FOLLOW THE LEADERPrinciple:
“Since all spiritual authority is derived authority, we
must be submitted to authority to have authority.”When the Roman centurion was in Christ’s presence, he immediately
recognized an “internal spiritual authority” that was greater than his own
“eternal Roman authority.” He acknowledged this by saying to Jesus: “I
too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me...” (Mt. 8:5-9).
When the centurion gave commands, his soldiers immediately obeyed.
When Jesus gave commands, demons and sickness obeyed! That’s true
internal spiritual authority that is expressed with powerful external results!
That kind of internal power and spiritual authority comes only from God.
The greater the authority we are submitted to, the greater the derived authority
we will have. Christian leaders have the greatest Authority in the universe
authorizing their leadership!
The Bible assures us of this principle: “God’s gifts and His call are
irrevocable” (Rom. 11:29). Even though God does not “revoke”...“take
away”...“take back” a gift of leadership that He has given to a person –
He does take away His anointing upon it when there has been persistent
willful disobedience. Immature leadership can be corrected through time
and growth. Persistent immoral and iniquitous leadership is terminal! Both
Biblical and contemporary histories are full of the tragic stories of
Christian leaders who lost their moral authorities as leaders because God
lifted His anointing upon their lives. In the process, they did not lose their
basic innate gift of leadership – but they did lose God’s special blessing
upon it. Some of these “fallen leaders” continued to lead in the secular
realm since they had lost the ability to lead in the spiritual realm. But they
could no longer lead spiritually because they had forfeited their internal
spiritual authority that authenticated their spiritual leadership. Internal
spiritual authority can only be maintained through moral attributes
like integrity...accountability...character...godliness...purity...humility.
A good leader needs a lot of energy and enthusiasm – which must flow from
an internal authority. When a leader pulsates and glows with authentic
leadership authority, he will be characterized by hard work and high output.
God created work to be the most natural and immediate focal point of