Introduction
The Transformers was one of my favorite cartoons and toys when I was a
kid in the 80s. Optimus Prime was the
leader of the Autobots, the heroes of the story who fought for good and to
protect the people of Earth. Optimus
Prime was a robot who could transform into a tractor trailer. He was one of the strongest Transformers, but
he was also a wise and noble leader who always put the good of others before his own. I mention Optimus Prime's leadership, because I want to talk about the transforming spiritual gift of leadership today.
You see, when a person chooses to follow Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives
them a special talent to serve in the Church and help transform the world. Romans 12:6-8 teaches that some receive the
gift of Prophecy,
others the gifts of Serving, or Teaching, Encouraging, Giving, or
Kindness. But today, I want to talk
about the spiritual gift of leadership.
I am an elder
in the United Methodist Church. That’s
the technical term in the United Methodist Church for someone who has been
fully trained, examined, approved, and ordained as a minister to lead a Methodist
church. It’s sort of ironic for me to
think of myself as an elder. On the one
hand, my kids would agree; they think I’m old!
On the other hand, at 45, I’m still younger than most other United
Methodist pastors. Most United Methodist
pastors are between 55-70 years old. But
the world elder to describe a Christian minster comes from the Greek
word presbyteros used in the New Testament. In the early New Testament Church, the leaders
of various congregations were called presbyteros or elders. They were people the Holy Spirit equipped with
leadership. Often, elders were older
people with more experience. But we also
see examples of young people leading the church, like Timothy whom the Holy
Spirit equipped to be an elder in the Church. So age
is not what’s critical for leadership.
What’s important is the gift of the Holy Spirit. Listen to the Word of God.
1 Peter 5:1-4
1And now, a word to you who are elders in
the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ.
And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As
a fellow elder, I appeal to you: 2 Care for the flock that God has entrusted
to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out
of it, but because you are eager to serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to
your care, but lead them by your own good example. 4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you
will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.
Immediately we see some important aspects
of Holy Spirit inspired Christian leadership that set it apart from worldly
leadership. In the ancient world during
New Testament times, world leaders were very different from Christian
leaders. Caesar, the emperor of Rome,
was the ultimate example of a non-Christian leader. Caesar lorded his position over everyone in
his kingdom. His power led him
to think he was a god and that everyone was put on earth to serve him. Caesar even
expected people to die for him; sometimes for frivolous reasons. Gladiators
in the Roman Colosseum were forced to fight each other to the death for
the amusement of the Caesar. People obeyed
Caesar out of fear of death. Now let’s
contrast leadership in Caesar’s kingdom to the leadership of Jesus in the
Kingdom of God.
In God’s Kingdom, Jesus is
Lord. He is the King of kings and Lord
of lords. John 1:2-5 tells us, “[Jesus]
existed in the beginning with God. God
created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. [Jesus] gave life to everything that was
created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the
darkness can never extinguish it.” If
anyone is worthy of worship, honor, total devotion, and absolute obedience, it
is Jesus (not Caesar). And yet, Jesus
did not use his position to “lord it over” his people the way Caesar did. Instead, Philippians 2:6-8 tells us “Though
he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he
took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled
himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
In other words, Caesar's leadership was about glorifying himself. Jesus' leadership was to humble himself. Caesar made his kingdom do what was best for Caesar. Jesus always did what was best for the Kingdom. Caesar indulged his own privileges as the leader. Jesus gave up his privileges for others. Caesar made everyone serve him. Jesus served everyone else. Caesar made others die for him. Jesus died for everyone else so they could be forgiven and have eternal life.
Lead Like Jesus
1 Corinthians 11:1 says, “Follow my example,
as I follow the example of Christ.” If
you follow Christ, you have the potential to lead. Every Christian is a leader is some
sense. You might not think you are, but
you are. If you are a parent, you
are leading your children. If you are
grandparent, you are leading your own kids as well as your
grand kids. If you are a young person, you are
influencing your friends. If you go to church, you are leading someone doesn't go to church but knows you do and thinks you are an example of how a Christian lives. Are you leading them well or poorly?
If you are a Christian, you are leading someone. So, we all have a flock (so to speak),
whether it is our kids, grand kids, our friends, our coworkers, or our neighbors. As 1 Peter 5:2-3 says, “Care
for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not
grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to
serve God. 3 Don’t lord it over the people assigned to
your care, but lead them by your own good example.
The Spiritual Gift of Leadership
The Holy Spirit
gives some people the special ability to lead.
God has always used special leaders to guide His people. He used Joseph to save his family and the Egyptians from starvation
during a 7-year famine. Then, God used
Moses to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt.
And God used Joshua to lead His people into the Promised Land. Without godly leaders the masses would not
get anything done. Just like in these
Old Testament stories, the Holy Spirit of God raises up leaders today to lead in
the Church. Could leadership be your
spiritual gift? Well, let’s see. Here are some traits of leaders. Do you have any of these?
Leaders See
Where Everyone Needs to Go
– God gives leaders a vision for where He wants His people to go and enables those leaders to get people to follow them there. Think of Moses. He was just out in the wilderness tending a flock of sheep and he saw a burning bush. God spoke from the bush and told Moses, "Go lead my people out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land." You might not think you are a leader. You might say, "I'm not a leader! I can't do that! No one would listen to me! Besides, I no good a getting in front of people and talking!" Funny, that's exactly what Moses said. And we all know he was a leader. He led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt! So maybe you are a leader, if you see where everyone needs to go and feel God calling to you to lead them there.
Leaders Garner
Loyalty – You can’t lead
if no one will follow. Someone with the
spiritual gift of leadership earns people’s respect, trust, and
loyalty. Do people listen to your opinion and want to follow you? Do you know how to garner their respect? Then you’re probably a leader. Now,
be careful to love the people and build their loyalty, because they
might have to follow you through some difficult terrain. There may come times where they question why they are still following you because they don't understand. So build their trust now and it will pay off later.
Leaders Are Usually
A Few Steps Ahead – Imagine
a tour group led through a museum by a tour guide. The tour guide is probably walking a few
steps ahead to show everyone where to go.
The guide is leading the group.
Leaders are usually out in front showing the way. They have seen where everyone needs to go and now they are showing the way. Therefore, leaders are usually the first ones to arrive and an event. They may also be the last ones to leave, because they're making sure no one get's left behind.
Leaders Are Able
to Delegate – It’s
impossible for leaders to do everything that needs to be done.
It’s not that a leader thinks they are too good to do something. There’s just too much to do and the leader
has other things to do that only the leader can do. A good leader knows they need help and also
knows the people they lead need to be involved.
So a gifted leader learns what are people’s abilities and plugs them in in the right ways. Giving people
something to do helps everyone move forward and be more effective and develops each individual’s abilities. It even raises up new leaders within the team.
Leaders Overcomes
Resistance – Most people
just want to remain comfortable, right where they are now. They are
wary of change and afraid of the unknown. If a
leader is doing their job, they are probably leading people out of their comfort
zones toward a new and better place, but that doesn’t mean people will go
willingly at first. They will
resist. And there may also be resistance
up ahead from the forces of darkness that don’t want God’s people to be on
the move. So a leader has find strength from God to overcome resistance from within and without in order
to lead God’s people forward.
Leaders Are Able to Make Quick
Decisions and Be Decisive
– Sometimes, there is time to sit and ponder a decision and some very important decisions require a
lot of time and study. However, the pace
of leading God’s people is often so fast that there just isn’t time to agonize over
every minor detail for a long time. Leaders always follow God's leading and know when it is important to go slow and when to make a quick decision
and move fast. A leader
surrounds themselves with lots of wise and conscientious people and listens to
good advice. In the end, the leader
makes a decisive decision and loyal people follow them wherever God is leading them.
Is God calling you to lead? If He calls you to lead, the Holy Spirit with supernaturally enable you to lead. Don't neglect the gift of the Holy Spirit within you. Be faithful. "Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor." (1 Peter 5:2-4)
A Prayer for Godly Leaders
"Lord, God Almighty, lead us forward. Raise up godly leaders among your people to guide us where you want us to go. There are many among us who are afraid to lead or don't know or think they can. Fill them with Your Holy Spirit to impart the gift of leadership. Help them to trust You, to follow you, and so to lead the ones You have placed in their care. That Your Name may be glorified and Your Kingdom may come on earth as it is in heaven. Amen."