Leaders Are Blessed With The Gift Of Spiritual Insight
Scriptural Reference: Luke 10 vs 1-16
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them,
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.
“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you.
Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say,
‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.
“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”
Jesus spent time with the apostles. He also taught the Seventy as they were sent out two by two. His dramatic plan had three progressive acts or stages:
Leaders must first do before they demand. They cannot direct that others do what they themselves will not do, but they lead by example and should train others by taking them along as they work. Jesus had no lecture hall, and He gave no written tests.
He had only one command: “Follow Me.” He certified His authority by walking on water, healing the sick, and raising the dead.
Faith is based upon historical facts; not guesswork. We need someone who is truly a leader to lead us. To climb up, we need a ladderbut that is not enough. The ladder must lean upon the right wall. Those with Jesus marveled, “What kind of a man is this?”He did, and they watched.
Matthew 8 vs 27
But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
This was Jesus' approach with the apostles and with the Seventy.
Jesus allowed mistakes, even failures. These men were on their own. Jesus did not interfere or coach them.
He was not possessive and did not monitor their every move but trusted them. He sent them out as lambs among wolves and went out without pay and without titles, yet those who rejected them were harshly condemned.
These disciples returned with great joy, having learned that even demons were subject to Christ's name. Jesus also rejoiced and praised God.
Jesus became who we are so that we might become who He is. He came to teach us how to do it. He left us with the Great Commission. Although He ascended to glory, He empowers us: “...lo, I am With you always, even to the end of the age.”
A leader first does what he asks others to do. No one can take a church farther than he himself has gone.
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A growing church demands growing leaders who are lifelong learners.
That is why healthy churches reproduce themselves. Leaders reproduce leaders, not just followers. Paul was reproduced in Timothy, who was charged to reproduce his leadership in others.
Christianity is both a doctrine and a way of life.
