BECOMING A LEADER

WORK HARD AND BECOME A LEADER; BE LAZY AND BECOME A SLAVE.

PROVERBS 12:24 NLT

Dr. Myles Munroe stated "Leaders think differently about themselves, and this distinguishes them from followers and although every human being on the planet has an inclination for leadership, most of us do not have the courage to cultivate it". So being a leader takes courage?

When I think of leaders I think of people like Dr. Myles Munroe, John Maxwell, Billy Graham, Barak Obama, Jesse Jackson, or Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. When I was growing up I would see and hear people like Benny Hinn, Joyce Meyer, Rod Parsley, and T.D Jakes very often on television, never understanding the magnitude of their leadership and importance of the call on their lives.

After reading the book Crushing by T.D Jakes I realized how often times we look at these giants in the faith and not understand what it took for them to be where they are, Pastor T.D Jakes shared his personal testimonies. The sacrifice that cames with being a leader, how his family at one point had no electricity, how he spent so much time building a ministry and not being at home and even loss of family. The time away from your family can hinder the life of a ministry if not properly managed. The amount of love you must have to continue to pour into others. But can a leader have a well rounded life? In John Maxwells book 'Relationships 101' talks about becoming a great leader by building relationships, creating lasting relationships that can advance your career and provide a network.

A leaders are motivators, they are willing to share knowledge, they help people grow and leaders bring unity. United we stand and divided we fall. Unity brings oneness in a family, in a office or in a community.

Write the vision and make it clear when others see they can run with it- Habakkuk 2:2. Others need to first be able to envision the vision.

"If you cannot see it you cannot and will not achieve it" -Emmanuel Adewusi.

A leader is able to see the end result and build a team that can work toward the same end goal. Our successor Jesus came to earth to build a team of people for the Kingdom of God, willing to learn the word then take the word into the world. Saul is a good turn around story. He already had the tools to become a great leader but was on the wrong mission until he had an encounter with God. He was able to cultivate a group of leaders, as well as work along with a team of people that did.

Leaders can see the capability in others that the person cannot see. Look at how God sent Samuel to look for Jesse's son who we later know as King David. God told Samuel to go to Jesse's house and he will show him which one to anoint as king. Is it possible that if God told Samuel the son that would be chosen, the one tending to the flock, he probably would not have done it? or maybe even question going to anoint that little dude? Samuel got to the house and looked at one of Jesse's sons and thought well this has to be him-judging from his height and appearance. Samuel looked and did not see who God chose the father probably didn't think of his youngest as being a leader, being capable, being resilient or for him to have tenacity. David! "But he's out in the fields watching sheep and goats."-1 Samuel 16:11 God told Samuel we need another leader, He could no longer have Saul as leader; the vision was clear; a new leader was necessary. David was willing and obedient, he was capable, he was able to persevere, he was also confident. David was fearless, when everyone else was intimidated by Goliath's size, his honors, and his words as he taunted them. David said send me, he saw this as a simple problem, David was a risk taker, selfless, he had already analyzed the situation and found a solution. David ended up being the person that killed Goliath, he was strong-minded.

Imagine being the leader that had to announce preparing for a hurricane or storm so large it will wipe everyone off the face of the earth. The leader that had to prepare for a famine, a leader that had to deal with stubborn people, a leader that is being ridiculed and hated but still fulfilled his work. It is something a leader must have to endure such harsh treatment and conditions, still thinking of the benefit of others and not necessarliy themselves. Leaders think futuristic.

Nehemiah mourned, weaped, prayed and went to the King over Jews knowing the state they were in, he took time off to go to their rescue and help them. He had compassion and love for others he became restless and sought help for them.

I heard a bad joke about a father that was so afraid of dogs, when a dog came running after him and his son he put his son inbetween him and the dog. A leader that is fearful and intimidated will always put somone else in harms way to protect himself.

Leaders take control, they are able to take criticism and function under some levels of pressure. Could you imagine the level of pressure Noah must've been under to build a ship when he had never seen rain or a ship before. The kind of leader you must be being the only high school graduate, college graduate. Being the first in your family to get a house, to have a career, to become an entrepreneur or to not have debt. Some of these things may sound crazy to the person that came from a family of leaders, a family that went to college. Or how about the type of leader that makes proactive decisions on their health. In many families there are sicknesses and diseases that are accepted but being a leader is also making a decision to look at the root of these issues and saying I will not go in the same direction everyone else went, while creating a new path. A leader makes a structure for the betterment of everyone else.

How long did it take Noah to build that ship? Long enough for others to change their minds but they did not. Noah must have had people looking at him sideways, wondering where he would get such an idea. Noah was one of those leaders that was under-estimated.

Leaders are people that can be trusted. When I think of how I made a decision on my church home this was after taking time to examine and see the vision for my life and look at the vision for the church. Then think of who would be pastoring me, this person became someone who would prophecy into my life-they also needed to see the vision, they would assist in leading my family, this person is willing to make sacrifices, have compassion and love for the ministry and people.

Can you imagine Dr. Martin Luther King leading people after being harshly mistreated, abused and overlooked but still loved and made sacrifices for the betterment of all.

Leaders are self-motivated, humble, honest, committed and are able to delegate. Who would've known that because of Dr. King's leadership there would actually be some level of equality, justice and rights for all. Dr. King inspired a group of people to believe and think things that were beyond what they could see in the natural. A true leader prophecies.

God wants to build a people that would be a reflection of Him. Genesis 1 He made man in His image, to have dominion, to be free thinkers, to be creative, to become our own genius. We were born to lead. The ability to lead is in each and everyone of us.

"True leaders don't invest in buildings, Jesus never invested in buildings they invest in people. Why? because success without successors is failure. So your legacy should not be in buildings, programs or projects. It must be in people!" Dr. Myles Munroe

Go into all the world and spread the good news- Mark 16:15

A leader is confident in their capabilites but can delegate responsibility to others, fair and a leader seeks wise counsel- Proverbs 19:20-22

Jesus showed all of these characterisitics as an example for us. He came as a innocent child showing humility by honoring His covering-His parents, a leader that was able to be led. He was not boostful about His knowledge but was compassionate to others that could be seen as less than, He shared His wisdom with those that came in His presence. He was able to delegate others to help to continue the mission that we are still working to accomplish. Sharing God's word, prophecying His truth, speaking of His good works and caring for His children.

#sharinggodsword #weareallleaders #gointotheworldandsharetheword #trueleaders