A leader God approves
There has been a deep cry for revival and moral revolution in our national life, and indeed this cry rings globally.
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We join the Psalmist in this earnest prayer: “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your steadfast love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him that glory may dwell in our land.” (Psalm 85:6-9 ESV).
In the current international leadership crisis environment where, for example, a Presidential candidate may call his opponent “the greatest threat to democracy” in the nation; and the other responds in retaliation, calling him, “the worst President in the history of the nation”, we yearn internationally and nationally for cool heads and sanity in the leadership space.
We need authentic ethical leaders of integrity for both the Church and society. Perhaps, the need is stronger in the Church for leaders who will so carry out Church ministry that the Church will powerfully serve as “salt and light” in a decaying society that is filled with the darkness of evil deeds and greed.
The Lord Jesus says of the Church: “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16 ESV).
Will God answer the prayers of those burdened to see the glory of Christ shine out in all people groups and all regions of the nation through healthy Biblical Church renewal and Church growth?
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Yes! The salvation of the people and the total well-being of the people is the perfect will of Jesus Christ. But the Lord Jesus Christ uses people, men and women, to fulfil His purpose.
For enduring work that bears lasting fruit, God uses people, vessels which Christ approves! Christ’s work must be done in Christ’s way and power. The man and woman Christ approves, are the persons God will use to accomplish His purposes in this nation and the nations.
Today is the first Saturday of August. The month of August is the high season for leadership meetings, activities, programmes and projects across the country: Church conferences, Church synods, Church national seminars and retreats, and more! What quality of biblical spirituality leaders are in charge of these churches?
The following are five key elements in a leader God approves for building a healthy Church, for Church renewal and Church growth, and national development:
• The leader God approves has experienced a new birth in Christ. He or she has personally experienced the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. They share in the testimony that “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT). They share in the testimony of the Apostle John: “We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life.
This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that he is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father and then he was revealed to us.
We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (John 1:1-3 NLT).
In spiritual leadership, you cannot give what you don’t have. Indeed, it is an abomination “to seek to work for God, without knowing God” (See Acts 19:13-17; Matthew 7:21-23).
Christ approves those who have a true and genuine personal relationship with Him and for God to use them for Church renewal, Church growth and national development.
• The leader God approves preaches Christ and His gospel only. “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
And because of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1: 23-24,30 ESV). The leaders God approves do not preach and turn people to “a different gospel which is really no gospel at all.”
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This is a critical matter. The Apostle Paul writes: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and is turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all.
Evidently, some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-10 NIV). In fact, the Bible instructs leaders in the Church: “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 NLT).
How are people saved? How are people accepted by God as His true children and given the power to live a victorious Christian life? Only Jesus saves. Only Jesus’ perfect sacrifice for sin on the cross of Calvary makes a person accepted by God.
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It is not Christ plus “sowing seeds of money” or anything else. We cannot save ourselves. Our part is to repent from sin and trust Jesus Christ to forgive us and give us His Holy Spirit to transform us on the inside (See Act 2:36-39). The Bible says we are saved by the grace of God alone through faith (See Ephesians 2:8&9).
The faithful vessels God uses, preach Christ, preach the word “without adding to it or subtracting from it”. The Lord Jesus teaches: “Anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:19b NLT). The leader God approves, embraces and teaches the Biblically healthy gospel, only for the salvation of people.
And they obey the 2 Timothy 2:15 directive of the Bible.
• The leader God approves knows that they are merely stewards or caretakers of the flock, the body of Christ, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28 ESV).
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They do not try to pressure and attract the devotion and commitment of the Church members to themselves but to Christ. Christ is the bridegroom of the Church (His bride). Church leaders are simply the best men.
As best men, they do not seduce or attract the bride to focus on them rather than on the groom. They promote supreme dedication and loyalty to Christ, their Redeemer God and their Chief Shepherd.
• The leaders God approves are those who live pure; lifestyles of godliness with integrity at home, at Church, at work, and in business, community and national life. They live exemplary lifestyles.
They show in their day-to-day life “the power of leadership example” (See 1 Timothy 4:12). The Bible teaches: “If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honourable use.
Your life will be clean and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work” (2 Timothy 2:21 NLT)
• The leader God approves serves the people willingly and sacrificially, and not for personal gain. “Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.
Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honour” (1 Peter 5:2-4 NLT).
You may strive to be “a leader Christ approves,” and God will use it for Church renewal, Church growth and sound national development.
(The author is a Consultant in Authentic Christian Spirituality and Discipleship and former CEO of Scripture Union)