answer is, in answer to Jesus’ prayer! Jesus was sharing in conversation with His Father when He was recorded as saying, “Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world”, John 17:24, (italics mine). Look at the verse above very carefully, especially the first section that I have highlighted. Would we lessen, or even give up, our prayers for the health-recovery of our loved ones, family and friends if we understood that our Lord Jesus was praying the opposite? Would we pray differently about our church’s relief from her present and terrible suffering if we understood that our Lord Jesus was praying the opposite? Would we change the focus of our prayers at funerals if we understood that our Lord Jesus was praying the opposite? What else should we think about re-evaluating in our attitudes and in our prayers, if we truly understood that our Lord Jesus was praying for His people to be immediately with Him in His glorious presence? After all, is this not the ultimate ‘why?’ of everything? Our Lord Jesus constantly had heaven uppermost in His mind while on earth. To be one of His genuine followers we must try to copy Him in this. Take to heart that death is the destiny of (almost) everyone. Settle that you will try to lift Jesus up in your body, by life or by death. And remember that our Lord wants all His people to be with Him in the glory of heaven. “Lord Jesus, make us ready. Please”. Originally written as BiMonthly Encouragement, 1st November 2017. Discussion guide 1. Why do you think people generally do not like to talk about dying and death? Do you feel comfortable doing it now? Why? Why not? 2. From Philippians 1:20-24 Paul expressed his desire that, “now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain”. Why do you think most Christian believers appear to spend more time thinking about their physical life than their eternal life? Is this good or bad? 3. Which of the three imaginary ‘stool-leg’ principles (a).b).c). above) is the weakest one, in your experience and in your observation of other Christians? Explain why you believe this is so. Is there anything else you think would help people live more with death in mind? 4. Since our Lord Jesus wants us to be with Him in glory, John 17:24, in which ways must we change our priorities over living well and dying well? 5. Pool your ideas on each one of my last five bullet points, near the end of this chapter. Feel free to raise objections to any of them, but if you do try and use Scripture to support your argument 6. Outline in your own words your understanding of “for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart”, Ecclesiastes 7:2b. Compose one sentence that captures the Teacher’s mind.[1] [1] Ecclesiastes 1:1, 12-13; 7:27;12:8-10. Probably Solomon, son of King David.

Issues facing Christians in Sudan and South Sudan today. Integrity section. Integrity—“the quality of always behaving honestly and according to moral principles”. Living our lives showing Christian integrity means we will try our very best, all of the time, whatever we are doing, to live by the highest principles of good Christian behaviour. One of Jesus’ closest disciples wrote urging everyone who wanted to follow Christ not only to live, but to live well: “Whoever claims to live in Him (Jesus Christ) must walk as Jesus did”, 1 John 2:6. We can never earn our salvation by doing ‘so many’ good things. Salvation doesn’t work like that! Salvation is God’s gift for all who trust themselves to Jesus, the Saviour from all sin. Yet we should always be giving evidence that we are being saved. That evidence is simply living life the Christian way. In the garden by my home in Khartoum North I used to enjoy growing a small amount of fruit. I planted melon seeds which grew into vines and produced sweet melons. I planted banana suckers which, after a while, produced the hanging clusters of tasty yellow fruit. I planted lime trees and drank many a glass of juice rich in vitamin C from their green, round or oval fruits. It may seem an obvious thing to say, but the melons only grew on the melon vines, the bananas only grew on the banana stalks, and the limes did not grow anywhere else but on the lime trees. God planned this right back at the beginning of everything: “The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good”, Genesis 1:12, (my italics). A Christian life should witness positively for Jesus Christ, without needing any words to be spoken. Christian integrity means we will be honest in our lifestyles. Our habits, our attitudes, our values and our standards will all recommend Christianity to those who live around us. They will notice the difference. When they like what they see and hear, we have introduced Jesus Christ to them by “walking as Jesus walked”. When friends such as our neighbours, work colleagues or travelling companions, ask us “what makes you so different?”, we will be able to personally introduce them to our living Lord Jesus. God sees this as “good” too—God wants it! This is evangelism as He always intended it to be: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”, 1 Peter 3:15. Children often look like, and sound like, their parents. While staying in one Khartoum home, I remember noticing the young son of a pastor at a desk, typing on to a computer. He was sitting in exactly the same position as I had seen his father sit earlier. When the mother called out “Rani, it is time for you to go to bed”, the boy spoke the words—and used the same tone of voice—I had heard his father use many times: “Just a moment, my darling, I’ll come as soon as I’ve finished this”! As Christians we are children of our Father God. Can people around us see God-like quality in our lives? “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him”, 1 John 3:1. We should live in the day to day world remembering that we represent our Father who is in heaven. People will notice the godly characteristics which are in our behaviour, even if we are not aware of it. Jesus told His disciples: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven”, Matthew 5:16. Integrity means wholeness. Something that is whole has everything necessary to be complete. A healthy person is a whole person. A healthy Christian is a Christian who lives with integrity throughout his or her life. People who say they are Christians but who do not show they are Christians are sick Christians, if indeed they are real Christians at all. For a moment think back to the fruit in my garden. Pretend my banana tree was able to speak. And imagine it kept on saying to me, “I’m a banana tree”, “I’m a banana tree”, “hey—I’m a banana tree”! I could hear the voice from the tree speaking, but when I looked for the banana fruits, to take some and to eat, there was nothing there. How would I feel? I would probably think—and maybe even talk back to my banana tree (when no-one was looking, of course!)—and say: “Here, listen to me you tree: stop your talking, and start your fruiting! The best way for me to know you are a good banana tree is for you to produce lots of green and yellow, crescent-shaped fruit for me to enjoy. Don’t say another word. Show me what you are”. As a Christian, what I believe is shown by how I behave! In the following four examples we will discover several practical situations where we face choices as Christians. We can live like most other people do around us, or, we can choose the pathway of Christian integrity. Our decision may make our lives more difficult. It may even result in us having to pay a high price for living the Christian way. But it will be the right thing to do. We will have kept the integrity of our Christian witness. For every example read the Bible passage carefully. The Bible is God’s word to us. He wants us to be able to “walk as Jesus walked”. Our Lord Jesus paid a high price for us. We are His—we are not our own. Let’s pray this prayer as we continue our study: Father God, may we learn what is the right way to live and may we live that way, always. Thank you for Your promise to help us. (Philippians 4:13). We are in this together! May our light shine in the darkness, in Jesus’ name, Amen. Example one the Lord Jesus. Read Matthew 22:15-22. People who were against Him, and who were trying to make a fool of Him, never-the-less recognised in Jesus: “a man of integrity”, a man who was true to His teachings, verse 16. Jesus was being asked by these Pharisees to start rebellion against paying Roman taxes, or to risk losing His personal popularity with the crowds as a teacher. What should He do? The four things said about Him by the Jewish leaders, in verse 16, give us an idea of what helped Jesus make His decision: “You are a man of integrity”. An honest, moral and upright man. An older Bible translation says, “Thou art true”. Jesus was true to the truth He was, John 14:6, and to the truth He believed. He lived truth. Always. “You teach the way of God”. Jesus knew that God’s truth does not change with changing circumstances. He would speak the truth and live by the truth, whether it seemed to His advantage or not. “You aren’t swayed by men”. The right thing to do—or to say—does not change if you are dealing with a family member, or someone from your own tribe, or an important and influential official. What is right is right, whoever is asking the question! “You pay no attention to who they are”. These verses, with Mark 12:13-17, seem to say of Jesus: “You are not swayed by men, but only by God”. “You do not say what people want You to say. You keep to God’s right way. You are 100% honest and 0% hypocritical”. What do people say about you? What does God know about you? Are you “walking as Jesus walked” in all that you do? If we want to keep a good Christian witness, then in every situation we face, we must say and do only what our Lord Jesus would do if He were standing in our place. Example two Titus, a pastor at Crete. Read Titus 2:6-8. The life of every pastor or group leader is to be an example, a pattern, a visual aid to all the members of his or her group. Any leader should be able to say: “If you want to live as a Christian should, then live like me”. Paul did this himself, 1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 11:1, Philippians 3:17, 2 Thessalonians 3:7,9. Human beings like to copy one another. Paul was careful to be a good model for others to follow. He encouraged Timothy to live as a pattern for others too, 1 Timothy 4:12, “...set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity”. In the passage above Titus is encouraged to teach young men to be masters of themselves. They should not be out of their own control, but be under Holy Spirit inspired self-control, verse 6. The Holy Spirit helps us to apply the Bible in practical ways to our daily lives, (e.g. Colossians 3:1-17). Personal example joined with sound teaching, verse 7, will be a potent weapon in helping Titus become a good minister. “Integrity” translates here the Greek aphthoria which literally means “incorruptness”. As one rotten fruit badly affects the whole basket full of fruit, so—in a positive way—a healthy messenger giving a healthy message leads to a healthy congregation. As we visibly show our faith is genuine (not just talked, but walked), we are seen to be different from the false teachers mentioned in Titus 1:11. Paul strongly criticises them. The first part of Titus 1:16 is the opposite of integrity: “They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him”. Integrity helps our witness for Jesus. Your opponents can say nothing bad about you that is true when you live an upright life, Titus 2:8. If people were to judge the Lord Jesus by what they see in your life now, what would they think about Him? Example three King David. Read 1 Chronicles 29:1-20. For us the key is verse 17. David has led his people in giving money and skills towards building the temple. In his prayer to God David says: “I know, my God, that You test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things have I given willingly and with honest intent”. Because he was king David had: the power to command his people to give their taxes for this project. Instead he encouraged them by his own example. His people copied his good pattern. Compare verses 2, 3, 6, 9, 14. Integrity inspires others. Do you always walk as Jesus walked in the way you handle your money? Can others copy your good example? When King Solomon finished building the temple using these resources, God promised him something. It was a conditional promise: “If you will, then I will”. “If you walk before Me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe My decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever …”, 1 Kings 9:4-5. The following verses warn of disastrous consequences being sent from God, if the king or his sons “turn away from” Him, 1 Kings 9:6-9. Note: The opposite of integrity is being “away from God”. What does God see in your heart and life? Example four Hananiah. Read Nehemiah 7:1-3. Hananiah means “Yahweh has been gracious”. Integrity is a gracious work of God in our lives. We can pray for our own integrity as well as practise it. Because Hananiah could be seen to trust God in an exceptional way, he was given a trustworthy position by Nehemiah, verse 2. Being a man of Integrity earned him his job. Honouring God was more important to this soldier than anything else. Threats were being made against God’s work, Nehemiah 4:11-12; 4:16-23; 6:10; 6:17-19. The successful rebuilding of Jerusalem depended on his wisdom, his courage and his integrity. Hananiah could be relied upon by everyone. Can God rely on you to do His work, and do it well? Are you the type of person God wants to choose to help in His work? I speak only a very little Arabic. When I lived in Khartoum, Sudan, I often heard people during conversations use the word: “tamaam”. They were saying, “That’s OK”, “everything is right”,” good”. The Hebrew Bible’s word for “integrity” is “tamam”. It is also translated “sound, complete, and finished”. It seems that when God finds a Christian who is learning to live in Christian integrity all of the time, God says, “tamaam”. Let’s pray that you and I will always be among them! Discussion guide Using this chapter and Scriptures quoted: 1. Why is it important that other people can see your good deeds and not just hear you talk about them? Matthew 5:16. 2. Share some of the worst examples you have seen when Christians have not lived up to the name “Christian”. What has been the result on other people? 3. “What I believe is shown by how I behave”. True or false? Why? Luke 6:43-49. 4. Give some examples of where you have been tempted to be “swayed by men”, Mark 12:14. What has stopped you changing what you say or do? 5. Compare Titus 1:11 “They claim to know God but by their actions they deny Him”, with Titus 2:8 “and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about you”. Explain how you can live as the Christian you should be. Give practical examples of what to do and what to avoid. 6. What do you learn about the value of integrity from 1 Chronicles 29? 7. Where does Christian integrity come from? After your own thoughts, consider Romans 8:1-17; Galatians 5:16-25; Colossians 3:1-17.

Leadership, Integrity and Nation building. – by Amoko Fodomula In this chapter we will be asking questions and answering about: Who is the sheep or the follower? What is the role of the sheep/follower to the shepherd/leader? How can we develop sheep/followers? What are the characteristics of sheep/followers? What are the benefits for the sheep from the shepherd (or pastor)? We will draw examples from real living animals and from working shepherds. On the other side, we will also be asking questions and answering about: Who is the shepherd/pastor/leader? What are the characters or qualities of the shepherd/pastor/leader? How can you or I become a shepherd/pastor/leader? Are shepherds created, born, made, called, trained or mentored? What are the roles or responsibilities of the shepherd/pastor/leader towards the sheep/followers? What is the importance of the shepherd/pastor/leader to the sheep/followers? What can the shepherd/pastor/leader benefit from the sheep/followers? The sheep/followers? It is clear from the Bible, especially Ezekiel 34:17-22 and Jeremiah 10:21; 23:1-4 and more, that there are sheep/flock/followers who are acting and acted irresponsibly towards one another. That is why the prophet spoke to them strongly by saying, “As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?” Ezekiel 34:17-19. Some of many Bible verses about sheep in both Old and New Testaments: 1) We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered, Psalm 44:22 2) … the sheep of His pasture, Psalm 100:3 3) I have strayed like a lost sheep, Psalm 119:176 4) We all like sheep have gone astray, Isaiah 53:6 5) And as a sheep before its shearer is silent, Isaiah 53:7 6) My people have been lost sheep, Jeremiah 50:6 7) I myself will search for my sheep and look after them, Ezekiel 34:11 8) Like sheep without a shepherd, Mathew 9:36 9) I am sending you out as sheep among wolves, Matthew 10:16 10) The sheep listen to his voice. He calls them by name, John 10:3 11) I am the gate for the sheep, John 10:7 12) I lay down my life for the sheep, John 10:15 13) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, John 10:27 14) Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep”, John 21:16 15) We are considered as sheep to be slaughtered, Romans 8:36 16) Our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, Hebrews 13:20 17) You were like sheep going astray, 1 Peter 2:25 1. Who are the sheep/followers? Followers are the animals/people who are under the care of the shepherd/pastor/ leader. They are to listen to the shepherd as a guiding person, a leading person who steers them towards green pastures, resting places, where they can get water, security and satisfaction.[1] 2. What is the role of the sheep/follower to the shepherd/leader? These 13 points are gathered from the writer’s own experiences as a former shepherd and sheep-keeper. The sheep is to: a) Provide milk for the shepherd b) Provide meat for the shepherd c) Provide wool for the shepherd d) Provide skin for the shepherd e) Provide lambs born for the shepherd f) Provide health to the shepherd’s family g) Provide joy for the shepherd h) Provide peace, hope and security to the shepherd i) Provide manure for the shepherd j) Provide friends and warn the shepherd of enemies k) Provide wealth for the shepherd l) Provide suffering and sleepless nights to the shepherd! m) Develop patience and self-control in the shepherd’s life 3. How can we make sheep or a flock into followers? For you to have sheep: 1) You must work hard to be able to buy them 2) You may inherit some from your parents 3) Someone can entrust you to take care of his sheep, then later you will have your own, like Jacob who worked with his father-in-law for some years to have his own flock, Genesis 29:14-30 4) According to some cultures in South Sudan, if you have sisters then in future you will receive animals or flock when they get married. You also can get married yourself by using the animals as a dowry 4. What are the character qualities of the sheep/followers? Sheep are to: 1) Obey the shepherd. Obedient sheep will always be protected by the shepherd. But any sheep that is not obedient will go through difficult times in life. Sometimes it will fall into a trap for the wild animals, or it may be beaten or must have its leg broken, or be tied down with a rope, in order not to create any unnecessary havoc for the shepherd. 2) Follow the shepherd. Any sheep who would like to go on its own way is in danger(s) of being wounded or even killed, at the least bringing unnecessary troubles to the shepherd. They are the easiest chosen to be slaughtered first for occasions of food, or to be exchanged for some other goods, in order to give peace to the shepherd. 3) Provide for the shepherd. If we follow closely what is taking place in the church during the ordination or commissioning day of a minister or lay person, we discover about supporting. Before the Bishop lays hands on the new people who are to be ordained or commissioned, he will always say, ‘Oh people of God, I am presenting to you these servants whom we have just prepared to be ordained or commissioned in the office of deacons and priests. Will you support them and uphold them in your prayers as they undertake their services to God and His church?’ All this takes place while the Bishop is presenting them to the congregation or the laity, who are in this context the sheep/followers. Always the response of the laity is as follows, “We will support them”. Then the Bishop turns to the clergy and asks, “Do you receive them in your fellowship?” And the clergy will always respond, “We receive them gladly”. The laity and the clergy therefore commit themselves to support, uphold, receive and encourage the ordained people, and in general all the servants of the Lord. “But how do we fulfill our commitment to God in this as followers/sheep? How well do you keep your pastors/shepherds/leaders” in your churches?”[2] 4) To bring or to earn wealth for the shepherd. Keeping sheep is keeping wealth, because sheep are not just for fun. 5) To be productive. Sheep are supposed to grow in number. If they are not multiplying it means there is something wrong with them, or their land (environment), or even with their shepherd. Perhaps he neglects them? 6) To be healthy. If they are not healthy perhaps they will die or be sold to bring in new replacements which are healthy and productive. The owner must pay the costs of medication to benefit production. To have a healthy flock is a good sign of a good use of wealth. The shepherd/pastor/leader Bible verses about a shepherd or shepherds in Old and New Testaments: a) The God who has been my shepherd all my life, Genesis 48:15 b) Scattered … like sheep without a shepherd, 1 Kings 22:17 c) You will shepherd my people Israel, 1 Chronicles 11:2 d) The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing, Psalm 23:1 e) The words of the wise … given by one Shepherd, Ecclesiastes 12:11 f) He tends his flock like a shepherd, Isaiah 40:11 g) He … will watch over his flock like a shepherd, Jeremiah 31:10 h) As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them … Ezekiel 34:12 i) He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, Micah 5:4 j) People … oppressed for lack of a shepherd, Zechariah 10:2 k) Harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd, Matthew 9:36 l) I am the good shepherd, John 10:11 m) The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, John 10:11 n) I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep … John 10:14 o) Our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, Hebrews 13:20 p) You have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls, 1 Peter 2:25 q) Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, 1 Peter 5:2 r) And when the Chief Shepherd appears you will receive, 1 Peter 5:4 s) The Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd, Revelation 7:17 t) Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, Jeremiah 3:15 u) Woe to the shepherds who are scattering and destroying the sheep of my pasture! declares the Lord Jeremiah 23:1 v) Should not shepherds take care of the flock? Ezekiel 34:2 w) There were shepherds … keeping watch over their flocks at night, Luke 2:8 x) The evangelists, the pastors/shepherds and teachers, Ephesians 4:11 1. Who is the shepherd/leader? The word shepherd has to do with the responsibility of the church to take care of the local congregation members, who are called the sheep. Christ is the Chief Shepherd of all His sheep, 1 Peter 5:4, and He is the role model for each local shepherd/pastor/leader. Our character is supposed to be as Jesus; our role like the way Jesus is the care-taker for His people. Local pastors or leaders are to be examples of loving care, humility, patience and concern for their sheep. Pastors and elders are specifically warned by the apostle Peter not to use their positions of leadership for personal power or financial gain, 1 Peter 5:2-3. Surely this applies to civic leaders as well? The biblical shepherd illustrations may be literal or metaphorical. They may mean people who oversee sheep (the animals), or leaders who are leading people similar to themselves, or both. They can be politically or spiritually in charge of their fellow men.[3] Talking about leader/shepherd/pastor is talking about leadership, and talking about leadership is talking about the futures of family, community, organisation, or nation, all of which depend upon the quality of its leadership. “That is why it is important to develop the right kind of leaders for the right leadership in the world.”[4] It seems from reading the Bible there are two types of shepherds: ones who are feeding the sheep by taking care of them, and others who are feeding off the sheep for themselves by mistreating them. That is why the Lord has to speak to them through prophets such as Ezekiel, “Thus says the Lord ‘Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the choice animals; but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak, or healed those who are ill or bound up those who are injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally’”, Ezekiel 34:1-4. 2. What are the characteristic qualities of the shepherd/leader? Although shepherds are known as people who take care, or are care-takers, of their flocks, I read some books on Masai people groups in Kenya. I saw that they are warriors which created in me a fear that it is not easy to deal with Masai people. But to my surprise, in 2014 while I visited Magadi and Ngrumani Masai land, in the mountainous area, I was surprised to interact with real Masai in their Manyatas (local houses). I found out that these people are friendly and not as people had written about them or portrayed in their pictures. Today I have many friends among them. I have visited them in their homes and they are connected to my family members, even inviting my children to visit them in their villages around Nairobi. While in Ngrumani I tried to investigate from some Masai elders why people think that Masai are warriors? This Muze (an old man) whom I prayed for was healed instantly in his home state. His son, Moses, had requested me to go with him and pray for his father at their home. He had been sick for some months. He tried to explain to me through his son’s interpretation, “My son Amoko, you need to hear and learn from us not from others, because people can say anything about other people, sometimes things that are not true”. Moses’ father continued to say to me that “We Masais are very friendly to people but we are accused of being warriors because of our lifestyles which are forced on us by the nature of our living. We are surrounded by enemies because of our wealth, which is our animals, our flocks. We are being attacked by wild animals from the bush trying to take our lives. On the other hand, we are being ambushed by people who want to take our animals from us. We must be aggressive to protect ourselves and our properties. We are not warriors, please let them know this”. Even those who are saying what they are saying will not accept others to play with their lives to the extent of destroying their properties. Thank God He enabled me to influence the Muze’s son, Moses, to the extent he is now in Bible school in Nairobi. Shepherd leaders are: pursuers, like Jacob stewards, keeping safely the trusts of their owners, knowing one day they will give account of what they have done protectors, like David providers, feeding, watering and protecting their sheep tent dwellers, like Moses – temporary and basic, not luxury rescuers of the lost, like Abraham with Lot strong people, devoted and selfless[5] tender hearted people, like Abraham people of faith in God, like Joseph skilful people with defined values, like Joseph[6] problem solvers, like David and Jonathan? realistic leaders in their leadership, planning strategically[7] above reproach. St. Paul said, “the overseer is to be above reproach” “a bishop then must be blameless” (KJV)[8] 1 Timothy 3:2. having empathy, with ears to hear what people are saying and hearts feeling what people are going through in their nation. Shepherd leaders feel with their sheep, listening to their voices and knowing them by their names have no partiality. Jesus as Chief Shepherd, out of His love for His Father and zeal for His glory kindled anger against those who had turned God’s house of prayer into a den of robbers, Matthew 21:13. His personality and authority was such that they accepted these challenges for the time. Jesus cares for His people. Local pastors are to be examples of similar loving care[9] s church leaders they are prophets. Because the church leader is called to be not only a shepherd but also a prophet. To speak to the people of his or her own time, and messages from God that spring from the circumstances in which the prophet lives. This is why, in order to understand the message of a given Bible prophet, we need to know the history and social background of that prophet. But the source of the messages from true Old Testament prophets is divine. It is derived from neither observation nor intellectual thought, but from admission to the Council Chamber of God. That is why the prophet Amos was able to say; “Surely the sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets”, Amos 3:7.[10] as church leaders (and why not civic leaders too?) they lead the sheep to green feeding pastures, to still refreshing waters, restoring their souls physically and spiritually, leading the sheep on in the paths of righteousness for His (God’s) name’s sake. They also protect from fear because they are always present, comforting their flock, preparing table hospitality for them in presence of their enemies, checking their health by touching their heads and anointing them with oil, filling their cups until they overflow all day everyday of their lives, as they are forever living in the house of the Lord, from Psalm 23. in the Old Testament there are two shepherds who are mentioned with special approval. Moses is one, Isaiah 63:11, and surprisingly Cyrus the heathen king, a killer of God’s people for God’s purpose, was also considered as a shepherd, Isaiah 44:28. The Word of God stresses strongly the serious responsibility of all human leaders to those who follow them. They are to be lovers, who love their work of shepherding. At any time they are ready and willing to put their own interests aside and go to look for their sheep when any are in problems, lost, confused, wounded or in danger. 3. How can one become a shepherd/leader? Are shepherds created, born or made? To become a shepherd, pastor or other leader, is a calling from God, after discovering that you are created in God’s image for the purposes of His kingdom. You then need to be motivated, developed, mentored, trained, molded, and be made to become a leader as you spiritually mature. Then you can be put in more ministry. The stages of becoming a leader are many but let me mention a few: 1) To become a leader you need to be a relational and reachable person, since leadership is the science of dealing with people and people’s problems, solving or offering solutions. 2) To become a leader you need to be connected to other people, because leaders do not work in a vacuum or isolation. 3) To become a leader you need to be trained and equipped for the role you are going to play in the church, community, nation, continent, or even the world. 4) To become a leader you need to be led and coached by another elder/leader who is experienced in life, probably in your upcoming role. 5) To become a leader you need to know that leadership is all about reproducing and multiplying yourself in others, 2 Timothy 2:2.[11] Training, modelling and releasing 1. What are important duties of the shepherd/leader towards the sheep/ followers? The shepherd is important to the sheep/followers whom he or she is leading. In managing them as people with their properties, the leader is in leadership: a) take courage by putting yourself at risk b) take courage of being open for new ideas c) evoke in the followers the capacity to dream d) inspire the followers with a vision of what they can contribute e) show the heart of a leader, speaking to the hearts of the followers f) integrate hearts, heads and souls of the sheep/people g) show an open mind and an open heart, being real in what you think and say h) see the possibilities in a situation, while the sheep/followers are seeing only the limitations i) gently lead them where they need to go. You need to be a visionary person, looking ahead. Know where you are taking the sheep/followers j) provide security, harmony, peace and joy to and for the sheep. Let the followers know and feel that you are concerned about their needs as people, not just to be used for your own end plan k) be a good helper to them all l) advise them in their needs and develop them to their potential 2. What is the role/responsibility of the shepherd/pastor/leader towards the sheep/followers? It is said that “nothing builds strong character like studying the lives of great Christians, who are the men and women of God who can mentor through their lives examples of faith”.[12] We can emulate and learn from their walk with God. “The shepherd is there to bring changes”.[13] For change to happen leaders need to realise that impending change can produce adverse reactions in people because there are some conservative traditionalists for whom change can be seen as an unwelcome threat to their security. The leader is to influence, not to control, the followers, as a servant leader. A pastor once said to me, “Authority is like soap: the more you use it, the less you have”. Too often leaders succumb to the temptation and use power to achieve their personal goals, or to get people to do what the leader wants, regardless of whether the follower’s heart agrees. The leader must not lord it over followers, Luke 22:25-27. The apostle Paul writes to one of his fellow workers saying, “But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favour you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary”, Philemon verse14. Following in the footsteps of Jesus, Peter or Paul, when they were addressing people in leadership, good leaders have a different way to lead so that the followers may grow in decision-making and respond to the will of God (and His leadership) from a willing heart. I heard someone saying one day, “A man convinced against his will remains a man unconvinced”.[14] Shepherds need to let the sheep feel that they are owning the programme, the project, the organisation or the company. However, in most cases under some leaders they say, “I feel like I’m having no say or ownership in these decisions and I find myself resenting it”. The leader’s role is to build confidence and consensus into the followers so that they may feel some sense of ownership in any major decisions that are being made. This can be through articulating the issues or problems in a discussion, and by being a good listener. In so doing he or she sets an example that others will follow in listening to all points of view. Much sensitivity is needed in leadership, so a good leader is the one who is sensitive to the discussions, caring for everyone’s thoughts and ideas, before beginning to use his or her power to steer the group to an acceptable solution or conclusion. The leader may have to meet with some of the members or followers who are maintaining a firm position that seems to be against the consensus of the group. Since there are usually several options available, which include deciding not to decide for the moment, consensus building with influencing and persuasive leadership does not always work immediately in every situation, especially in Africa and I have heard in other parts of the world too! The good leader is to disciple the followers for their future lives. Famous people in the world have many others who are following them through their examples and their being called ‘heroes’. Many pastors, though sadly not all, feed their sheep, strengthen their weak, heal their sick, bring back their strayed, and look for their lost to bring them back. Similarly, there are good and bad civic leaders. 3. What are the benefits of the sheep to the shepherd/followers to the leaders? If the shepherd works hard he or she will benefit from the sheep in different ways, such as bringing wealth to the family and inheritance to the coming children or generations. Sheep will bring joy and financial security to the family members. Sheep are the economy and pride of the nation. This wealth can lead to the family having factories for milk, shoes, bags, belts and anything for the commercial development and lifestyle in the nation or the world. Sheep wool is for making blankets and heavy clothes for the cold season. Sheep are also used for solving family issues in Africa: they are for marriages, sold to get money for medical needs, travelling and any kind of needs in the family such as school fees for children. The list is very much too long for mentioning every item name by name. Followers need to pay attention to the shepherd, do what he is commanding or requesting them to do, be close to her, go with him in the same direction of life as long as they are following Christ Jesus. They have to do exactly what the shepherd is doing, as Jesus’ disciples did after understanding what the Lord was saying to them. Followers need to be ready for changes in life and be ready to go, with willing mind, to pay the price as disciples for Christ, and not just to the church leader who is discipling them. I was impressed by one brother when he was teaching about discipleship. He mentioned the 7 ‘L’ s of discipleship: 1) Let go of old ways 2) Live with Jesus Christ as Lord 3) Learn from Jesus day by day 4) Listen to His teaching 5) Look to and meditate on His example 6) Look more and more at Jesus to the point of becoming like Him 7) Love Jesus (God) with whole heart, soul, mind, strength, and love neighbours as themselves, Mark 12:30-31. It is a bit different for the sheep/animals. They: 8) provide milk for the shepherd and his family, especially for the children 9) provide meat for the shepherd and for the nation 10) provide wool for the shepherd and for the factory 11) provide skin for the shepherd and the leather workers factory 12) provide work for the shepherds and their dogs 13) provide health to the shepherd’s families 14) provide joy for the shepherd 15) provide peace, hope and security to the shepherd 16) provide manure for the shepherd 17) provide friends, and sometimes enemies, for the shepherd 18) provide wealth for the shepherd and the nation 19) provide suffering and sleepless nights to the shepherd in the ‘security’ of the countryside 20) develop patience and self-control in the shepherds and law makers of the country 21) build the capacity of the shepherd 22) connect the shepherd with others in his career of shepherding 4. For how long can the sheep continue as followers? Sheep as animals are not supposed to be kept forever but are to be exchanged for some other goods. Even church members are not supposed to be kept in one place without being active in the body of Jesus Christ. They are to be active in the ministry, as Jesus said, “Go into the world”, Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19. Christian leaders need to have the purpose of training and building up their followers for going into the whole world to extend the kingdom of God, according to Jesus’ Great Commissioning to the Christians in His holy word. Sheep are never to be kept for long in one place because they will start bringing troublesome problems to their shepherds. In some areas of our countries these people become the source of disputes between different neighbouring tribal people groups, especially when nomadic shepherds start crossing into the areas of settled agriculturalists who are not grazing animals, the pastoralists seeking grass for their animals and water for their sheep during drought and dry seasons of the year, the agriculturalists trying to grow planted crops. Christian shepherding/pastoring is supposed to be for accommodating people starving for the word of God, taking care of their human needs as people of God by sowing love and compassion among them, as Jesus did to people in His life on earth as a Good Shepherd. “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd”, Matthew 9:36. The shepherd pastor’s concern is to feed his flock and ensure their good health for greater ministry in God’s Kingdom in the whole world, full of humility with the servant attitude, characterised by faith and obedience. Conclusion In this chapter we have discussed different relationship questions about sheep and their shepherds, people and their pastors, citizen followers and their leaders. We have drawn on life examples from real animals and my experience as a real shepherd. We have tried to keep a balance of the responsibilities of each group. The Bible frequently uses this analogy. Pray that we may all learn to play the role(s) God gives us, in ways that bring all glory to Him, in church, in work, in community, in government administration, wherever we may serve Him. Amen. Discussion guide Using this chapter and Scriptures quoted 1. Read Jeremiah 31:10. In what ways does God “watch over His flock like a shepherd”? Use Scriptures to back your suggestions. 2. Considering Amoko’s “own experiences as a former shepherd”, which of his 13 points are helpful for those ‘shepherding people’? Why? 3. Compare and contrast Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing”, with Matthew 9:35-38, “… the crowds … like sheep without a shepherd”. How do you see yourself? And the people of your country? What needs to be done about it? 4. By naming two leaders as His “shepherds” for His people, Moses in Isaiah 63:7-19, and Cyrus in Isaiah 44:24-28, what is Scripture saying about God Himself and human leaders? See also the narratives in Exodus 14:19-31 and 2 Chronicles 36:22-23. 5. “To become a shepherd, pastor or other leader, is a calling from God”. How can you know if you are being ‘called’? Give biblical examples. 6. Explain “authority is like soap: the more you use it, the less you have”.  Suggest ways of using any authority you may have, in view of Acts 20:28-31; Colossians 2:9-10; Philemon verse 14 and Hebrews 13:7. 7. “Sheep are never to be kept for long in one place because they will start bringing troublesome problems to their shepherds”. What lessons can human leaders of every sort learn from this observation? [1] Edited D.J.Wiseman and others, New Bible Dictionary, Third Edition (Inter-Varsity Press: Nottingham, England) 2009. [2] Gitau, John K. Being Your Pastor’s Keeper (Majestic Publisher: Nairobi, Kenya) 2013. [3] Gitari, David M., Responsible Church Leadership (Acton Publishers: Nairobi, Kenya) 2005. [4] Page, Don, Effective Team Leadership, Learning to lead through Relationship (Evangel Publishing: Nairobi, Kenya) 2014. [5] Salter, Colin My life Alongside God’s Word; Biblical thinking for Sudanese and South Sudanese Christians Volume three (WeeFour publications: Redruth, Cornwall, England) 2015. [6] Stanko, John W. So many Leaders… So little Leadership; Beyond the power of position lies the price of Leadership (World Alive Publishers: Nairobi, Kenya) 2007. [7] Saffold, Guy S. Strategic Planning, Leadership Through Vision (Evangel Publisher House: Nairobi, Kenya) 2005. [8] KJV = King James Version also known as the Authorised Version of the Bible, dated 1604-1611. [9] O’Donovan, Wilbur Biblical Christianity in African Perspective (Oasis International, Wheaton, Illinois, USA) 1997. [10] King James Version Bible Commentary (Thomas Nelson: Nashville, Tennessee, USA) 2015. [11] “Leadership training is an ongoing process for disciple making” (The Timothy Initiative Manual: International Version). [12] Mwangi, Susan Called to serve, Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, A Biography (Blossom Books, Nairobi, Kenya) 2009. [13] Dinnen, Stewart You can learn to lead, Manual for people in leadership (Christian Focus: Fearn, Scotland) 1997. [14] “A man convinced against his will, is of the same opinion still”. Samuel Butler's (1612-1680) 17th-century poem Hudibras Part III, Canto iii, lines 547-550. Also, Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797), notes to Chapter 5 of her 1792 treatise A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Accessed 15th August 2017 at www.cliffsnotes.com . Used by Benjamin Franklin and Dale Carnegie much later.