LEADERS ARE PRECIPITATORSequal to such a task” of ministry. In a world marked by the abuse of
temporal and religious power, financial corruption, idolatry and sexual
immorality – Paul’s life stood out. Both his hands and heart were clean.
He was a shining example of a man who had found his source of integrity
in Christ when the world around him had lost theirs! Paul could honestly,
but humbly affirm:
“Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profi t.
On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with
sincerity, like men sent from God” (II Cor. 2:14-17).Th e Power of the Holy Spirit: Another thing that distinguished Paul’s
presence was spiritual power. Even though he admitted that his words
were not the most eloquent – they were confirmed by the presence and
power of God. “My message and my preaching,” Paul reminded them,
“were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration
of the Spirit’s power.” He knew that he could not regenerate a dead human
spirit through the eloquence of human speech. He was not asking them
to put their faith in his words, but in God’s Word “...so that their faith
might not rest on men’s wisdom but on God’s power” (I Cor. 2:4). With
similar words Paul reminded the Christians in the city of Thessalonica:
“...our Gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with
power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction” (I Thess. 1:5).
Wherever Paul went, the people quickly sensed that he was a “...man
sent from God” (II Cor. 2:17). That kind of person can never long be
ignored! They will always be a powerful precipitator!
It was Paul’s purpose that compelled him to be proactive. Simply stated:
“Purpose provokes proactivity.” Leaders always seek to provoke positive activity
- rather than perpetuate inactivity. As we saw at the beginning of this book,
it is a leader’s vision that causes him to be value-driven through life. It is
the value of the vision that makes the difference between a proactive and a
reactive person. It is the higher value of their vision that makes leaders
become agents of change in their environment. They just cannot settle
down with the status quo when they have received a vision of something
better! Richard Philip correctly states: “...the first qualification for the role
of change agent is vision.”^2 Phillips also expresses the sense of urgency
that makes good leaders precipitators rather than procrastinators: