ELISHA PROJECT: THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING LEADERS

By TUNDE DISU and ADEOLA DISU

Serving is the pathway to honour, blessing and glory. While it may not be "cool" to serve in today's world, no one is qualified to lead beyond the degree to which they can serve others.

Elisha Project- The Privilege of Serve Leaders is written in clear and compelling terms to provide practical and insightful guidelines to help anyone become successful in serving those that have authority over them.

It is written from practical hands-on experience of over 2 decades which will open the readers' eyes to see what Elisha saw by serving his master - Elijah.

• Language: English
• Publisher: THE KINGDOM PUBLICATIONS
• Release date: Sep 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781539858171

Book preview

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to the most precious people in my life – Deola, my jewel of inestimable value; the love of my life and the mother of my children. My precious children – Oreoluwa, Ifeoluwa and Adeoluwa.  I will always be DAD.

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C O N T E N T S

Introduction

1.      The Origin of Pastor’s Personal Aide (P.P.A.)?      1

Balancing Your Family andServiceResponsibilities129

Investing in Your Callto Serve143

The Challenges of Serving asa PPA157

10.      The Benefits of Serving                         171

Conclusion      189

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Foreword

The source of any thing is a determining factor in ascertaining the quality of that thing. Tunde has served in various environments under a number of leaders who must have some testimonies    of his stewardship. I was opportune to have him serve with    me for over three years, and while his position was that of an Administrator, the chief attitude he demonstrated was that of a servant.

The scriptures make it clear that the ultimate pathway to greatness is the pathway of stewardship (Matthew 23:11). This book is  not written by a brilliant theorist, but by a vivid practitioner of stewardship. What he has packaged in this volume are excerpts from the annals of his experience as a steward. As you read through, you will surely be imparted with the necessary attitude and disposition to serve with excellence.  It is  when  service  is acceptable both to God and man that greatness results. The attitude of service was at the root of Jesus’ human adventure on the earth and it resulted in unimaginable greatness (Philippians 2:5-11). We are also commanded by God to let the same mindset develop in us.

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Let me therefore; congratulate the author, for capturing the essence of stewardship in this work. And I pray that you, the reader will be endowed with the same grace for stewardship communicated by the words of this book. Without further ado, I welcome you into an adventure into the art of stewardship.

Jesus is Lord! David Oyedepo Jnr.

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Appreciation

I thankfully acknowledge God who has found me worthy and given me the privilege to be used by Him for the excellence of His Kingdom operations on earth. I also thank Him for the life He gave me and the people He put in it to share it with.

I am eternally grateful to my parents – Late Fatai Olaniwun Disu and Mrs. Adeyinka Disu, who brought me up with reverence for God, respect for authority and honour for people. I gratefully acknowledge my loving wife, Deola who gave me a reason to live not just like a mere man but as a distinguished gentleman! My precious children have brought joy unspeakable to me and my household. They taught me patience, unconditional love and gave me the opportunity to shape another generation in the ways and reverence for God whilst reveling in His love.

I am also grateful to my officers for giving me the opportunity to serve the best and most gracious people in the whole world. You taught me how to lead and be led, the disciplines of life and the reason to strive for excellence. You have shown me a more perfect way in the things of God, delivered me from religion and introduced me to a deeper, personal relationship with my Creator. You are my mentors, heroes, advisers, friends and above all my MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD.

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INTRODUCTION

The concept of a Pastor’s Personal Aide (PPA) otherwise known as an Armour-bearer, in this modern day seems rather strange and foreign. The society in which we live today prides itself in the ‘Be your own man, be your own boss and do not let anybody boss you around’ mantra. The language of submission has long been erased from our vocabulary and psyche. Someone once said, You are not yet living until you start living for another.

We all have dreams, hopes and aspirations but their success will be determined to a large extent by how much we are actually investing in other people’s lives, dreams and aspirations. You see, to lead is not a problem but you must start by leading yourself and then submit yourself under someone else for leadership and guidance. In fact, no one is qualified to lead beyond his willingness and readiness to be led by someone else. If you humble yourself in the hands of God, in due time, He will lift you up. You can only give what you have and you can only have what to give if you have received it from someone or somewhere in the first place.

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Have you got a dream, a goal, a call or an assignment that you believe is not just a good idea but a God idea? If you answered yes, then shelve it and start making someone else’s dream, goal, assignment and call happen. Yes, I said shelve it. Remember, whatever you sow, you will also reap. There are lots of mishaps and abandoned projects in the body of Christ because most people equate leadership to oration or eloquence. Just because you can recite a sermon that you heard from someone else does not make you a preacher or a pastor. Even when you know God has called you into the five-fold ministry – apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher and evangelist, wisdom demands that you still sit under someone else both to learn and to cut your teeth.

One of the greatest calamities of our modern day is lack of a servant-heart, especially in the body of Christ. There are lots of ‘Chiefs’ and no ‘Indians’. Every two out of three Christians think and actually say they are pastors. Where are the congregations if everyone is a Pastor? Who recognised you and who ordained you into the office that you occupy? Even Jesus Christ did not start His ministry until that day by the river Jordan when John the Baptist said,

Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

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You will be pointed out when you serve another man’s dream and vision because whatever you make happen for others, God will make happen for you. As it is in other fields where there    is always a teacher, coach, trainer, etc., so it is in the church of Jesus Christ. A pilot, having passed the flying school test, still has to be tutored by a veteran pilot for some time to earn his air miles before he can start flying solo. Before anyone can start to function in any capacity within the body of Christ, it is important that such a person is not only trained but must be endorsed by  a veteran, who will endorse them and also be responsible for keeping an eye on what is going on in the life of the protégée.

As you read through this book, be prepared for some surprises. Somethings will make you want to throw the book down and walk away, but you will come back to it, as its content is life changing. What I share in the pages of this book is the truth that I have walked in for several years of serving another man’s dream and vision. It is my hope and prayer that the pages of this book will minister to you and give you a life changing experience that will bring you to a point of decision such that it will shape and guide your life for ever.

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CHAPTER 1

The Origin of Pastor’s Personal Aide (PPA)

he Bible laid a great foundation for  the  title  of this book in the first book of Corinthians, where  it

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lists the various ministries that Jesus left behind for the perfection of the saints.

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12: 28)

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E L I S H A  P R O J E C T

As you can see from this list, there exists the gift of HELPS. God in His wisdom knew the important role that this arm of the ministry would have in serving the body of Christ. However, the fascinating part is contained in the next two verses where it says:

Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? (1 Corinthians 12: 29-30)

You will notice that the Bible did not ask if all are HELPERS! There are few people that will serve as apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists and pastors (the five-fold ministry). The rest of us will have to serve in the ‘ministry of helps’. Even