The Art of Leadership
The Bible tells us in 2 Peter 1:8 that one of the “things” that will keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful is faith. These “things” include diligence, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly affection and love.
Faith is a firm belief in something for which there is no proof. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is also a belief in God.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your FAITH virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For IF THESE THINGS BE IN YOU, AND ABOUND, they make you that YE SHALL NEITHER BE BARREN NOR UNFRUITFUL in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-8
Six Things You Should Know about Faith
- Faith will cause you to overcome big problems and obstacles.
For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:23
People who have faith are able to move mountains. A mountain is a big problem. To move mountains around and become a great leader you will need faith. Great achievements are usually great victories over insurmountable challenges. It is faith that drives the leader to even imagine such victories before they are wrought.
- Faith causes an individual to have a good report.
For by it the elders obtained a good report. Hebrews 11:2
The elders were leaders who also obtained a good report. To have a good report that you are experiencing abundance, you need to be a little wiser than those around you.
You will need to see the correlation between faith and prosperity. The Bible teaches us that good reports were given to men of faith. Good things are usually said about positive faith-filled people who believed in a vision before it became a reality. You always remember the people who believed in you before things worked out.
There are people who come along but never believe in you or your vision. Such people will not have a good report. A good report is for those who believe when there is nothing to see.
- Faith makes a person victorious.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 John 5:4
Victory is one of the good things every good leader craves for because victory gives the picture of an overcomer. And a leader ought to overcome many obstacles!
Victory is given to men of faith. Without faith you will never be victorious. The victory that you need will be provided through your faith in God.
- Faith is the personal trait that makes a person a visionary.
BY FAITH he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured as SEEING HIM WHO IS INVISIBLE. Hebrews 11:27
A visionary is someone who can see the future. He can see how it is going to work out. A leader is a visionary leading people somewhere.
Faith is the evidence of things not seen. Without faith you cannot visualize or imagine a good outcome and a good future. Without faith you will be full of complaints, murmuring and grumblings. You will never see the great possibilities of what God can do for you. All your calculations will be based on “here and now” because you cannot see the invisible.
Moses was a great man of faith. He endured and was successful because he saw the invisible.
- When you have faith you are not a fool.
The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God…
Psalm 14:1
The verse here tells us that when you have faith, you are not a fool A fool says there is no God. Having faith in God catapults you into the category of wisdom.
- Faith is an important trait that pleases God
But without faith it is impossible to please him…
Hebrews 11:6
Somehow, without faith it is impossible to make God happy with you. Every leader will want God to be happy with Him.
You need to be positive, you need to think correctly and you need to expect positive things if you are to please God. Let us be in prayer for our leaders that they be men of faith. Faith can make them the amazing leaders we will be proud of. May you be a man of faith!
theaol@ymail.com
By Dag Heward-Mills