We Can Only Take Others as Far as We Have Been

One concept of leadership that I believe wholeheartedly is that a leader cannot expect their team to do things that they themselves have not or are not willing do. If a leader is asking someone to sweep the area, they should have at some point or be willing to sweep the area themselves. As a spiritual leader the goal is to lead others to God’s agenda and a right relationship with Him. If your relationship is not there, then you would not be able to lead someone there.

A bit more should be explained. As a spiritual leader, it is our ultimate goal to lead someone to spiritual maturity in relationship with God. This was laid out to us in scripture:

“⁴You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.” – Exodus 19:4 (ESV)

Here the LORD tells the people, through Moses, that the destination is not a place but God Himself. It is not about a physical location that spiritual leaders take someone or an organization, it is a relationship with God. One that is deep and complete. Dependent and thankful.

I have been a Christian for about 40 years and I I am working every day to grow in my relationship with the LORD. I am praying daily, studying discipleship, and doing additional bible study. Yet, I still need to pray more, witness more, and memorize more scripture. My relationship with the LORD is the journey I am on and I will not fully know Him until I arrive in heaven, but I can continue to grow closer to Him every day.

In my growth and as I grow, I can also lead others to meet me there. As a spiritual leader, I am bringing others along with me to meet the LORD. They can walk alongside me, even run with me. Together we can grow. There is no need to “sell” God’s agenda, I am here to share it and inspire others to find out for themselves and join me on the journey.

What is your view of leading others to a destination? Are you expecting that without knowing God yourself, you will be able to lead someone to Him? What if you were to first focus on your relationship with God and then just brought others along with you on the journey?

Don’t Equate Bigger with Better

Even Jesus was not pleased with all of the large crowds following Him. He new that there were those who were, as known in the sports world, “fair weather fans”. Those that once things got a little difficult or when He would not be around would turn away and go back to the life they had before.

“⁶⁰When many of his disciples heard it, they said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’ ⁶¹But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, ‘Do you take offense at this? ⁶²Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴But there are some of you who do not believe.’ (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) ⁶⁵And he said, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.’” – John 6:60-65 (ESV)

Jesus had just told the people of His being the Bread of Life and gave some hard truths. The people heard and were grumbling of the difficulty of it all. He did not do this to scar the people, but to inform them that the to be a disciple of His, it would take work and would not always be a winning proposition. To which they turned away as their shallow following was exposed.

Jesus was working to build the church with a strong foundation and that could only be with those who would understand, stay, and carry it forward, even when things were hard and when He would not be there for them to follow. The church is built on Christ, not some charismatic individual that can draw a crowd. When that individual is no longer there, the “fair weather fans” will leave and only the devoted will stay to carry the church forward.

The church is not to be a crowd of people, but a team of disciples. Those who will take what they have learned and carry it forward. Yes, numbers are important, for the larger the numbers, the larger the reach. But, there should not be a sacrifice of quality in the interest of quantity. Beware of large numbers. As they are not a sign of a healthy church.

What is your view on crowds? Are you enamored at them and see them as a sign of great things? What if you were to be cautious with them and looked to devotion as opposed to simply a hoard of “fair weather fans”?

Not Just the Goal

In this final week of my study on spiritual leadership, it is about God’s agenda and getting people to join the journey. Henry and Richard Blackaby ask the questions, “Which do you think is more important for a leader – the journey for the destination? Or, are they equally important?” The way that I phrased the first sentence above indicates that I believe they are both important, I would say that they are 1 and 1a in importance.

Jim Collins, in his writings, made popular the philosophy of “First Who, Then What” or “Getting the right people on the bus”. You see, ensuring that the people are on board with the leader is the most important thing. Generally, getting people on board is about providing them a destination. No the journey may not be straight, but the place we are going is agreed upon and if a detour is found to be needed to get there, everyone is okay with it and will stay focused on that destination. So, the destination is of importance, and that destination should be worthwhile to ensure that everyone is okay with the journey itself.

Now, I do know that there is more to the “First Who, Then What” philosophy. I am not here to discuss all the merits of this philosophy. You see, the journey is important for a number of reasons, but ultimately it is about a worthwhile journey to reach the result. There are times, more than we think, that the destination is not result or goal that can be fully quantified. Let’s look at the case of God’s agenda and getting there. Jesus commissioned us to go and make disciples of all nations. Where, yes, we can count the number converts, it is not about just getting the numbers, as Jesus also said to shake the dust off your feet as you leave those who do not receive you. This says that it is not just about the number of converts, but the spreading of the gospel.

I may have rambled a bit in the above, but here is where I was going. The spiritual leaders are charged with providing a goal or destination to attain. The destination is not of the leader, but of God. That destination is to unite the organization, not to just provide a goal to achieve. The leader is to ensure that those following are following to reach the destination, regardless of what the journey looks like. The spiritual leader guides toward God and His agenda. This agenda is to magnify God and not just reach some tangible or quantifiable end. So 1 and 1a it is, destination is 1, and getting there is 1a.

Destination or Journey for you? Are you just looking to reach the destination that is a mark of having arrived? What if you found the destination of God and then worked to get there however needed, focusing on magnifying Him however needed?

Be Prepared

The motto for the scout movement is, “Be Prepared”. This phrase also influences the spiritual leader as he begins and proceeds in leadership.

It is important to be prepared for the role that you are taking on. For example, if you do not know anything about basketball, it will make it difficult to play the game, much less lead a team. If you don’t know anything about music, playing an instrument will not generally go very well, and leading an orchestra, well who will follow you. I recall a US Senate hearing related to interviewing a new director of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). The nominee, demonstrated his complete lack of knowledge as related to aviation and was swiftly rejected.

But what does preparation mean and/or look like? It is widely known that learning comes from a number of places, so the formal education is not the only source. Now, it is important to be educated in a field in order to gain knowledge of that field, I will not argue. But what I will point out is that there are people who know more about a subject or field based on their experience and time spent in that field.

My father-in-law worked in the signage field for many years and then had his own welding shop for many years after that. An engineer came to him with specifications for a flag pole and my father-in-law rejected them telling the engineer that what he had was overkill and he could indeed get by with less to accomplish what he was wanting. The engineer left, recalculated and returned confirming with my father-in-law the new specifications would indeed work. It was not the formal education, but the deliberate study and experience in the field that produced the results.

Leadership is not that much different. It is preparation in the field that will produce the results. One must have a “plan to continue growing personally and mentally” – Henry & Richard Blackaby, in order to be prepared to lead spiritually. Leaders should stop and take a look at where they are and seek out the resources to get them where they want to be.

I get a lot of ribbing from my family for wanting to be prepared. I set up contingency plans on top of contingency plans to ensure that I will generally know what to do if things go a little sideways. The ribbing continues until that thing happens and the quick adjustment, that I had prepared for, is made and we just continue with our path. It is the knowledge and preparation that make the difference. Shouldn’t our preparation to spiritually lead be the same.

“²⁹Do you see a man skillful in his work?

He will stand before kings;

he will not stand before obscure men.”

— Proverbs 22:29 (ESV)

That skill comes from study and preparation. It does not generally come automatically. It is something that is worked on over time and will deliberate action. To have a skill or be a leader, we mus be prepared.

What is your thought on skills? Are you of the opinion that someone is just born with it? What if you were to see and understand that is more about learning and growing in the field and preparing for the role, in this case the role of spiritual leader?

Integrity, Be Aware

I have heard that integrity is not always what you do, but what you do when no one is watching. It is important to be the same in public and in private as the demonstration of your integrity. This morning I continue my study on spiritual leadership from the Fall 2011 MasterWork series with Henry and Richard Blackaby as the writers and today is the lesson on character and integrity.

This morning I write about character and integrity as one when looking at the impact on spiritual leadership. These two items work together to define the make up of a spiritual leader. As noted above, integrity is what you do when no one is watching. What you do in those private moments between you and the LORD. Character is what people see in those public moments. So there is the correlation of the two working together to define the public and private you.

In society today, no one is completely out of the public eye. Our lives are on full display in what seems like all day, every day. Social media has made it very difficult, if not improbable to be completely private. Even if you are not the one actively utilizing the web, you will be in public and will likely be caught on someone’s camera, or audio recording at some point. This is not to say that this is a “bad” thing, but we have to be even more aware of our behavior at all times. In the past, it would have been possible to separate to some degree our public and private lives, but today, not so much.

The final two sentences of the lesson today speak to how integrity becomes so integral in our lives; “Integrity doesn’t happen by accident. It happens on purpose.” Integrity is intentional. I have to remember that I am under the microscope in my life, regardless of where I am. Yes, social media has made it difficult to keep my private life private, but there is a more important, dare I say the most important, one watching me always, GOD.

“¹⁴Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” – 2 Peter 3:14 (ESV)

We are to watch ourselves to be seen by God, the only one that matters, as striving to be blameless as Jesus was. In my public and private life, God is watching and seeing my heart to be for and about Him. I can only do so when I am filled with the Holy Spirit and showing Him for all the world to see. Showing Him in my public and private life. Being aware of my actions to ensure that I am intentional. Remembering that, “Integrity is not automatic” – Henry and Richard Blackaby.

What is your view of integrity? Are you aware that it matters and how it comes to be? What if you were to realize that it is as important in your private life as in public and that it “is not automatic” but intentional to walk like Christ?

Big Moments with God

Paul experienced an extremely big moment with God in his conversion. God revealed Himself in the form of a great light even in the midst of the mid-day sun. In this reveal, Jesus appointed this persecutor, Paul, to be His servant in the spreading of the gospel to all the people. For me, I have not had this overtly big moment as most would see it. But, I have had my big moment, surrounded by smaller moments that keep me moving forward.

In my bible study this morning, I continue looking at spiritual leadership and have come upon the lesson of “Encounters with God”. Henry and Richard Blackaby tell the story of Dwight L. Moody’s big moment and then ask for the review of Paul’s big moment to set the mind looking for your own. After reflection, my big moment was my ordination as deacon to the church. This was not something that I was looking for, nor even expected to come for Lori and me. We had been very active in the church in service from leading the music for worship all the way to leading many classes for children and youth. God wanted more for us and He sent the church to enlist us in that work. And our lives have been filled with the joy of doing His work ever since. From serving in multiple areas in the church to this blog/writing, we continue to impact through the work the LORD has for us.

It is not always the overt big moments that Paul experienced where we have those life changing encounters with God. They may be a bit more subtle and take some reflection to realize they have happened and the worth they have in our lives. I believe that as spiritual leaders, it is important to reflect on the influence of God in our lives to realize those encounters and see the impact. I have to remember to look back at where God revealed Himself to me. I have to look at the condition of my heart and my relationship with Him at the time to get back there to lead me to more opportunities for encounters with Him.

“Spiritual leadership flows out of a person’s vibrant, intimate relationship with God.” – Henry & Richard Blackaby

What are your big moments with God? Are you even aware that you have had them? What if you reflect and find that or those big moments, realize your heart and relationship to Him and get back to that place to experience even more encounters with Him?

Committed or Submitted

Wow, this morning I was hit right in the face with the Word of God. I am not complaining, as I am one of those who need the direct hit as I do not recognize the subtleties as some do. This was just what I needed in my walk with Christ and my aspiration of being the spiritual leader He has for me to be. You see, I have been committed to the LORD for quite a while now, but I have not, at least as I see it, been submitted to Him.

As I read and study this morning in the MasterWork materials, Henry and Richard Blackaby point out five characteristics of God-inspired leadership. 1. Organizational fulfilled promises. 2. Leader affirmation and vindication of reputation. 3. Changed lives of those touched. 4. Recognition of God in the life and agenda of the leader. 5. Recognized as Being Christ-like.

These are characteristics that I am able to pick out over the course of my career, well the first three that is. I have specific events or milestones in my career that I can point to for each of them, and it was not hard or even time consuming to do so. With the final two items, I am not sure that I have or do measure up.

Moses may not have been my or anyone’s first choice to be a spiritual leader. He had not exactly been or led a life of Christ in his younger years. He had to flee his childhood home for killing a man and he was not exactly known to be a great speaker. But, He was a man who was recognized as having and great relationship with God as you could see it on his face.

“²⁹When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.” and “³⁵the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him.” – Exodus 34:29 & 35 (ESV)

I can see in myself some but maybe not all of the characteristics of God-inspired leadership, but recognized by others as being so, I am not sure.

This is where I was hit in the face this morning. Am I going through the motions of being committed to Christ by doing the work and expecting that is the work I am to be doing. Or, am I submitted to Him and His leadership in my life to be the spiritual leader He would have of me. Where I come from this is that I feel as though with the first three characteristics identified above, I have met the standard, but with the final two, I don’t know. The first three I can find results to count, but the final two are seen by others and I have to ask myself, are they?

The Blackabys as a great question that I am unable to answer; “What evidences of God’s presence in your life are unmistakable?” I am unable to answer this one.

What is your status, committed or submitted? Are you going through the work assigned like a task list? What if you were to take on the five characteristics of God-inspired leadership to ensure that there is evidence of God’s presence in your life and it is unmistakable?

Where Not to Get Influence

When thinking of influence as a spiritual leader, it may be prudent to start with where not to look. In my studying this morning the title of the lesson is: “Illegitimate Sources of Influence”. I am pleased with myself as I immediately thought of more legitimate sources and what those would be. But, I had to bring myself back to the places not to look for the purpose of the validity of my study this morning. According to Henry and Richard Blackaby, the illegitimate sources are; position, power, and personality, and I could not agree more.

When I think about the three illegitimate sources of influence listed by the Blackabys, I see places of very shallow. Two of those can be take away from someone by another person or entity, and personality can be faked to cover some reality in one’s life. Position and power rely more heavily on a fear component to implore others to follow. And when the position or power are gone, there is no other way to get others to do what you would want done.

A question asked by the Blackabys; Whom in your life do you regularly have opportunity to influence? It was not hard for me to make the connection. Those who attend training classes where I am leading. Tom Landry is quoted as saying; “The job of a football coach is to make men do what they don’t want to do in order to achieve what they’ve always wanted to be.” Now, I am not Tom Landry, but I do believe that I can substitute “trainer” for football coach and “others” for men in the quote and it fits pretty nicely. So as a trainer, I have the opportunity to influence others regularly.

Thinking of the role of trainer, I could use power, position, and/or personality to get others to do the work needing to accomplish. But when I think about it, I am only getting them to do things while I am watching and directing. By using those “illegitimate sources” of influence, I am dealing more in coercion as opposed to influence and the others will simply fall into their own ways once I am no longer around and driving them. So, as I noted above, once the source of influence is gone, the influence itself goes away.

Spiritual leadership depends on the guidance and work of the Holy Spirit to achieve the goal of God’s agenda. The power, position, and personality are His, not mine. I take direction from Him to achieve His goals and not my own. His power, position, and personality will not go away. And as they will not go away, they will continue to provide long after I have gone. My leadership comes from the legitimate source of God.

Where are you seeking your influence? Are you looking to your power, position, and/or personality to influence others? What about when they are gone, what if you were to get your influence from God as He will be here always?

How do We Buy In to the Vision

I am sure that most have been part of an organization that espouses some vision of the future. I know that the organizations I have been a part of sure have. The thing is, I am only able to remember and follow really only one of them. All of the others I could not see the benefit to me. I was not bought into the vision as there was nothing in it for me.

Now, the one that I can remember and buy into is the vision of our church. The vision of the Bridge Fellowship in Boerne, Texas is this: “We long to see a gospel movement that reaches every person of the Hill Country and is carried to the ends of the earth.” This vision is derived from the words of Jesus as He ascends to Heaven.

“⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” – Acts 1:8 (ESV)

Now, how is it that I get behind something that is taken from somewhere else. Well, because it is inspired by God. It is His vision and we are taking it on as ours. It has been revealed to be the work to expand the kingdom of God. I am bringing the gospel to others so that they will have that which I do. I win when my brothers and sisters are there with me. I benefit therefor I am behind it. I buy in thanks to the reward in heaven for my work.

Visions are a dime a dozen and as I have noted above, I have had my share of them. But the visions fade when there is nothing in it for me. It is the revelation that comes from the LORD that drives the work to get behind. Buy in is easy when the benefit is known and understood.

What is your buy in to vision? Do you even know the vision of the organization you are a part? What if you knew the vision was from God and the benefit to you was clear, wouldn’t that be the revelation you would buy into?

Spiritual Leadership Not Attained On Our Own

In the secular world, leadership as Henry and Richard Blackaby say, “can be achieved through sheer force of will.” Someone may be able to live out the phrase, “If you want something done right, I have to do it myself.” And where this may feel as though it is true in the secular world, in reality getting something done most of the time requires help. And that help is from the Holy Spirit who was assigned to the task by God and sent by Jesus.

For me to attain spiritual leadership, it needs to be given to me. It is my task assigned by God. I am provided not only the task, but also the means and help to achieve. I am not alone and my will cannot help me.

And how do we know of the assignment and the tasks we are to accomplish for the LORD. We are to be in right step with Him all along the way. I have to commune with the LORD on the regular to know and understand that which He has for me. I have to love Him will all of me and accept that He loves me with all of Himself. Only then will His will be known to me.

“³⁷And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸This is the great and first commandment.’” – Matthew 22:37-38 (ESV)

This love of the LORD shows our commitment to Him and in turn, He reveals Himself to us and assigns the tasks He has for us. And then, the Helper comes to guide us through it all.

“¹⁵If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ¹⁶And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, ¹⁷even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will beg in you.” – John 14:15-17 (ESV)

I cannot do it alone. I need help. The LORD knows this and provided the Helper I need. I am to do the work of the LORD with the help of the Holy Spirit. I cannot attain spiritual leadership without it being assigned to me by God and without the help of the Holy Spirit. I cannot do it alone.

What is your process for attaining spiritual leadership? Are you out there going it alone, working to do it yourself? What if you worked to love the LORD and know that He will assign your tasks and then, give you the Helper so that you are not alone?