Scriptural Christain Leadership

The Lord, grants the desires of our hearts. Pastor desires to attain the attributes of some of the greatest servants of God in scripture. We need to be as desirous of these things also. God will grant the desires of our heart, but as I’ve learned this week, God only answers half of our prayers concerning matters such as these.
On Wednesday nights my wife and I have been going through a great series entitled “A Heart Ablaze” by John Bevere. One night, after the video portion of the class was over, we had a discussion on how to reach the spiritual potential that God has for each of us. Someone brought up the life of a man called Smith Wigglesworth. Wigglesworth was a great man of God, and he was used mightily by God in his day. As we discussed this man’s life and you can read about him yourself, we found a pattern of living. Like other great men and women of God, these lifestyles beg to be imitated. Wigglesworth, like Paul and many other spiritual leaders had a life style that pleased God. A life totally devoted.
When we pray and ask God to bring theses attributes into our lives, like Pastor has, God expects us to meet Him half way. As we dedicate ourselves to Him and put 100% effort into our walk, like these men did, God will do the other half. Paul made a state worth repeating. Follow me as I follow Christ. Like Paul we are to be imitators of Christ.
Two types of leadership in the church of Jesus Christ today, need to be looked at and see where they stand scripturally. Jesus stated. That if ones desire’s, to be great in the Kingdom, he/she must become a servant. Jesus went on to say, that if one desires to become chief in the Kingdom, he/she must become a servant of all. That’s Jesus definition of leadership. We can see this modeled in the Apostles and in life styles of every major figure, in every move of the Spirit in the last 2000 years.
The other type of leadership is organizational. Organizational leadership can be sterile, insensitive, exclusive, elitist. Notice! I said can be. We can see what this type of leadership (Pharisees and Sadducees and Scribes) did in Israel during Jesus day and what this type of leadership has done in the church of Jesus Christ in our modern day. No wonder we have so many out of church Christians.
This is not what Jesus had in mind. He wants his church to be an Organism. One in which all the body is working together for the common good. Where there is inclusiveness, oneness and unity. Where everyone is nurtured and encouraged to attain their full potential in Christ.
Jesus proved that one doesn’t need a title, to be recognized as a leader. One day he asked his disciples, who the people said he was. They replied, some say your John the Baptist, some say Elijah or Jeremiah or one of the other prophets! Then Jesus asked. Who do you say that I am? Peter stated. You are the Christ. Jesus life style set him apart as being someone, that the people recognized as being very connected to God. Some probably recognized the spiritual traits of one of the past prophets from hearing the scriptures. Peter recognized him as the Christ, because the Father revealed it to him. Why? Peter (with all his baggage) was seeking the Kingdom with all his heart. His lifestyle pleased God. God granted the desire of his heart. God will do the same for us.
We’re all servants of the most High God. Some, like Pastor, have a position of responsibility. With position always comes responsibility. All of us have our portion in the Kingdom of God. We all have a purpose and a ministry to fulfill. We need to take our portion and the responsibility that comes with it seriously. The local body of Christ here at First Assembly, has organization and organism walking hand in hand. To Love God and Love People, this fulfills all the Law and the Prophets.