By: Bishop Paul Pinnick
Leadership
First off, what is leadership? There are several dimensions to leadership. The world identifies leaders as those individuals in positions of power and authority.
from passion, not position.
Galatians 5:13:
For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
Luke 22:27:
For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
Ephesians 3:7:
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Romans 12:13
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23:
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
2 Corinthians 3:6:
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
Ephesians 3:7:
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Colossians 4:16-17:
16And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea.
17And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
Clearly, leadership requires much more than power and position.
Three Disciplines of Leadership
Leadership can be summarized into three major disciplines.
Next we see that leaders must have integrity.
Finally, leadership is about priorities - Kingdom priorities.
Leadership may come naturally for some people, and others may have to work to overcome deficiencies in one or more areas. However, everyone can become a leader in significant ways through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Good leadership consists of showing average people how to do the work of superior people.
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. Does power and authority equate to leadership? Surely, men and women in lofty positions have the potential to be great leaders, but is this always true? Surely, Jesus Christ was the most powerful man to ever walk the earth, but was it His power that made Him the leader whose impact on humanity has far surpassed some of the most powerful leaders - Alexander the Great, Caesar, and Ghengis Kahn - in the world? Leaders must have followers. By the very nature of this relationship, following is a voluntary action. And whom do we follow? We follow those we trust. One of the most effective ways to earn the trust of others is by becoming an example for those that you lead. We also follow those that have a vision for what the future can become. In Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) it says "Where there is no vision, the people perish." People will follow someone that can identify a better future. However, vision without a plan is deception. The leader must have a plan for seeing their vision become reality. ." You succeed in earning the trust of followers when you walk in their shoes, talk at their level, and feel their pain and joy. True leaders are transparent and humble, hiding nothing from those that follow. First, comes maturity.With maturity, right choices are made, beginning with motive and intent. Does the person want a leadership role for status or service? In Mark chapter 10, James and John ask Jesus if they could sit at His right and left hand in the Kingdom for their selfish motives. Jesus saw through this and set them straight on the sacrifice required for these positions. It was through maturity that Jesus was able to stay true to His mission and go to the cross.A person of integrity will have character and behaviors that are the same, both in private and in public. There is no single action that can undermine a leader more than compromising his or her integrity. We’ve seen it happen, and when it happens it can devastate ministry. A compromise of integrity almost always results from a temptation to take a shortcut to success. We must never forget that our natural hearts are full of wicked and evil. This is why maturity must come before integrity to provide the fundamental values that support right decision-making. Jesus knew His priorities and stayed true to His purpose on Earth. We see this when He faced the devil in the wilderness. The devil tempted Jesus in three different ways and Jesus relied on His maturity and integrity to stand the test. Priorities tell others about what we hold to be most important. Is this power, status, or wealth or, is it what God tells us is important: spiritual growth, service, and relationships.Our role model for leadership is Jesus Christ. He didn’t follow the leadership conventions of the period, yet His impact has outlasted kings, emperors, dictators, and their empires. His mission remains the same today as when He walked the earth.
