Spiritual Leadership

There is a lot of talk about leadership these days. I can remember seeing rows of books in the bookstores exclusively on leadership from all kinds of perspectives. Five steps, four keys, seven principles of leadership. And if you attend a typical evangelical church for any length of time you may very well hear a sermon series on leadership. Now the world's definition of leadership is based on common sense and what works (translated who made a lot of money leading that way), but it is obvious that the Biblical model of leadership has absolutely nothing to do with worldly success or monetary gain, and sometimes Spiritual leadership falls short in both those categories - according to the world.

Actually a concise Biblical definition of leadership centers around being an example before the human audience, which at its core is servanthood. And that type of leadership comes from the Holy Spirit and pleases the Father while reflecting the Son. It cannot and should not be measured in financial terms, and many times a good financial or corporate leader is not one in God's sight. Spiritual leadership may sometimes appear weak and non-assertive, when in actuality it is bold in the Spirit realm. Spiritual leadership can look insecure and defeated, when in the heavenlies it is decisive. Spiritual leadership can sometimes offer reconciliation to an enemy that resembles compromise, and sometimes offer unexpected correction to a close friend that resembles harshness. Spiritual leadership can ground one girl for being ten minutes late, while restoring another with an unwanted pregnancy. You see leadership is actually Jesus in human clothes.

Spiritual leadership by definition cannot be kept within predictable parameters, and there are no neat steps to be an effective (God pleasing) leader in the Spirit. The leader is the Spirit Himself, and the man an obedient and humble conduit. Organization is a plus, but it cannot define a Spiritual leader. Good communication skills are good, but they are not the substance. Spiritual leaders come in all sizes and shapes, many different personalities, withdrawn and gregarious, loud and soft spoken, and a myriad of styles. A Spiritual leader readily admits his knowledge is limited and he learns to listen, store, and later pray and meditate upon good advice. Many times a Spiritual leader does not consider himself to be one, and he does not verbalize everything he thinks. A Spiritual leader will constantly war against manipulation, even when it is the straightest line between two points.

A Spiritual leader draws others to follow Who he follows, simply by his magnetic Spiritual life. While others may only know Christ on a doctrinal basis, his intimate relationship with the same Savior generates a thirst in those who watch him and become desirous of whatever he has. Sometimes what he says creates desire, sometimes it's what he doesn't say. A Spiritual leader isn't leading somewhere, he is leading to Someone and the fragrance of that Someone rides with him. Many times the leading journeyman is so taken by the Person of the path, that he doesn't realize others follow him. And when the leader reaches his final destination he hears the words "well done you good and faithful servant", which is God's definition of a Spiritual leader. And Paul makes it clear that women can and should be Christ modeling leaders to other women and to their own children. It is not the Biblical design but many women are by default the Spiritual leaders in their own home. May God bless these Godly ladies who so often put men to shame!

Broken - humble - selfless - prayer - love - driven - Christlike
A leader in the Spirit.

Hitler can be a leader of men, but only followers of Jesus can lead people away from themselves and to the Living Water. Great leadership is when you are such an example and so diversified and unexpected in your caring that you never even need to write a book about you and your teachings, millions of others will write about you and your reflecting passion. You may write books, but not about you. Now pure leadership, as a matter of fact, can be when You are so obscure and hidden that no one can tell where You come from or where you go (Jn.3:8), and Your labor is sometimes attributed to men when indeed it is all You. And when You are recognized You (Holy Spirit) speak of Someone else (Jesus). I believe that is called leadership masquerading as servanthood.

Lord, we all are dumb, blind sheep without Your leadership. And in reality true leadership is followship. We desire to lead...to You. Keep calling.

Your servants are listening.