Matt Short

      Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders has been a challenging read in many ways. It has made me re-evaluate my approach in leadership. It has opened my eyes to the significance of self-discipline in the life of a leader or anyone who is considering becoming one. It has shown me how crucial it is as a spiritual leader to remain a man who can confront and rebuke yet comfort in it’s timing. It has shook my view of what it means to be thought well of by all. Most importantly though, it will always be a valuable reference that will continue to challenge me when I struggle in leadership.

      Spiritual Leadership is a book full of “one liners”. Sanders does an excellent job in addressing issues such as integrity in ambition, leadership qualities that are essential, prayer in leadership, a leader’s responsibilities, as well as providing an adequate amount of illustrations to support each point. It can be difficult to digest, troubling when it hits home, and despite the numerous spelling and grammatical errors a good read. Here are some key points that have made an impression on my view of leadership.

      Age is something, in many cultures, that comes with respect and dignity. Subordinates are expected to never rise above such authority and will inevitably never “climb the ladder”. PRAISE GOD his kingdom is far from that circumstance! In this way I relate very easily to Timothy. The Lord has used many mighty men of the faith to discipline me and help me get to a position of leadership that otherwise I would have never received, such was the case with Paul and Timothy. Being so young in leadership, it’s encouraging to hear Paul, a man revered by every Christian, instruct Timothy by saying, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (Timothy 4:12)

      The encouragement is that despite my age I can attain whatever status of leadership the Lord l desires, although it comes with a challenge as well. Living a life that speaks volumes of why I am who the Lord has made me; not proving myself to anyone, for it is not theirs to judge, but giving testimony to what is His.

“Jesus told His disciples, ‘You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you’ (John 15:16). The sovereign selection of God gives great confidence to Christian workers. We can truly say, ‘I am here neither by selection of an individual nor election of a group, but by the almighty appointment of God.’” p.22-23

My prayer in this is that I would live faithfully, holding fast to that appointment. Along with being appointed, predestined, and set apart comes responsibility and what a great blessing that is.

      Our strength in the Holy Spirit is highly tied to our ability to put faith in His will, thus it is fitting for us to spur our followers on in such a way. A spiritual leaders ability to push his followers on in faith is a crucial part of his role.

“Faith builds faith. Pessimism dismantles faith. The spiritual leader’s primary task is to build the faith of others.” p165

It is our obligation as the Lord’s servants in spiritual leadership to inspire faith, to encourage when down trodden, and bring hope in despair. Nehemiah shook with fear when he was commissioned to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, yet his faith was fully in the Lord and that’s all he needed, faith. (Nehemiah 2:2) Others would follow, many would become discouraged, yet he had faith and with it the Lord would do great things. This was key in the Lord’s will for this land. He needed a man who would hold fast in faith and spur others on in the same. Nehemiah did just that with the full construction of the wall though the people fell into disbelief and despair many times. (Nehemiah 6:15) The Lord asks the same of us all, to have faith and turn the tides of disbelief when it sweeps over his people. This can only be done by His grace and it shall be.

      The more I am learning to step out as a leader and take responsibility the more I learn the significance of time management and self-discipline. “Spiritual Leadership” has shown me that in many cases I am daydreaming while others pray, wasting time while others work, and snoozing while others study and if all that the Lord has for me is to happen then this isn’t enough. It isn’t enough for me to allow my brothers in Christ to “return to their vomit” as if I didn’t love them as I do.

      It’s not going to cut it to make excuses for why the goal wasn’t accomplished with ample time and supplies. I won’t stand for it any longer!

“The young man of leadership caliber will work while others waste time, study while others snooze, pray while others daydream. Slothful habits are overcome whether in thought , deed, or dress. The emerging leader eats right, stands tall, and prepares himself to wage a good warfare. He will without reluctance undertake the unpleasant task that others avoid or the hidden duty that others evade because it wins no public applause. As the Spirit fills his life, he learns not to shrink from difficult situations or retreat from hard-edged people. He will kindly and courageously administer rebuke when that is called for, or he will exercise the necessary discipline when the interests of the Lord’s work demand it. He will not procrastinate, but will prefer to dispatch with the hardest tasks first.” p. 53

All I could do when I read this was mark it heavily, writing “I want this!” and pray that the Lord would teach me discipline and convict me in love when I am living otherwise. Shortcuts and beating around the bush makes one miss the fullness of the Lords blessings. Loving confrontation in Jesus Christ’s name is always met with rich blessings, and that’s nothing easy to get good at.

“If a Christian is not willing to rise early and work late, to expend greater effort in diligent study and faithful work, that person will not change a generation. Fatigue is the price of leadership. Mediocrity is the result of never getting tired.” p. 119

This is very simply put. It’ll take effort, and MUCH of it to ever become the true man or woman of God that He has called us to. Many times it has been said that we as YWAMer’s are to change this generation. When will I feel the fatigue? Have we settled for mediocrity when the Lord is looking for those who’ll expend themselves on his behalf?

      This book has left me in a state of discomfort, distraught and wishing to make changes in my habits, speech, decisions, and relationships. For that I am thankful yet it is difficult to see where to begin. No understanding nor profound revelation I have already had will bring conclusion to this book or report for me. Though, by fervent prayer and meditation on all I’ve learned, the Lord will instruct me on how to make the changes I wish to see.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 6th, 2007 at 4:12 pm and is filed under BDTS '07 Staffing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.