GOD’S CHOSEN LEADERS HAVE THE SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP AND THE HEART OF A SHEPHERD
SCRIPTURE:
“Moses said to the Lord, 16 “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” 18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership,[k] and lay your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.” 22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.” (Numbers 27:15—23)
OBSERVATION:
Leadership has been thrown around loosely and applied inappropriately in many circles and communities. Everyone is a potential leader. We can all lead with specific abilities that equal the task ahead. However, we differ in ability, capacity, creativity, perspective, and risk-taking. Not everyone is the same. But to serve as a leader among God’s people is quite another level.
Moses was about to depart and ask the Lord for someone who could take his place in the community. Moses did not pick the leader of God’s people. Moses did not look to whom he had in mind but to whom God had in mind. God’s leaders are not picked on human qualifications. God sometimes choose leaders that does not have a resume passable by CEO and other organization. God sometimes promotes people that do not fit leadership criteria in many organizations. He picked David from among his brothers, not because he was a fine soldier or warrior. He did not fit the military kind of leader, but he led a nation.
Principle I learned today from Moses when looking for a leader;
- Pray to God first to APPOINT a leader for His community. Whomever God APPOINT, HE ANNOINTS.
- A LEADER IS SOMEONE WHO GOES BEFORE THE PEOPLE. He leads them out and leads them back in. This leader is to be a SHEPHERD leader and Not a driven leader.
- God Appointed Joshua. It wasn’t because he had a great resume, but BECAUSE THE SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP WAS UPON HIM.
- A LEADER OF GOD’S PEOPLE MUST BE PRAYED OVER AND COMMISSION in the presence of the entire assembly and servants of the Lord. No one is to appoint themselves as leaders.
- The leader must work in synch with the Spiritual leaders and surround himself with those who seek the Lord and his behalf.
This is a very serious way of choosing leaders for the church. God chooses leaders not according to human traditions but according to his appointment and anointment upon a person with the SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP WHO WILL SHEPHERD GOD’S PEOPLE well and lead them out and where they need to be. I am reminded to look for leaders with the SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP and those who will SHEPHERD GOD’S PEOPLE WELL.
APPLICATION:
I am learning to be the leader God meant for me to be for his people. Though my pastor and the church elders had laid their hands on me and acknowledged me before the congregation before we came to start this church, I must still walk into the appointment and the anointment that my pastor and elders prayed for. I will continue to strive to have a strong spirit of leadership to guide me and the heart of a shepherd to lead God’s people. I want to develop a heart of a shepherd after Jesus. I will continue to learn to have a shepherd’s heart and make it my pursuit as a leader of God’s people.
PRAYER:
Jesus, I pray that your anointing and appointing remain a part of my life as a family leader and your house leader. I ask that you continue to anoint the spirit of a leader upon me and give me your heart as a Shepherd to lead my family and your people well. Teach me to walk in my anointing as a leader. I thank you, my Shepherd, for guiding me daily. Amen!
