Yesterday was another tremendous day of worship, fellowship and instruction at Meadow. The liberty and spiritual pungency in the services in the last few weeks have been, in my opinion, remarkable. Prayerfully seeking from God a posture of dependence and expectancy, we spent the morning service together in Acts 2:1-21 and focused on the invasion of God the Spirit in the life of the Church. The evening service was spent on the other end of the Church’s history as we looked at 2 Corinthians 5:10-15 , thinking upon the divine appointment every Christian has at the evaluation bar of Jesus Christ where the entire value of our earthly lives will be assessed and made manifest. From the beginning of the New Testament church at Pentecost unto the future moment when we will give our individual account, the majesty of God was situated before us all day yesterday in the Scriptures. As I begin this week I am giving consideration to the reality that I will give a full account for all that I have spoken and written as a pastor/teacher. I will give a full answer for my leadership of God’s people and Scripture indicates that spiritual teachers will be evaluated by Christ with a more stringent criteria (James 3:1). Because of this sobering thought occupying my attention today, I am not going to offer much by way of instruction in this blog post. In fact, I am leaving you with the words of another man who has impacted my life and countless others as he has spent more than fifty years investing in the church of Jesus Christ. Consider those who lead you in the Kingdom and pray that they may fulfill these characteristics below suggested by Dr. John MacArthur. Feel free to include me on your list of those in spiritual leadership who need to be made fully ready for the coming day of reckoning (the 6th & 7th characteristics are areas where I need God’s empowerment).
Though there is variety in leadership styles, several common qualities are indispensable, especially for effective spiritual leaders.
First, leaders who make an impact are focused. They have a clearly defined mission, which they pursue with unrelenting clarity of purpose.
Second, leaders who have an impact are internally motivated. They do not usually depend on favorable external factors to achieve.
Third, leaders who impact are courageous. They are usually so dedicated to their tasks and goals that they refuse to back down in the face of adversity or be stopped by hindrances or obstacles.
Fourth, leaders who succeed are knowledgeable. They understand what they need to know, are sure of what they believe, and are eager to learn more.
Fifth, leaders who make an impact are strong. They have the strength to endure the arduous, difficult labor that achievement demands.
Sixth, for leaders to have an impact they need to be optimistic, to believe the best about their plans and their people.
Seventh, leaders who ennoble others are enthusiastic and persuasive. They generate a contagious excitement about their visions and ministries that enables them to enlist the eager support of others.
Eighth, effective leaders are willing to take risks. They put everything on the line for what they believe must be done.
Ninth, leaders who have an impact are skilled communicators. They can articulate their visions, ideas, and plans effectively so as to motivate those with them.
Tenth, leaders who impact are imaginative. They are usually not content with maintaining the status quo but pursue greater things.
Finally, impactful leaders tend to be independent, strong enough to stand and survive on their own.[1]
[1] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2003). 2 Corinthians. MacArthur New Testament Commentary (180–182). Chicago: Moody Publishers.
I am suprised to read that you perceive yourself at all short on enthusiasm!
These are not the words of biased Sister: If I had not grown up with you, knew your humor first hand, and watched you play baseball as a kid I would dive into this blog daily….because of your
enthusiasm, knowledge, transparency and humor.
Your blog is the first read of my three daily morning studies. You are greatly impacting my relationship with God, through Christ.
Since you have asked us to pray for your enthusiasm and optimism, I have and will. I can’t wait to see it at a whole new level!