Leadership

By: Len Stubbs

LEADERSHIP

Len Stubbs
Certified Christian Coach
Real Path Coaching

Great leaders don’t talk a great game, they don’t rest on their past accomplishments, they are keenly aware that the size of their office or the title on their business card doesn’t entitle them to leadership. They don’t take advantage of those who they are entrusted to lead.

Real leaders don’t accept credit for successes but recognize that all credit is due to the Father. Real leaders are encouragers and equippers. Real leaders faithfully consider the long term and short-term implications of each and every decision they render and the impact that it will have on the lives of those that surround them.

To understand the true definition and example of Christian leadership we need look no further than the word, walk, and way of our Lord Jesus. His life of leadership was defined by His eager desire to serve His people and His disciples. In His life as told to us through the Bible we find the perfect description of a Christian leader. We are taught that Jesus willingly, knowingly, and lovingly took on the role of leader to all those in his care. Jesus knew well that without His leadership example that we are rudderless.

From His example, we know that a real leader leads, feeds, nurtures, comforts, corrects, directs, and protects. Leadership by example requires us to model godliness and righteousness in our own life. By example of Salt and Light real leadership encourages others to follow Jesus.

Christian leaders boldly follow Christ and through both witness and example inspire others to follow Him as well. The Christian leaders
ultimate concern is to follow the Word of God producing strong, faithful Christians.

Here is what the Lord has to say about Leadership in His word.

(1) In TITUS 1:9 - " He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it." 

(2) In ISAIAH 58:7 - "Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"
(3) In DANIEL 2:30 - "As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.”

(4) In JOHN 13:5 - “After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him."

(5) In Matthew 11:27-29 -"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

(6) In 1 TIMOTHY 5:17 - “ The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.”
(7) In 1 PETER 5:3 – “not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."
(8) In Matthew 18: 1-4- “ At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

(9) In MATTHEW 20:25-28 - “Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

(10) In 1SAMUEL 8:7 - “ And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.”

(11) In 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 –“ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
(12) In JOHN 10:11- “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”

So in the end, Real leadership runs deep in those who surrender, serve, and seek the will of God. Real leaders live the word of God to all whom cross their path. Their lives are the definition of Salt and Light. Real leaders possess His spirit in their words, actions, decisions, deeds, and hearts.

In those instances where leaders encounter a conflict between the word, will, or way of God and the path being traveled they immediately seek His will and put in place a corrective action plan. Without hesitation they stand up to be counted. Real leaders are not concerned with being politically correct. Real leaders never leave people on the wrong path going in the wrong direction.

Here are Seven (7) tips to Real Leadership:

1. PUT GOD FIRST- Christ must be at the center of everything. The Bible teaches us that our one and only priority is to keep Him, His Kingdom, and His righteousness first in everything. His will and our service to Him is our priority.

2. Focus- Be specific about the decisions, direction and objectives, which you establish.

3.Create a Vision- Make decisions that communicate your dream, your passions, and your intended actions.

4. Take Responsibility and Set Direction - You control your decision to lead, follow, or get out of the way. If you truly believe in your abilities, it is your responsibility to work with others to set direction.

5. Establish Goals, Objectives, and Plans- Words, and speeches don’t make the man or the leader. Action and results do. Get to work.

6. Care Enough to Influence Direction – To lead effectively you have to care about those you are attempting to lead. It is not about you. It is about them. If the troops don’t know that you care you will not be their leader.

7. Listen to Learn- Leaders listen and talkers talk. Listen; Think, Listen, Think, Talk.

It seems that these days leadership is a very popular, hot topic as there are countless seminars, articles, and self help books written on the subject. Becoming a successful leader is the topic of much discussion. According to popular teaching, successful leaders must be blessed with the skills and talents to communicate a vision and set goals for people or an organization to follow.

That being the case, the most famous and successful leaders of our age all recognized that human wisdom can never match God’s leadership and direction. These leaders recognized the leadership, guidance, and hand of the Lord in these matters. Christian leaders realize and acknowledge that they are the conduits but that God is the leader of our lives and our family.

Six (6) Questions to Real Leadership:

1. Would you say that others typically consider you a leader? What makes you think that?

2. When you think of the term “Leadership” what thoughts come to your mind – overall, what are your attitudes about real “Leadership”?

3. What is the last act of Leadership you demonstrated?

4. In what area of your life do you demonstrate the most leadership?

5. In what area of your life do you demonstrate the least leadership?
6. If you wanted to improve you’re leadership skills, what is one thing you could do, starting now, to achieve that?

I want to encourage you to take a step back and take a long, hard, look at your life. Are you being called to leadership? If so, it is the leaders responsibility to obey the Father as He leads those in his path to Christ likeness. The Father knows what is best and He takes responsibility for all. As leaders our responsibility is to faithfully perform the role that He has chosen and assigned to us.

To successfully lead others through the chaos of confusion that is constantly thrust upon us daily, we need to find a rock that stabilizes and secures us. I would suggest that you would find that rock in Jesus.

Consider these Ten (10) Qualities and Skills to put you on the path to real leadership.

Ten (10) Leadership Qualities and Skills:

Leadership qualities Leadership Skills

1) Accountability 6) Motivation

2) Decision making 7) Delegation

3) Communication 8) Manage

4) Integrity 9) Organize

5) Confidence 10) Plan

As a final thought on this subject, those whom God calls as leaders are expected to exhibit great humility and be willing servants who have aligned their will with that of the Father. Those who are chosen to lead God's people must above all be blessed with the gifts of sacrifice, devotion, submission, and lowliness. Jesus Himself gave us the pattern when He took on the responsibility of the lowest of lowly slaves that being the foot washer and washed the feet of His disciples.

If the Lord who designed and created the universe and every cell on it would chose to take on the role and responsibility of servant hood clearly those chosen to leadership should follow His example.  

PRACTICE: To practice the concept of leadership this week, I’d like you to make a list in your Success Journal of three areas that others most always look to you to lead. Then take some time to consider how you work, act, talk differently about these subjects, write an action step telling yourself how you could accomplish that lever of leadership in other areas of your life.

Let me help you to learn how to become the Real Leader you were destined to be. Contact me on the web at realpathcoaching.com: email me at mailto:rplcoaching@gmail.comor better yet call me at 843 589-9236

Article Source: http://www.articles.narrowisthepath.com

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