I want to share 4 quick points about spiritual leadership and then give you 3 qualities of a spiritual leader. 1.) In every generation, God looks for spiritual leaders to change the course history. Billy Graham is our modern day example of what God does with leadership.
2.) Spiritual leadership is NOT just a church thing. Spiritual leadership is found in business, politics, school and church. It’s everywhere a man or woman gives their lives to Christ.
3.) The need for spiritual leaders is great but the list of people to fill those roles is short. Why? Because people want to build their kingdom not God’s.
4.) Spiritual leaders haves flaws, but God works through them anyway. You can not look at spiritual leaders and expect perfection, that’s very naïve.
The word of the LORD came to me: “…There is a conspiracy of her princes within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her…” NIV Ezekiel 22:23-31
What is being said? In the Jewish nation at this time, there were leaders but they were destroying the very people they were supposed to love and protect. Does this sound familiar to you? Leaders who lead in a way that benefits them and devours the people they lead? God, in this story, loves His people and is tired of seeing them be taken advantage of. What does God do? Let’s keep reading. “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD.” NIV Ezekiel 22:23-31
This should break heart. God says, “..but I found none.” God is no different today. In world that is filled with leaders who devour their people, God is looking for people to lead. 4 quick points. 1.) In every generation, God looks for spiritual leaders to change the course history. 2.) Spiritual leadership is not just a church thing, it’s found in business, politics, school and church. It’s everywhere a man or woman gives their lives to Christ. 3.) The need for spiritual leaders is great but the list of people to fill those roles is short. Why? Because people want to build their kingdom not God’s. 4.) Spiritual leaders haves flaws, but God works through them anyway. Please-please-please never view church leaders as perfect.
Here are three qualities of a spiritual leader. Quality #1: The Anointing of God. You can have your doctorate in leadership. You might be the best sales person and shatters all records. You might have built a business, taken it public and be a billionaire. That doesn’t mean you qualify to be a spiritual leader. A spiritual leader isn’t elected and isn’t appointed or promoted. A spiritual leader is anointed by God when he or she spends time with Him.
So how do you get this quality? Here is what we know. If you see someone today who is anointed by God, they got here today because years before this moment, they met alone with God. They are anointed with the Holy Spirit. With prayers and tears they surrendered their lives to God. They volunteered at church. They took the risk and they brought their best.
Quality #2: Courage. After you meet with God for years and surrender to God, you get courage. The courage to be a God pleaser. Someone who follows God and is unapologetic with their passion to accomplish God’s mission. Paul wrote about this: I’m not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant. NLT Galatians 1:10
People pleasers have no courage. They care more about what people think than what God thinks. They live fearful, timid, shallow lives and they desperately want to be validated. A person who cares more about what God thinks than what others think can be ferocious. They are the ones who move God’s kingdom forward. They have courage to do what is right when evil screams against them.
Quality #3: Sacrifice. Jesus said, No one can become my disciple without giving up everything for me. NLT Luke 14:33 A spiritual leader lives for God and the advancement of His kingdom. They understand the big picture and the small role they play in it. It’s not about our stuff, our comfort, the praise of others, it’s about the mission of Christ. They understand that real people will really go to heaven or hell. And they know, everyday, they have to grow and develop to be God’s best.
1.) This is available to everyone. 2.) The most disrespectful thing you could think about a spiritual leader is this: “It’s just easier for them because that’s their personality.” No, they surrendered to God – you can too. They put God first in their lives and are no longer people pleasers – you can too. They understand the advancement of God – you can too.
Question: Where will you be when God looks for his next Spiritual Leader?