The Spiritual Leader
(Mt23:1-12)
God is the Leader, the Teacher.
For He is omniscient, He know the way (Job23:10), and
For He is true, He leads to the true way (Ps25:5).
Faith is acknowledging Him at all times and being taught by Him (Pr3:6).
The life of this faith is following Him and leading others to Him.
Despite the fact that people ought to be led by their king,
Disciples instructed by their teachers, and
Children taught by their parents,
Because people nowadays are proud
They reject character development and only want to learn technology and information.
As such, it is difficult for a true leader to emerge today.
Nevertheless, the Bible shows that since the creation until the times reach their fulfillment,
He reveals His plan to lead men out of darkness and death, the universe (Ps107:14).
Deceived by the devil,
Adam sinned and death entered all men,
All becoming slaves of the devil (2Pe2:19), destined to follow him to the eternal fire (Mt24:41).
The significant leaders of the Old Testament were Moses and Joshua:
While Moses led his people out of Egypt and led them to the Jordan,
He died without crossing the Jordan (Ex3:10; Dt34:6);
While Joshua crossed the Jordan and led Israel into Canaan,
He could neither give them rest nor continue to lead them for he died (He4:8).
The sanctuary where the ark and the name of the Lord God were
Reminded them that God was their Leader and that
He would lead them through the valley of the shadow of death and finally to the green pasture.
Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days (Jn2:19), because
Through the death and the resurrection of the temple of His body,
He would become the new Leader, the Christ
Leading souls of all men to a new heaven and a new earth (Mt23:10).
As such, He came in the name Yeshua for
He came to save His people from their sins, death and the world (Mt1:21).
As He died, Jesus said, "It is finished (Jn19:30), declaring that He:
1) Willingly laid down His life and followed the Father's command, acknowledging that He alone is the true Leader (Jn10:18; Php2:6-11);
2) Condemned the devil, the origin of sin, the father of lies (Jn8:44; 1Jn3:8); and
3) Tore His flesh and shed His blood, making a new and living way for souls to follow Him to the new heaven and the new earth (He10:19-20).
He rose and sat down on the heavenly throne,
Now leading those who follow Him to the throne across the river of life (Rev3:21, 22:1-5).
The Holy Spirit comes to those received His blood
Makes them overseers of the church and
Leaders of the souls whom He purchased (Ac20:28; 1Pe5:1-3).
The Christian is he who
Willingly decided to follow Christ, His teaching, and
Therefore puts every effort to lead others given to him to Christ.
The requirements of becoming a spiritual leader are:
1) Truthfulness ” does not lie but is sincere (1Ti3:8);
2) Faithfulness ” does not betray the one who has given him the trust (1Co4:2; Rev3:14);
3) Purity ” not pursuing dishonest gain (1Pe5:2);
4) Optimism ” nothing is impossible for him who believes (Mk9:23);
5) Eagerness ” not forced but willingly does all with passion (Lk22:44; Jn10:17; 1Pe5:1);
6) Diligent ” not lazy (Mk1:35);
7) Responsibility ” fulfills until the end (Jn19:30; 2Ti4:5);
8) Gentleness ” in humility and patience forgives the mistakes of those who follow (2Ti4:2); and
9) Self-sacrifice ” risks his life to take the lead (Mt20:28).
The leadership or charisma of a leader is
Not gained by demanding it but rather
Given by those who follow him, for
He sets an example for the flock to follow.
O Lord,
Let us all become spiritual leaders in
Our families, workplaces and the church.
Use us as leaders!
Amen.
