Our ability to be a spiritual leader (not a leader after the world) will be seen according to our revelation of God. It is revelation not education, it is revelation not gifts or abilities, it is revelation not looks and fame where our authority in God to do things for Him is found. Revelation of God is the signature of His approval in our lives. The costs of being a spiritual leader are many and the ones with greater revelation will bear the stings and stones of those who have a more limited revelation. This is true all throughout the Bible. One of the greatest things Christians can do to learn more about God is to read their Bible. The Bible is and has always been the best commentary on the Bible. Now I do not know about you, but if the surveys are true most Christians spend less than 10 minutes a week reading their Bible. Un-mistakable there is a price we will pay to know God. In God nothing is free, nothing. No one need aspire to leadership in the work of God who is not prepared to pay a price greater than his contemporaries and colleagues are willing to pay. True spiritual leadership always exacts a heavy toll on the whole man and his relationships, and the more effective the leadership is, the higher the price to be paid. This fact was taught by the Lord when He indicated we can not save others and our self at the same time. Spiritual power in Spiritual leadership is the outpouring of spiritual life, our life. And those who desire to BECOME (a life long process of us allowing God to work in our lives through His dealings and judgments) a spiritual leader must pay the price and seek the authority and power (both) from God.
The night before Jesus was crucified He asked the disciples, "Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" (Mark 10:38) and of course they glibly and oh so blindly (as we all often do), “We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 40But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. 41And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.” (Mark 10:39-41) What a glorious moment, Jesus asking the disciples if they could follow in His footsteps, but please notice what happened, they got offended. Often when God speaks to us His words will offend us. This is one of the many edges to the sword of truth. As a matter of fact it is God’s words that cause us to get angry, presumptive, and wrathful. Our reaction is to protect our selfish, self-life, but God’s intention is to kill our selfishness and self-life, and guess what? We get to choose who wins. Now I will be the first to admit I am not there yet, but God took me three hours outside of Suceava, Romania in over two feet of snow to a special needs orphanage to teach me this lesson. I was devastated, oh blessed devastation. Speaking from observing and/or participating for over 47 years most problems with church leadership is offense. The deacons get offended with the pastor or vise versa. Or the people get offended with the leadership of the local Body or vise versa. God must be powerful to get anything done through us. Did you know if there is no offense in us we cannot be offended? Offense happens in us when some ones words or actions touch the offense in us. But, my friend this offense in us is not bad if we can learn to allow God to work it out of us. How do we know we have offense in us? Well . . . out of our mouth speaks out heart. Getting offended again and again is an outward sign (open rebellion to God) of not allowing God to work in us. I hear men of God say they get offended again and again (I shutter) and think nothing of it. At the first sigh of offense in us we must give God full reign of our heart and allow Him to purge our thoughts changing our heart condition. Always remember, at the heart of every issue is always an issue of our heart.
The offense of the disciples was not Jesus’ idea of spiritual leadership. Jesus set a new standard for the disciple to use to establish the Body of Christ, not the church. Never forget the church is not some building we try so hard to groom and make beautiful or some denomination we try so hard to win people to, but we the people are the church. And judgment always starts at the house of the Lord, us! Jesus called the disciples and said, “Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship (leadership) over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, (leadership in the Body of Christ) shall be servant (slave) of all. 45For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45) This my friend is not leadership as the world knows it with marketing, strategic projection and plans, or even with heavy board and committee administration. I have found the least people at the top more people at the bottom can be served. But Jesus goes very deep to the central core of the disciple’s offense by addressing their heart condition where true spiritual leadership always resides, “whosoever of you will be the chiefest, (leadership in the church) shall be servant (slave) of all.” Not too many leaders in the Body of Christ want to be a slave, but according to Jesus (and not Dave Stahl) this is the requirement to be a spiritual leader. And in the local Body the pastor is the lead slave on the chain-gang; if not, they have forfeited the call of God in their life. When I pastored in Germany I sought out who I believed to be the least in our local Body; a German lady who was mentally ill and daily took her on in service to her, my family, our local Body, and God.
The cost and price of the true spiritual leader are many. I would hope you could list more, but I would like to share some thoughts from a teaching outline (without the margin notes I have paid dearly for) God gave me many years ago from some thoughts from a book by J. Oswald Sanders. I have had the pleasure of teaching this outline in many Bible Schools and churches around the world. And yes, I have experienced these costs time and time again, even this week. No servant of God who has never experienced at least some of these costs are not worth their weight in salt.
A. Self-Sacrifice. Self-sacrifice is part of the price that must be daily paid. A cross stands in the way of spiritual leadership, a cross upon which the leader must consent to be impaled. Heaven's demands are absolute. "He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." (1 John 3:16) The degree to which we allow the cross of Christ to work in us will be the measure in which the resurrection life of Christ can be manifested through us in spiritual leadership. Remember, scars are the authentic marks of faithful discipleship and true spiritual leadership.
B. Loneliness. By its nature, the lot of a spiritual leader must be a lonely one. He must always be ahead of his followers. Though he must be the friendliest of men, there are areas of life in which he must be prepared to tread a lonely path. Human nature craves company, and it’s only natural to wish to share with others the heavy burdens of responsibility and care. Moses paid the price for his leadership, alone on the mount, and alone in the plain; the crushing loneliness of misunderstanding, criticism, and impugning motives. And times have not changed, there is nothing new under the sun.
C. Fatigue. "The world is run by tired men." The ever increasing demands placed on a spiritual leader drain the nervous resources and wears down the most robust physique. But, the true spiritual leader knows where to go for renewal. Paul knew this secret well, "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:15-16) If you have never learned this lesson you are not operating in God’s strength and ability. Only when we allow God to strengthen us in the inward parts will be renewed.
D. Criticism. There is nothing else that so kills the efficiency, capability, and initiative of a person or directs one’s attention toward their inabilities as criticism. There are two forms of the word criticism. Yet, it is where we get the word critique a most valuable tool in our lives if we ever are going to grow up in God and face the truth. I find the deeper the writings the more destructive criticism the writer gets, but that is okay. To be perfectly honest I relish criticism, (both forms) because I find they both make me a better Believer and man proving to me and approving what is in my heart. So please do not stop helping me to become better for the glory of God.
1. Destructive Criticism. It chips away at his self-respect and undermines his confidence in his ability to cope with his responsibilities. No person is exempt from criticism, and his humility will nowhere be seen more clearly than in the manner in which he accepts and reacts. The Godly way to deal with destructive criticism is, "A soft answer turneth away wrath." (Proverbs 15:1) A soft word in return always unarms the angry, jealous, and offended.
2. Constructive Criticism. An essential tool in our lives needed for spiritual growth and development that sets one toward self-examination, heart-searching, and prayer which always leads to a deeper sense of utter dependence in God. We must move from destructive to constructive criticism if we expect the kingdom of God to dwell within us. When someone criticisms us we must not get offended, but examine our self before their words and see if God is speaking to us. We must never run their words though our education, religious, and personal bias, but open our heart for true reflection so that God can deal and judge in our lives, now that is Godly strength and ability.
E. Rejection. "No man is ever fully accepted until he has, first of all been utterly rejected. The rugged path of utter rejection is trodden not only uncomplainingly, but with rejoicing. We often times will go through the fire and pruning, but this the divinely appointed way to the wealthy place in God. God's way is full of limitations and restrictions leading us in a very narrow way, but ends in a broad place in God, full of life. Man's way is broad without limitations and restrictions ends up in a very narrow way that leads to ruin, loss, and death. "Often the crowd does not recognize a spiritual leader until they are gone and then they build a monument for him with the stones they threw at him in life."
F. Pressure and Perplexity. God treats the spiritual leader as a mature adult, leaving more and more to his spiritual discernment and giving fewer sensible and tangible evidences of His guidance than in earlier years. The longer we walk with the Lord, the less we will hear His voice and maybe feel His presence. This perplexity adds to the inevitable pressures incidental to any responsible office. But do not worry, when the time comes to act, God always responds to His servant who trusts in Him.
G. Cost to Others. There is often a very real cost that has to be paid by persons other than the one entrusted with leadership. Indeed, it is they who sometimes pay the heavier price. Right or wrong they follow the direction they are being led.
The night before Jesus was crucified He asked the disciples, "Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" (Mark 10:38) and of course they glibly and oh so blindly (as we all often do), “We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: 40But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. 41And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.” (Mark 10:39-41) What a glorious moment, Jesus asking the disciples if they could follow in His footsteps, but please notice what happened, they got offended. Often when God speaks to us His words will offend us. This is one of the many edges to the sword of truth. As a matter of fact it is God’s words that cause us to get angry, presumptive, and wrathful. Our reaction is to protect our selfish, self-life, but God’s intention is to kill our selfishness and self-life, and guess what? We get to choose who wins. Now I will be the first to admit I am not there yet, but God took me three hours outside of Suceava, Romania in over two feet of snow to a special needs orphanage to teach me this lesson. I was devastated, oh blessed devastation. Speaking from observing and/or participating for over 47 years most problems with church leadership is offense. The deacons get offended with the pastor or vise versa. Or the people get offended with the leadership of the local Body or vise versa. God must be powerful to get anything done through us. Did you know if there is no offense in us we cannot be offended? Offense happens in us when some ones words or actions touch the offense in us. But, my friend this offense in us is not bad if we can learn to allow God to work it out of us. How do we know we have offense in us? Well . . . out of our mouth speaks out heart. Getting offended again and again is an outward sign (open rebellion to God) of not allowing God to work in us. I hear men of God say they get offended again and again (I shutter) and think nothing of it. At the first sigh of offense in us we must give God full reign of our heart and allow Him to purge our thoughts changing our heart condition. Always remember, at the heart of every issue is always an issue of our heart.
The offense of the disciples was not Jesus’ idea of spiritual leadership. Jesus set a new standard for the disciple to use to establish the Body of Christ, not the church. Never forget the church is not some building we try so hard to groom and make beautiful or some denomination we try so hard to win people to, but we the people are the church. And judgment always starts at the house of the Lord, us! Jesus called the disciples and said, “Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship (leadership) over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, (leadership in the Body of Christ) shall be servant (slave) of all. 45For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45) This my friend is not leadership as the world knows it with marketing, strategic projection and plans, or even with heavy board and committee administration. I have found the least people at the top more people at the bottom can be served. But Jesus goes very deep to the central core of the disciple’s offense by addressing their heart condition where true spiritual leadership always resides, “whosoever of you will be the chiefest, (leadership in the church) shall be servant (slave) of all.” Not too many leaders in the Body of Christ want to be a slave, but according to Jesus (and not Dave Stahl) this is the requirement to be a spiritual leader. And in the local Body the pastor is the lead slave on the chain-gang; if not, they have forfeited the call of God in their life. When I pastored in Germany I sought out who I believed to be the least in our local Body; a German lady who was mentally ill and daily took her on in service to her, my family, our local Body, and God.
The cost and price of the true spiritual leader are many. I would hope you could list more, but I would like to share some thoughts from a teaching outline (without the margin notes I have paid dearly for) God gave me many years ago from some thoughts from a book by J. Oswald Sanders. I have had the pleasure of teaching this outline in many Bible Schools and churches around the world. And yes, I have experienced these costs time and time again, even this week. No servant of God who has never experienced at least some of these costs are not worth their weight in salt.
A. Self-Sacrifice. Self-sacrifice is part of the price that must be daily paid. A cross stands in the way of spiritual leadership, a cross upon which the leader must consent to be impaled. Heaven's demands are absolute. "He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." (1 John 3:16) The degree to which we allow the cross of Christ to work in us will be the measure in which the resurrection life of Christ can be manifested through us in spiritual leadership. Remember, scars are the authentic marks of faithful discipleship and true spiritual leadership.
B. Loneliness. By its nature, the lot of a spiritual leader must be a lonely one. He must always be ahead of his followers. Though he must be the friendliest of men, there are areas of life in which he must be prepared to tread a lonely path. Human nature craves company, and it’s only natural to wish to share with others the heavy burdens of responsibility and care. Moses paid the price for his leadership, alone on the mount, and alone in the plain; the crushing loneliness of misunderstanding, criticism, and impugning motives. And times have not changed, there is nothing new under the sun.
C. Fatigue. "The world is run by tired men." The ever increasing demands placed on a spiritual leader drain the nervous resources and wears down the most robust physique. But, the true spiritual leader knows where to go for renewal. Paul knew this secret well, "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:15-16) If you have never learned this lesson you are not operating in God’s strength and ability. Only when we allow God to strengthen us in the inward parts will be renewed.
D. Criticism. There is nothing else that so kills the efficiency, capability, and initiative of a person or directs one’s attention toward their inabilities as criticism. There are two forms of the word criticism. Yet, it is where we get the word critique a most valuable tool in our lives if we ever are going to grow up in God and face the truth. I find the deeper the writings the more destructive criticism the writer gets, but that is okay. To be perfectly honest I relish criticism, (both forms) because I find they both make me a better Believer and man proving to me and approving what is in my heart. So please do not stop helping me to become better for the glory of God.
1. Destructive Criticism. It chips away at his self-respect and undermines his confidence in his ability to cope with his responsibilities. No person is exempt from criticism, and his humility will nowhere be seen more clearly than in the manner in which he accepts and reacts. The Godly way to deal with destructive criticism is, "A soft answer turneth away wrath." (Proverbs 15:1) A soft word in return always unarms the angry, jealous, and offended.
2. Constructive Criticism. An essential tool in our lives needed for spiritual growth and development that sets one toward self-examination, heart-searching, and prayer which always leads to a deeper sense of utter dependence in God. We must move from destructive to constructive criticism if we expect the kingdom of God to dwell within us. When someone criticisms us we must not get offended, but examine our self before their words and see if God is speaking to us. We must never run their words though our education, religious, and personal bias, but open our heart for true reflection so that God can deal and judge in our lives, now that is Godly strength and ability.
E. Rejection. "No man is ever fully accepted until he has, first of all been utterly rejected. The rugged path of utter rejection is trodden not only uncomplainingly, but with rejoicing. We often times will go through the fire and pruning, but this the divinely appointed way to the wealthy place in God. God's way is full of limitations and restrictions leading us in a very narrow way, but ends in a broad place in God, full of life. Man's way is broad without limitations and restrictions ends up in a very narrow way that leads to ruin, loss, and death. "Often the crowd does not recognize a spiritual leader until they are gone and then they build a monument for him with the stones they threw at him in life."
F. Pressure and Perplexity. God treats the spiritual leader as a mature adult, leaving more and more to his spiritual discernment and giving fewer sensible and tangible evidences of His guidance than in earlier years. The longer we walk with the Lord, the less we will hear His voice and maybe feel His presence. This perplexity adds to the inevitable pressures incidental to any responsible office. But do not worry, when the time comes to act, God always responds to His servant who trusts in Him.
G. Cost to Others. There is often a very real cost that has to be paid by persons other than the one entrusted with leadership. Indeed, it is they who sometimes pay the heavier price. Right or wrong they follow the direction they are being led.
H. Reaction to Adverse Opinion. Paul set before us a valuable pattern in this regard. "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10) To Paul the voice of man was faint because his ear was tuned to the louder voice of God's appraisal. He was fearless of man's judgment because he was conscious he stood before a higher tribunal. If we too truly desire to be a spiritual leader we must never be a man pleaser. Our words must stand for something, even if it hurts feelings or offends. Our services must never be bought. Jesus paid a great price for the Gospel message and we must never cheapen it by compromising what we believe to be true for money or favor. Lastly, remember when we justify our selves before men we willfully make them our judge. Now I am not talking about spiritual authority (God also gave me a teaching outline on spiritual authority that I have paid for dearly and have taught around the world, we know spiritual authority), if someone over you in authority (especially spiritual authority) wants a piece of you, you better listen and take heed, but just because someone wants you to justify yourself, well this is man pleasing something we must never do if we desire to be a servant (slave) of God. We must function and operate like Peter and John, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20) This too is our choice and just like all things in God there is a price we and others will pay for our choice. Written by David Stahl
2 comments:
"Un-mistakable there is a price we will pay to know God. In God nothing is free, nothing."
I thought salvation was free? Rom 5:8, Eph 2:8,9; Titus 3:5
Dear Anonymous,
Thank you very much for your comment. True for us salvation is free, but it cost Jesus His life. First he had to empty Himself of all of His heavenly glory to put on humanity and then suffer even the loss of His communion with the Father, a very expensive and costly price indeed. David Stahl sends
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