Why Every Leader Needs a Tent of Meeting
If we define leadership as influence, then every person is a leader in some way. With that said, we need to be hearing from Lord as He leads and guides us, leading ourselves and others He has placed in our lives.
Through this Covid season, I have thought a lot about the life of Moses and what he needed to do in being "the guy" to lead Israel out of Egypt and into the promised land. Moses would often head into the "Tent of Meeting" to hear from the Lord.
The "Tent of Meeting" was a time and place to set aside to communion with God. This needs to be a BIG part of our lives for the very same reasons and cannot be neglected due to life and ministry demands we all face. Having this time set aside for the Lord marked Moses and created the clarity and confidence to lead God's people.
Why Every Leader Needs A Tent Of Meeting
The Tent of Meeting gives us the power and wisdom to carry out what He has called us to do.
Ex. 33:7a "Now Moses used to take a tent…."
Moses traveled with God through the desert carrying the tent. This habit was everything to him. He realized that he could not lead God's people independently, and he needed regular communion with Him. The success of his mission depended on these regular meetings with God.
Our daily meeting with the Lord has to be held as sacred. Our leadership grows as we meet daily with God. It's essential that this meeting be the most critical in our day.
The tent of meeting frees us from the noise of life and ministry.
Ex. 33:7b "and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting."
Moses intentionally decided to meet with God away from the busyness of life and ministry. Moses pitched the tent outside the camp, away from the noise. This provided a distraction-free place to commune with the Lord. Talking with God "on the run" is good but daily-focused time with God is vital.
The Tent of Meeting creates anticipation in the hearts of those we lead.
Ex. 33:8 “And when Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent."
As Moses entered the tent, a pillar of cloud would descend and rest on top of it. This must have been some sight to see.
This manifestation reveals an essential truth. The people Moses is leading are confident and expectant that their leader was communing with God. This is vital for favor, anointing, and influence in keeping God's people on God's agenda.
I believe the people we lead must be confident in our communion with God. When the demands of ministry take precedence over the "Tent of Meeting," passion wanes, and confidence wavers. It's not long until the fumes we are running on will show themselves before the people we lead.
The Tent of Meeting creates a friendship with God.
Ex. 33:11 "The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend."
Moses led millions, but more importantly, he was a friend of God. Moses developed a relationship with God experienced by only a few. The ministry call should lead to an ever-deeper friendship with God. Anything less defeats the very essence of the call.
Wrapping Things Up
The demands of life and ministry serve to grow me up, not burn me out. The Lord wants every one of us to reach our full potential in Him.
Your Tent of Meeting might be at "your" chair early in the morning. It might be late at night when the kids are asleep. Your Tent of Meeting might be in your car at work or a prayer walk in your neighborhood.
Whether you serve as pastors, ministry leaders, those in the marketplace, or a homemaker, we all need a "Tent of Meeting" with God in our daily lives.
Questions: Love to get your thoughts on this. Agree or Disagree? Do you find ministry, life, and family demands pulling you away from your “Tent of Meeting?” What do you do to keep the "Tent of Meeting" an regular part of your life?
Even anointed people can get a long ways in ministry whether they serve as Pastors our in the marketplace. However, being untethered and not connected to THE power source can and will eventually lead to burnout. From personal experience I can point out when I experienced burnout it was because I was untethered/disconnected from Him. Being a leader can be exhausting in many areas of life. Being a "marketplace" leader in my field of work can be dangerous if not connected.
To answer the question here. No. It is not habitual for me to enter my Tent of Meetings regularly. However, I am further encouraged by this reminder that I need to follow Moses example. To lead with a connection is vital to reducing symptoms of burnout and compassion fatigue. Of which is detrimental to my marketplace ministry.
Thank you for sharing this timely word of encouragement.
Yes.. moreover... we need to develop ourselves to listen to Gods voice for our issues when we go to the tent of meeting