Leading from God’s Perspective

Leaders normally lead from a position of authority, either assumed or by election. Christian leaders do so from the perspective of God's Presence and Authority.

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11.

Presidents, CEO’s and others almost always rule from the dynamic of authority allowed them by constituents they serve. Sometimes this position ‘allows’ them certain advantages which are too often ignored by the same constituents that elected them and these people then ‘assume’ power which is not theirs to have. This sometimes evolves into totalitarianism the worst of secular humanism.

Christian leadership comes only from the authority of God’s divine intervention and Presence in the life of the leader. God’s Word refers to this intervention as ‘calling’ and we might use the term ‘Divine appointment. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4, “For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.”

AND

And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER." Romans 9:10-12.

The choice ultimately belongs to God, not to any human being and for His divine purpose. We find in Romans 9:15-16, “For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION." So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”

The call of God for leadership therefore rests not in the heart of man, but in the Divine appointment of God. It is He who calls and not man who appoints leadership in His Church and this calling is not to be determined by the wisdom of man.With this in mind, whether leadership falls to a Pastor or Deacon, the calling and authority to do so comes from the Presence of Almighty God. This is Leadership from God’s Presence and I might add, Servant Leadership.

Through the course of time, men have unfortunately taken possession of leadership in some places and have made a royal mess of things. Passion for the lost has weakened and the influence of Christian values in cultures around the world has suffered as a result. This is because leadership has been taken over by those who are what God’s Word says are ‘enemies of the cross of Christ’.

For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. Philippians 3:18-19

The Leadership within the Church must determine that, as the Apostle Paul writes, “…whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.” Christian leaders lead not for personal gain, but for the sake of Christ, from His Perspective alone.