Called to Lead

Exodus 33:12-13; Luke 22:27 & John 13:1-17

“A true and safe leader is likely to be one who has no desire to lead, but is forced into a position of leadership by the inward pressure of the Holy Spirit and the press of the external situation.” ~ A.W. Tozer

1.    Leadership is based upon a relationship with God and people

Exodus 33:12-13  Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me.  You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’  If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.  Remember that this nation is your people…”

• The command to lead.  (Joshua 1:6-9; Ezekiel 22:30)
• Relationships of mentoring and partnership.  (Barnabas & Saul, Paul & Timothy)
• Favor with God.  (Joseph’s favor with God in Genesis 39:3-4; Hebrews 4:16)
• Desiring to know God and His ways.  (Philippians 3:10-11)
• The stewardship of people.  (1 Peter 5:1-4)

2.    Jesus based leadership upon servanthood, not position.

Mark 10:41-45 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.  Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you.  Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

• God’s leadership principles are different from those used by the people of the world.  Worldly leadership in the church brings strife.
• Kingdom leadership is expressed through servant leadership. (Luke 22:27; John 13:1-17)

3.    A leader has been responsible with someone else’s ministry.

Luke 16:10-13  Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.  So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?  And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own? No servant can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

• To lead one must first understand authority and learn to follow (Matthew 8:5-10).
• The armor bearer principle (Abimelech’s armor bearer in Judges 9:45-55; Saul’s armor bearer  in I Samuel 31:4-6; I Chronicles 10:4-5; Jonathan’s armor bearer in I Samuel 14:1-23; David as Saul’s armor bearer in I Samuel 16:14-23).

4.    Leaders are busy mentors.

2 Timothy 2:2  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

• “I wish to have on my epitaph: ‘Here lies a man who was wise enough to bring into his service men who knew more than he.’”  Andrew Carnegie
• “Mentoring is a relational process  between a mentor who knows or has experienced something, and transfers that something to a mentoree at an appropriate time and manner, so that it facilitates development and empowerment.”  Robert Clinton
• When we live the “mentoring Pattern,” (Discipleship Development) we can be assured of finishing well.  A common characteristic of leaders who finish well is that they have had mentors to guide them along the way.

5.    Leaders are people of integrity.

Titus 1:5-9  The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.  An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.  Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless – not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.  Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.  He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.  (also 1 Timothy 3:1-13)

• The “sinkhole syndrome” ~ Sinkholes occur when underground streams drain away during drought, causing the ground at the surface to lose its underlying support.  When our private life is not what our public life seems to be we are living in a state of deception when the undercurrent of sin can erode our lives and destroy us.  (Hebrews 3:12-13)
• Psalm 19:13-14   Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.  Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

6.    A leader must be filled with the Holy Spirit

Acts 6:3  Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.

• The leader who is filled with the Spirit can serve with humility (John 13:3-17).
• God uses leaders who serve with Holy Spirit humility in greater ways as they prove faithful (Acts 8:1-13).