You cannot lead unless you are led.
There is a reason the word “calling” is used to refer to
those who are involved in Christian service.
All Christian service is subject to the will of God. When Christ humbled
Himself and became a man there was never an action, never a moment, never a
thought that was not “SUBJECT” to the Father’s will.
John 5:17-20 17 But He
answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” 18
For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him,
because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own
Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Therefore Jesus answered
and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of
Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the
Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20 For
the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing;
and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.
In Roman’s Chapter 10 we are told, “that if we confess with
our mouth Jesus as LORD”. The question
is, what is a lord; a king, a ruler, a pontiff, a leader? By subjecting ourselves to Christ’s authority
we take an active role, we make a decision, to subjugate ourselves to our
Leader (Christ Jesus). But sadly many who
claim to be Christian have no patience or inclination to be led by anyone. As leaders this is disastrous in the business
world, it is devastating in Christian leadership to both those being led and to
the leader. How can one lead who has no direction?
Romans 10:3 New Life Version
(NLV) They have not known how God makes
men right with Himself. Instead, they have tried to make their own way. They
have not become right with God because they have not done what God said to do.
Problems arise in Christian ministry when we bring our own
agenda or, when we get out ahead of our Leader.
An even more ominous scenario is when the Christian leader does not know
their Leader and have not been led by the Leader to lead. A college degree does
not make a Christian leader.
Matthew 10:24 (NLV) “A follower is
not greater than his teacher. A servant who is owned by someone is not greater
than his owner.
Jesus told his disciples that He had to go to the Father so
that He could send the “Helper” (Holy Spirit) Luke 24.
Each of us are called to be followers of Christ whether we
are called into formal leadership or not. Romans 8:14 For all who are being led
by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. How do we know when we are no longer being led? “When our activities for the Lord take time
away from our spending time with the Lord, our activities are not of the Lord.”
Jesus Christ and be led by the Holy Spirit
Hebrews 13:7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word
of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their
faith.
Luke 4:1 Jesus, full
of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit
in the wilderness.
Acts 13:17 The God
of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their
stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it.
Romans 10:3 For not
knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did
not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.
