Mat_26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (KJV)
Mat 17:16-17 I have brought him to your disciples, and they have not been able to cure him." "O unbelieving and perverse generation!" replied Jesus; "how long shall I be with you? how long shall I endure you? Bring him to me." (WNT)
The call to lead a godly people is inevitably intertwined with a responsibility to always be a step ahead in intimacy with God. One cannot "discipline" or instill a discipline which he himself does not have. This is not to say that leaders should be perfect, however, it is to say that leadership sets the pace and leads the course. Jesus never said I am the weakest/most confused/least spiritually aware/most unworthy/most carnal among you..no, in fact he could teach and fashion characters for his own was worth emulating. His command of spiritual things was then later taught to His disciples, whom we also see displaying amazing feats in the book of ACTS.
If we look at the Jesus model, it is replete with examples of a man who was, in reality, spiritually astute. A man who desired to impart his know-how and see his followers practice it themselves. He did not have a blanket approach to his followers, however He understood that at the end he would need as many of them as possible. He was a man who understood that He had a limited amount of time and a formidable amount of work to accomplish. Thus his priority was to teach, impart and depart, leaving behind a competent set of people to carry on (John 14:12) We see Jesus using a segmented form of leadership, which ultimately started with Him as the Chief in charge of training. I would imagine that in His interaction with them He knew their weaknesses and in seeing their destiny paths He could train each of them adequately to become the champions of the faith that they were meant to be. He prayed with them (at different levels, with differing levels of access to the mission).
He also demonstrated the way in which they should treat people eg. He fed and cared for those that followed them and listened to His teachings (Mark 6) He demonstrated the way they should deal with demonic attacks (Matt 17:17) He demonstrated the way they should pray (Matt 6) and many other areas of their lives. He was loving and yet strong in rebuke of error. He was welcoming and yet unequivocal. His mandate was clear...people were lost and He was there to save them!(Luke 19:10)
In a world where there is a crisis of leadership in the Christian circles, we need, now more than ever, to have "Jesus model" leaders. It is the kind of leadership that will drive the market out of the Church and pray in the will of God! It is disheartening to see people lower their expectations from leaders in the present day. We seem to be slowly but surely accepting the statements that define our leaders as "only human" and "just like us". Frankly, this is exactly what the enemy wants. A poor leadership will consistently disappoint its follower-ship, thereby driving their expectation down, which perpetuates an even poorer leadership and the result is a Church in crisis.
We trust in the grace of God, and in the restoring power of God, however we expect the transforming power of God to change our leaders for the better. After all, James says those who teach will have a harsher judgement. For they ought to teach not out of what they know, but what they live (James 3:1). And Paul gives a template for Bishops and Deacons which can be very tricky to preach for many of today's "Bishops".(Scripture quoted in full at the end..)
We then who are sheep, look to the Word and the true master of our souls Jesus to keep raising godly leaders in the house. Those that can truly stand "blameless" and perpetuate a standard that will convict the world and shine the light of Jesus into men's hearts. Every kingdom stands on the quality of it's leaders, and every leader stands on the quality of the knowledge he received. If we lose the templates of the "Jesus model", we have lost the greatest leadership lessons ever taught. We cannot let it happen on our watch. This is my prayer, and it should be the prayer of every one who desires to be discipled in the ways of the kingdom. A RESTORATION OF MEN WHO DEMONSTRATE AND TEACH THE KINGDOM IN ALL ITS GLORY.
1Ti 3:1-13 "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."
Yours in His Royal Service
George Mwamlowe
