Chapter 3 - Leaders Worthy Of Following

A nation (or church) will invariably end up with the kind of leadership it deserves. The Old Testament bears this out. The people who did not accept and follow the       God-ordained leadership ended up with profligate and foolish leaders.   Isaiah said, "And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest..." (Isa 24:2). 

"The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by doing what they prophesy, and my people love to have it  so" (Jer5:31 pph).   Notice that the problem is two-fold. It is a problem of LEADERSHIP (prophet and priest) and the PEOPLE. God doesn't hold just the leadership responsible; He also holds those "who love to have it so" responsible. God disciplines His people for following false leaders.  

God not only condemns those who sell in the Temple, but also those who buy. If I accept some church leader's offer to pray for me provided I give him an offering of money, I am as responsible as he for thinking I can purchase God's gifts for money (Acts 8:18-23). 

A. WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO DISCERN PROPER LEADERSHIP  

Since God holds all of us accountable, we need to be aware of our obligation to discern proper leadership that is worthy of our following.

 

1. A Church Or Nation Rises Or Falls By Leaders  

The prophet Jeremiah pointed out, "Many shepherds [church leaders] have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion underfoot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.  

"They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man lays it to heart'' (Jer 12:10,11). 

 

God was speaking through the prophet about the religious leadership of the nation of Israel. They had mistreated the people and brought destruction on the land.   The leadership you follow is going to govern what you are and who you are. You will rise or fall depending on the leadership you follow. 

2. Spiritual Growth Limited By Leadership

  

Church leader! Most people will not develop beyond the level of your spiritual maturity. 

The leadership role is given you by God to set the example for the people to follow.   In discussing leadership responsibilities with Timothy, Paul wrote, "The farmer must be the first to eat the fruit he raises" (2Tim 2:6 pph). 

 

This means that, before church leaders call the people to pray, they must be intercessors themselves. If they want the people to be dedicated, they must be dedicated. They must first eat the fruit of which they want the people to partake

 Israel Condemned To Wandering. Do you remember Israel in the wilderness?  It was the leaders that kept the people out of the Promised Land.   When God called them out of Egypt, He intended for them to enter Canaan forty days later. A fast-walking person could easily travel from Egypt to the Promised Land in a week — but it took them forty years. Why? Because of the leadership.  

A leader was chosen from each of the twelve tribes to go in to spy out the promised land and bring back a report (Num 13:2-17).  

Of the twelve leaders, only Joshua and Caleb came back with a good report. The other ten refused to believe that God would do what He had promised. Because the giants in the land appeared to be overwhelming, ten leaders gave an evil report — a report that canceled out God's promise. 

  

What result did their denial have upon their 2,500,000 followers? The Bible tells us, "Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put me to the test now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;   

"Surely they shall not see the land which I swore unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it" (Num 14:22,23).  

The leaders sealed the destiny of two and a half million people. They were condemned to wilderness wandering for forty years. God's plan to take His people onward into new and greater blessings was destroyed.  Do you see how important leadership is? Do you now realize how essential it is to know the signs and attributes of a leader worthy of following?  

B. HOW TO TELL GODLY LEADERS FROM WICKED LEADERS 

1. Do They Reach For Responsibility Or Authority?

  

A godly leader is one who seeks responsibility. A wicked leader is one who seeks authority.   Leaders who reach for responsibility may be followed, while those who reach for authority are to be avoided.  

Godly Leaders Seek Responsibility. The Apostle Paul writes, "But I hope to send Timothy shortly to you, so that I can be comforted by knowing that all is well with you. I have no other leader who has your welfare uppermost in his mind.   "For most put their own personal interests ahead of Jesus Christ's. But you know that Timothy, as a son with the father, has served with me in the gospel. Therefore I hope to send him to you as soon as I can'' (Phil 2:19-23 pph).  

Timothy had a sense of responsibility and cared for the people. He was not seeking his own interests, but those of the people of God. He was not seeking pompous titles and prestige, but an opportunity to be of service and take responsibility for God's work and His people.  

Some of the saddest words in the Bible are these of Paul, "I have no other leader who has your welfare uppermost in his mind. For most put their own personal interests ahead of Jesus Christ's."  How sad! Paul only had one church leader he could trust to put the welfare of the people ahead of his own personal interest. 

Wicked Leaders Seek Authority. The Apostle Peter admonishes leadership who might be tempted to reach for authority. "Don't think you are a lord over God's heritage, but be examples to the flock" (l Pet5:2,3pph).  

Peter's message is clear. Leadership is not lordship. Spiritual leaders are to willingly take responsibility for the flock of God as a shepherd would -for the sheep. "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the responsibility thereof; don't do this because you are forced to, do it willingly, not for the money you receive, but because you want to" (I Pet 5:2,3 pph).   

Church leaders are not appointed by God to exercise autocratic powers over the Church.

Two Examples: 

 

1) Diotrephes — Bad Leader. The Apostle John said, "I wrote unto the church; but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence, won't receive us." Here was a leader who was reaching for authority because of the prestige that went with it. So John warns, "Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, speaking against us with malicious words: and not being content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbids them that would.." (3 Jn 9,10).   Have you ever been forbidden to have fellowship with some of God's people in another church and were told that you would be disloyal if you did?  

Remember, our first loyalty belongs to God and His Word (the Bible). After that, we owe loyalty to all born-again believers, whether they be found in Catholic, Protestant or Pentecostal churches. We also owe loyalty to our church leaders. If they are not asking us to disobey God, or His Word, or to lessen our commitment to support the whole Body of Christ, we can follow them.  

If a leader tells you that you cannot have fellowship with anyone outside your church, you have encountered the "Diotrephes spirit." This is the spirit that won't receive other brethren. If you violate their restrictions on who you can have fellowship with, this kind of leader will try to excommunicate you from the church.  

What does John tell the Christians to do about this? "BELOVED, FOLLOW NOT THAT WHICH IS EVIL, but that which is good.... "  

You are under no obligation to follow an evil leader. When a leader starts grasping for authority, quit following and he will lose his leadership. Ask God to deal with him and bring him to repentance.   One of the ways God disciplines an erring leader is when the people stop following. "FOLLOW THAT WHICH IS GOOD... He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil has not seen God (3Jn 11).   

2) Demetrius — Good Leader. God always provides us with a choice of leadership in the Body of Christ. John commends Demetrius as a leader worthy of following. ' 'Demetrius hath good report of all men and of the truth itself..." (3Jn 12).   We have an option to follow good leadership and to reject evil leaders. Don't follow the leadership that is reaching for authority, seeking to dominate those around them. 

2. Do They Feed Or Fleece The Flock?  

A good leader is concerned about FEEDING the flock.   A bad leader is concerned about "FLEECING" the flock.  

a.   Godly Leaders Feed The Flock. Jeremiah was a prophet to church leaders. Jeremiah knew that God had promised, "...I will give you shepherds according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding" (Jer 3:15). If you are truly a church leader after God's heart, you will be concerned first of all with feeding the flock.   God continues His promise, " And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord" (Jer 23:3,4). 

Those leaders who feed their flocks are the ones we want to follow.  

b. Wicked Leaders Fleece The Flock. Jeremiah saw that problems arose as a result of errant leadership. He rebuked bad leaders. We are instructed to avoid those church leaders who mistreat the flock.

"And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd; and they became food to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.  

"My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea,  my flock was scattered upon all the face of  the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

'Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: As I live, saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock; therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord;  "Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, lam against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock: neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be food for them'' (Eze 34:1-10). 

 

A few years ago, I listened to a message from a well-known religious leader who was teaching the "proper" relationship between pastor and people. 

 

He believed that the people existed to serve the leadership. I remember his exact words, "When I need my house painted, I just call some of my flock in and they paint the house. When I need my fields harvested, I just call some of my flock and they harvest my rice."  

I found it difficult to believe that one who had known God's ways and walked in His paths could now say that the flock existed to serve him, rather than he existing to serve the flock.   God says loud and clear, "AVOID THAT KIND OF LEADERSHIP... those that fleece the flock, those that use the sheep to serve their own ends and needs."  

The prophet Micah shows how both the spiritual and the political leadership corrupt themselves. "They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money" (Mic 3:10,11).  

The leadership of Micah's day was serving for one thing — money. Watch out when money becomes the motivation and the preoccupation of leadership. The love of money is clearly the root of all evil and whenever that becomes the motive for wanting a leadership role, destruction will follow.  

The prophet further pointed out, ".. .yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say. Is not the Lord among us? No evil can come upon us. Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps..." (vss 11,12).   God tells us if we allow false leadership to remain in power, both leaders and people will be cast down into destruction. God sends judgment on whole nations for leadership errors.  

We are to refuse to follow leaders who fleece the sheep. "Beloved, follow not that which is evil... " (3Jn 11).  

c. Jesus Established Qualifications. Jesus established the qualifications for church leadership when He said, "But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees: and the wolf catches them, and scatters the sheep. The hireling flees, because he is a hireling, and cares not for the sheep" (John 10:12,13). 

What does the hireling care for? The hire (the money)! That's his only motivation, just what he can get out of it. He doesn't care for the sheep. As far as he is concerned, they are just "dumb sheep" to be taken advantage of. That's the attitude of the hireling.   The true shepherd cares for the sheep, is willing to lay his life down for their protection and go hungry, if necessary, to see that the sheep are fed. He never makes a decision on the basis of how much is in it for him, how much the salary is or how big the title may be.   This doesn't mean that the true and faithful shepherd has no right to receive financial support. The Scripture uses an allegory to teach us our responsibility to give financial support to true shepherds. "Do not muzzle the ox that treads out the corn. " As oxen work at the treadmill, the Bible gives them the right to eat some of the corn they are treading out.   By this. God teaches us that church leaders must be cared for financially. However, if an ox is eating everything he treads out, muzzling him or getting another ox might be the farmer's only alternative. The ox must tread out more than he consumes or the corn grower will go out of business. 

 

d. Satan Tempts Leaders. These things are difficult to say. But, we would be remiss if we did not point out that Satan tempts leadership with four things:   

1) Lust for money (covetousness),   

2) Lust for position,   

3) Lust for power (pride), and   

4) Lust for women (adultery).

 

It is only the grace of God that keeps leaders from falling prey to one or more of these sins.   A leader should regularly, carefully and prayerfully examine his motives. Then he should allow the Holy Spirit to shed light on areas that need repentance. Victory over these temptations will be the result. 

 

Satan will come in through the open door of false or impure motives and take a leader captive. This fact underscores the need to cover the leadership with much prayer and intercession.

  

We're instructed to pray for ALL in authority. This includes spiritual as well as secular leaders. "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions... be made for... all that are in authority..." (I Tim 2:1,2). 

3. Do They Gather Or Scatter The Flock? 

 

Follow leaders who gather the flock.   Avoid leaders who scatter the flock.  

a.     Godly Leaders Gather The Flock."Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand... He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall GATHER the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall GENTLY LEAD those that are with young" (Isa 40:10,11). 

 

That's the picture of the true shepherd — one who will gather the lambs. God wants us to follow those leaders who are devoted to gathering the flock. Take notice: The main attitude of those who gather is gentleness. God's true leaders are gentle people.  

David, the great shepherd of Israel, said, "Thy gentleness hath made me great" (Ps 18:35). Gentleness and meekness are not weakness.

 

Gentleness is the capacity to identify and empathize with those who are weak and needy in order to encourage and lift them up and help them become strong. 

It was said of our Lord Jesus, "A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench... " (Isa 42:3). Why?   He was a gentle Shepherd. If He saw someone who was bruised. He would heal him, not break him. If He saw one who was struggling to get a ministry going. He would come along and fan the smoking flax (which typifies sincere effort) until it began to bum brightly and clearly in truth and purity. 

ng them into full maturity.   There are many sincere people who are struggling to express their gifts. They are like smoking flax. Leadership should not quench them. Leaders should fan the smoking flax. This will turn it into a burning flame. That's what is meant by gentle leadership. That's the kind of shepherd who will gather the flock. 

 

b.      Wicked Leaders Scatter The Flock. Now, on the other hand, there are bad leaders who scatter the flock. This is what the Lord says of them, "Woe be unto the shepherds [pastors] that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture:... Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the shepherds [pastors] that feed my people;  

"Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord" (Jer 23:1,2).

Every true shepherd gathers — the false shepherd scatters, creates confusion, division and reaction. This kind of leader we must avoid. 

4. Do They Recognize God's Claim On The Sheep?  

A good leader recognizes God's claim to the sheep.   A bad leader claims the sheep for himself.  

Wicked Leaders Claim The Sheep For Themselves. The true shepherd recognizes God's claim to the sheep — the false shepherd makes his own claim on the sheep. He claims the sheep are his and issues a warning that they are his private property. 

There is absolutely no scripture to support this claim of false shepherds. Instead, the Bible states clearly that the sheep belong solely to God, and not to any under-shepherd.
 

Godly Leaders Know The Sheep Belong To God. The Bible states, "...we are HIS people, and the sheep of HIS pasture''(Ps 100:3). Again, "The Lord is MY shepherd... " (Ps 23:1).  

In a prophecy referring to our Lord Jesus, we read, "And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd... Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are MY people, saith the Lord God. And ye MY flock, the flock of MY pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God... " (Eze 34:23,30,31).  

God claims the sheep. They are His alone and He wants us to know that. They do not belong to the church leader or his denomination. They belong to God.   Paul reminds us, "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (I Cor 6:20). The principle is simple. Jesus bought us and we are not our own — we belong to Him; therefore we are to glorify God in our bodies and our spirits which now belong to Him. He has put His claim upon us and marked us with His brand. 

No one has the authority to put his brand on a sheep who is already branded.Paul writes, "I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus'' (Gal 6:17). Paul was glad that he didn't have anyone else's brand on him except the marks of the Lord Jesus. He wanted to be free from all, that he might be the servant of all (l Cor9:19). That's the way God wants His people.  

True shepherds are those who recognize God's claim. Those who wish to claim the sheep for their own possession are claiming property that belongs to God. That is lawlessness.

God Appoints Under-Shepherds. Make no mistake about this: it is certainly within the design of God that we have a church home with a good church leader.  

Further, we should faithfully attend the services and pray, work and give to advance the goals and objectives of that fellowship. 

God appoints under-shepherds (leaders) but we don't belong to them — we belong to the Chief Shepherd. Peter writes, "And when the CHIEF SHEPHERD [Jesus] shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away " (1 Pet 5:4).

Sheep Must Follow Their Chief Shepherd. As previously pointed out, the problem isn't just with theshepherds; it is also a problem with the sheep. The sheep frequently seek glory for themselves by identification with some prominent ministry. This prideful attitude breeds sectarianism and division.  Paul rebuked the believers in Corinth for this carnal-minded propensity to want a prideful identity with some prominent leader, "...there are contentions among you... every one of you saith, I am of Paul,... I of Apollos, I of Cephas [Peter]...Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? " (I Cor 1:11-13).  

Paul forcibly reminds the Corinthians that they belong to the One Who paid the price for them. "... was Paul crucified for you? " The answer is obvious. NO! Paul didn't die for them, Christ did. Hence, they belong to Him and should follow only Him.  

It is a sad commentary on the spiritual immaturity of anyone who would leave Christ to follow under-shepherds.  

Paul says to this church in Corinth, "....I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.   "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, lam of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?   "Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? So then, neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase" (I Cor 3:2-5,7).   Paul rebukes this propensity in men which seeks a prideful identity with leaders. He calls it carnality and immaturity.  

C. WE ARE GOD'S SHEEP  

The illustration which follows establishes in allegorical form the relationship between the Chief Shepherd and the sheep. The Lord Jesus is the Chief Shepherd and we are His sheep. (Remember, we are to avoid those who claim the sheep as their own.)

1. The Flock Must Be Gathered Together 

In Genesis we read the story of Jacob and his first meeting with Rachel, Laban's daughter.   "Jacob went over to the shepherds and asked them where they lived. 'At Haran,' they said. 'Do you know a fellow there named Laban, the son of Nahor? ' 'We sure do.' 'How is he?' 'He's well and prosperous. Look, there comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep.'   '"Why don't you water the flocks so they can get back to grazing?' Jacob asked. 'They'll be hungry if you stop so early in the day!' 'We don't roll away the stone [covering the well] and begin the watering until all the flocks and shepherds are gathered here,' they replied. As this conversation was going on, Rachel arrived with her father's sheep, for she was a shepherdess " (Gen 29:4-9 tlb). 

 

This is the story of Jacob's first journey when he encounters the shepherds and daughters of Laban who were tending the sheep which belonged to their father. Jacob then offered to help with the watering. They said that the flocks first had to be gathered together before they could be watered.  

Do you know what is keeping God's sheep from being watered? The under-shepherds are not bringing the flocks together. They are claiming the sheep for themselves. To follow the allegory, they are not recognizing Laban's (the father's) claim to the sheep.  

Rachel kept her father's sheep. Even though she was a shepherdess, she recognized that the sheep belonged to her father. Leaders would do well to do the same.   Until all the flocks are gathered together by the under-shepherds, in recognition of God's claim upon them, you will not see the water poured out. 

2. God Blesses When There Is Unity  

Whenever you find God's flock being gathered together in one place, you will find God's blessing upon them. When you go to meetings where the people come together from many church groups, that are being conducted under the guidance of good leadership, you will find the presence and favor of God.  

When God began a fresh outpouring of His Spirit in 1966-67, it was characterized by Protestant and Catholic people coming together. In those gatherings the people met in neutral locations, and God poured out His Spirit in showers of blessings. 

 

Of late, that is not happening so much. The walls of separation are being raised again, and alienation of believers is taking place because leaders are afraid to have their people ministered to outside their denomination. 

Unless we reject this trend and repent of this denominationalizing of the revival movement, we will see God lift His blessings completely from the churches. God will   by-pass us and start over again unless we repent of our carnality, immaturity and divisive tendencies (making idols of our denominations). God will raise up another people if we do not come together in unity and love. God wants to bring all the sheep together so He can roll away the stone and give them water. 

 

Recognize God's claim on the sheep. Recognize that His banner over us is love. Recognize that when we come together under His leadership. He will cause spiritual and numerical growth to take place by the abundance of His blessings.

  

When Jacob was dying, he gave this prophecy: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a law-giver from between his feet, until Shiloh [another name for Jesus] come;and unto him shall the gathering of the people be" (Gen 49:10). When we gather to Him, the stone is rolled away and waters are made available, and the sheep's thirst is quenched

  

Perhaps Gideon of old said it best: "The men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son and thy son's son also; for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian; And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: THE LORD SHALL. RULE OVER YOU" (Judg 8:22,23). 

 

Gideon's attitude is the one every leader should emulate. That's the right attitude. Let's follow that kind of leadership. We are God's sheep — bought with a price; we are not our own, or anyone else's — but God's. 

  

Source: The Shepherd’s Staff