How To Detect Subtle Disloyalty

by Dag Heward-Mills

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Copyright 2008 Dag Heward-Mills

Published by Dag Heward-Mills on Smashwords.

E mail Dag Heward-Mills

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Find out more about Dag Heward-Mills at:

http://www.daghewardmills.org

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Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible

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Contents

Chapter 1 - Six Manifestations of Disloyalty

Chapter 2 - The Loyalty of Christ

Chapter 3 - Becoming More Christ-Like

Chapter 1

Six Manifestations of Disloyalty

To manifest means “to demonstrate, to display, exhibit or to show forth” something. People show disloyalty in many ways. In this chapter, I want us to study a few of the common manifestations of disloyalty.

Why do we need to look at the manifestations of disloyalty? Because loyalty and disloyalty are things of the heart and things of the heart cannot easily be seen. Like many diseases, it is best detected by watching out for symptoms. Let us now look for these important symptoms and signs of disloyalty.

1. Disobedience

The first important manifestation of disloyalty is disobedience. Disobedience is an outward manifestation of a disloyal heart. Watch out for disobedient people; they are probably disloyal at heart.

God disposed of Saul after he disobeyed Him.

And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

1 Samuel 15:22,23

Disobedient people often have a rebellious streak. It is the spirit of rebellion that gives them the audacity to disobey.

2. Scorning

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL.

Psalm 1:1

Scorners are people who mock at you. They do not believe in you or in what you are doing. The Bible very clearly tells us that we must not associate with scoffers. According to Psalm 1:1, we are not even supposed to sit in the same chair with the scornful.

How can somebody who does not believe in you be your assistant pastor? How can someone who despises you be an associate to you? Yet, this is a situation existing in many churches today. The scornful are sitting in the same chair with you. Can you understand why your ministry is not blessed? The Bible says, “Blessed is the man that...sitteth [not] in the seat of the scornful.” Blessed is the pastor who does not sit next to a scornful assistant.

What must you do with a scornful person? Should you pray about the scoffers? Should you fast for a week? The answer is NO! There is a biblical remedy for dealing with scornful people.

CAST OUT THE SCORNER, and contention shall go out; yea strife and reproach shall cease.

Proverbs 22:10

According to Proverbs 22:10, the biblical remedy for dealing with scoffers is to cast them out!

In modern English, to cast out means: to dismiss, to expel, to eject, to banish, to fire, to sack, to discard, to unseat or to lay off. If you are wiser than God, you can pray about it.

If you know more than God, you can handle scornful people in your own way. I prefer to trust the wisdom of God. I will dismiss, expel, eject, banish, fire, sack, discard, unseat and lay off any scoffer in my set-up. That is the biblical way to deal with disloyal people!

3. Inflexibility

Inflexibility is a manifestation of disloyalty. An inflexible person is stubborn and defiant. Watch out for inflexible people in your set-up. Such people do not want to work overtime. They do not want to go beyond what is stipulated in their contract. They are not prepared to adapt to any new situation. They will always point out to you that work ends at 5.00 p.m.! They are unwilling to do anything extra for the organisation. Woe to the manager if he asks them to do something new! A sulking face is the trademark of such inflexible workers.

Inflexible church members are not prepared to stay on if the church service goes beyond the stipulated time. An inflexible and unyielding person is difficult to work with. He can become disloyal to you when things no longer suit him.

Stubborn people are also not prepared to take correction when they are confronted. You will see this in the life of Saul.

When Samuel confronted him about the war with the Amalekites, he argued with Samuel. He was inflexible and unyielding in his discussion with Saul. He insisted that he had obeyed the Lord. The evidence of his disobedience was obvious and yet Saul argued with Samuel.

And Samuel came to Saul: and said Saul unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I HAVE PERFORMED the commandment of the Lord. And Samuel said, WHAT MEANETH THEN THIS BLEATING of the sheep in mine ears…

1 Samuel 15:13,14

Some years ago, I had a worker who misused some church property. Initially, he denied everything! Because of this, I collected a lot of documentary evidence to prove that he was actually misappropriating the equipment and the church’s money.

When I had gathered all the documents, I called for a meeting. I presented all the documents that showed unambiguously that this gentleman had disobeyed instructions. Would you believe that in spite of the evidence in black and white, this man argued with us for three hours? I watched as an inflexible and unyielding attitude was flagrantly displayed.

I said to myself, “How stubborn can a person be?” Indeed, it was only a matter of time before this stubborn individual became openly rebellious. Truly, stubbornness is a manifestation of disloyalty!

4. Lies

I am convinced that if demons could have twins, then the twin of the spirit of lying would be the spirit of stealing. Lying and stealing always go together. Anybody who lies to you is not loyal to you. His heart cannot be with you. Watch out for liars; they are very dangerous people! Do you know how to catch a liar? Let me share with you a little secret I use. Listen to people as they speak casually. When they jokingly tell you about how they lied to someone and got away with it, take note!

Since he is capable of lying effortlessly to other people, he can do the same to you. I believe that truth is an integral part of your character. If the belt of truth is absent, you are exposed to demons. If God hates a lying tongue, it must be the duty of every Christian, leader or manager to hate the same thing.

These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a LYING TONGUE, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Proverbs 6:16,17

Liars are disloyal people!

5. Tale-bearing

…and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Proverbs 6:19

There are people who have the ability to create stories and recreate events to suit themselves. They can spread stories and make things sound interesting.

Have you noticed that newspapers often have tragic or scandalous events as their headlines? Bad news is sweeter to the gossips than good news.

Watch out for people who have endless tales about others. They know every bad event that has occurred in the church. They are ready to give you a complete rundown on any story you request. They know the details and they have inside information. Watch out for such people. They sow discord and division within the camp.

6. Rudeness

And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, WE WILL NOT COME UP...

Numbers 16:12

Dathan and Abiram were openly rude to Moses. They refused to come when he called for them. Most people express their animosity behind the backs of their superiors. People who lash out at you openly with their tongues can lash out at you in other ways. Rudeness is a manifestation of disloyalty. Watch out for it!

Chapter 2

The Loyalty of Christ

Many of us do not realise how loyal Jesus was to His Father in Heaven. He exhibited this many times. He made many statements that teach us great truths about loyalty.

In this chapter, I want us to learn the principles of fidelity, loyalty and faithfulness directly from Jesus Christ.

Perhaps all that you know about Jesus are the miracles that He performed. But Jesus is the express image of God and if we want to learn anything about God, all we have to do is to look at Christ.

Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person…

Hebrews 1:3

The best teacher of loyalty is Jesus Christ Himself. He was loyal to His father and to His Father’s vision. He never deviated from His line of duty. He was loyal even when it cost Him His life and led to His death on the cross. Christ is the person you must emulate. Why do people call us Christians? Because we are supposed to be Christ-like.

As you read this chapter, decide to emulate these characteristics of Christ-like loyalty. Be the person that is described in the next few pages. Be a devoted and loyal person.

Five Christ-like Characteristics

1. A person who openly acknowledges his father

Some people do not want anyone to know about their origins. If you follow me closely, you will know where I came from and how I was trained in the ministry. I am not self-made. I have been influenced greatly by many people. A loyal person openly speaks of his father. He is not ashamed to say whom he has followed. He is not ashamed to say whose messages have inspired him.

Jesus openly spoke about His father. He always explained that he had been sent. His proof that He had been sent lay in the fact that He did the same things that His father did.

A loyal person takes pride in the fact that he has a superior.

…the same works that I do, bear witness of me, THAT THE FATHER HATH SENT ME.

John 5:36

He spoke so much about His father that it annoyed some people.

Therefore the Jews sought to kill him, because he not only broken the sabbath, but SAID ALSO THAT GOD WAS HIS FATHER, making himself equal with God.

John 5:18

I have noticed that certain ministers refuse to speak of their relationship with their seniors. Watch such people because they are not manifesting Christ-like qualities. It is Lucifer who forgot that he was created and appointed. If you have to be reminded about your origins, you have a problem.

Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I HAVE SET THEE SO…

Ezekiel 28:14

Someone who does not openly and freely acknowledge where he is from is usually not a grateful person.

Such a person usually has a hidden agenda.

Perhaps he is seeking greatness for himself.

2. A person who follows his superior’s example at work

A loyal subordinate will continue working as long as his superior is working. I have many loyal assistants. Hardly would they go home if I were still around working. Jesus said, “My father is working and because of that I am going to stay around and work.”

But Jesus answered them, MY FATHER WORKETH hitherto, AND I WORK.

John 5:17

Dear assistant, how can you sleep when your father is working? A good leader is often the last one to leave. As they say, “The captain is the last one to leave the ship.” A good assistant stays with his captain until the end.

Watch out for those who have no time or energy for extra work. Watch out for those who see the leader’s hardworking attitude as a vexation that makes everyone weary!

How can you think that your father is doing unnecessary things? Jesus said, “My father is working and therefore, I must work.” Do not think that you are being overworked; have the attitude of Jesus.

3. A person who does only what he sees his leader doing

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily verily I say unto you, the son can do nothing of himself BUT WHAT HE SEETH THE FATHER DO…

John 5:19

When you are assisting your father, there are many things you can do. You can do what you think is right or you can do what you see your father do. Let us choose to learn from Jesus. He only did what he saw his father doing. He was loyal to His father and to His father’s ideals. He preached what His father would have preached and He did what His father would have done.

Jesus, Why Don’t You Heal Everyone?

One day, Jesus did something mysterious. He went into a hospital where there was a multitude of sick people, yet He healed only one person and left the others to their fate.

… And Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is a Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay A GREAT MULTITUDE OF IMPOTENT FOLK, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water…And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years…Jesus saith unto him, rise take up thy bed, and walk…And he that was healed wist not who it was: for JESUS HAD CONVEYED HIMSELF AWAY, a multitude being in that place.

John 5:1-3,5,8,13

Later when He was questioned about what He had done, He explained, “I only do what my Father does.” Jesus saw His Father healing only one person and that is what He did. He ministered to only one person! After ministering to one person, He conveyed Himself away. He didn’t bother to pray for anyone else. It probably wouldn’t have worked anyway!

No Power!

One day at a programme, I decided to pray for everyone present. As I prayed for the people, I felt the power of God was absent. I prayed quietly to myself and said, “Oh Lord, where are you?” Then the Holy Spirit spoke to my spirit and said, “Who asked you to pray for everyone?” Suddenly, I knew I was doing the wrong thing. I was on my own trying to pray for everyone. God wanted me to pray for some people and not for everyone.

You see, with our natural mind, we would do things in a particular way. But Jesus wanted to do only what His Father was doing. With my natural mind, I expected that Jesus would heal every single sick person He came into contact with. I expected that He would empty hospitals and heal everyone. But that is not what He did in John, chapter five.

Every servant can choose to do his own thing. Are you a loyal minister of Christ? Are you doing what you want to do or are you doing what He is doing? There are many nice things that you can be involved in, but are they the will of God?

Perhaps everybody is opening a school, but is that what the Lord is doing? Perhaps everyone is travelling around ministering, but is that what the Lord is doing?

Years ago, I had several opportunities to minister in different churches in the world. At that time, the Lord was leading me to stay within the Lighthouse network. I did what I saw my father doing. This has resulted in several large Lighthouse churches all over the world. Is everyone breaking away and becoming a rebel?

Do not follow the crowd. Do what you see your Father doing. Is your father a rebel? Is your father breaking away? If you want to succeed in ministry, learn to do exactly what your leader is doing. You will grow faster when you emulate your leader exactly.

Do you want to progress faster in ministry? Life is too short for you not to learn from your fathers. Jesus did exactly what He had seen His Father do and He was a successful minister. Many of my pastors preach what I preach and teach what I teach. They run the programmes in their churches in the way they see me do it.

Don’t Be a Hero!

I have noticed something! My children in the Lord, who follow me closely and do what they see me do, make greater strides in ministry. Those who experiment and play around with unproven methods often take much longer to advance in ministry.

I want to say it again! Don’t be a hero! Your life is too short for you to play around with it. Your life is too short to use part of it to discover things that have already been discovered.

It is time for you to move quickly in ministry. The fields are white unto harvest. Do what you see your father in ministry do. Follow him closely. Avoid his mistakes and learn all you can from him. A loyal person takes pride in the fact that he is able to do exactly what his father does.

…THE SAME WORKS THAT I DO, BEAR WITNESS OF ME, that the father hath sent me.

John 5:36

The loyalty of Christ to His Father’s methods paid off. Jesus was the ultimate minister. Learn His secrets and you will be great in the ministry.

4. A person who does not seek his own will, but the will of his leader

I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I SEEK NOT MINE OWN WILL, BUT THE WILL OF THE FATHER which hath sent me.

John 5:30

What a blessing it is to have an assistant who is not seeking his own will. I once had a pastor who joined my team with his own vision. He was not seeking to accomplish my vision. His aim was to accomplish his dream. Jesus said very clearly, “I seek not my own will, but the will of Him who sent me.”

Let me ask you today, “Who sent you? Whose vision are you following?” When there are two or more visions within one team, you have a di- vision. When there is division there is a lot of pain and hurt. Even if your small toe were to separate from your body you would experience a lot of pain and you would not be able to sleep.

I had a pastor who decided to use me as a stepping-stone to his ministry. I had no idea that this young man was using me to accomplish his vision. I thought he was helping me to accomplish my vision. He used me to gain visibility and was introduced as a minister. His secret plan was to leave us after some years. Indeed, some years after he joined, he pushed through with his vision and separated himself in a very painful move. We were taken aback! But this is what happens when there are assistants with their own hidden agenda and programmes.

Develop the loyalty of Christ. He said very clearly, “I seek not my own will, but the will of my father which hath sent me.” If you have been sent to begin a church in another country or locality, decide to accomplish the will of those who sent you.

5. A person who does not bear witness of himself

IF I BEAR WITNESS OF MYSELF, MY WITNESS IS NOT TRUE. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

John 5:31,32

When you bear witness of yourself, you promote and exalt yourself. Jesus did none of these. He exalted His father and spoke constantly of where He derived His authority. That is the loyalty of Christ. A person who exalts and promotes himself is not sent from God. Are you a loyal person? There is no need to elevate yourself beyond your current position. The Lord who sent you will do that for you.

There are pastors whose best sermons are about themselves and what they have achieved. If you are a prophet, there is no need to exalt yourself. God has a way of exalting people He has called.

How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

John 5:44

There is no need to be a pushy or forward minister. There is no need to invite yourself

Chapter 3

Becoming More Christ-like

1. A loyal person does not allow the words of men to influence him.

But I receive not testimony from man…

John 5:34

A leader must be very careful about what men say to him. Human beings are fickle and can misdirect you. They will tell you that you are an apostle, prophet or evangelist.

They will say to you, “Do not submit yourself to any man. You can do it yourself.” Others will say to you, “You can also write books. He is not the only one who is anointed.” Assistants, watch out! They will tell you, “I prefer it when you preach. I wish you were given more opportunities to minister.”

You Can Break Away!

A senior minister once told my associate, “Do not see yourself as an assistant. You are a great man of God. God has called you to do great things.” He continued, “Can you not see that anytime there is trouble in the church, you are the one who is sent to put out the fires? You can move out on your own and you will be great in ministry”.

My associate was taken aback because this advice was coming from a senior minister. Moreover, this “advisor” happened to be a friend of mine. My pastor was not taken in by this treacherous suggestion. My associate told me later, “I decided never to interact with this minister again.” He had concluded to himself, “This is a very dangerous person.” Many people listen to this kind of advice and embark on a wild goose chase. Understand that your credentials do not come by what men say about you. Men can easily misdirect you in the ministry.

I RECEIVE NOT HONOUR FROM MEN. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

John 5:41,42

Jesus was careful not to receive direction from human beings. He took inspiration directly from the Father. When people criticize you, remember that it is what God says that matters. Years ago, when some people called me “Jim Jones”, I could not believe my ears. They derided and denigrated me.

To denigrate means: to blacken the reputation of someone. I have been blackened many times! I have been blackened by friends! I have been blackened by pastors! I have been blackened by neighbours!

However, I am still around! This is because my promotion does not and will not come from these people. It comes from the Lord! The promotion I have received in the ministry is not from men. Some men have mostly said negative things about me. It must be painful for these same men to watch as the Lord slowly but surely lifts me up.

…Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies…

Psalm 23:5

The loyalty of Christ will pay off in the end.

2. A loyal person does not seek to impress people.

How can ye believe, WHICH RECEIVE HONOUR ONE OF ANOTHER, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

John 5:44

A loyal person does not try to impress others. One dangerous trait for leaders to have is a desire to impress people. Paul said that he had overcome the need to impress or please anybody.

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:10

Why is this character trait a dangerous thing? Because you cannot please everyone, you will end up hurting some and pleasing the others.

Ministers who cannot take hard decisions because they want to make everybody happy, end up destroying their own churches.

Years ago, I had an assistant who was a very nice person. I liked him very much and so did many others. I still like him because he is a nice person. He was nice to be with and he chatted freely with all the members of the church. The members gravitated to him naturally, although he was my assistant.

Soon, external ministers who were not part of our church knew him. With the process of time, some of these external ministers began to be inimical towards my ministry. This pleasant brother tried to balance his loyalties between myself and the external ministers. Mind you, he never showed any outward signs of ill will. He was a nice person through and through.

However, you cannot please everyone! There comes a time when you must stand up for your conviction. A time came when I realised that his heart was not with me. He could not please those other ministers and me. A time came when we had to go our separate ways. You are not safe with a leader who tries to impress everyone.

3. A loyal person seeks only the approval of his leader.

There is another that BEARETH WITNESS OF ME; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

John 5:32

A loyal person knows that it is what his father says that really matters. Men may disapprove of you, but with God’s approval, you are going places. Every minister must realize that it is God who opens certain doors and closes others. Seek the approval of the one who really matters.

Human beings may rant and rave about you. They may say all sorts of evil things, but if you have the approval of your father, man, you are covered.

4. A loyal person constantly hears the voice of his master.

…YE HAVE NEITHER HEARD HIS VOICE at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you…

John 5:37,38

Jesus heard the voice of His father; He was constantly in touch with His father. Loyalty is greatly helped by communication. A person often becomes disloyal when he stays out of touch for a long time. I encourage my pastors to stay in touch all the time. Those who listen to tapes and hear the voice of their leader are more prone to be faithful. Those who read the books, listen to the tapes and watch the videos are in constant fellowship with their father.

Distance, separation and a lack of communication have a way of breaking up friendships. That is why most denominations have yearly meetings and gatherings of all sorts. If you want to encourage loyalty within a system you are creating, increase the number of gatherings that you have.

5. A loyal person loves his leader and loves the Lord.

But I know you, that YE HAVE NOT THE LOVE OF GOD in you.

John 5:42

Love never fails. When there is genuine love within an association, church or group, there is a bond which is difficult to break. Things are kept together by bonds and linkages. Do you want a bond that is stronger than super glue? Try love! Love is as strong as death. It is a bond that cannot be easily broken.

…Put on charity (love), which is the BOND OF PERFECTNESS.

Colossians 3:14

Let me ask you a question, “Do you love your head?”

If you do, then it is likely that you will be faithful to him. I would prefer to work with people who love me rather than those who are with me because of what they can get from me. That is why I prefer to have an office which is more of a family than a business.

6. A loyal person flows with loyal people. For HAD YE BELIEVED MOSES, YE WOULD HAVE BELIEVED ME: for he wrote of me.

John 5:46

Christ “flowed” with Moses. He spoke about Moses. He read Moses’ books. Note that Moses was one of God’s faithful servants. Jesus told the crowds that they did not believe in Moses or his teachings.

A loyal person associates with loyal people. A loyal person believes in the teachings of other faithful people. His friends are good people. As they say, “Birds of a feather flock together.”

Jesus’ ministry was in line with the teaching of Moses, one of God’s most faithful and loyal servants. Who are your friends? Whose teachings do you flow with? Are you always siding with rebels and wrongdoers?

If you want to know if someone is loyal, take a good look at his friends.

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Other Best-Selling Books by Dag Heward-Mills:

Loyalty and Disloyalty

Leaders and Loyalty

Transform Your Pastoral Ministry

The Art of Leadership

Model Marriage

Church Planting

The Mega Church

Lay People and the Ministry

These titles are also available in Spanish and/or French. Information about other foreign translations of some of the titles above may be obtained by writing to our email address.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Six Manifestations of Disloyalty

Chapter 2

The Loyalty of Christ

Chapter 3

Becoming More Christ-like