A leader must learn obedience in order to influence others toward obedience. An obedience check is a process item through which a leader learns to recognize, understand, and obey God’s voice. The leader encounters this early in his development and repeatedly throughout life. Through it God tests a leader’s personal response to revealed truth.
One of the classic obedience checks in Scripture is chronicled in Genesis 22:
Some time later God tested Abraham; he called to him, “Abraham!” And Abraham answered, “Yes, here I am!”
“Take your son,” God said, “your only son, Isaac, whom you love so much, and go to the land of Moriah. There on a mountain that I will show you, offer him as a sacrifice to me.” (verses 1-2, GNT)
This obedience check was especially difficult because of God’s promises concerning Isaac. Abraham knew his future line depended on Isaac, but he was still willing to obey God.
I once heard a leader say that many are called to lay something on the altar; and they do, but they take along a rubber knife. Our obedience often is not complete but has some strings attached.11 Abraham took a real knife—and God honored his obedience by sparing Isaac.
It is one thing to obey when it seems logical and necessary, but it is quite another when the obedience calls for something that doesn’t make sense. Obedience doesn’t always hinge on understanding. It did not make sense ethically or practically to kill Isaac, yet Abraham obeyed. Although this was an obedience check, it was also an integrity check. Would he remain loyal to God and believe in Him when the pressure was on? These tests revealed that faith and loyalty to God were a part of Abraham’s character. Hebrews 11:17-19 attests to this.
Abraham’s complex experience shows the pattern for a successful obedience check. God requires unconditional obedience. We are to obey, and He is responsible for the results.
Obedience checks occur throughout the Bible and are frequently mentioned in historical and contemporary leadership emergence studies. Some examples include learning about possessions and giving, learning to put God first in the choice of a mate, and learning to be willing to be used by God in ministry. Others include readiness to trust a God-given truth, to forgive, to confess error, or to right a wrong.
Watchman Nee provides us with an excellent illustration involving inner-life growth. He sensed a need to begin printing gospel tracts and then prayed for the money to distribute them. God revealed that there were hindrances to his prayer. Many in his church were criticizing another believer and Watchman silently agreed with them. When he prayed further about the money, God spoke to him about this sin. God required that he go and confess his guilt to his sister. This is the account that Watchman Nee offers in his book, Watchman Nee’s Testimony:
Afterwards, I considered doing so, but, when coming face to face with her, I hesitated five times even though I wished to confess to her. It was because I was concerned that she, who had all along been admiring me so much, would then despise me. I said to God, “It would be all right if You ordered me to do anything else, but I am unwilling to confess to her.” I still kept asking God for the printing money, but He would not listen to my reasoning and insisted on my confessing. The sixth time, through the grace of the Lord, I confessed to her. With tears, we both confessed our faults and then forgave each other. We were filled with joy and from then on loved each other all the more in the Lord.
Not long after this event, a postman delivered a letter that contained fifteen U.S. dollars. The letter read, “I am fond of distributing gospel tracts. Please condescend to accept.” God’s expansion was clearly identified. The lessons lasted a lifetime. They were on the thought life, a forgiving spirit, hindrance to prayer, and trusting God for ministry provision. Obeying God was the first lesson, and the others hinged on it.
Acts 5:1-11 tells us about two separate obedience checks. Ananias and Sapphira sold their property, but they lacked integrity when they lied about the amount of the sale. Peter was being checked when he confronted each of them about their sin. Peter’s obedience in this unpleasant task is carefully recorded by Luke so that all who read it are warned of the seriousness of obedience with integrity. God’s discipline was swift and severe. After this event Peter’s ministry expanded.
Leaders will be responsible for influencing specific groups of people to obey God. They will not achieve this unless they themselves know how to obey. This brings me to my second major principle in the testing pattern of the inner-life phase: Obedience is first learned, then taught.
Dr. J. Robert Clinton
is senior professor of leadership at the School of Intercultural Studies of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. He coordinated the leadership concentration in the School of Intercultural Studies for thirty years before retiring. Clinton modeled and taught the concepts of lifelong development and the focused life as well as the importance of mentoring in developing leaders.