FOLLOW THE LEADERknows that it was the Lord Who took the initiative in their calling.
They are not leading because of their commitment – but because of His
calling. They know that it was Jesus who first “took hold” of them long
before they surrendered and submitted to His calling upon their lives.
Paul referred to the moment that the risen Christ arrested him on the
Damascus Road as a “heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19) that resulted in a
“holy calling” (II Tim. 1:9) upon his life. That heavenly vision became
the purpose of his life from that moment on. Tragically, too many leaders
in our world today have nothing higher or nobler than an “earthly vision”
or a “worldly vision.” It is God alone Who gives a “heavenly vision!”
Perhaps few people have expressed this paradox of leadership better than
A.W. Tozer:
A true and safe leader is likely to be one who has no desire to lead, but
is forced into a position by the inward pressure of the Holy Spirit and
the press of circumstances ...There was hardly a great leader from Paul
to the present day but was drafted by the Holy Spirit for the task, and
commissioned by the Lord to fill a position he had little heart for...The
man who is ambitious to lead is disqualified as a leader. The true leader
will have no desire to lord it over God’s heritage, but will be humble,
gentle, self-sacrificing and altogether ready to follow when the Spirit
chooses another to lead.^32“Th e vision always precedes the resources.
Vision acts like a magnet – attracting, challenging,
and uniting people. It also rallies fi nances and
other resources. Th e greater the vision, the
more winners it has the potential to attract.”^33
(John Maxwell)Whether one leads willfully or reluctantly, there is a growing oneness
with their vision. There are scores of contemporary examples of
American Christian leaders whose lives have become synonymous with
their purpose. The very mention of their names automatically brings to
mind the association of their life’s calling. Here are just a few familiar
examples:
Billy Graham.................. ...Evangelistic Crusades
Cliff Barrows.......................Music Ministry
Bill Bright...........................Personal Evangelism
John Perkins.........................Racial Reconciliation