The Spirit of Sheba in the Local Church - Part IV
The Spiritual Dynamic Between Sheep and Shepherd
by Dr. John Tetsola

Last month we saw how the Sheba spirit sets up a base of operation from which suspicion and wrong judgment operates. It then establishes a platform to undermine the weakness of a church or business at a time when they are most vulnerable. Because the enemy had a base of operation from which jealousy, suspicion, and offence prevailed, Sheba was allowed to slip in like an impaired immune system. Now let’s see how the Sheba spirit is halted as a result of the spiritual dynamic between sheep and shepherd

...strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.

Matthew 26:31b Amp

In order to attack the whole, the enemy attacks the leader. Strike the shepherd and the ripple effect extends to the sheep. When your leader is smitten, there is a spiritual dynamic that goes into effect because something happens in the spirit realm to affect you. The life of the leader is directly connected to the lives of those following, and the pain of the leader is the direct pain of his followers. Speak well of your leader when others complain. Recognize that your responsibility is to pray for, to strengthen, and to remain committed to your leader during times of attack because there is a direct link between his/her life and yours. The spirit of Sheba on a believer fails to discern this truth.

When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and when he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed.

Ex. 17:11 AMP

God in His own mercy calls a man to leadership and then graces him with the gifting to execute the purpose of his call. It takes revelation of how God operates for a believer to understand that your leader is the strength of your destiny. Protect him. The outcome of your battle is determined by the steadiness of your leader’s hands. If you touch him, you touch God. When you protect and serve your leader’s vision, you’re indirectly serving into fruition your own dream and vision. Steady your leader’s hands and bring stabilization to the corporate vision of God upon his life, and to all that concerns you. It’s evident that Sheba didn’t have this revelation. The spirit of Sheba on a believer sets up his own base of personal ambition in order to hold up his own rod—but the rod and vision of God is never successful in Sheba’s hands.

How to Pray for Your Leader

FIRST OF all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men, For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one…

1 Timothy 2:1-2 AMP

When you pray for your leader, you in fact pray for yourself. Praying for your leader leads to an outwardly “quiet and undisturbed life,” and inwardly “a peaceable one.” So pray for your leader and his God-given vision. Pray that he understands vision well and leads according to God’s agenda. Pray that he doesn’t quit ministry or become unduly stressed by the demands of ministry. Pray that your leader remains strong mentally, emotionally, and physically and is never sidetracked by sickness. Pray that he’s never bound by fear in doing God’s work. Intercede for his family so that he can remain focused, and pray for helpers so that the vision of God upon his life is never stagnated. Make it a priority to cover your leader. He’s a gift of God to you. Don’t expose an area of weakness that you were called of God to complete and strengthen in a ministry or business because exposure comes with a curse. And finally, never underestimate the spiritual dynamic between sheep and shepherd. Sheba did, and it would ultimately cost him his life (2 Sam. 20:22).

by Dr. John A. Tetsola