Marks of genuine spiritual leaders (part 2)
Spirit Breakfast 🍞☕ 26/5/2020
1 Peter 5:2-4 (The Amplified Bible)
[2]Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully;
[3]Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation).
[4]And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will win the conqueror's crown of glory.
_Continued from yesterday_
3. Not motivated by profit
There's the pressure today for spiritual leaders to amass wealth and gain from their followers thanks to their spiritual office.
Peter says that shouldn't be the case. Leaders are to serve eagerly and cheerfully and not because of what they can get as a result of their office.
Taking advantage of the office for personal gain is not a mark of genuine spiritual leaders.
Self-seeking leaders only do things that benefit them. They pray for members when it benefits them. They counsel when there is gain to be gotten. They visit members when they know they won't come back home empty-handed. They accept an invitation to minister somewhere only because there is an honorarium to be received.
When personal profit is the motivating factor for any decision or action taken, then a leader should caution himself.
4. Be an example
Spiritual leaders are to lead not with words but example.
Jesus practiced this as he showed his disciples the pattern they ought to follow.
If you want your followers to become prayerful, be an example of a prayerful believer to them. If you want them to be soul winners, be such an example. If you want them to give willingly, be a willing and cheerful giver.
People practice what they see their leaders doing.
Leadership is not all talk, it is more walk. Don't keep hollering sermons without showing your people what it looks like through your own lifestyle.
It is said we replicate our own kind in our followers.
Paul told Timothy the areas he ought to live as an example in 1 Timothy 4:12. These areas include:
1. In what you say
Leaders don't speak anyhow. Little wonder why anything pastors say these days are dragged all over social media. James encouraged us to be slow to speak.
2. In the way you live
Are we just preachers and not doers? The way we live must reflect the life that Christ lived while on Earth.
After all, we say "it is no longer I that lives, but Christ who lives in me". If that is true then others ought to see it as well and testify as they did of the saints at Antioch.
3. In love
This is the agape spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13. The love that loves just because it loves. Not one that loves for any reason.
Can our followers truly speak of us as servants of God who love the Lord and His flock indeed?
4. In spirit
The fervency of our spirit must be an example to believers. How serious we are with the things of the Spirit.
Our spiritual dimension must be looked upon as that which our followers seek to enter into. If our followers do not desire to be like you in the Spirit then we have failed a great deal.
Paul said, "imitate me". This was boldness as a result of the spiritual stature he had attained. Can we tell our followers to truly imitate us?
5. In faith
The level of our faith, when compared to that of those we lead, must be second to none.
Our faith in trying times must be strong enough to lead our people through the storm just like Jesus did for his disciples even when they lacked personal faith.
6. In purity
Leaders must be blameless. We hold offices that require the utmost level of purity. To whom much is given, much is expected.
When leaders fall into sin it not only affects the leader, it affects the followers.
We must guard ourselves therefore not only for our sake but for the sake of the people. For when the shepherd is smitten, the sheep always scatter.
All leaders have been given a huge responsibility which shouldn't be taken with levity. Hence, the office of spiritual leaders Paul instructed shouldn't be given to novices.
Judgement will begin from the leaders. But the glorious part of it for those who stay faithful is that the Chief Shepherd Himself will be the One to give us a conqueror's crown as a testimony of our victory over the pitfalls in leadership.
I pray for every spiritual leader who seeks to serve the Lord and the church faithfully that more grace to overcome be released in Jesus' name.
Have a graced day...
#SpiritBreakfast™
#TestimonyTuesday™
#PastorMuve™
1 Peter 5:2-4 (The Amplified Bible)
[2]Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully;
[3]Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation).
[4]And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will win the conqueror's crown of glory.
_Continued from yesterday_
3. Not motivated by profit
There's the pressure today for spiritual leaders to amass wealth and gain from their followers thanks to their spiritual office.
Peter says that shouldn't be the case. Leaders are to serve eagerly and cheerfully and not because of what they can get as a result of their office.
Taking advantage of the office for personal gain is not a mark of genuine spiritual leaders.
Self-seeking leaders only do things that benefit them. They pray for members when it benefits them. They counsel when there is gain to be gotten. They visit members when they know they won't come back home empty-handed. They accept an invitation to minister somewhere only because there is an honorarium to be received.
When personal profit is the motivating factor for any decision or action taken, then a leader should caution himself.
4. Be an example
Spiritual leaders are to lead not with words but example.
Jesus practiced this as he showed his disciples the pattern they ought to follow.
If you want your followers to become prayerful, be an example of a prayerful believer to them. If you want them to be soul winners, be such an example. If you want them to give willingly, be a willing and cheerful giver.
People practice what they see their leaders doing.
Leadership is not all talk, it is more walk. Don't keep hollering sermons without showing your people what it looks like through your own lifestyle.
It is said we replicate our own kind in our followers.
Paul told Timothy the areas he ought to live as an example in 1 Timothy 4:12. These areas include:
1. In what you say
Leaders don't speak anyhow. Little wonder why anything pastors say these days are dragged all over social media. James encouraged us to be slow to speak.
2. In the way you live
Are we just preachers and not doers? The way we live must reflect the life that Christ lived while on Earth.
After all, we say "it is no longer I that lives, but Christ who lives in me". If that is true then others ought to see it as well and testify as they did of the saints at Antioch.
3. In love
This is the agape spoken of in 1 Corinthians 13. The love that loves just because it loves. Not one that loves for any reason.
Can our followers truly speak of us as servants of God who love the Lord and His flock indeed?
4. In spirit
The fervency of our spirit must be an example to believers. How serious we are with the things of the Spirit.
Our spiritual dimension must be looked upon as that which our followers seek to enter into. If our followers do not desire to be like you in the Spirit then we have failed a great deal.
Paul said, "imitate me". This was boldness as a result of the spiritual stature he had attained. Can we tell our followers to truly imitate us?
5. In faith
The level of our faith, when compared to that of those we lead, must be second to none.
Our faith in trying times must be strong enough to lead our people through the storm just like Jesus did for his disciples even when they lacked personal faith.
6. In purity
Leaders must be blameless. We hold offices that require the utmost level of purity. To whom much is given, much is expected.
When leaders fall into sin it not only affects the leader, it affects the followers.
We must guard ourselves therefore not only for our sake but for the sake of the people. For when the shepherd is smitten, the sheep always scatter.
All leaders have been given a huge responsibility which shouldn't be taken with levity. Hence, the office of spiritual leaders Paul instructed shouldn't be given to novices.
Judgement will begin from the leaders. But the glorious part of it for those who stay faithful is that the Chief Shepherd Himself will be the One to give us a conqueror's crown as a testimony of our victory over the pitfalls in leadership.
I pray for every spiritual leader who seeks to serve the Lord and the church faithfully that more grace to overcome be released in Jesus' name.
Have a graced day...
#SpiritBreakfast™
#TestimonyTuesday™
#PastorMuve™
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