Some
definitions of Leadership: The ability
or authority to lead other people.
Hebrews
13:17 Obey them
that have the rule
over you, and submit
yourselves: for they watch
for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may
do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.
Rule
with diligence Romans
12:8. Be just in having the rule, 2 Samuel 23:3-4.
Hebrews
13:7 Remember
them who have the rule
over you, who have spoken to you the word of God: whose faith follow,
considering the end of
their manner of life.
When
leaders are called by God and live right for God and declare the will of God.
Then we can believe in them in order to prosper, 2 Chronicles 20:20,
and Ephesians 4:11-13.
All
Saints can play their part in edification of the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 14:26
2
Corinthians 10:8 For
though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given
us for edification,
and not for your destruction,
I should not be ashamed: 2
Corinthians 13:10.
2
Corinthians 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith
ye stand.
2
Corinthians 1:24
shows the importance of leaders helping saints to be joyful not oppressing them
by having dominion over their Faith. Surely leaders who Love the Lord want the
saints to be happy and free from oppression.
2
Corinthians 11:19 For
ye suffer fools gladly,
seeing ye [yourselves] are wise.
2 Corinthians 11:20 For ye suffer, if a man bringeth you into bondage, if a man devoureth [you], if a man taketh [from you], if a man exalteth himself, if a man smiteth you on the face.
When we look at 2 Corinthians 11:19-20 we see how Paul does not speak well about the brethren who allow false leaders to lord it over them. The saints were willing to put up with this outrageous behaviour by false Leaders.
3 John 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. 3 John 9-12
2 Corinthians 5:12 For we commend not ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to [answer] them who glory in appearance, and not in heart.
When
Paul talks about those who glory in appearance. He is speaking of false
Apostles whose pretension is a superficial front. The false Apostles are not
concerned with spiritually which is true and deep. But they are concerned with
money and being popular and their self-importance.
Jeremiah
45:5 Do you seek
great things
for yourself?
Don’t seek them; See Matthew
23:8-12
Leaders
can’t just preach against sin but have to deal with problems of sin through
direction and guidance to eradicate the problem. When we see look at Acts 6:1-6 we see how
the problem of murmuring which is sin was dealt with by organisation and guidance
to prevent the Church from falling into chaos, Proverbs 11:14.
Galatians
5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called to
liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve
one another.
Finally
leaders who take care of the flock should bear in mind Luke 6:31 and PHILIPPIANS 2:3-5. These scriptures apply to all saints as well.
