The Art of Leadership
A leader cannot please everyone; he has to do what God has told him to do! In your bid to do what God has told you to do, you will meet with different types of problems, stresses, opposition, persecution, harassment and rejection. Will you stand your ground and do God’s will? Will you overcome these problems and maintain your aim?
Leaders Survive bad stories
One of the battles a leader will fight is the battle against bad stories. A leader is someone who survives bad stories. When Jesus rose from the dead some people spread a rumour about his disciples. They claimed that the disciples were grave looters who had stolen the body of Jesus. In other words, their claim was that Jesus did not really rise from the dead. But, through the years, the gospel has survived this story!
And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
Matthew 28:12-15
Before Peter could begin his ministry, many people saw him as a liar. It is true that Peter buckled under fear and said he did not know Jesus. Others saw him as the greatest deceiver to live in Jerusalem for centuries. And a new story was making the rounds – that he had led the others to steal the body of their master in order to give a false impression. But Jesus had risen from the dead! Peter was a genuine minister of the gospel, proclaiming only what he had seen and heard.
Note that this is the lot of all true leaders or ministers of the gospel. You will have to survive the unbelievable stories that go on around you. Government officials sometimes describe church leaders as charlatans who rip the people of their good. This is the impression that many people have of us. What can we do about it? We can only survive! To survive means to outlive and outlast every storm. A leader is a survivor. To survive, you need determination and a whole lot of faith. You need to believe in yourself and you need to believe that what you are doing is the right thing. You need to believe the bible. You need to believe what God has promised He will do with you. You need to believe that God will help you. You need to believe that you are more than a conqueror.
Leaders Survive pressure
Real leaders often come under extreme and varied pressures because they are out there in the front. They are the ones who receive all the blows. The pressure is always on them. If you cannot stand pressure, then you cannot be a leader.
A leader must develop a hard forehead. Do not go mad in the face of pressure. Some people break down under pressure. Be strong! God told Ezekiel not to be afraid of the people’s faces. That means that you are likely to be overcome, even by people’s faces. But a leader must be harder than everything that comes against him.
Confess boldly, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” Say aloud, “I am able, more than able to prevail and to win this battle. Though a thousand fall at my side and ten thousand at my left hand, I shall survive. I am a survivor in the name of Jesus. God will strengthen and keep me in all my ways!” The Bible is true and God will perform His Word.
Do you not prefer peace and calm? We all want a bit of heaven on earth. We all want peace and perfect harmony. Ideally, that is the way it should be. But you know and I know that life has its twists and turns. You have to survive, no matter the pressure! Do not throw up your hands in the air and give up! You can endure and overcome the pressure you are under.
You Are a Survivor!
When Jesus walked this earth, he encountered a lot of rejection and hatred. People wanted him killed from the very beginning, but he survived. Herod tried to kill him as a baby when he heard of him. Other religious leaders in his day tried their best to eliminate him. But Jesus was a survivor! I see you surviving! Your children will survive! Your family will survive! You need self-confidence and self-determination. You can do it! If you believe, you can conquer it all! Jesus survived and so will you!
theaol@ymail.com
By Dag Heward-Mills