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

Why Loyalty?

Copyright © 2025 Dag Heward-Mills

First published 2025 by Parchment House

Find out more about Dag Heward-Mills at:

Healing Jesus Campaign

Email: evangelist@daghewardmills.org

Website: www.daghewardmills.org

Facebook: Dag Heward-Mills

Twitter: @EvangelistDag

ISBN : 979-8-89606-682-8

All rights reserved under international copyright law. Written permission must be secured from the publisher to use or reproduce any part of this book.

A king who is loyal and true will keep his power. Loyalty will keep his kingdom strong.

Proverbs 20:28 (ERV)

Chapter 1

Loyalty Is a Prophetic Teaching

WE HAVE ALSO A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHECY; WHEREUNTO YE DO WELL THAT YE TAKE HEED, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.

2 Peter 1:19

1. Loyalty is a prophetic teaching

The teachings on loyalty and disloyalty are prophetic and describe human behaviour. The teachings on loyalty describe how traitors will arise in the future. The teachings on loyalty describe how wolves will arise in the churches as the years go by. The teachings on loyalty describe how men will make shipwreck of their faith. The teachings on loyalty describe those who will leave you, those who will be ungrateful, those who will pretend and those who will become dangerous sons.

The teachings on loyalty and disloyalty prophetically describe the behaviour of rebels and ungrateful men and exposes them, making it difficult for them to operate and wreak their havoc and destruction. The teachings on loyalty and disloyalty are prophetic because people will fulfil the words of this book without even knowing about them.

2. Loyalty is the highest kind of wisdom

Loyalty is a subject that was taught by King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. That is a good enough reason to teach about loyalty and disloyalty. Do not let any miserable ignoramus dissuade you from studying or teaching the subject of loyalty and disloyalty. Wretched losers, who are traitors, do not like it when you preach and teach on the subject of loyalty and disloyalty. Breakaway pastors, rebellious men and disgruntled former employees absolutely dislike these teachings because the teachings prophetically describe them in great detail.

3. The loyalty teaching is essential for raising leaders

People who do not build churches do not understand why we teach on the subjects of loyalty and disloyalty. Once you are dealing with leaders, you will need to teach them about loyalty and disloyalty. You will need faithfulness and loyalty as a prime characteristic of every leader and steward.

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:2

4. The loyalty teaching is required to re-set and re-direct the human nature

People are more primed to be disloyal than to be loyal! The nature of satan has been imparted to the human race through the fall of man. Men, including pastors, often lie, steal, deceive and betray without effort. If you do not teach about loyalty, you will have a bunch of traitors, betrayers and disloyal men as your key leaders.

5. The loyalty teaching is important to save innocent ones from disloyal men

But Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel, saying, “As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpet, then you shall say, ‘Absalom is king in Hebron!’” Then two hundred men went with Absalom from Jerusalem, who were invited and WENT INNOCENTLY, for they did not know anything.

2 Samuel 15:10-11 (NASB)

Many people follow treacherous men innocently, not fully understanding what they are doing. Two hundred people followed Absalom in the innocence of their minds. They did not understand what Absalom was doing. They did not realise that Absalom was actually trying to overthrow and kill his own father. Slanderers depend on their bad and deceptive stories to gain a following. Slanderers are dirty talkers who spread slander and ill-will against their pastor. No one should follow a slanderer.

A slanderer is a devil! The word “slanderer” is translated from the word “diabolos”. A man with a lot of negative stories about God’s servant is a dangerous person. Do not weld yourself to his future disasters by joining him. It is important for us to teach about loyalty and disloyalty so that people do not follow modern day Absaloms.

I have encountered a few such Absalom personalities in my life and ministry and I can tell you, it will not end well for anyone who walks in the ways of Absalom.

Chapter 2
Loyalty Is a Scripture-Based Teaching

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Timothy 3:16

The scriptures are profitable for all aspects of ministry. Through scripture, you can war a good warfare and win many battles for Jesus. Do not waste your time on things that are not based on the scriptures. Do not waste your time on books that are not based on Holy Scriptures.
The topics of “loyalty” and “disloyalty” are based on the Holy Scriptures.
The topics of “loyalty” and “disloyalty” are mentioned several times in the Bible.
The topics of “loyalty” and “disloyalty” are actually subjects of faithfulness, love, sincerity and truth.
The words “loyalty” and “disloyalty” are used in modern translations of the Bible, whereas the words “faithful” and “faithfulness” are used more in the King James Version of the Bible.

THE LOYALTY SCRIPTURES

Proverbs 20:28
A king who is LOYAL and true will keep his power. LOYALTY will keep his kingdom strong.

Proverbs 20:28 (ERV)

Proverbs 20:28
LOYALTY and truth watch over the king, And he upholds his throne by LOYALTY.

Proverbs 20:28 (NASB)

Proverbs 20:28
LOYALTY and mercy, truth and faithfulness, protect the king, And he upholds his throne by lovingkindness.

Proverbs 20:28 (AMP)

Proverbs 21:21
One who pursues righteousness and LOYALTY, finds life, righteousness, and honor.

Proverbs 21:21 (NASB)

Proverbs 20:6
Many a person proclaims his own LOYALTY, But who can find a trustworthy person?

Proverbs 20:6 (NASB)

Proverbs 3:3-4
Don’t ever let love and loyalty leave you. Tie them around your neck, and write them on your heart. Then God will be pleased and think well of you and so will everyone else.

Proverbs 3:3-4 (ERV)

Hosea 6:4-6
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? FOR YOUR LOYALTY IS LIKE A MORNING CLOUD and like the dew which goes away early. Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth. For I DELIGHT IN LOYALTY RATHER THAN SACRIFICE, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:4-6 (NASB95)

Hosea 6:6
For I desire LOYALTY rather than sacrifice, And the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Hosea 6:6 (NASB)

Hosea 4:1
Listen to the word of the Lord, you sons of Israel, because the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land, FOR THERE IS NO FAITHFULNESS, NOR LOYALTY, Nor knowledge of God in the land.

Hosea 4:1 (NASB)

Psalm 78:56-57
But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes. LIKE THEIR ANCESTORS THEY WERE DISLOYAL AND FAITHLESS, as unreliable as a faulty bow.

Psalm 78:56-57 (NIV)

Judges 8:33-35
No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god and did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. THEY ALSO FAILED TO SHOW ANY LOYALTY TO THE FAMILY OF JERUB-BAAL (THAT IS, GIDEON) in spite of all the good things he had done for them.

Judges 8:33-35 (NIV)

Titus 1:15-16
To the pure [in heart and conscience] all things are pure, but to the defiled and corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very minds and consciences are defiled and polluted. They profess to know God [to recognize, perceive, and be acquainted with Him], but deny and disown and renounce Him by what they do; they are detestable and loathsome, unbelieving and DISOBEDIENT AND DISLOYAL AND REBELLIOUS, AND [THEY ARE] UNFIT AND WORTHLESS FOR GOOD WORK (DEED OR ENTERPRISE) OF ANY KIND.

Titus 1:15-16 (AMPC)

Ezekiel 20:27-28
Therefore speak to the house of Israel, son of man, and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: “Again, in this your fathers have BLASPHEMED ME BY BEING DISLOYAL TO ME. When I had brought them into the land which I swore to give to them, then they saw every high hill and every tree thick with branches, and there they offered their sacrifices and there they presented the provocation of their offering. There also they made their soothing aroma and there they poured out their drink offerings.

Ezekiel 20:27-28 (NASB)

Ezekiel 39:23-24
The nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their wrongdoing, BECAUSE THEY WERE DISLOYAL TO ME, AND I HID MY FACE FROM THEM; SO I HANDED THEM OVER TO THEIR ADVERSARIES, AND ALL OF THEM FELL BY THE SWORD. In accordance with their uncleanness and their offenses I dealt with them, and I hid My face from them.

Ezekiel 39:23-24 (NASB)

Chapter 3

Loyalty is the Main Qualification for Ministry

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:2

Faithfulness and loyalty are the requirements for being in the ministry. A requirement is something you cannot do without. For instance, you can do without a music player, a coffee cup holder, an air conditioner, or a fridge in your car. None of these are requirements for a car. However, you cannot do without windscreen wipers. You cannot do without the lights! You cannot do without brakes! Windscreen wipers, headlights and brakes are requirements for a car.

In the same way, loyalty, faithfulness, dependability, constancy, fidelity and being unchangeable are requirements for ministry. Cheerfulness, good singing, having a beard, having a deep voice, and being handsome are not qualifications for being in the ministry.

Loyalty is the principal qualification for every minister. The best kind of person you need to employ in ministry is a faithful, dependable, devoted, loyal, unchanging and constant person. An inexperienced person is likely to think that the more gifted you are, the more qualified you are for the ministry. My little experience has shown me that it is the faithful and loyal people in the church who are most qualified to be leaders.

Someone who is inexperienced would think that a friendly brother would make a good pastor. He may also think that someone with good oratory skills would make the best preacher. Do not make that mistake. The Bible teaches us that the cardinal requirement for leadership is faithfulness and not anything else!

…it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:2

I have many wonderful pastors who work with me. Many of them are not overly friendly, flashy, or particularly gifted. But time has proven that faithful people are the best gifts that God has given to me.

The best kind of person you need for ministry is a faithful, dependable, devoted, loyal, unchanging and constant person!

Chapter 4

Loyalty Fights the 5th column

And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

Galatians 2:4

A false brother is someone who creeps in silently and lives amongst you as though he is part of you. In reality, he is not a part of you. He is a false brother and he crept in silently when no one was watching. This false brother is waiting to turn on you when he gets the chance.

Lions attack in the night because they can see better then. There is a time the enemy will find most appropriate to turn on you and hurt you. There is a time that you will be more vulnerable and more easily hurt by anything the enemy does. A false brother is often a scorner. He scoffs at your plans, your purposes and your pursuits.

Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

Proverbs 22:10

A scorner is someone from within your camp who does not believe in you. A scorner is someone who sympathises with the enemy. A scorner is someone who understands your enemy. A scorner is someone who listens to your enemy. A scorner is someone whom you must learn to recognise so that you cast him out of your midst. Lucifer was cast out of heaven. Lucifer was not counselled or advised. Some people should not be counselled. Some people should simply be thrown out of the church!

And prevailed not; neither was THEIR PLACE FOUND ANY MORE IN HEAVEN. AND THE GREAT DRAGON WAS CAST OUT, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 12:8-9

Very early in my ministry, I realised that the devil is an expert at destroying the church from within. He will destroy the church from within, using false brothers and scorners. If you are a good minister, called by God, and doing the right things, the devil will have very little opportunity to fight against you from outside. Like Jesus said,

…the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

John 14:30

You will realise that satan often does not have the occasion to launch deadly attacks against you from outside. Jesus was saying that though the enemy was coming after Him, he did not have any grounds to destroy Him. There are many anointed preachers in this same category; satan has no basis on which to overcome them, so he has to use someone from within. In the case of Jesus, it was a traitor (Judas) whom satan used.

La Quinta Columna

The fifth column is a translation of the Spanish words “la quinta columna”. There was a rebel general, Emilio Mola, during the Spanish Civil War who predicted that Madrid would fall as four columns of his rebel troops approached the city. These four columns of rebel troops were joined by a hidden fifth column of sympathisers within Madrid. Since this event in the Spanish Civil War, hidden sympathisers of the enemy and disloyal elements within a camp have been called a “fifth column”.

The city of Madrid was heavily fortified with a high and imposing wall and gate. The army general surrounded the city in readiness to attack. A friend of the general came along and asked him, “Sir, how do you think you are going to overcome the defences of this city? No one in recent history has been able to conquer this great city.”

The army general smiled and said, “It’s my 5th column of sympathisers. I’m depending on them to do the trick.”

The general’s friend was very interested and asked, “What is this 5th column? I thought you only had four columns.”

The army general replied, “I do have a 5th column.”

“Oh, I see. Is it a special commando unit or are they airborne paratroopers?” the man asked.

I Will Fight from Within

The general laughed, “No, it’s none of these. My 5th column consists of my sympathisers, my spies, my agents, my friends and my supporters who are already within the city. You just wait. They will open those big gates from within, and my armies will rush in.”

This is the only way the enemy can destroy a successful and powerful ministry that is doing all the right things. It has to come from within!

The 5th column comprises those who sympathise with the enemy. They are the disloyal, double-faced, double-tongued, disgruntled and discontented people within every ministry. If these people are allowed to wreak havoc as they so very well can, they will destroy the church.

I Had a Disloyal Associate

I remember years ago when I started out in the ministry, I experienced the effect of having a disloyal associate. This person, although officially standing on my right-hand side, did not believe in me and was murmuring against me all the time.

His home was the meeting place for all the discontented people in the church. Every time they gathered, they would discuss and criticise me. At times, they would talk about the way I preached. At other times, it was the way I sipped water in the middle of my sermons. Yet again, some felt I was not friendly enough. The Lord revealed all these things to me. I prayed about it and asked the Lord what to do.

God told me, “Get rid of that guy.”

I said, “Lord, do you mean he must leave the church?”

And the Lord said, “I mean exactly that! Dismiss him, otherwise, you will never have peace, and your church will never grow.”

So, I called for a meeting of the elders of the church. At the meeting, I said, “I have realised that Brother X is not in support of me. He’s constantly full of bitter criticisms.”

I said to Brother X, “I know that you do not believe in my leadership any more. I trained you. I brought you up. And today you are too big to remain under my authority.”

I asked, “What do you think we should do?”

Then the brother said, “Let’s work things out.”

But there was nothing to work out. The scripture that the Lord had shown me came floating up to my mind.

Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

Proverbs 22:10

I spoke up, pointed to my assistant and said, “You know as well as I do that it’s not going to work. You don’t believe in me anymore.”

I went on, “From today, I have relieved you of all your duties in this church.”

He sputtered, “What!” Then he said, “I will continue coming to church even though I may not have certain responsibilities.”

You Must Leave This Church Now!

But I said to him, “No! You must leave! You are not part of us. Your presence in the church will only be destructive.”

I tell you! It was no easy thing to dismiss a friend and associate. But it had to be done. The Bible tells us that when Lot’s men got into conflict with Abraham’s men, Abraham directed Lot to go somewhere else! Abraham was saying, “If we are apart, there will be peace.”

A disloyal person breeds strife, hatred and murmuring. These disloyal sentiments are like smoke that fills an entire house. The only way to get rid of the smoke is to get rid of the fire.

If we want to have a large church, we need to minister with love and with oneness. If we cannot be one, let us stop pretending. You see, I encourage people to walk out of my church if their hearts are not with me.

He that is not with me is against me…

Matthew 12:30

I will beg you to leave if I have to. I am serious about this. I will even give you money to pay for your transportation and snacks as you leave us, so that those of us who love one another and are confident about each other can stay together and continue working.

Get Rid of Pretenders

I do not know how to pretend. I simply do not know how to do it. But there are many pretenders in the church. They pretend to love you and support you, but in their hearts, they despise you.

Chapter 5

Loyalty is Necessary for the Love of God to Fill the Church

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; BUT FAITH WHICH WORKETH BY LOVE.

Galatians 5:6

Your faith to have a mega church will only work through love. Your faith to build God’s house and to be obedient to His will, so that the church marches forward, is a good thing. But your faith in God will only work through love. You must love the Lord, and you must love His people. Having bitterness and hatred in your heart will not help your faith to work. Faith works by love! Faith works by loving all the people whom God brings to you. All things work together for good to those who love God. Loving God is essential if you want all things to work together for your good.

Eye has not seen, and neither has ear heard the things that God has prepared for those who love Him. Do you want to see the “eye has not seen” and hear the “ear hath not heard” things that God has prepared? Then you need to walk in love!

You cannot say that you love God when you do not love the brethren. How can you say you love God, whom you have not seen, when you do not love your brother, whom you have seen? The ministry is supposed to operate with the power of love, unity and teamwork.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

John 13:35

To minister as an effective leader, you need to exhibit the love that Jesus spoke about. People are attracted by love. When they see leaders who flow together in genuine love, they are attracted. You must never forget that your church members are not blind. Neither are they deaf. They can see and feel disunity and discord when it is there. Confusion and disunity drive people away from the church.

Sheep Only Drink from Still Waters

One thing that every pastor must know about sheep is that they drink from still waters. If the water is murky and rough, the sheep will stay away. You see, they are not sure if there is a crocodile or a snake in the water!

…he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:2

Whenever there is treachery and distrust, your church members become scared and wary and stay away.

Chapter 6

Loyalty is Necessary for You to Have a Large and Successful Ministry

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 16:18

One man can only do so much. One pastor can only be in one place at a time. He can only minister until his strength is exhausted. To build a mega church, you need to have loyal assistants. Many people do not have mega churches because they do not have loyal assistants.

Anyone who wants to extend his ministry and bear much fruit has to learn to work with many other people. These people are the team that I am talking about. However, it would be better to work alone than with a team of disloyal, disgruntled, disunited and disaffected people. In fact, it is not possible to have an effective team with such people.

I believe I have only been able to do as much as I have because of the team with whom I work. Today, we have churches in over a hundred nations. These churches are part of a network that is loyal to the headquarters of the church.

People often ask me, “How do you sustain churches in all these different locations? What sort of controls do you have?” You see, much of the system depends on loyalty. The churches are pastored by ministers who are loyal to the Lord, to me and to the vision of the church. Without loyalty, every network or denomination of churches constantly undergoes disintegration. Without loyalty, they frequently divide into splinter groups and smaller sub-churches.

Their Church Disintegrated

I remember the story of a branch church that disintegrated because of disunity. Some long-standing seeds of disloyalty manifested shortly after a fund-raising event at the local church. As a result of this disagreement, the branch pastor decided to resign and start his own church. He was so angry that he returned all the money he had raised. The church members, of course, were very surprised that the money they had given to the church was being returned.

This pastor spread many bad stories about his denomination and its senior ministers. Naturally, this church virtually disintegrated following the pastor’s actions.

Dear friend, I can give you story after story of why churches (especially branch churches in big cities) constantly divide and break off. What I can say for sure is that without principled and loyal pastors, the ministry of our Lord will always be limited.

Chapter 7

Loyalty is Necessary for You to Have a Full Eternal Reward

His lord said unto him, WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Matthew 25:21

Well done, good and faithful servant! Are these not the words you want to hear? Remember that it is not only your good works that matter. Your faithfulness (loyalty) is very important. It is not, “Well done, good servant”. It is, “Well done, GOOD AND FAITHFUL servant.”

Faithfulness means loyalty, constancy, reliability and fidelity; it also means to be unchanging.

A person can have only a few years of practical and effective ministry. Jesus only ministered for three and a half years, but He extended His ministry and His influence through an effective and loyal team. Notice that Jesus’ ministry has branched out into the whole world and has spanned two thousand years.

The church will continue! None of us is indispensable! God can do without us! We need loyal people who will stay faithful to the vision so that the ministry will continue into the future. One day, we all hope to hear those famous words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Those who stick with you through difficult times are different from those who come in when everything is working well. Those who benefit from the blessings of success are the faithful and loyal ones.

Well Done!

Jesus Himself told His twelve disciples that they would be treated differently from any other minister. They would have a special kingdom, and their names would even be written on the foundations of the New Jerusalem.

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles...

Revelation 21:14

Even the great men of God we know today will not qualify for this special reward. Jesus gave a reason for this special reward – they had been loyal and faithful to Him through the most difficult part of His ministry.

Ye are they which have CONTINUED with me in my temptations... I appoint unto you a kingdom...

Luke 22:28-29

In the good times, everybody seems loyal. But you see, loyalty is most appreciated in hard times.

A Few Have Stood

I appreciate very much the pastors who have stood with me throughout my ministry. They have watched me rise and supported me, even in my mistakes. To me, they are different from others who joined me later. As Jesus said, they have a “special reward!”

Be faithful! Be loyal! Be constant! Learn all you can about loyalty and disloyalty. Build your church and ministry on these foundations and truths. The pillars of loyalty will give you long-lasting fruit in the earth.

“And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” Ecclesiastes 12:12