Tag: Spiritual

A Righteous Leader’s Prayer

Prayer can be an overlooked subject. The application to how we draw closer to God, grow spiritually, or endure trials is often to pray more.

What is prayer? How should we pray? Why do we pray? Does prayer really influence God?

Think about how James teaches the necessity of prayer in leadership.

Three keys to spiritual leadership rise to the top.

1) Elders are identified as righteous men who are to pray.
2) The working prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
3) Turning sinners from their error will save them.

Leading people to salvation must be at the heart of a righteous leaders’ prayer.

Pointing to Jesus

Is it too much to ask for directions?

Jesus said, “I am the way.”

John the Baptist pointed people to Jesus. Why do more not point to Him?

Looking into the eyes of people around the world, including our own country, reveals the same.

We often see physical needs. We provide food, clothing, transportation, housing, or training to develop work skills.

No one is opposed to helping others with physical needs. Jesus provided an example.

However, there is a great imbalance in our approach to the physical versus spiritual.

We need to show people the way to spiritual and eternal life. This is the task of spiritual leadership.

Ethics

Ethics is simply defined as a moral system of right and wrong.

A correct understanding of ethics is vital to the direction of spiritual leadership. It should be obvious, but God’s word is the only foundation for our ethical standard.

The book of Judges describes a time when there was no king in Israel and everyone did what was right in his own eyes. The result led to idolatry and, ultimately, destruction.

Sadly, we see the same mindset today. Allowing the influence of humanism, situational, and post-modernistic ethics destroys spiritual leadership.

We must be diligent to live and lead by the standard of ethics established by God.

Proof

Can you prove your leadership?

The question implies a measure of evidence. To claim we are a leader does not make us a leader. Simply because people follow out of compulsion, does not identify us a leader. Wearing a title does not make us a leader either.

What evidence can be produced to prove leadership?

The proof of leadership may best be determined by answering the following questions.

Do we possess a love for those who follow, seeking their highest good?

Are our goals driven by spiritual or selfish desires?

What determines our decisions?

Examining our leadership identifies both how we lead and the nature of our leadership.

Elegance and Precision

Elegance and precision are not often used to characterize leadership.

Elegance involves grace and style.
Precision is described as exact and accurate.

Yet, these two words should characterize the uniqueness of our leadership.

Jesus epitomized elegance and precision. Every word was exact and accurate. Every demonstration of power was intentional and purposeful.

Spiritual leaders must constantly work to perfect their leadership.

We need to think, plan, and execute with elegance and precision every aspect of leading others to and for Christ. Every word should be carefully chosen. Every action should be purposed on God’s will. Doing so ensures unique leadership.

Unique Leadership

A number of individuals in scripture stand out as being unique. One in particular is Ehud, of which little is written. He was the only judge specifically identified as left-handed.

Our fingerprints are evidence of an all powerful, wise, and unique God. These fingerprints make us unique.

What makes our leadership unique, or is it unique? Is there a unique characteristic, ability, or approach?

In spiritual leadership, we have something unique to offer. Nothing else compares. Spiritual leaders today must think souls. Extend an offer unique and eternal. Read 1 Peter 1:4; 2:9 and rethink the concept of unique leadership.

Describe Your Leadership

We live in a world where we generally communicate with the use of words. Interestingly, what we hear and read is often presented with an incredible, spectacular, and unbelievable multiplicity of adjectives.

What adjective would you use to describe your leadership?

Godly! Spiritual! Righteous! Knowledgeable! Patient! Compassionate! Faithful!

Such descriptive terms have a nice ring. Today, let us strive to lead others in a manner that is described biblically.

Elijah

Spiritual leadership has its challenges. However, the benefits far outweigh the challenges. Consider four lessons behind the mountain top leadership experience of Elijah.

1) Elijah was God’s man. As such, he spoke for God.

2) Elijah was unrelenting when it came to making a choice. Neutrality was not an option.

3) Elijah knew his God, which translated into reliance and confidence.

4) Elijah understood the need to eradicate the influence of evil.

These lessons stand as an example of the mountain top leadership needed today as we strive to honor God and change the world with the power of His word.

The Difference

Think about restaurants from fast-food to high-end specialty. Consider educational institutions from community colleges to Ivy-league universities. There is a difference.

The same is true in leadership. We have seen it politically, corporately, educationally, and spiritually. There is a difference.

When it comes to spiritual leadership, are we making the difference? Have we allowed the mindset of complacency to hinder our leadership? Are we victims of apathy and indifference regarding our leadership?

Just as there is a difference in every other area of life, we can make a difference if we choose to do so. Let us provide the leadership needed today for a better tomorrow and eternity.

Strength and Courage

We all enjoy timeless nuggets of advice, snippets of information unaltered by time, generation, or culture. They are not always easy to find and can be often overlooked.

We find timeless advice given to Joshua, “Be strong and very courageous.” God emphasized strength and courage three times, but only once did He use the phrase “be strong and very courageous.”

The context has powerful implications in the realm of spiritual leadership, because God’s advice surrounded the strength and courage needed to follow His law.

How different would our world be if spiritual leaders today had the strength and courage to do the same?