A Leader’s Calling
Last week, we had the HORA Youth Conference by the grace of God. We are hearing such wonderful feedback from many places. All glory to God-we give all praise and honor to Him.
After the HORA Conference ended, I began to ponder, “What is next?” I prayed about how God would lead our church, myself and all of you. And the word that came into my heart was “leader.” So starting today, and continuing until our 13th Anniversary Thankgiving Service in three weeks, I will be preaching on the theme of “Leadership.”
Being a leader does not necessarily mean someone who holds an official position. Of course, those who are given positions must be leaders, but even those who do not hold any title should still become leaders.
God promises a blessing to those who receive and obey His Word- that they will be “the head and not the tail” in this world (Deu 28:13-14). Being “the head” may refer to academic excellence, but in Hebrew, the word used is ‘rosh’, which means the one at the front-a leader. So then, what do we need in order to become the kind of leaders that God desires?
- We must hold our position
Where is the position of a leader? The Hebrew word used in 1 Sam 13:14 for “ruler” is ‘nagid’. It comes from the root word ‘nagad’, which means “to set before” or “to declare.” Therefore, a leader is someone who goes ahead, someone who stands at the front.
Coming to church should be done ahead of others. We should be the first in prayer, the first in giving, the first in volunteering and the first in serving the church. And we should be at the forefront in faith as well.
I bless all of you in the name of the Lord, that each one of us here today would become such leaders- those who go before others in all things.
However, is it easy to go ahead of others like this?
No, it’s not easy. Being at the front means you face external resistance, like wind resistance, and there is also pain and internal resistance. Our flesh and fleshly thoughts tempt us, saying, “Why go down such a difficult path? It’s easier and more comfortable to stay at the back.”
That is why we must constantly refine and sharpen ourselves. Think of a kitchen knife. At first, it cuts very well. But over time, the blade becomes dull. If you sharpen it, it becomes sharp and useful again. But if you don’t, it will eventually become a useless tool that cannot cut anything.
In the same way, those who stand at the front must sharpen themselves in order to keep that position and continue moving forward.
In 1 Tim 4:6-7, we are instructed to be nourished on the words of faith and sound doctrine. In 1 Time 4:5, we are told that we are sanctified by the Word of God and by prayer.
Dear brothers and sisters, I bless you in the name of the Lord that you may be refined through the Word and prayer, hold the position of leadership , and receive the blessing of becoming the head of the church and of the world.
- We Must Bear the Weaknesses of Others
Rom 15:1 tells us that we ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak. But what does it mean to “bear weaknesses”?
The Greek word used for “weaknesses” is ‘asthenemata’ that comes from the root word ‘astheneo’, meaning “to be poor, feeble, or lacking strength.” In other words, weaknesses refer to faults and mistakes that arise from poverty, frailty, or lack of ability. And a true leader is someone who can cover and carry these kinds of weaknesses. A leader should also be someone who can stop negative rumours.
How can we stop the spread of harmful gossip? We can do so by hearing it with our ears but not speaking it with our mouths. Gossip spreads because it enters one’s ear and exits through the mouth. But there is a place called an anechoic chamber, which is a room lined with sound absorbers that prevent echo or sound reflection. In that room, even the smallest sound does not resonate. In the same way, if one becomes spiritual anechoic chambers, bad rumours will disappear. The Bible speaks of this principle as well (Heb 4:2).
The Word of God bears fruit when it is united with faith. So, when it comes to the Word of God, we must receive and spread it with faith. But when it comes to harmful gossip, we should not unite it with faith- we should ignore it and refuse to pass it on. Then those words will fall to the ground and varnish, bearing no fruit.
So how can we cover the weaknesses of others? Romans 15:1 tells us that we must first be strong. The Greek word for “strong” is ‘dunatos’, which means “able, powerful, or capable.” This word is also used in Mark 9;23 and Matt 19:26. Therefore, to be strong means to be filled with faith in Jesus Christ. To be strong is to believe that while I may not be able, God can do all things.
When we see those who are weak, we may get frustrated because things don’t progress as quickly. But a leader should not be discouraged by what is visible. Instead, they must gain strength by seeing the invisible works of God-who is able to do all things. And they must be able to comfort the weak and cover their pain.
The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness (Rom 8:26-28). And as a result, even though we may be weak, the outcome is good. In the same way, when we pray for those who are weak among us, I believe that God will work so that the weak become strong, the small become great, and His good and perfect results will be revealed in our lives.
Conclusion: A Leader Must Build Up Others
(Rom 15:2)
Worldly leaders often take all the credit for good results and blame their team members when something goes wrong. That’s how people earn high grades in school or get promoted in the workplace. However, Bible tells us to build up others. The Greek word for “edification” is ‘oikodome’, which literally means “to build.” Be the kind of leader who helps the weak around you grow and flourish. Even when you hear negative words, be like a spiritual filter-absorbing the bad and only releasing prayer and encouragement.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 