Words Have Meaning

2024 – A Year of Holy Spirit Empowerment

Understanding that so few leaders finish well and the insights to hedge this reality is what this post is about. 

In comparative studies of those leaders that have finished well what are the insights that can be learned. To begin, listen to the writer of Hebrews 13:7-8 NLT; “Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” [Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Heb 13:7–8). Tyndale House Publishers.}

Here are five (5) insights that can be learned and implemented from leaders who have finished well.

#1 – Perspective – We need to have a lifetime perspective on ministry. Effective ministers view present ministry in terms of a lifetime perspective. That perspective is gained from the Hebrews 13:7-8 passage. 

#2 – Renewal – Special moments of intimacy with God, Challenges from God, new vision from God and affirmation from God both in personhood and ministry will occur repeatedly to a growing leader.

#3 – Disciplines – Leaders need discipline of all kinds – especially spiritual discipline. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NLT; Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. [Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (1 Co 9:24–27). Tyndale House Publishers.]

#4 – Learning Posture – The single most important antidote to plateauing is a well-developed learning posture. Such a posture is also one of the major ways through which God gives vision.

#5  – Mentoring – Leaders who finish will have 10-15 significant people of which the leader has made a significant deposit of development and growth in not only knowledge, but in power.

Take your study deeper. Do these five (5) insights challenge your current way of thinking and influencing? Journal what God is saying to you at this moment. What is your first step to change your current posture of learning and influencing?