John Maxwell once wrote that everyone is born a leader. Though some might argue with what he wrote, it is quite true that everyone can lead. Let us try to look at our final authority in all matter of faith and practice. In Genesis chapter 1, God created all things. Before He created Adam, He had already planned something for him; and that plan is about leadership (Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth - Gen 1:26.) Therefore, the first leader mentioned in history was Adam.
But leadership means responsibility. God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden and Adam was responsible to dress it and to keep it (Gen 2:15). Adam’s second responsibility is on naming all the living creatures brought to him. But leadership is not only about responsibility, it is also about accountability. God instructed Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil; else face dire consequences.
After naming all the living creatures, God made Eve from one of Adam’s ribs. And all the events from the creation of Adam to Eve happened in one day (the sixth day)! Notice how Adam named all the living creatures in less than a day without fatigue. The atmosphere during Adam’s time was truly astonishing and wonderful!
Eve was one of the responsibilities of Adam. Eve, when she was created, was given a responsibility immediately. She was to be the mother of all mankind. And not only that, she was to help Adam in his leadership - And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth (Gen 1:28). Thus, both Adam and Eve were given responsibilities and accountabilities.
Passing the Torch
In Genesis 3:1-6, we see the downfall of man through the deceitfulness of Satan. Eve was deceived by the devil. She forgot her responsibilities and accountabilities. She relied too much on her wants rather than on her needs. Thus, Eve transgressed against the Lord. But sin hadn’t entered yet in humanity. There was still Adam who could have reverted the transgression. But Adam sacrificed himself for Eve (1 Timothy 2:13-14). Eve was his responsibility and accountability. Eve was his wife. He sacrificed himself and, eventually, mankind for his decision. He ate from the forbidden tree and therefore disobeyed God’s command. Therefore, sin entered mankind - Romans 5:12 and 14, “12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.”
From Adam’s fall, he gave the torch of leadership to Satan who became the prince of this world (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) and the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). Therefore, Satan usurped God’s position and made himself god over the entire world. Satan is so full of himself that he even declared unto the Son of God, Jesus Christ, that he owned all the kingdoms of the earth and even tempted Him in the process (Matthew 4:8-9). But Satan is powerless against Jesus. By His words and commands, Satan is cowering from Him like a whipped dog!
As Adam sinned, Satan thought that he was triumphant. But God has a plan since the world began - “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:2).” He planned since the beginning that He will give His only begotten Son for the salvation of mankind. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved - Romans 10:13.
The Leader in You
Jesus became the perfect example of a great leader. He led (and still is leading) Christians to victory through humility and servanthood. By His meekness, He had shown power. By His servanthood, He had shown authority. Jesus is the perfect leader-servant and servant-leader. He kept on teaching His disciples that to be least is to be great. It is through servanthood could leadership be perfected in every Christian.
But how can we be the leader God wanted us to be? There are three A’s that are involved in being a Christian leader
· Acknowledge - God must acknowledge you as part of His family. When Adam sinned, we became enemies of God. But we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life (Rom 5:10). Therefore, as many as received him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12).
· Accept - But it is not enough to be acknowledged by God as His sons, we must accept that we are part of His family. And like the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), who acknowledged and accepted the fact that he had sinned against heaven and before his father, we also must acknowledge and accept that we are sinners. We have to repent on the sins and wrongs that we had done. And we had to accept Jesus Christ as our God and Saviour. Through this acceptance will the path of leadership be clear and true.
· Act -But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof (Romans 13:14). Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ is like a knight putting on his armour. The armour doesn’t only provide protection but also his declaration that he is a knight. When we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, it doesn’t only mean that we are protected by God but also means we are declaring that we are Christians and part of His family. Another point worth noting; when we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, it only means that we are to be Christ-like. We are to imitate Him. We are to obey His commands. We are to keep His words and do it. Therefore, we must act like Jesus in our every day life.
Christian; Inside and Out
Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ means that we are Christians outwardly. But how about being Christians inwardly? In Romans 12:1, Paul is beseeching (also means - begging) us to present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service. Note that we have to present ourselves as living sacrifice unto God. But it isn’t enough to be a worship leader or a Christian musician or instrumentalist for us to offer ourselves unto God. We have to be holy; just as Peter had written, “Be ye holy; for I (God) am holy (1 Peter 1:16).” And that holiness must be acceptable unto God. But why do we have to? It is our reasonable service unto Him. Reasonable service because we are servants of our Lord Jesus Christ (Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am - John 13:13.)
The Last Adam and Eve
Jesus Christ is the last Adam (1 Cor 15:45). And since the church is the bride of Christ (Revelations 21:9), the church is the last Eve. And this church is us. Note that Jesus had sacrificed Himself for His bride, just as Adam did for Eve. But unlike Eve, we were given a chance to gain eternal life. Adam couldn’t have done it because he was just a man. But Jesus can because He is God. 15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. 16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ (Rom 5:15-17).
Like Eve, we are given a responsibility and accountability; a responsibility to multiply and replenish the earth (go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain - John 15:16). And these fruits are gained through soul-winning.
Brethren, it is our reasonable service unto our Lord to win souls for Him. This is the time to reacquaint ourselves unto the Lord and ask for the fire to burn ever so brightly in our lives for us to win souls for Christ. Remember that we are ordained by Jesus to soul-win. Therefore, Christians are soul-winners and not soul-whiners. May the blessing of the Lord be upon you as you embark unto the ministry that the Lord had given you. Amen!!!
The Leader in You
By Ptr. JC Balao