The Search for Leaders
Spiritual Leadership • Sermon • Submitted
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Ezekiel 22.
Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God.
And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Give me a man of God - one man,
One mighty prophet of the Lord,
And I will give you peace on earth,
Bought with prayer and not a sword.
George Liddell
I. Real Leaders are in Short Supply
I. Real Leaders are in Short Supply
But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.
Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
The Bible shows us that when God does find a person who is ready to lead, to commit to full discipleship, and take on responsibility for others, that person is used to the limit.
To be a leader in the church has always required strength and faith beyond the merely average.
Every generation faces the stringent demands of spiritual leadership, and most unfortunately turn away. But God welcomes the few who come forward to serve.
The church is painfully in need of leaders. I wait to hear a voice and no voice comes. I would rather listen than speak - but there is no clarion voice to listen to.
English Methodist Preacher, William Sangster
II. Real Leaders Defined
II. Real Leaders Defined
If the world is to hear the church’s voice today, leaders are needed who are authoritative, spiritual, and sacrificial.
A. Authoritative
A. Authoritative
People desire reliable leaders who know where they are going and are confident in getting there
Truly authoritative leadership falls on someone who years earlier dedicated themselves to practice the discipline of seeking first the kingdom of God.
B. Spiritual
B. Spiritual
without a strong relationship to God, even the most attractive and competent person cannot lead people to God
Truly Spiritual leaders must take to heart their responsibility to pass on the torch to younger people as their first line of duty.
A person must qualify to be a spiritual leader.
C. Sacrificial
C. Sacrificial
This trait follows the model of Jesus, who gave Himself for the whole world and who calls us to follow in His steps.
True leaders must be willing to suffer for the sake of objectives great enough to demand their wholehearted obedience.
It is not won by promotion, but by many prayers and tears. It is attained by confession of sin, and much heart-searching and humbling before God; by self-surrender, a courageous sacrifice of every idol, a bold uncomplaining embrace of the cross, and by eternally looking unto Jesus crucified. It is not gained by seeking great things for ourselves, but like Paul, by counting those things that are gain to us as loss for Christ. This is a great price, but it must be paid by the leader whose power is recognized and felt in heaven, on earth, and in hell.
Samuel Brengle - Salvation Army
A Warning: If those who hold influence over others fail to lead toward the spiritual uplands, then surely the path to the lowlands will be well worn. We dare not take lightly God’s call to leadership in our lives.
In what Ways is God preparing you?
What do you understand as the primary qualifying traits of godly leadership?
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