52. Spiritual Leadership II
UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP
A.1. Leadership is a Kingdom principle
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are constantly giving leaders to the body of Christ, Eph 4:11‑16.
God gives leaders for a specific purpose, Acts 1:8, Matt 28:18.
For every task God finds His man.
When God wants to do something, He begins with a man, not a committee. E.g.. Moses, Gideon, Martin Luther ... etc.
God always uses people, (Human Beings), to achieve what He wants. Rom. 10:14b, “... And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?’
God always channels the working and operation of His Spirit through people. E.g.. Luke 4:18‑19 (Jesus); John 20:21,22 (disciples); Acts 9:15 (Paul).
We often underplay the importance that God places upon human instrumentality.
Humans are those who represent His work and Kingdom here on earth.
Without an ambassador God has no agent to work through. 2 Cor. 5:19c‑20.
A.2. History shows the value of leadership
We need to celebrate leadership. No one likes authority, but take it away and you have anarchy. Leadership is often abused by the followers. Bad leadership has caused poverty, wars etc. Leadership is seldom appreciated.
A.3. Spiritual leadership vs. secular leadership
Elders, home group leaders, youth leaders, Sunday school teachers, are all examples of spiritual leaders. Secular leaders are policemen, heads of state, teachers .. etc.
Firstly The principles that govern spiritual leadership are different and superior to secular ones. E.g.. Leaders in the world are often only chosen for their charisma, popularity or gifting.
Secondly Spiritual leadership uses spiritual power. Secular leadership uses manipulation and force as its source of power.
Thirdly Spiritual leadership is accountable to Christ, whereas secular leadership is accountable to a controlling system.
A.4. People need leadership
They are sheep that need to be led. John 10:3‑5.
Without leadership people cannot function together in order and unity. Otherwise, they revert to "CHAOS.” Zech. 13:7 "... smite the shepherd and the sheep will scatter."
B. Leaders are God’s vehicle for authority
God conducts His work through authority structures:-
The Home (IMPOSED/INVITED LEADERSHIP)
Eph. 5:22, 6:1 "Wives submit ...", "children obey ..."
The Church (VOLUNTARY/INVITED LEADERSHIP)
1 The 5:12‑13 "Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other." See also 1 Tim 5:17.
The State (IMPOSED LEADERSHIP)
Rom. 13:1‑7 and 1 Peter 2:13‑14 "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by Him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right." Pray for them that the will of God will be worked out in their lives and in the decisions they make.
Inspiration and enthusiasm through leaders
Leadership is God's tool to inspire and enthuse. Also, leaders present goals and vision to the Body. There is no perfect leader, and where there is a leader yielded to God, we have direction and purpose. God, in a corporate sense, also reveals satan's strategy through leaders.
Paul said, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” Heb 13:7.
Protection from danger through leaders
Leaders will lead us in God's will, and therefore in His protection.
Education and example through leaders
People learn from the good and bad of our lifestyles as leaders. We are in the eye of the public at all times. Therefore, need to live an exemplary lifestyle, i.e. live beyond reproach.
Direction and action through leaders
Isaiah 62:10 "Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations." Leaders will rise up and meet a challenge as it arises. Leaders are to constantly provide direction for and call those in their care to do what God requires in the situations they find themselves in.
C. Leaders are prepared and produced by God
It is rare for a leader to be naturally gifted, and most times the Lord needs to add certain qualities to your life.
Leaders are moulded by experience
God is more interested in our character than our convenience. Nothing of secular experience is wasted. E.g.. Heb 5:8 "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered." God can put you through obedience exercises like a soldier in the army. An army that does not obey cannot be trusted in war. Remember, God like a general in the army, has the overall picture. There are many times that God will give us orders that we don't understand, e.g.. Abraham sacrificing his son Isaac, but we must instinctively obey.
First the natural then the spiritual arises
God follows Kingdom principles, and not academic routes to placing people in leadership.
1 Cor. 15:42‑46 "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being: the last Adam, a life‑giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.” Therefore God requires us to rule ourselves first as leaders, then we can rule in the Body. What use is it if the naturally observable lifestyles we lead are out of order, and we are leading others.
When we train our children, we are doing it for the future. e.g.. A child cleaning his room. If you fail in life, you will fail in the ministry. If you can't trust a Pastor with money how can you trust him with your life. "Well-done good and faithful servant." God looks first to our faithfulness as a qualification. But we have a tendency to over-spiritualise and think that we waste time with natural / physical things rather than the spiritual. But in a way they qualify us to shepherd God’s people. How are you going to handle the Lord's people, if you can't handle your bosses’ tasks and instructions? The "little,” of the natural, we are faithful with as leaders, will enable us to be responsible with the "more" of the spiritual.
Leadership is an experience of development
We are given what we need. 2 Cor. 1:4 "who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." God will give you the equipment to be a leader. He will make provision for us so that we can grow, even using discipline if necessary. When we become leaders our weaknesses and problem areas are exposed. As we go through these valuable and humbling situations, we gain insight into life, and then we can comfort and lead those whom God has entrusted to us, because we have developed maturity through life’s experiences.
D. Leaders are rare
Leaders are a valuable commodities
We cannot do without leaders. There is a price to pay, we often get discouraged and say, "Why should I bother?" At those times we should acknowledge that God has called us, and take comfort in His strength. Remember, leaders are in the minority and God is constantly looking for those who will rise up and lead. Statistics outlining how few leaders there are:
3% of people are self-motivated leaders ‑ self starters
7% of people are inspired into leadership
90% of people are followers
Types of leaders which emerge
Type 1 10% of a growing church
Type 2 2 ‑ 3% of a growing church develops to type 2
Type 3 .5 ‑ 1% of a growing church develops to type 3
Type 4 over 250 at least one type 4 leader emerges
over 600‑700 several type 4 leaders
(Types are given below)
Definition of different types
Type 1
Voluntary, local, limited spheres of influence, face‑to‑face.
Small group leaders, Sunday School, Assistant Home Group Leaders ... etc.
Critical to health and growth of the Body
Type 2
Voluntary, local, church‑wide, direct or face‑to‑face.
Home group leaders ( possibly control 2 groups), those in charge of other leaders.
Sunday school overseer ‑ oversees a number of small groups
Type 3
Called and paid, full‑time, local, church-wide / community influence
Direct and indirect ministry contact
Basic theological education, spiritual maturity, ministry experience.
Type 4
Called and paid, full-time.
Multi‑staff oversight, mostly an indirect ministry, lead elder, visionary.
Distribution of different types of leaders
Type 1 1 for every 5 ‑ 10 people
Type 2 1 for every 25 ‑ 50 people
Type 3 1 for every 100 ‑ 200 people
Type 4 1 for every 200 ‑ 1000 people