Tag: God

Enoch

Enoch “walked with God.” Just saying those three words should make our hearts and minds race.

Every spiritual leader needs to be characterized by their walk with God. How powerful would be if our eulogy were simply summed up as one who “walked with God?”

The beauty of Enoch’s walk with God is explained in the book of Hebrews. The conclusion is significant: Enoch’s walk with God was a life characterized by faith.

Hebrews 11 explains that a walk of faith is one of seeking God, obedience to His word, and trusting in His providence to help us receive what is promised.

Control

We often claim that someone needs to take control. We talk about people being controlling. We preach about self-control. We even discuss the need to be in control.

Why is it important for spiritual leadership?

When situations get out of hand, leaders must take control.
Spiritual leadership must not be controlling.
Leaders should be the epitome of self-control.
We look to these leaders when someone needs to be in control.

When leaders know how to use their power of influence in a Biblical and godly way, people’s behavior and the course of events can be shaped in ways to change eternity.

Balanced Godly Focus

A healthy physical and spiritual approach to life provides a benefit to extending life. The benefit of this extension on a spiritual level is eternal in nature.

Paul phrased it this way, “bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1 Ti. 4:8).

Developing the habits for a godly life require at least three necessities: 1) constant nourishment in healthy and balanced teaching, 2) avoiding a worldly focus, and 3) discipline in godliness.

Moses

God claimed Moses to be the meekest man on earth.

Recognizing his willingness to follow the advice of Jethro, preserving his mental and physical faculties, we find a great Bible leader.

However, Moses is an example of a great Bible leader because he started like most of us, denying God’s power to use him to lead His people. When Moses finally submitted himself to God’s authority and direction, we find Moses becoming what God needed.

He had flaws, required patience, and he had to learned that God must be treated as holy.

The lesson to learn is how God can use us with our flaws and imperfections.

Noah

Noah never led a large group of people: just his wife, three sons, and their spouses. Take a closer look at his leadership.

Character: “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.” Very few in scripture matched his character.

Ability to follow:
Noah did all the Lord commanded. Noah followed God. Before anyone can lead they must learn to follow.

Fortitude: He was a preacher of righteousness. His tenure was approximately 120 years. No one was converted, but he never swayed from the course.

These three qualities identify a great biblical leader. The same is true today.

Leading Spiritual Growth

One of the greatest challenges facing Christian leaders involves measuring spiritual growth. Perhaps a place to start is our activities in life.

Consider developing an application Paul’s instruction in Colossians 3, “Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

Begin with minimizing the way we focus on the things of this earth. We could focus on spending fifteen minutes each day with turning the cell phone, computer, television, and other electronic devices off. Practice spending these few moments in silence and allow God to fill our thoughts.

Once we are comfortable with fifteen minutes, add five more.

The Power of Choice

Far too many people take credit for the good in their lives and quickly find ways to blame someone else for the bad.

We also live in a culture that believes happiness is wrapped up in external circumstances and the environment in which they were born. The result promotes an if only mindset. If only the circumstances or environment were different, happiness could be found.

When we recognize that the quality of life is based on our choices, it influences the way we view and approach life.

To begin the life God designed for us requires us to live each day as a divinely given gift.

A Divine Mission

A mission refers to an objective or purpose to be achieved. What is our mission? What is our objective or purpose? What are we really trying to achieve? Do we have a mission?

Sadly, as spiritual leaders, our mission often becomes more about what we want to achieve, rather than what God wants us to achieve.

Extremism occurs when dealing with party issues, petty ideas, or personal opinions. These become our focus and we lose sight of God’s mission.

Leaders must remain balanced. They must believe in the priority of God’s mission.

May we always lead God’s people in unity and work together to fulfill His mission.

Spiritual Growth

How can we measure spiritual growth? The most common answer is an increase in Bible knowledge. This is why we are pushed to spend more time studying our Bibles.

Without a doubt, we need to grow in our knowledge of God’s word. However, knowledge of God’s word alone does not equate to spiritual growth, and we all know it’s true.

Measuring or determining spiritual growth / health, occurs on the battle field of application.

Leaders must find ways that bridge the gap from the first century writing of God’s word into the twenty-first century life. The task is not easy.

Seize the Day

People often need a specific day to work on changes in their life. Some start working on better habits in life and others find ways to stop bad ones.

Recognizing the need to improve our lives is a positive step in the right direction.

Is today a new beginning to lead a…

Soul to the light of our Savior?
Straying brother or sister to the family of God?
Deeper study into the truths of God’s word?
More passionate approach to speak with God in prayer?

Whatever the need, every day is a new beginning. Let us achieve spiritual leadership for our Lord in this day.