The True Mark of Leadership
KJV Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish. Although the
NKJV is somewhat different, the impact is equally as powerful. Prov 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
We have elected pastors with no vision therefore the people parish for lack of vision.
Unless we as God’s people have a clear understanding of where we are headed, the probability of a successful journey is severely limited. I have found that people love to be led by someone who knows where he is going. I have also found that you can’ go fast looking in the rearview mirror. It’s more than “what I use to do for God.” For too long the church has had used car salesmen and computer operators choosing the shepherd over the flock. The results have been devastating and heartbreaking in many situations because they ended up with hirelings.
John 10:12-13 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
Election or appointment of men does not make spiritual leaders. Only God can make a true leader. Not all pastors are true leaders. There are men who have been pastoring for 35 years and still have the same nucleus of people they started with. Some die off and some are born but they still have 35 people. They may be good men that feed the sheep, make hospital calls and have coffee with the parishioners but they are not leaders because they lack vision. They have become content in their place of stagnation. If you do not have a Joshua you may not be a Moses. A true leader has someone following.
It is the duty of those in leadership to do all in their power to see that the torch of spiritual leadership is passed on to the younger men that have come up through the ranks. Not transplants. Simply holding a position of importance does not constitute one a leader.
True leaders do not “Hold the Fort.”
The leader must make many decisions that sometime go against the grain. If the leader is always at the same place of the people there can be no advancement. If the leader gets too far in front of the people he will be mistaken for the enemy and be destroyed by friendly fire.
Strife is a vision killer and will destroy a church if left unattended. Critical spirits operating in a church will work like a cancer and bring deteriorate the body from the inside out. Sometimes parishioners feel justified for their cynicism against the ministry because of something that happened. There is absolutely nothing that you have been through that merits cynicism or criticism of your leaders. A critical fault finding heart was the first thing that happened to Judas. Let us not be found guilty of harboring feelings of animosity or distrust of our leaders. When Saul was out looking to kill David and he went into the cave to cover his feet (relieve himself) not knowing that David and his men were. David and all of his men felt that he was justified in killing Saul but David said “I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the LORD’s anointed. Your dislike or distrust of someone does nothing to remove the anointing.
Character is very important for any service unto God. Openness and humility is very essential in our lives. You only produce what you are and you can only take others to where you have been. A teachable spirit is essential, this is the sign of a servant spirit. A leader is a man who will always be pressing through for the heart of God – to become like the Lord Jesus. Therefore recognition of ones weakness will cause him to rise up to God, to seek the way through (to find it for himself and overcome it). If he is unable to do this for himself he will have great difficulties in leading others apart from putting himself in frustration.
Character assassination seems common among some that consider themselves Christians. Digging up dirt on an individual is not part of your walk with God. We have not been sent to police the saints of God and exposing private sins doesn’t help to further the work of the kingdom of God. Perhaps its time we begin to cover our brother’s nakedness and forget about exposing him. Noah’s sons took his clothing and backed in to cover their father’s shame. To Ham his sin became a laughing stock because he had been the preacher of righteousness. Judgment is in the hands of God and He doesn’t need our help. It has been said that the man who throws dirt looses ground. The kingdom of God can advance, and accountability and judgment can be ensured without throwing mud. Malice, hate and evil speaking are not virtues, and they are very unbecoming of a Christian. I believe that character is not what you do but who you are. Character is not developed through your successes and achievements but rather through past failures and defeats.
Gehazi had followed the Prophet Elisha and had witnessed the miracles of God first hand. He had been with the man of God for years and still became filled with greed and the reason was he lacked character. He was not to be trusted. Greed had overtaken him.
God doesn’t have to short you to bless me. My true character is revealed when no one is looking.
Encouragement: The most powerful motivating force we have is encouragement. It is the language of the kingdom. It is the way we build up. 2 Chron 31:4 Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.
