15 The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. Three things are never satisfied; four never say, “Enough”
(‭‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭30‬‬:‭15‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

[Discipleship Transcript].

Christ deposits within His body the propellant grace we require to transition from ‘walking without weariness‘, to ‘running without fainting‘ to eventually ‘mounting up with wings as eagles‘. Jesus has patterned things in such a way that as we joyfully participate in Koinonia one with another, all are able to tap into that grace for further dimensions in Him.

Be the Butterfly not the Locust:

The life of a true disciple mimics the delicate metamorphic transition of the caterpillar to the butterfly. Upon emerging as the new man, this life becomes one of value-addition just as the mature butterfly which cross-pollinates the garden. He productively engages in the continuous cycle of building up & edification of the saints in the body 1 Thes 5:11.

But just as the tares sown in the midst of the wheat Matt 13:25, also present in our midst are those whose fruits manifest the leeching work of the Palmerworm. Whose devouring activities puncture unsuspecting saints, and burdens them beyond what Christ’s yoke offers.

They are strength-sapping leeches on the Spiritual, Economic, and Social well being of the church. And as leaders we must properly identify and address them if the saints are to collectively attain to the fullness of Joy in Christ.

Discerning the flesh-hook of the Palmerworm:-

Discerning the traces at the caterpillar stage is very difficult. Yet as we mature in time, there are common traits which we can use to properly detect and ‘avoid them’ Rom 16:17. Here are 7 simple markers for identifying the wearying operations of the palmerworm:

  1. They join seeking what they can grab..
    It starts as a seed in all of us who join the body with a motive of how to use God to achieve our ends. In this carnal level of thinking, we have a self-entitled mindset and parasitic posture which looks for what we can gain rather than what we can contribute.
  2. They habitually corner brethren directly for help
    It begins to be evident inside brethren who are in the habit of neglecting the apostolic channels of obtaining support Acts 4:35, preferring instead to directly corner ‘comfortable’ brethren to narrate their stories to. One litmus test is that when challenged to present their needs to the leadership, they will balk with excuses.
    Let us train men not to take the place of Jesus in the lives of others, instead allowing the Lord himself to determine what will fall on their shoulders outside of their statutory responsibility (widows, orphans)
  3. They like serving personal revelation clandestinely
    Observe those who are in the habit of receiving and relaying ‘personalised revelation’ in a clandestine manner beyond pastoral scrutiny 1 Cor 14:29. You will often find the hidden flesh hooks of the palmerworm. [if they remain unrepentant, they will become prime candidates for the entrance of familiar spirits into the body of brethren] Tackle them early before they infect others.
  4. Always needing Pastor to ‘pray for them‘
    Paul describes them to Timothy as “ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth” 2 Ti 3:7. They will sit at sermon but will not digest anything, merely marking time till the close so they can meet the pastor to pray for them!! It is traceable amongst those ever seeking to pre-occupy the pastors time with their issues yet never taking up the intercessory responsibility of lifting others.
  5. Every Interaction with them is exhausting (not edifying)
    They also are a heavy drain on the emotional health of the body! Aggregate their words and you will find that they are always complaining & criticising! Never openly, but quietly to 1 or 2 saints. Silently sowing seeds of discord.Rom 16:17 Especially when they have been denied help in some capacity, check their fruit…is it bitter?
  6. Overbearing Leadership
    There is also the corporate dimension of the over-labouring leader who creates and piles up fruitless ‘work’ for the workers under the guise of ‘service’; often denying them personal time to seek God, and personal time with their families. It is often a red-flag indicator of the palmerworm operation from the corporate dimension.
    As a leader, refrain from the temptation to unduly monopolise the time and attention of your flock. What starts well intentioned, ends up overly exhaustive and leaves many with a joyless walk. It is the hidden flesh hook of the palmerworm!
    There’s an undeniable correlation between over-monopolized workers and the silent epidemic of extra-marital affairs..we have dealt with many cases. Again it is in some part the operation of the palmerworm.
  7. Financial Snares and Insatiable Demands
    One of the 3 things that are never satisfied is the grave! Fellowship is meant to be life-giving. When the palmer-worm operation gains ascendancy amongst us, there will be an insatiable demand for contributions, payments , and needless programs initiated with the motive of raising funds. Members become so drained to the extent they are left embittered; financially demobilized, and joyless. We must continue to maintain an atmosphere of voluntary giving whilst raising men who understand the tenets of true stewardship! We must not become a breeding ground for palmer-worm believers only in church for their bellies. An entire church/mission/ministry can become an avenue for the palmerworm and be a life sucking venture that kills the prospects of the people of God Ezekiel 34:1-4. Wisdom is profitable to direct!

Summation

There is Joy in walking with God in the true company of brethren. Yet we must not be naive in tackling the varying manipulations and operations that are common to some of our gatherings. We as leaders must actively watch over the flock to ferret out evil operations like that of the palmerworm which bring leakages first to individuals and then the body as a whole. An increasing number of weary individuals may ultimately weaken the whole lump!

May the Lord sharpen our discernment.