The Leaders Call

The Leaders Call

(Take the exam: Quiz-Call.txt)

This teaching will help you realize the grave responsibility that comes with being a leader in the church.

To be a leader in the body of Christ (The Church) is a very important task. A person should never become a leader of God's people if they are not called to do so. Being a spiritual leader of Christ's Body is not a "job" it is a "calling."

This teaching will help you realize the grave responsibility that comes with being a leader in the church.

"Spiritual Leaders"

I. Ephe 4:2 (NIV) Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.4 There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called--5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.8 This is why it [8] Or God}says:"When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." [8] Psalm 68:18}9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions[9] Or the depths of the earth}?10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

A. God gave different leadership gifts to the church for one reason...to help perfect the saints and to equip the saints for the works of God's ministry and glory. There is no other purpose for leadership.

1. Scripture, both Old and New Testaments give examples of the purpose and function of leadership giftings.

a. Old Testament examples were for our edification and learning so that we could see the spiritual truths that the examples portrayed.

b. Where did leadership come from and what are the New Testament realities today?

Old Testament New Testament

High Priest (Lev. 16:31) Jesus (Heb. 2:17)

Aaronic Priesthood (Ex. 28:1-3) Five-Fold Ministries (Eph. 4:11-12, 1 Tim. 3:1-13)

Levitcal Priesthood (Num. 3:5-10) All Believers (Rev. 1:6)

B. There are individuals within the Church who are chosen to lead others. However, with leadership comes greater responsibility. Hebr 13:17 (NIV) Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

C. In the local church there are different kinds of leaders so that function follows purpose, purpose glorifies God, and everyone in the church grows in faith and service to God.

1. Leaders within the local church are picked and appointed by godly men who have themselves been ordained by God to give direction and must give an account to God for the flowing of His will. Titu 1:5 (NIV) The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint [5] Or ordain} elders in every town, as I directed you.6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

1Pet 5:1 (NIV) To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

II. Leaders have very serious responsibility and God demands a higher standard of them.

A. In the Old Testament, God demanded nothing less than perfection from those who would be a leader of His people. We will see the law and the spirit of truth that God demands from His leaders. Levi 21:16 (NIV) The LORD said to Moses,17 "Say to Aaron: `For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God.18 No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed;19 no man with a crippled foot or hand,20 or who is hunchbacked or dwarfed, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles.21 No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect is to come near to present the offerings made to the LORD by fire. He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God.22 He may eat the most holy food of his God, as well as the holy food;23 yet because of his defect, he must not go near the curtain or approach the altar, and so desecrate my sanctuary. I am the LORD, who makes them holy.[23] Or who sanctifies them; or who sets them apart as holy}'"24 So Moses told this to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.

1. Law: “no blind man” Spiritual truth: A leader without spiritual vision is useless in leading others (Matth. 15:12-14)

2. Law: “no lame man” Spiritual truth: A leader who cannot walk the route cannot leader others on it. (Gal. 5:16-26)

3. Law: “no disfigured or deformed man” Spiritual truth: A leader who has distorted the image of God does not reflect the Lords glory and if the Lord cannot be seen in our countenance where can He be revealed? (Col. 1:27, 2 Cor. 3:18)

4. Law: “no man crippled with foot or hand (this included a limb to short or to long” Spiritual truth: Anything that is out of proportion call attention to itself…a leader with to much flesh (carnality) cannot lead because we are called to call attention to God and not ourselves…a leader with a spiritual injury that he will not let be healed through repentance, forgiveness and God’s grace cannot help others to be healed in those same areas of life…a leader must have strong spiritual dexterity to handle the many aspects of ministry or he will be of no use to others. (1 Cor. 3:1-4)

5. Law: “no hunchback man” Spiritual truth: A leader who has not or will not bear the burden of his office cannot help others get rid of their burdens. (1 Pet. 5:6-7)

6. Law: “no dwarfed man” Spiritual truth: A leader who has not or will not aspire to the stature of Christ cannot aspire others to do so. (Eph. 4:13)

A leader who is not mature in Christ will not bring others to maturity…maturity in Christ is more valuable than talent and ability!

7. Law: “no man with an eye defect” Spiritual truth: A leader with blurred spiritual vision will not see properly which can cause others he leads to step into the same pit falls and problems along life’s path, or can cause them to focus on the same blurred areas of ministry or topics. (Matth. 6:23)

8. Law: “no man with scurvy or festering or running sores” Spiritual truth: (scurvy is caused by improper diet) A leader who does not feed upon Christ and His word cannot lead others to feed upon them. (Matth. 4:4)

A leader with a festering problem or a running conflict cannot help others get rid of their problems and conflicts.

9. Law: “no man with damaged testicles or made a eunuch” Spiritual truth: A leader who will not or cannot reproduce (bring others to Christ) cannot help others do the same> (John 15:16)

A leader who is not bringing forth spiritual fruit corrupts others.

III. Exod 29:1 (NIV) "This is what you are to do to consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: Take a young bull and two rams without defect.

Exod 29:20 (NIV) Slaughter it, take some of its blood and put it on the lobes of the right ears of Aaron and his sons, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. Then sprinkle blood against the altar on all sides.21 And take some of the blood on the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle it on Aaron and his garments and on his sons and their garments. Then he and his sons and their garments will be consecrated.

Every leader must have his whole being dedicated and consecrated to the Lordship of Christ.

A. His hearing…only listing to God. (the blood on the ear)

B. His works…those things he does for God. (the blood on the thumb)

C. His walk…where he goes for God. (the blood on the toe)

IV. Ezek 34:2 (NIV) "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: `This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

Every leader must strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the injured, bring back the strays, and search for the lost.

(Take the exam: Quiz-Call.txt)