THE WRONG DECISION OR POLICY MADE BY A LEADER 3

1 SATAN ROSE UP AGAINST ISRAEL AND CAUSED DAVID TO TAKE A CENSUS OF THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.
2 SO DAVID SAID TO JOAB AND THE COMMANDERS OF THE ARMY, “TAKE A CENSUS OF ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL—from Beersheba in the south to Dan in the north—AND BRING ME A REPORT SO I MAY KNOW HOW MANY THERE ARE.”
14 SO THE LORD SENT A PLAGUE UPON ISRAEL, AND 70,000 PEOPLE DIED AS A RESULT.
15 And God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem. But just as the angel was preparing to destroy it, the Lord relented and said to the death angel, “Stop! That is enough!” At that moment the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.
16 David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth with his sword drawn, reaching out over Jerusalem. So David and the leaders of Israel put on burlap to show their deep distress and fell face down on the ground.
17 AND DAVID SAID TO GOD, “I AM THE ONE WHO CALLED FOR THE CENSUS! I AM THE ONE WHO HAS SINNED AND DONE WRONG! BUT THESE PEOPLE ARE AS INNOCENT AS SHEEP—WHAT HAVE THEY DONE? O LORD MY GOD, LET YOUR ANGER FALL AGAINST ME AND MY FAMILY, BUT DO NOT DESTROY YOUR PEOPLE."
1 Chronicles 21:1,2,14-17 (NLT)

• As a leader, If the people under your leadership live, It is in your hand; and If at the same time, they died, It is in your hand.

• God sees you and the people you are leading as one. If what you did is right or good, God sees the people as part of the good things you had done; and He would reward you and the people with blessings. However, If what you did is wrong, they would be seen in God's sight as part of that wrong you did, and they, Of course, would be part of the consequences of that wrong you did.
• As a leader, whatever the level of leadership you are, how you live your life and every decision you make is important. Things you do can bring, either life or death, Joy or sorrow, peace or chaos, on the people you are leading. Thus, you need to be circumspect or careful on whatever decision you are making or the step you are taking (1 Timothy 4:16).

• Do not allow comfort to drive you against God and His Word or commands or principles. It was comfort that made David give such a command. When he was faced with different battles and challenges, he did not give such a command.

• Another point is, you might at times need to consider the counsel of your subordinates; someone or people under your leadership (1 Kings 12:12-16). If David did listen to Joab, the disaster would have been averted or avoided (1 Chronicles 21:3,4).
• Note: you can learn from the people you have taught. God can speak to you through the people under your leadership. If Naaman did not listen to his wife's maid who told them about Prophet Elisha in Israel (2 Kings 5:2-4), And the servants who implored him to do what Elisha the Prophet instructed him to do, bathe in the River Jordan; he would not have received his healing, but returned to his country, Syria, with the leprosy he went to Israel with (2 Kings 5:11-14).
• You might be the Head or the leader in the family, or wherever you find yourself; know that God can speak to you through your spouse, your children, your maid or any of your household staff, in the family. Whoever is under your leadership in the assignment given to you, or ministry, or place of work, can be used by God to speak to you.
• Leaders are not always right. A leader can miss it and make a wrong decision. Thus, allow God to speak to you through the people under your leadership (1 Kings 12:13).
• Humble yourself before God that you might live and preserve or spare the lives of those who are under your leadership; from the negative things that could be the outcome of the wrong decision you wanted to make (1 Timothy 4:16).
• Deal with pride and let God speak to you through whoever He chooses to use among those who are under your leadership. If David had listened to Joab, the unfortunate plague would not have happened (1 Chronicles 21:3,4).

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Should there be any ailment in your body, receive your healing now in Jesus' name.
• The Hold of infirmity is totally broken in your life and never will you be bound again in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. As you took the steps A and B your name is written in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, congratulations, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!