Leadership Skills

 

Leadership Skills

 

I’m sure you all are familiar with the leadership skills Paul taught to Timothy and Titus:

A blameless, husband of one wife, children who are obedient, a blameless steward of GOD, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not a drinker, not violent, not greedy, hospitable, a lover of good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, strong in The Word so that he is able to convict and exhort by sound doctrine, subject to authority and rulers, ready for every good work, speaking evil of no one, peaceable, gentile, humble, and having a good testimony with non-believers. Study 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9.

 

So how does this look in our life?

 

Have you hear the saving, “Avoid all appearance of evil!” that is from Proverbs 4:14-15, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away and pass on.” It is important to not sin but it is just as important to not appear to sin. What others, Christians and non-Christians, believe about us will determine the amount of influence we have in their lives.

 

To be a good leader you have to be a good listener. It’s not just about telling people what they need to know it’s about knowing what they don’t know; this comes from conversations, time with them and their family. A key to being a good leader is knowing about the people who look to you for leadership. “For The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.” Matthew 25:14-15 The man knew his servants and knew how much he could depend on them and trust them.

 

“Be angry and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27 A quote from Psalm 4:4-5 “Be angry and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah Offer the sacrifices of Righteousness, and put your trust in The LORD.” Psalm 37:8 says, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret – it only causes harm.” Anger can be acceptable if it is just or in defense of the helpless, but a leader should never let anger get the best of him.

 

“Because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I Am Holy.’” 1 Peter 1:16 quoted from Leviticus 19:1-2, “And The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to all the congregations of Israel, and say to them, “You shall be holy, for I The LORD your GOD Am Holy.”’” Being holy is to be set apart for GOD, which is what Peter is describing, in the verses before he quotes Leviticus he says, “Therefore gird up the your loins of your mind, be sober and rest your hope fully upon the Grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of JESUS CHRIST; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He Who called you is Holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” 1 Peter 1:13-16

 

There is fellowship: gathering together to minister one to another; to worship GOD, to hear and share GOD’s Word with each other.” In 1 Corinthians 14:26 Paul says, “How is it then, brethren? When you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” In Hebrews 10:24-25 we are exhorted, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up Love and Good Works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching.” This is not just with the Body, but also as leaders gathering together for fellowship and training.

 

Self-will: JESUS said. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also…No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve GOD and mammon.” Matthew 6:19-21, 24 Mammon is representative of money, riches and possessions; it is really anything that holds your attention more that JESUS, it steals your affection from JESUS. JESUS exampled a surrendered will to GOD, “For I have come down from Heaven, not to do My Own Will, but The Will of Him Who sent Me. This is The Will of The Father Who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at The Last Day. And this is The Will of Him Who sent Me, that everyone that sees The Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I Will raise him up at The Last Day.” John 6:38-40

JESUS was totally surrendered: “Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.’ He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him. And He said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I Will but what You Will.’” Mark 14:34-36 Paul said it this way, “Let this mind be in you which was also in CHRIST JESUS, Who, being in the form of GOD, did not consider it robbery to be equal with GOD, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is GOD Who works in you both to will and to do for His Good Pleasure.” Philippians 2:5-11 This is where Christians get in the most trouble and leaders who exercise their self-will over GOD’s Will damage and destroy many lives.

 

The most important skill to being a good leader is the skill of being close to GOD! JESUS continually went off by Himself to spend time with His Father. The time we spend in prayer (especially with fasting), reading and studying The Bible, meditating on the Word and listening to GOD’s SPIRIT (HOLY SPIRIT), the more time we spend in His Presence the better leader we will be. Isaiah 55:6 says, “Seek The LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of GOD, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in Righteousness, that the man of GOD may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Time and study are keys to good leadership. In the flesh we can never truly know GOD, but He reveals everything we need to know about Him in His Word and by His SPIRIT.