As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and the power that is now available to the believer because of the resurrection, here’s a question to consider: How is the resurrection of our Lord empowering your work as a leader?
I imagine most leaders would say that resurrection power is central to their leadership. But does their life and work as leader bear out this claim? If Christ’s resurrection power is at work in their ministry, why does their life and ministry provide little evidence of that reality?
Followers are not maturing in their walk with Jesus. Lives of defeat rather than victory appear to be the norm. Infighting, gossiping, envy and strife are evident. Too many people live only “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof…” (2 Tim.3:5, KJV).
Paul tells us in Romans 8:11, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.” (Rom.8:11. NLT). That is to say, the same Spirit who was at work on that first Easter Sunday over 2,000 years ago now lives in you. He dwells in you to empower you to lead as God’s child and servant for the purposes of God’s Kingdom.
The challenge faced by most leaders in ministry today is the pressure to lead like the world does, relying on the skills, innovations, and ideas of humankind rather than depending on and submitting all these things to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
Nothing is inherently wrong with using skills, innovations and ideas of humankind for these are given to us by God. The problem comes when we depend on those more than we depend on God. And utter dependence on God will certainly change the way we lead.
In today’s fast-paced world with instant everything, too many leaders have lost the ability or are not interested in waiting on the Lord. Isaiah tells us, “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31, KJV). Leaders are exhausted, overwhelmed and overworked, therefore many have neither the time nor the patience to seek and wait on the Lord.
Many great books have been written to help leaders to lead successfully and more efficiently. Leaders can find countless websites dedicated to leadership growth and development. Blogs and podcasts are dedicated to the exclusive purpose of helping leaders to be at their best. Numerous assessments are available to help identify the strengths and gifts to help leaders succeed.
Yet with all the resources available to leaders in ministry, if your ministry is not intentionally driven by the power of the resurrection, your ministry will be built on your own power. And as is all too familiar, we continue to see leaders fail and leave the ministry because their leadership is self-powered, not resurrection-powered.
A leadership driven by resurrection power will be one centered in and on Jesus. It will be a servant leadership, which seeks first to serve rather than to be served. It is a leadership that is not driven by the need for personal power, control over others, nor is it driven by the need to boost one’s ego.
Resurrection-driven leadership will always be Christ-centered leadership. And Christ-centered leadership begins and ends with total dependence on the resurrected Christ!
Is your leadership resurrection-powered, or is it driven by human power? Perhaps it is time to give your leadership some renewed power. Perhaps it is time to surrender you leadership to the power of the resurrected Christ.
If you would like help in achieving your goals as a leader or in any area of your life, call us at 208-880-0307 or email us at errol@errolcarrim.com to schedule a complimentary coaching session. To read Errol’s other posts, visit Christ-Centered Life Coaching.
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