LEADERSHIP QUALITIES- 1- Open heavens devotional by Pastor E. A Adeboye

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ps 7 -9
LEADERSHIP QUALITIES -1  Thursday, September 16, 2010
MEMORIZE: “ But he that is greatest among  you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11) READ: Matthew 23:11-12 A leader must be persuasive and have vision if he must succeed in his calling. Vision is very central to achievement of goal. If you have vision, you will not only concentrate on the present needs of your church, but also their latent needs. Vision will prompt a pastor to pray for the healing anointing even when his congregation are not sickly, because he knows the sick will soon become part of his congregation. Pastors who lack vision will take to complaints, and the carrying of invisible protest placards when transferred to some other church. But those with vision will celebrate, knowing that God is about to demonstrate His awesomeness like He did to Elijah at the brook Cherith. While visionless leaders see man in any change that takes place, leaders with vision see God all the way. Another tool of a shepherd is leadership. He leads, not compels the sheep beside the still waters. Although you are to dominate situations, circumstances and forces of darkness according to Genesis 1:28, you are however not to be domineering in relation to fellow human beings. Unfortunately, just like in the secular, so also the church is dominated by bosses. The world is in dire need of leaders. The church too. Many who call themselves leaders are wolves in sheep skin. The fact that you occupy a position does not necessarily make you a leader. If you lack the qualities of an ideal leader, you are not one. A true leader has a special heart - a servant-heart. Most of our so -called pastors and leaders operate with the ‘I am the Boss’ mentality. This accounts for why so many things have gone wrong in the Body of Christ today. In today’s reading, the leader of leaders Himself stresses the need for those in authority to posses a servant-heart. For you to become a leader, you must have been under somebody else’s authority. You must emphasize service. A leader serves those under him but many in positions of authority today take advantage of those under them. Authority or respect is not forced but earned. If you adequately show care and concern for members in their time of need, you will earn their respect. If you serve them, they will reciprocate by honoring you. Are you a leader or a boss? How have you been serving those under you? A father who is a leader must serve his wife and children. He will not abandon all the home chores to them. You can become a leader: start from today. ACTION POINT: Ask for the servant-heart of Jesus Christ- the greatest leader who ever stepped the planet earth.