What does it mean to be a good leader?
There are hundreds of books, on this topic, stored on shelves and in cyberspace .
What are the key ingredients of real, spiritual authority and leadership?
Do you have these qualities?
Could you ever be a solid leader?
I say, “Yes!”
In the United States, we are tempted to think that leadership looks bold, forceful, dominant, overbearing and maybe even boastful. Leadership is for the strong – those who can overpower all contenders. This, however, is not true.
True leadership is based on genuine authority, and ALL authority comes from God. God’s authority is not marked by pride and earthly power.
When Jesus chose His disciples, he chose 12 of them. Why 12?
Many believe that this choice represented the 12 tribes of Israel; that Jesus was creating a new order – a kind of “New Israel.” It is interesting that one of the first glimpses we have recorded, in the book of Revelation, of the throne of God, includes 24 seated elders. (Revelation 4:4) This would seem to point to the leadership of Israel and the Church somehow being merged together and seated in authority around God’s presence. Even more interesting, is that all four times the 24 elders are mentioned they fall down and worship God. Spiritual authority always submits to and worships God.
David – the greatest king of Israel – was characterized by a worshiping heart. He was a worshiper who always looked to honor God’s authority. And Jesus – the God-man – was always looking to submit His life to the will of His Father in heaven.
The 24 elders would bow and prostrate themselves before the throne of God. They would humble themselves before Him. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6) Spiritual authority is marked by humility.
Paul chastised the Corinthians for tolerating ungodly expressions of spiritual authority among them. (2 Corinthians 11:19ff) He said he had the earthly credentials to lead as they led, but that he chose (and we must also choose) to boast in the things that showed his weakness. He chose to focus on Jesus, to help those he led to focus on Jesus, and to lead in a way that exemplified the life of Jesus.
Do you have the courage and faith to abandon earthly/American styles of leadership and lead from a place of humility, integrity and honesty?
This is the source of heavenly authority and leadership, and it can be yours in Christ – no matter who you are.
~ Coach Tom
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