HEY YOUNG LEADER
HOW TO BE A LEADER OF LEADERS WHILE SERVING A LEADER
It’s decision time.
Are you a leader or are you a follower?
Are you one of the crowd or are you a culture setter?
Chances are, as a young leader, you have been given some degree of responsibility while also being part of a team and being led by someone ‘above’ you. Am I right? And you want to know how to be true to your gifting and how to cultivate it. Am I right?
First thing you need to understand is that you can actually lead those above you, as well as those who have been charged to your care.
Here’s how:
1. LEAD IN EVERY SETTING
– JOSEPH UNDER POTIPHAR & PHARAOH
After being sold by his brothers, Joseph ended up a slave in Potiphar’s house. He served in such a way that he became the head servant in charge of all Potiphar’s possessions. Awesome! Then Potiphar’s wife framed him and the kid ended up in prison. No problem. Joseph served in there too becoming an assistant guard. He served so well in fact that Pharaoh got wind of him and Joseph ended up in Pharaoh’s house. You guessed it, serving so well that he found himself one day as the Prime Minister of the Nation of Egypt.
Young Leader, no matter what the setting, start to lead.
Young Leader, leading is serving.
Lead all the time! You are either a leader or you’re not. This means there’s no down time. You lead (serve) everywhere you are.
In conversation be the one who sets a positive, up-lifting, faith-filled tone. At work lead the other staff by working with diligence and honouring your boss. In study have a high standard of conduct and work ethic, hand your assignments in on time. Set the atmosphere of the meetings you’re in by supporting the leader, boss or teacher. You’re either a leader or you’re one of the crowd. If you’re a leader, then lead – in every setting.
2. NAIL BAD CULTURE
– DAVID UNDER SAUL
David had every reason to resent Saul. He was being hunted like a wild animal, falsely accused and threatened at every turn. David had served King Saul faithfully and selflessly, only to be met with impulsive outburst of hate and irrational jealousy.
At times David’s friends advised him to fight back, to prove his innocence and take back what was being robbed from him. On several occasions it even appeared as though God had miraculously provided an opportunity for David to vindicate himself. But he never did.
In First Samuel chapter 26 David spared Saul’s life and corrected his friends for thinking maliciously against the King (who was hunting them).
"Abishai said, "This is the moment! God has put your enemy in your grasp. Let me nail him to the ground with his spear. One hit will do it, believe me; I won't need a second!"
But David said to Abishai, "Don't you dare hurt him! Who could lay a hand on God's anointed and even think of getting away with it?"
He went on, "As God lives, either God will strike him, or his time will come and he'll die in bed, or he'll fall in battle, but God forbid that I should lay a finger on God's anointed. Now, grab the spear at his head and the water jug and let's get out of here."" 1 Sam 26: 8-11
Young Leader, smash bad culture.
Remember, what you walk past you approve of.
When everyone around you is calling foul, make sure you keep your leadership clout and keep the culture right. You're not a victim. God's got you, and your future - it's ok. Don't allow the small thinking of others to water down who you are. You're a legend. You have integrity. You know your God and you trust Him to make a way.
Call them out on their bad attitudes and remind them of God's standard.
3. STEP OUT FROM YOUR PEERS
- CALEB UNDER MOSES
Caleb was the most unlikely candidate for the role of the spies. When Moses picked Caleb to represent one of the tribes of Israel I can guarantee you that the whole company of people would have questioned the decision. Caleb was from the bloodline of Esau, not a full Hebrew, making him a ring-in, an outsider. The other tribes would have despised this ring-in and his family. Caleb was also twice as old as the other 11 spies chosen. And to top it off his name back then translated as ‘dog’. Not a whole lot of good prospects for the poor guy.
And yet, under the inspiration of God, Moses chose Caleb as one of the spies into Canaan – the Promised Land.
So the 12 of them went in to spy out the land and came back with their report. Ten of them were freaking out spreading fears through the whole camp. Only Caleb and Joshua brought a favorable report. Caleb insisted that God would go before them and fulfill the promise He’d given. He stood before millions of disgruntled, fearful and scornful faces. Calling for their silence he pleaded with them to find faith and courage, to overlook the obvious challenges and to ignore the negative report.
He was shunned and shouted down.
But God noticed him.
“But my servant Caleb—this is a different story. He has a different spirit; he follows me passionately. I’ll bring him into the land that he scouted and his children will inherit it. Numbers 14: 26
Becoming a leader demands you to step out from your peers.
Stop blending in.
Stop following suit.
Stop being one of the crowd.
Young Leader, step out from the crowd - there’s a promise to receive.
Young Leader, whose opinion do you care for anyway?
4. SHAKE OFF COMPLACENCY
– TIMOTHY UNDER PAUL
Paul, who was Saul, the great Roman crusader appointed by religious leaders of the day to persecute Christians, converted miraculously to Christianity and then evangelized much of the world we know today. He planted Churches and developed leaders. Incredible! One of his Spiritual sons was Timothy who went on to run the Church of Ephesus – a large church with several locations. Some say he was only between the ages of 18 and 25 when Paul gave him this enormous responsibility.
It is astounding to me that Paul had to write to his young student in the following way:
"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News". 2 Tim 1: 6-8
Becoming a leader means learning the art of shaking off complacency.
No matter how young or old, a leader will develop the self-discipline of focus and sustained revelation.
They will not allow seasons in life to change the level of their giving or passion.
They know their own tendencies and are quick to arrest the downward spirals that none of us are exempt from.
