FOLLOW THE LEADERIt is through seasons of prayer through the Spirit and the Word that God
increasingly engraves the character of Christ into our lives. Nothing
other than prayer will stamp the image of Christ – Who alone is the “...
image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15) – into our lives. Only then will
our leadership have the authenticating mark of the cross – signified
by selflessness. Character is Christ-likeness in the inner man or woman. It
is always true that our inner character soon manifests itself in our outer
conduct. The more Christ-like our character, the more Christ-like our conduct.
Authentic Christian character is compelling. It causes people to be drawn to
a truly spiritual leader. Character also communicates trust. It compellingly
communicates trust from the leader to the followers – just as it does from
a husband to a wife...a parent to a child...a politician to the people. There
is just no substitute for character in the life of a leader!
Almost every failure of spiritual leadership is a failure to be like Christ
in character and conduct. People will not long follow a leader who has slips in
character that result in slanderous conduct! As we have often emphasized
throughout this study, trust is foundational to sustained spiritual
leadership. Since that is the case, character is the cement in the foundation
of trust!
Christian leaders must have character that matches their calling. A person
with a blemished character is a person who has forfeited his anointing and
authority as a spiritual leader. Spiritual character is only sustained through
prayer.
“A prayerless leader is a polluted and powerless leader!” It is through prayer
that God leads and empowers us – so that we can in turn lead and empower
others. Through prayer God shares His vision for us – so that we can
share that vision with others. Through prayer God anoints us with His
power, so we can in turn empower others. Prayer propels us toward our
potential, so that we can lead others to their potential. Prayer must be the
very life-breath of spiritual leadership!
Principle:
“Th rough prayer God leads and empowers the leader,
so that the leader can lead and empower others.”