Why God Allows People to Leave You
by Pastor Dag Heward-MIlls
Fifteen Reasons Why God Allows People to Leave You
There are several reasons why the Lord will allow people to leave you and even hurt you.
1. The Lord may allow people to leave you to correct a foundational mistake in your ministry.
At the beginning of ministry, we are often filled with the fear of failure. This fear of failure causes us to grasp at any help that comes our way. In the process of reaching out for help, many ministers attach themselves to the wrong people.
Abraham was a good example of this. God had told him to separate himself from his family and to go on a long and mystical journey to an undefined promised land. Instead of separating himself from his family as God had told him, Abraham went along with some family members and notable amongst them was Lot.
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country, and FROM THY KINDRED, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Genesis 12:1
…and Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, AND LOT WITH HIM, into the south.
Genesis 13:1
All the problems that Abraham had on his journey can be traced to the presence of Lot in his life. Notice the problems that Abraham had because he had Lot with him.
a. Abraham had problems of strife and confusion because of Lot. Abram had to eventually separate from his relatives because of Lot (Genesis 13:7-8).
b. Abraham fought a war he would never have fought because of Lot. Abraham had to rescue Lot from King Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:1-16).
c. Abraham had to intercede specially because of Lot. Abraham had to save his nephew from the destruction coming upon Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:23-33).
This is what I call a foundational mistake of the ministry. It is a mistake you make at the beginning of your ministry, and it is usually made out of fear. These mistakes can cause the wrong person to be attached like an albatross to all that you do.
Sometimes people even marry the wrong person when they are entering into ministry. God may remove that wrong person you have married from the earth so that you will be free from the albatross around your neck. If God does not remove this person from your life you will have to do your entire ministry with the albatross around your neck.
Certain people who were part of my ministry at the very beginning are no longer a part of what I do. Perhaps, I took some of these people along with me because I was afraid that I could not succeed without them. Their presence gave me the reassurance that I would succeed. God in His mercy caused some of them to leave me. Even though I really missed some of them, I recognized that God allowed them to leave because it was a mistake in the first place to carry them along into my new vision to build the church.
2. The Lord may allow people to leave you to humble you.
And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
Deuteronomy 8:2
It is a humbling experience to have people desert, abandon or resign from your organisation. Every departure leaves a sour taste in your mouth. Every time someone departs unceremoniously, he leaves behind a trail of unanswered questions. The uncertainty created by people who leave is unsettling and truly humbling.
After planting churches for many years, I was blessed to have hundreds of loyal pastors, sons and daughters. I was also blessed to have some of my own relatives as pastors in the church.
However, one day some of my relatives abandoned me in the ministry and did the exact opposite of what I had been teaching. It was a great embarrassment to me as my own family members became the focus of rebellion and disloyalty in the church. I now had to combat my own family. It occurred to me many times that I had been able to induce loyalty in so many people but I could not do that in my own family.
I felt that God was humbling me through this process. He wanted to show me that it is not by might nor by power nor by teachings nor principles but by His grace alone. Perhaps, you have had some people leaving you. Allow God to do His spiritual work of humbling you for his service.
3. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you have allowed your members to be ignorant by not teaching about loyalty and disloyalty.
And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and THEY WENT IN THEIR SIMPLICITY, and they knew not anything.
2 Samuel 15:11
The devil feeds on the ignorance of the people. Deception always multiplies when people have not been exposed to the truth of the Word. Absalom was only able to lead two hundred men who went in the simplicity of their mind. This “simplicity of the mind” is what we also call ignorance.
The principles of loyalty and disloyalty, fatherhood and remembrance are often not taught in churches. No wonder the church members become easy prey to the demons of deception that feed on their ignorance. Perhaps you have allowed ignorance on these subjects to run rife in your congregation. Satan has taken advantage of their ignorance and wrecked havoc in your midst.
Yes, your congregation may be blessed with messages of prosperity, marriage and healing but none of these subjects adequately protect your congregation from the demons of disloyalty and treachery.
One day, a pastor asked me why I was teaching on loyalty and disloyalty. He mockingly remarked, “Loyalty is not something that is taught. It is something that you command.”
He continued, “By your good character, you command the automatic loyalties of the people around you.”
Shortly after this he was struck by the bitter experience of treachery from his own associates. He could not believe what was happening to him. After this experience, his despisement of my books and my teachings was converted into admiration. He became a fan of the subject of loyalty and began to promote my books himself. You may never know the importance of teaching until you experience the effects of ignorance.
4. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you despised your fellow minister when his church split up.
… he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Proverbs 17:5
Often, we despise people when they get into trouble. Like Job’s friends, we seem to know the reasons for all the bad things that happen to people. We look down on people who are in trouble because we think they brought it upon themselves. This attitude can open the door for Satan to enter into our lives and ministry.
One day, I met up with three pastors of a super successful church. Their formidable team was made up of two strong associates and a senior pastor. With the help of his two associates, the senior pastor had successfully built one of the largest churches in the city. Everyone seemed to be flocking to their church. Their new church was bursting at its seams and they had multiple services with overflow crowds sitting outside. Filled with the exuberance of their recent successes they began to espouse theories as to why a sister church across town was not growing.
They said deridingly about the pastor of that church, “People only leave a church when it has a bad leader.”
It is because of his bad leadership that people have left his ministry and joined us.”
At that time, I did not even know that people were leaving that other church and joining theirs. I was hearing for the first time that the other church had a “bad” leader. It was not difficult to sense a note of derision and mockery as they spoke about this church and its “bad” leader.
Yes, I do not doubt that people may have left the ministry because of its bad leadership. But you must be careful about how you come to your judgments and conclusions.
A couple of years later, these three leaders went through another phase in their ministry. Every new phase can bring about a change in the balance of power. In this new phase, the two associates left their senior pastor hurling insults and accusations at him. The exact thing for which they had despised the other pastor had happened to them but in a more severe way.
When I heard about this crisis, the first thing that occurred to me was what they had said about that sister church and its pastor, “People only leave you when you are a bad leader.” Was their senior pastor now a bad leader? Not necessarily. There are many reasons why people may leave you. But make sure you do not mock at any one when he is in trouble.
In my country, there is a proverb which goes something like this: “When you see your friend’s beard burning do not laugh at him. Do not ask how he could allow his beard to catch fire. Just go and fetch some water and keep it by your side in case yours also catches fire.” The Bible puts it this way, “…he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished” (Proverbs 17:5).
5. The Lord may allow people to leave you because your destiny does not include them.
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
THEY WENT OUT FROM US, BUT THEY WERE NOT OF US; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
1 John 2:18-19
Not everyone is called to be a part of your team. With our natural mind, we choose people that we feel should be with us. But God has already decided the people that are part of your destiny.
Through the years I have had the sad experience of having to let go of people whom I thought would be with me forever. I have also had the pleasant surprise of meeting their replacements. Honestly, I would not have chosen many of the people who are with me today. But God called them to help me fight in the ministry. Do not struggle when people are taken away from you. Sometimes it is in your eternal destiny that they be taken away and replaced with other people.
6. The Lord may allow people to leave you so that you would understand how our heavenly father feels when His children leave Him.
And he said, a certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Luke 15:11-13
Becoming a father involves looking after all kinds of children. Sometimes, God will allow you to go through certain things so that you will mature into a father. You do not become a father because you are old. You become a father because you have children. You become a father because you can handle different kinds of children and the issues they present.
Cast your mind back to people like Jacob who had so many children. Each child was a different experience. Some children leave you unceremoniously as did the prodigal son. This is something that God experiences because He is the father of all of us. On your road to becoming a father, you are likely to experience people leaving you. Walking in love and maturity towards people who desert you suddenly, abandon you painfully and even turn against you is part of the process of becoming a father.
This is why God would allow some people to leave you – so that you can become a true father.
7. The Lord may allow people to leave you to catch your attention and direct you to Him.
“And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the lord commanded. wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I WILL SURELY REND THE KINGDOM FROM THEE, AND WILL GIVE IT TO THY SERVANT.”
1 Kings 11:9-11
Sometimes people leave you because you are out of the will of God. Jeroboam left the service of Solomon because Solomon was out of the will of God. Because the departure of someone is such a painful experience, it will not fail to get your attention.
Every time someone has left me, it has made me more prayerful and more spiritual. It has made me search myself and see whether I am in the will of God and whether I am doing the right thing. What carefulness, what clearing of myself and what fear it generates in my heart. “For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter” (2 Corinthians 7:11).
You must also allow the departure of people to have this effect on you. The person may be a rebel but God will definitely use him to do a great spiritual work in you. If you are open, each person who leaves you will become a stepping stone to a higher dimension of ministry. I have a long list of people who have left me through the years. Of course, I have many more who have stayed with me. Indeed, I can tell you what I learnt from each and every single “departee”.
8. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you have not continued to follow the Lord as you did at the beginning of your ministry.
He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. And sure enough, they led his heart away from the Lord.
In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship their gods instead of trusting only in the Lord his God, as his father, David, had done.”
1 Kings 11:3-4 (NLT)
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of people leaving you is the thought that you may be out of the will of God. Are you doing something that has opened the door of the enemy into your ministry? Is God pleased with you? Has the devil been allowed access because you have strayed outside His will? This must be one of your great considerations while praying about why someone has left you.
9. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you do not exert your authority.
You need to exert your authority and establish control over the people you lead. If you fail to exert your authority, all sorts of people will take you for granted. Weak leaders cannot establish loyalty in their churches. They allow people to exhibit dangerous signs of disloyalty without confronting them. Weak leaders gossip behind the backs of disloyal people instead of confronting them directly. This creates more confusion and more room for strife. In the end, the weak leader who does not want to confront people has a far worse crisis on his hand.
Solomon exerted his authority and eliminated his own brother Adonijah because he asked for Abishag (David’s concubine) to become his wife.
You must notice subtle indicators of insolence, arrogance and presumption. It was Solomon’s strength of character and his ability to exert authority that stabilised his kingdom. King Solomon was right when he reacted to the audacious request of Adonijah for Abishag. Notice Solomon’s no-nonsense attitude towards Adonijah:
Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.
Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.
And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.
And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
Then king Solomon sware by the Lord, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.
Now therefore, as the Lord liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.
And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
1 Kings 2:19-25
10. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you are too “hard”.
And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, my father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, BUT I WILL CHASTISE YOU WITH SCORPIONS.
1 Kings 12:13-14
It is true that you must exert authority and demonstrate that you are in charge. Notice that Solomon did not simply exert authority because he was the king. He exerted his authority wisely and waited for good opportunities to establish his control.
Your actions must always appear rational and reasonable to the people around you. This helps them to accept your decisions and believe in your leadership.
11. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you are not a legitimate leader.
And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, HAD ZIMRI PEACE, WHO SLEW HIS MASTER
2 Kings 9:30-31
And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah
And Zimri went in and smote him, AND KILLED HIM, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, AND REIGNED IN HIS STEAD.
1 Kings 16:6-10
Zimri is the quintessential illegitimate leader. He had no right to be the king. He had no right to even desire the throne. Yet, he murdered the king and took over the throne. Unfortunately, his reign lasted only seven days. As you can see, illegitimate leaders have no stability.
Perhaps the most positive contribution of Jezebel to history is the question she asked the people who came to murder her. “Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?” In other words, did Zimri have a stable reign on the throne after slaying the legitimate leader? The answer is no. Jezebel tried to frighten off the murderers by reminding them of the inevitable fate of people who overthrow rightful leaders.
One of the chief reasons why people leave you is because you are not a legitimate leader. A legitimate leader is the rightful leader of a group. Rehoboam was the rightful king of Israel because he was the son of Solomon. Jeroboam was just a servant of Solomon. He had no legal rights to the throne of David and he knew it. Jeroboam knew that it was just a matter of time before the people would return and pay allegiance to the genuine and acceptable king of Israel. “And Jeroboam said in his heart, now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, THEN SHALL THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE TURN AGAIN UNTO THEIR LORD, EVEN UNTO REHOBOAM KING OF JUDAH, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (1 Kings 12:26-28).
Jeroboam referred to Rehoboam as the lord of the people. He knew in his heart that Rehoboam was the legitimate king. It was this fear that the people would return to their legitimate king that made him set up idols in Dan and Bethel. When you break away half of someone’s church and use it to start a church you are not the rightful leader of those people. Their rightful leader is the one whom they belonged to before you broke away.
When you break off someone’s church and rename it you are not the rightful leader of the people.
When you lead a rebellion against your father and deceive a group of people to follow you, you are not the rightful leader of the group.
Why are you not the rightful leader of these groups? Because you didn’t give birth to them but you stole them. Actually, you are not a leader but a thief and the curse of a thief will operate in your life. If your church is founded on rebellion and disloyalty, you are nothing more than a rebel. A rebel is not a rightful leader of anyone. This is why makers of coups become so brutal and murderous. When you are not a legitimate leader it is easy for people to turn against you and Jeroboam knew that very well. This is why illegitimate leaders often resort to mass murders and assassinations. Many African countries are led by illegitimate leaders who came into power through coups and civil wars. Their illegitimate authority is extended by murdering people and assassinating anyone perceived to be a threat. In the church world, illegitimate authority is difficult to maintain.
One day, I visited the branch church of a denomination which had been seized by the resident pastor. This pastor (who did not found the church), had painted over the name of the church and claimed ownership of something he did not own. As I stood in the church hall, I warned him that he was doing something wrong. I told him he could not steal someone’s entire congregation. He did not agree with me and rather told me that God had given him a sign that He was with him. He took me outside to the car park and showed me a gleaming brand new car which someone had given to him as a gift for rebelling against his man of God. This pastor was determined to persist in becoming the illegitimate head of that church.
However, illegitimate authority is not easy to maintain. He was unable to control the associates, the elders and the congregation. After a short while the church and its pastors rose up and threw him out of the church.
On another occasion, I was invited to preach in a church somewhere in Ghana. I realised that this church was not growing. The pastor was experiencing break-ups and splits in the church all the time. He did not understand what was happening. “Why isn’t my church growing?” he asked. Some of the prominent members of his church had just left and he was devastated.
“What is going on?” he asked. “Every time I take two steps forward it seems I take three steps backwards.”
In a flash, I remembered how he began his church. He had been an associate pastor for many years and one day he left his senior pastor with a large section of the congregation along with the most prominent members of the church. Actually, he had gone along with the pastor’s main supporter and financier. His senior pastor’s main financier had become his chief supporter. Obviously, he was not a legitimate leader of these people and yet he wanted to build a stable, loyal and growing congregation with these stolen people. For several years, he endured one breakaway after another, never able to gain stable control of the little congregation. It is important that you are the legitimate captain of your ship.
12. The Lord may allow people to leave you because they saw you leave others and learnt from what you did.
People leave you because they learnt it from you. People eventually do what they see you do. This is why David refused to kill Saul. If David had killed Saul, he would have set the precedent for killing kings. Saul had made a mistake and was now demon-possessed and sleeping in witches’ homes. But, it was only a matter of time before David would make equally grave mistakes deserving the same punishment. Perhaps, the one thing that should guide your actions most is that the people around you are learning from what you do. Notice how Zimri the captain of the chariots overthrew king Elah and reigned in his stead. Shortly after that, the people rose up to eliminate Zimri and make Omri, the captain of the host the king.
Zimri overthrows the King
And his SERVANT ZIMRI, captain of half his chariots, CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.
And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
1 Kings 16:9-10
The People Overthrow Zimri
In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against.
16 And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.
17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
18 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died,
19 For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the Lord, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.
1 Kings 16:15-19
13. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you lack wisdom and leadership skills.
Foolish leadership can undo years of hard work and building. An unwise person at the helm of affairs is a disaster waiting to happen. Solomon predicted the arrival of a foolish son called Rehoboam. “Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me.
And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? YET HE WILL HAVE CONTROL OVER ALL THE FRUIT OF MY LABOR FOR WHICH I HAVE LABORED BY ACTING WISELY UNDER THE SUN. This too is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19, NASB).
Solomon knew that a fool on his throne would dissipate and disperse all that he had suffered to build. Indeed he was right. With the arrival of one foolish leader the greatest accumulation of wealth and the richest estate ever known to man was dispersed.
Perhaps even more tragically, the foolish son dispersed the kingdom itself. Within the first few months of taking over the kingdom, he took unwise decisions that led to the complete break-up of the family of Israel. Israel has never been the same since the era of Rehoboam.
I know you may not want to admit it, but it may be your lack of wisdom that is the cause of the continuous breakup of your church. It may be your inability to manage and lead wisely that cause people to leave you.
One day, I noticed how hundreds of people had gathered at the embassies of the European and American countries.
I asked myself, “Why do so many people want to leave Africa? Why do so many people want to leave for Europe? Is it because of bad weather in Africa? Is the weather better in Europe?”
The answer is “no”!
They want to escape from the bad leadership that is prevalent in the African world. They want to live their lives under a different kind of leadership – and you can’t really blame them for that. Who wouldn’t want to escape from a harsh unforgiving world ruled by leaders who lack the wisdom to create peace, stability, wealth and prosperity for their people?
This is what happens when people leave churches. They are running away from our bad and inconsiderate leadership. They are escaping from a church ruled by leaders who lack the wisdom to create peace, stability, wealth and prosperity for their members! Your associate pastors may leave you because they are desperately trying to get away from your poor and unwise leadership. I got you there!
14. The Lord may allow people to leave you as a judgment on your life.
There are times that the departure of people is allowed by the Lord as a judgment for your sins. This may be confusing because we all know that God hates rebellion.
The effect of rebellion is devastating and that is why God sometimes uses it as a judgment. But, please also note that the people who rise up in rebellion are later judged themselves for having rebelled.
Because of Jeroboam’s grave sins, God allowed a conspirator called Baasha to successfully rebel and wipe out the entire family of Jeroboam.
Later on however, the Lord equally judged Baasha for his rebellion. Zimri was then raised up to rebel and destroy the kingdom of Baasha.
Baasha Destroys Nadab as a judgment against Jeroboam
And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.
And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
And BAASHA THE SON OF AHIJAH, OF THE HOUSE OF ISSACHAR, CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM; AND BAASHA SMOTE HIM AT GIBBETHON, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.
Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.
And it came to pass, when he reigned, that HE SMOTE ALL THE HOUSE OF JEROBOAM; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the Lord, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:
BECAUSE OF THE SINS OF JEROBOAM which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger.
1 Kings 15:25-30
Zimri Destroys Baasha as a Judgment against Baasha
And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.
THUS DID ZIMRI DESTROY ALL THE HOUSE OF BAASHA, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,
FOR ALL THE SINS OF BAASHA, AND THE SINS OF ELAH HIS SON, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
Kings 16:11-13
15. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you are not quick to deal with disloyalty.
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 (NASB)
Disloyalty is a spiritual emergency. It must be dealt with quickly before it grows and pollutes the rest of the people. There are many sayings which allude to this fact – “one bad apple spoils the bunch”; “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” are just a couple of these.
Disloyalty is a polluting and contaminating situation which changes the nature of everything and everyone. It is important that you deal with it as quickly as possible. Otherwise everything in your ministry will change.
When people are bitten by a cobra, they begin running immediately. They run for miles trying to make it to the nearest hospital before the poison kills them. Their only hope is to get to the hospital before the venom kills them.
Such is the nature of poison and such is the nature of disloyalty. It is an emergency! You cannot allow your congregation to be polluted by the negative attitude of disloyal leaders. You cannot allow people who exhibit all the signs of disloyalty to move around unchecked. You cannot afford to do this!
Solomon was quick to deal with disloyalty. That is why he executed his uncle, Joab, his brother, Adonijah and Shimei at the very first opportunity. He knew it was dangerous to leave these people. He knew it was dangerous to accommodate men who had shown the desire to overthrow him.
Perhaps it is your slowness at dealing with disloyalty that has allowed disloyal people to have their way in your ministry. Read for yourself how Solomon dealt quickly with three dangerous elements in his kingdom: Adonijah, Joab and Shimei.
Solomon Deals Quickly with Adonijah
22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
23 Then king Solomon sware by the Lord, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.
24 Now therefore, as the Lord liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.
25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
1 Kings 2:22-25
Solomon Deals Quickly with Joab
And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.
1 Kings 2:29
Solomon Deals Quickly with Shimei
The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;
And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord for ever.
So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
1 Kings 2:44-46
by Dag Heward-Mills
Best Selling African Author
Fifteen Reasons Why God Allows People to Leave You
There are several reasons why the Lord will allow people to leave you and even hurt you.
1. The Lord may allow people to leave you to correct a foundational mistake in your ministry.
At the beginning of ministry, we are often filled with the fear of failure. This fear of failure causes us to grasp at any help that comes our way. In the process of reaching out for help, many ministers attach themselves to the wrong people.
Abraham was a good example of this. God had told him to separate himself from his family and to go on a long and mystical journey to an undefined promised land. Instead of separating himself from his family as God had told him, Abraham went along with some family members and notable amongst them was Lot.
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country, and FROM THY KINDRED, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
Genesis 12:1
…and Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, AND LOT WITH HIM, into the south.
Genesis 13:1
All the problems that Abraham had on his journey can be traced to the presence of Lot in his life. Notice the problems that Abraham had because he had Lot with him.
a. Abraham had problems of strife and confusion because of Lot. Abram had to eventually separate from his relatives because of Lot (Genesis 13:7-8).
b. Abraham fought a war he would never have fought because of Lot. Abraham had to rescue Lot from King Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:1-16).
c. Abraham had to intercede specially because of Lot. Abraham had to save his nephew from the destruction coming upon Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:23-33).
This is what I call a foundational mistake of the ministry. It is a mistake you make at the beginning of your ministry, and it is usually made out of fear. These mistakes can cause the wrong person to be attached like an albatross to all that you do.
Sometimes people even marry the wrong person when they are entering into ministry. God may remove that wrong person you have married from the earth so that you will be free from the albatross around your neck. If God does not remove this person from your life you will have to do your entire ministry with the albatross around your neck.
Certain people who were part of my ministry at the very beginning are no longer a part of what I do. Perhaps, I took some of these people along with me because I was afraid that I could not succeed without them. Their presence gave me the reassurance that I would succeed. God in His mercy caused some of them to leave me. Even though I really missed some of them, I recognized that God allowed them to leave because it was a mistake in the first place to carry them along into my new vision to build the church.
2. The Lord may allow people to leave you to humble you.
And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
Deuteronomy 8:2
It is a humbling experience to have people desert, abandon or resign from your organisation. Every departure leaves a sour taste in your mouth. Every time someone departs unceremoniously, he leaves behind a trail of unanswered questions. The uncertainty created by people who leave is unsettling and truly humbling.
After planting churches for many years, I was blessed to have hundreds of loyal pastors, sons and daughters. I was also blessed to have some of my own relatives as pastors in the church.
However, one day some of my relatives abandoned me in the ministry and did the exact opposite of what I had been teaching. It was a great embarrassment to me as my own family members became the focus of rebellion and disloyalty in the church. I now had to combat my own family. It occurred to me many times that I had been able to induce loyalty in so many people but I could not do that in my own family.
I felt that God was humbling me through this process. He wanted to show me that it is not by might nor by power nor by teachings nor principles but by His grace alone. Perhaps, you have had some people leaving you. Allow God to do His spiritual work of humbling you for his service.
3. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you have allowed your members to be ignorant by not teaching about loyalty and disloyalty.
And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and THEY WENT IN THEIR SIMPLICITY, and they knew not anything.
2 Samuel 15:11
The devil feeds on the ignorance of the people. Deception always multiplies when people have not been exposed to the truth of the Word. Absalom was only able to lead two hundred men who went in the simplicity of their mind. This “simplicity of the mind” is what we also call ignorance.
The principles of loyalty and disloyalty, fatherhood and remembrance are often not taught in churches. No wonder the church members become easy prey to the demons of deception that feed on their ignorance. Perhaps you have allowed ignorance on these subjects to run rife in your congregation. Satan has taken advantage of their ignorance and wrecked havoc in your midst.
Yes, your congregation may be blessed with messages of prosperity, marriage and healing but none of these subjects adequately protect your congregation from the demons of disloyalty and treachery.
One day, a pastor asked me why I was teaching on loyalty and disloyalty. He mockingly remarked, “Loyalty is not something that is taught. It is something that you command.”
He continued, “By your good character, you command the automatic loyalties of the people around you.”
Shortly after this he was struck by the bitter experience of treachery from his own associates. He could not believe what was happening to him. After this experience, his despisement of my books and my teachings was converted into admiration. He became a fan of the subject of loyalty and began to promote my books himself. You may never know the importance of teaching until you experience the effects of ignorance.
4. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you despised your fellow minister when his church split up.
… he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Proverbs 17:5
Often, we despise people when they get into trouble. Like Job’s friends, we seem to know the reasons for all the bad things that happen to people. We look down on people who are in trouble because we think they brought it upon themselves. This attitude can open the door for Satan to enter into our lives and ministry.
One day, I met up with three pastors of a super successful church. Their formidable team was made up of two strong associates and a senior pastor. With the help of his two associates, the senior pastor had successfully built one of the largest churches in the city. Everyone seemed to be flocking to their church. Their new church was bursting at its seams and they had multiple services with overflow crowds sitting outside. Filled with the exuberance of their recent successes they began to espouse theories as to why a sister church across town was not growing.
They said deridingly about the pastor of that church, “People only leave a church when it has a bad leader.”
It is because of his bad leadership that people have left his ministry and joined us.”
At that time, I did not even know that people were leaving that other church and joining theirs. I was hearing for the first time that the other church had a “bad” leader. It was not difficult to sense a note of derision and mockery as they spoke about this church and its “bad” leader.
Yes, I do not doubt that people may have left the ministry because of its bad leadership. But you must be careful about how you come to your judgments and conclusions.
A couple of years later, these three leaders went through another phase in their ministry. Every new phase can bring about a change in the balance of power. In this new phase, the two associates left their senior pastor hurling insults and accusations at him. The exact thing for which they had despised the other pastor had happened to them but in a more severe way.
When I heard about this crisis, the first thing that occurred to me was what they had said about that sister church and its pastor, “People only leave you when you are a bad leader.” Was their senior pastor now a bad leader? Not necessarily. There are many reasons why people may leave you. But make sure you do not mock at any one when he is in trouble.
In my country, there is a proverb which goes something like this: “When you see your friend’s beard burning do not laugh at him. Do not ask how he could allow his beard to catch fire. Just go and fetch some water and keep it by your side in case yours also catches fire.” The Bible puts it this way, “…he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished” (Proverbs 17:5).
5. The Lord may allow people to leave you because your destiny does not include them.
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
THEY WENT OUT FROM US, BUT THEY WERE NOT OF US; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
1 John 2:18-19
Not everyone is called to be a part of your team. With our natural mind, we choose people that we feel should be with us. But God has already decided the people that are part of your destiny.
Through the years I have had the sad experience of having to let go of people whom I thought would be with me forever. I have also had the pleasant surprise of meeting their replacements. Honestly, I would not have chosen many of the people who are with me today. But God called them to help me fight in the ministry. Do not struggle when people are taken away from you. Sometimes it is in your eternal destiny that they be taken away and replaced with other people.
6. The Lord may allow people to leave you so that you would understand how our heavenly father feels when His children leave Him.
And he said, a certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
Luke 15:11-13
Becoming a father involves looking after all kinds of children. Sometimes, God will allow you to go through certain things so that you will mature into a father. You do not become a father because you are old. You become a father because you have children. You become a father because you can handle different kinds of children and the issues they present.
Cast your mind back to people like Jacob who had so many children. Each child was a different experience. Some children leave you unceremoniously as did the prodigal son. This is something that God experiences because He is the father of all of us. On your road to becoming a father, you are likely to experience people leaving you. Walking in love and maturity towards people who desert you suddenly, abandon you painfully and even turn against you is part of the process of becoming a father.
This is why God would allow some people to leave you – so that you can become a true father.
7. The Lord may allow people to leave you to catch your attention and direct you to Him.
“And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the lord commanded. wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I WILL SURELY REND THE KINGDOM FROM THEE, AND WILL GIVE IT TO THY SERVANT.”
1 Kings 11:9-11
Sometimes people leave you because you are out of the will of God. Jeroboam left the service of Solomon because Solomon was out of the will of God. Because the departure of someone is such a painful experience, it will not fail to get your attention.
Every time someone has left me, it has made me more prayerful and more spiritual. It has made me search myself and see whether I am in the will of God and whether I am doing the right thing. What carefulness, what clearing of myself and what fear it generates in my heart. “For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter” (2 Corinthians 7:11).
You must also allow the departure of people to have this effect on you. The person may be a rebel but God will definitely use him to do a great spiritual work in you. If you are open, each person who leaves you will become a stepping stone to a higher dimension of ministry. I have a long list of people who have left me through the years. Of course, I have many more who have stayed with me. Indeed, I can tell you what I learnt from each and every single “departee”.
8. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you have not continued to follow the Lord as you did at the beginning of your ministry.
He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines. And sure enough, they led his heart away from the Lord.
In Solomon’s old age, they turned his heart to worship their gods instead of trusting only in the Lord his God, as his father, David, had done.”
1 Kings 11:3-4 (NLT)
Perhaps the most frightening aspect of people leaving you is the thought that you may be out of the will of God. Are you doing something that has opened the door of the enemy into your ministry? Is God pleased with you? Has the devil been allowed access because you have strayed outside His will? This must be one of your great considerations while praying about why someone has left you.
9. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you do not exert your authority.
You need to exert your authority and establish control over the people you lead. If you fail to exert your authority, all sorts of people will take you for granted. Weak leaders cannot establish loyalty in their churches. They allow people to exhibit dangerous signs of disloyalty without confronting them. Weak leaders gossip behind the backs of disloyal people instead of confronting them directly. This creates more confusion and more room for strife. In the end, the weak leader who does not want to confront people has a far worse crisis on his hand.
Solomon exerted his authority and eliminated his own brother Adonijah because he asked for Abishag (David’s concubine) to become his wife.
You must notice subtle indicators of insolence, arrogance and presumption. It was Solomon’s strength of character and his ability to exert authority that stabilised his kingdom. King Solomon was right when he reacted to the audacious request of Adonijah for Abishag. Notice Solomon’s no-nonsense attitude towards Adonijah:
Bath-sheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.
Then she said, I desire one small petition of thee; I pray thee, say me not nay. And the king said unto her, Ask on, my mother: for I will not say thee nay.
And she said, Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah thy brother to wife.
And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
Then king Solomon sware by the Lord, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.
Now therefore, as the Lord liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.
And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
1 Kings 2:19-25
10. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you are too “hard”.
And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; and spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, my father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, BUT I WILL CHASTISE YOU WITH SCORPIONS.
1 Kings 12:13-14
It is true that you must exert authority and demonstrate that you are in charge. Notice that Solomon did not simply exert authority because he was the king. He exerted his authority wisely and waited for good opportunities to establish his control.
Your actions must always appear rational and reasonable to the people around you. This helps them to accept your decisions and believe in your leadership.
11. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you are not a legitimate leader.
And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, HAD ZIMRI PEACE, WHO SLEW HIS MASTER
2 Kings 9:30-31
And his servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah
And Zimri went in and smote him, AND KILLED HIM, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, AND REIGNED IN HIS STEAD.
1 Kings 16:6-10
Zimri is the quintessential illegitimate leader. He had no right to be the king. He had no right to even desire the throne. Yet, he murdered the king and took over the throne. Unfortunately, his reign lasted only seven days. As you can see, illegitimate leaders have no stability.
Perhaps the most positive contribution of Jezebel to history is the question she asked the people who came to murder her. “Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?” In other words, did Zimri have a stable reign on the throne after slaying the legitimate leader? The answer is no. Jezebel tried to frighten off the murderers by reminding them of the inevitable fate of people who overthrow rightful leaders.
One of the chief reasons why people leave you is because you are not a legitimate leader. A legitimate leader is the rightful leader of a group. Rehoboam was the rightful king of Israel because he was the son of Solomon. Jeroboam was just a servant of Solomon. He had no legal rights to the throne of David and he knew it. Jeroboam knew that it was just a matter of time before the people would return and pay allegiance to the genuine and acceptable king of Israel. “And Jeroboam said in his heart, now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, THEN SHALL THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE TURN AGAIN UNTO THEIR LORD, EVEN UNTO REHOBOAM KING OF JUDAH, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt” (1 Kings 12:26-28).
Jeroboam referred to Rehoboam as the lord of the people. He knew in his heart that Rehoboam was the legitimate king. It was this fear that the people would return to their legitimate king that made him set up idols in Dan and Bethel. When you break away half of someone’s church and use it to start a church you are not the rightful leader of those people. Their rightful leader is the one whom they belonged to before you broke away.
When you break off someone’s church and rename it you are not the rightful leader of the people.
When you lead a rebellion against your father and deceive a group of people to follow you, you are not the rightful leader of the group.
Why are you not the rightful leader of these groups? Because you didn’t give birth to them but you stole them. Actually, you are not a leader but a thief and the curse of a thief will operate in your life. If your church is founded on rebellion and disloyalty, you are nothing more than a rebel. A rebel is not a rightful leader of anyone. This is why makers of coups become so brutal and murderous. When you are not a legitimate leader it is easy for people to turn against you and Jeroboam knew that very well. This is why illegitimate leaders often resort to mass murders and assassinations. Many African countries are led by illegitimate leaders who came into power through coups and civil wars. Their illegitimate authority is extended by murdering people and assassinating anyone perceived to be a threat. In the church world, illegitimate authority is difficult to maintain.
One day, I visited the branch church of a denomination which had been seized by the resident pastor. This pastor (who did not found the church), had painted over the name of the church and claimed ownership of something he did not own. As I stood in the church hall, I warned him that he was doing something wrong. I told him he could not steal someone’s entire congregation. He did not agree with me and rather told me that God had given him a sign that He was with him. He took me outside to the car park and showed me a gleaming brand new car which someone had given to him as a gift for rebelling against his man of God. This pastor was determined to persist in becoming the illegitimate head of that church.
However, illegitimate authority is not easy to maintain. He was unable to control the associates, the elders and the congregation. After a short while the church and its pastors rose up and threw him out of the church.
On another occasion, I was invited to preach in a church somewhere in Ghana. I realised that this church was not growing. The pastor was experiencing break-ups and splits in the church all the time. He did not understand what was happening. “Why isn’t my church growing?” he asked. Some of the prominent members of his church had just left and he was devastated.
“What is going on?” he asked. “Every time I take two steps forward it seems I take three steps backwards.”
In a flash, I remembered how he began his church. He had been an associate pastor for many years and one day he left his senior pastor with a large section of the congregation along with the most prominent members of the church. Actually, he had gone along with the pastor’s main supporter and financier. His senior pastor’s main financier had become his chief supporter. Obviously, he was not a legitimate leader of these people and yet he wanted to build a stable, loyal and growing congregation with these stolen people. For several years, he endured one breakaway after another, never able to gain stable control of the little congregation. It is important that you are the legitimate captain of your ship.
12. The Lord may allow people to leave you because they saw you leave others and learnt from what you did.
People leave you because they learnt it from you. People eventually do what they see you do. This is why David refused to kill Saul. If David had killed Saul, he would have set the precedent for killing kings. Saul had made a mistake and was now demon-possessed and sleeping in witches’ homes. But, it was only a matter of time before David would make equally grave mistakes deserving the same punishment. Perhaps, the one thing that should guide your actions most is that the people around you are learning from what you do. Notice how Zimri the captain of the chariots overthrew king Elah and reigned in his stead. Shortly after that, the people rose up to eliminate Zimri and make Omri, the captain of the host the king.
Zimri overthrows the King
And his SERVANT ZIMRI, captain of half his chariots, CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM, as he was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza steward of his house in Tirzah.
And Zimri went in and smote him, and killed him, in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.
1 Kings 16:9-10
The People Overthrow Zimri
In the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah did Zimri reign seven days in Tirzah. And the people were encamped against.
16 And the people that were encamped heard say, Zimri hath conspired, and hath also slain the king: wherefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the host, king over Israel that day in the camp.
17 And Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.
18 And it came to pass, when Zimri saw that the city was taken, that he went into the palace of the king’s house, and burnt the king’s house over him with fire, and died,
19 For his sins which he sinned in doing evil in the sight of the Lord, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did, to make Israel to sin.
1 Kings 16:15-19
13. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you lack wisdom and leadership skills.
Foolish leadership can undo years of hard work and building. An unwise person at the helm of affairs is a disaster waiting to happen. Solomon predicted the arrival of a foolish son called Rehoboam. “Thus I hated all the fruit of my labor for which I had labored under the sun, for I must leave it to the man who will come after me.
And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? YET HE WILL HAVE CONTROL OVER ALL THE FRUIT OF MY LABOR FOR WHICH I HAVE LABORED BY ACTING WISELY UNDER THE SUN. This too is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 2:18-19, NASB).
Solomon knew that a fool on his throne would dissipate and disperse all that he had suffered to build. Indeed he was right. With the arrival of one foolish leader the greatest accumulation of wealth and the richest estate ever known to man was dispersed.
Perhaps even more tragically, the foolish son dispersed the kingdom itself. Within the first few months of taking over the kingdom, he took unwise decisions that led to the complete break-up of the family of Israel. Israel has never been the same since the era of Rehoboam.
I know you may not want to admit it, but it may be your lack of wisdom that is the cause of the continuous breakup of your church. It may be your inability to manage and lead wisely that cause people to leave you.
One day, I noticed how hundreds of people had gathered at the embassies of the European and American countries.
I asked myself, “Why do so many people want to leave Africa? Why do so many people want to leave for Europe? Is it because of bad weather in Africa? Is the weather better in Europe?”
The answer is “no”!
They want to escape from the bad leadership that is prevalent in the African world. They want to live their lives under a different kind of leadership – and you can’t really blame them for that. Who wouldn’t want to escape from a harsh unforgiving world ruled by leaders who lack the wisdom to create peace, stability, wealth and prosperity for their people?
This is what happens when people leave churches. They are running away from our bad and inconsiderate leadership. They are escaping from a church ruled by leaders who lack the wisdom to create peace, stability, wealth and prosperity for their members! Your associate pastors may leave you because they are desperately trying to get away from your poor and unwise leadership. I got you there!
14. The Lord may allow people to leave you as a judgment on your life.
There are times that the departure of people is allowed by the Lord as a judgment for your sins. This may be confusing because we all know that God hates rebellion.
The effect of rebellion is devastating and that is why God sometimes uses it as a judgment. But, please also note that the people who rise up in rebellion are later judged themselves for having rebelled.
Because of Jeroboam’s grave sins, God allowed a conspirator called Baasha to successfully rebel and wipe out the entire family of Jeroboam.
Later on however, the Lord equally judged Baasha for his rebellion. Zimri was then raised up to rebel and destroy the kingdom of Baasha.
Baasha Destroys Nadab as a judgment against Jeroboam
And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years.
And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin.
And BAASHA THE SON OF AHIJAH, OF THE HOUSE OF ISSACHAR, CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM; AND BAASHA SMOTE HIM AT GIBBETHON, which belonged to the Philistines; for Nadab and all Israel laid siege to Gibbethon.
Even in the third year of Asa king of Judah did Baasha slay him, and reigned in his stead.
And it came to pass, when he reigned, that HE SMOTE ALL THE HOUSE OF JEROBOAM; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the Lord, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:
BECAUSE OF THE SINS OF JEROBOAM which he sinned, and which he made Israel sin, by his provocation wherewith he provoked the Lord God of Israel to anger.
1 Kings 15:25-30
Zimri Destroys Baasha as a Judgment against Baasha
And it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he sat on his throne, that he slew all the house of Baasha: he left him not one that pisseth against a wall, neither of his kinsfolks, nor of his friends.
THUS DID ZIMRI DESTROY ALL THE HOUSE OF BAASHA, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake against Baasha by Jehu the prophet,
FOR ALL THE SINS OF BAASHA, AND THE SINS OF ELAH HIS SON, by which they sinned, and by which they made Israel to sin, in provoking the Lord God of Israel to anger with their vanities.
Kings 16:11-13
15. The Lord may allow people to leave you because you are not quick to deal with disloyalty.
Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 (NASB)
Disloyalty is a spiritual emergency. It must be dealt with quickly before it grows and pollutes the rest of the people. There are many sayings which allude to this fact – “one bad apple spoils the bunch”; “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” are just a couple of these.
Disloyalty is a polluting and contaminating situation which changes the nature of everything and everyone. It is important that you deal with it as quickly as possible. Otherwise everything in your ministry will change.
When people are bitten by a cobra, they begin running immediately. They run for miles trying to make it to the nearest hospital before the poison kills them. Their only hope is to get to the hospital before the venom kills them.
Such is the nature of poison and such is the nature of disloyalty. It is an emergency! You cannot allow your congregation to be polluted by the negative attitude of disloyal leaders. You cannot allow people who exhibit all the signs of disloyalty to move around unchecked. You cannot afford to do this!
Solomon was quick to deal with disloyalty. That is why he executed his uncle, Joab, his brother, Adonijah and Shimei at the very first opportunity. He knew it was dangerous to leave these people. He knew it was dangerous to accommodate men who had shown the desire to overthrow him.
Perhaps it is your slowness at dealing with disloyalty that has allowed disloyal people to have their way in your ministry. Read for yourself how Solomon dealt quickly with three dangerous elements in his kingdom: Adonijah, Joab and Shimei.
Solomon Deals Quickly with Adonijah
22 And king Solomon answered and said unto his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he is mine elder brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab the son of Zeruiah.
23 Then king Solomon sware by the Lord, saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not spoken this word against his own life.
24 Now therefore, as the Lord liveth, which hath established me, and set me on the throne of David my father, and who hath made me an house, as he promised, Adonijah shall be put to death this day.
25 And king Solomon sent by the hand of Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; and he fell upon him that he died.
1 Kings 2:22-25
Solomon Deals Quickly with Joab
And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.
1 Kings 2:29
Solomon Deals Quickly with Shimei
The king said moreover to Shimei, Thou knowest all the wickedness which thine heart is privy to, that thou didst to David my father: therefore the Lord shall return thy wickedness upon thine own head;
And king Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord for ever.
So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.
1 Kings 2:44-46
by Dag Heward-Mills
Best Selling African Author
