THE LEADER’S ABILITY

 

So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.  And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me...” (Luke 4:16-18a).

 

As the Model Leader, Jesus described THE SOURCE OF OUR SERVICE.  Jesus had a supernatural assignment, so it required a supernatural ability.  Likewise, we have a task too great for human ability.  We must have Heaven’s anointing! 

 

God’s leadership standard demands one who is SCRIPTURALLY EQUIPPED, “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.  And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written...” (v.16-17).   Jesus was a student of and in submission to the Word of God.  For our service to be effective, we must be Scripturally equipped.  Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”  God’s kind of leader knows the administration manual is the Holy Book and follows its direction.

 

Furthermore, the leader who emulates the Jesus model will be SPIRITUALLY EMPOWERED, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me...”  (v.18a).  Remember how after His baptism the Dove had descended upon Him.  Following that we read how He went into the wilderness to do battle with the Devil, “filled with the Spirit” as He was “led by the Spirit.”  (Luke 4:1)  He went out to minister, “in the power of the Spirit” (Luke 4:14). 

 

When early church leaders were chosen, the preeminent qualifications were, “men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom.”  (Acts 6:3) They would be men Scripturally equipped—the source of their wisdom—and supernaturally empowered—the source of their strength.  This is the standard for leadership in the church today—for pastors, deacons, or whatever task we have.

It is time for church leaders to raise the level of their experience to the high bar God has set, rather than bring the bar down to the level of our experience!  It is not hard to jump over a bar designed for the limbo instead of the high jump!  Yet, that is the failure we are succeeding in accomplishing far too often.  Churches are crumbling because leaders are stumbling short of God’s standard.  Lord, help me to what I can’t do apart from You!