Posts tagged: how to become leader

Make People Obey You Gladly

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. – John 21:15

Jesus was able to make people follow His instructions. He told Peter to feed the flock of God and that is exactly what he did. If you call yourself a leader, ask yourself, “Do people carry out my instructions?” Why are some people obeyed and some others ignored? Develop the art of making people obey your instructions. There are several things you can do.

Nine Ways to Make People obey You Gladly

1. Do not give unreasonable instructions.
People rebel against wicked and unreasonable men.

2. Teach your followers why certain things have to be done.
Make people see that your instructions are for their own good. When people understand why they are doing something, they often do it better!

3. Explain instructions in detail so that everyone understands the instructions.
Sometimes people do not obey simply because they did not understand what you said.

4. Show people that you are not partial or partisan.

5. Let the people see that you obey instructions yourself.
Many rebellious people do not realize that they are teaching their followers to be rebellious by their very actions. The Centurion who sent for Jesus illustrated this principle beautifully.

For I also am a man set under authority, havin gunder me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. – Luke 7:8

This man was enumerating the instructions which he had given and which were being obeyed. But he was careful to let us know that he himself was under authority. In other words, he himself was obeying instructions. The army officer often has to lead people to their deaths. How does he make young men sacrifice their lives on the frightening fields of war? By leading the charge himself when he’s told to do so. If you cannot make people gladly do things they naturally do not like doing, then you are not a leader. Develop this art of making people obey you gladly and people will always wonder about the team who work with you and who love to sacrifice and to serve.

6. Get rid of complaining and murmuring individuals.
Such people poison the atmosphere and make everyone feel that they are into a bad thing. It is very important to maintain a cheerful spirit in the workplace. Systematically eradicate complainers and murmurers from your system.

7. Correct wrong attitudes even when they are not fully developed into full-blown disobedience or rebellion.

8. Punish people who disobey.
Your organization cannot be established unless people believe that judgment will fall when the wrong thing is done. Punishment is a good thing because it establishes the land. Many disorganized offices are the way they are because no one is ever dismissed. Warnings are issued but no one ever dares to carry out the threat. Let everyone see that when you break the rules, the rules will break you!

When you are fair, people will believe in the laws and obey you gladly. If they feel that one rule applies to some people and another rule to other special people, they will rebel against your instructions.

The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it. – Proverbs 29:4

9. Reward people accordingly.

Help the People Around You to Accomplish Great Things with Their Lives

And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him,and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: And Simon he surnamed Peter; And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canannite, And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house. – Mark 3:13-19

Notice this list of men who were going nowhere until they met Jesus. Jesus led these people to accomplish great feats. He led them until they were anointed and became preachers. Through the influence of Jesus, they laid the foundations of the Christian Church with their very lives. Most of them died in the process of laying the foundation of the Church. The leadership of Jesus had turned nonentities into great achievers.

If God has called you to lead, do not see it as just YOU accomplishing great things. See it as you helping others to accomplish great things for God and for themselves. That is a true leader’s heart. Leadership stems from the heart. The Bible teaches us that the heart is the footing for all the things that men do.

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. – Proverbs 4:23

No one can really train you to be a leader. It comes from your heart! It comes by having the right heart! When you have the right heart, you do the right things. Until you have the heart of a leader, you will not be a true leader. If you are the head of a church or organization and you try to suppress the achievements of others, I assure you that you do not have a true leader’s heart. Jesus wanted His disciples to do greater things than He himself had done (John 14:12).

Four Goals a Leader Should Have for His Followers

1. Aim for your followers to do well spiritually.

Your desire should be for the people you lead to prosper spiritually.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. – 3 John 4

2. Aim for your followers to do well financially.

Jesus thought about the financial state of His followers. He wanted them to have houses, lands and enough money. Many people don’t know that Jesus actually promised that His followers would have these things.

And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. – Mark 10:29,30

3. Aim for your followers to be physically, socially and maritally healthy.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. – 3 John 2

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hithertohave ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. – John 16:23,24

Why did Jesus want the joy of His followers to be full? Because a good leader wants his followers to be happy in every aspect of their lives.

4. Aim for your followers to fulfil their ministry.

Every father wants his sons and daughters to fulfil their ministry. If you are a leader, your vision and passion is not for yourself but for the ones you lead.

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. – 2 Timothy 4:5

Do Not Be a Lifeless Leader

Have a Conviction!

The Apostle Paul was a man of conviction. He was a man with a strong belief in God and he was ready to die for it. At one point he said openly, “I am ready to die.”

For I am now ready to be offered… – 2 Timothy 4:6

If you really consider yourself a leader, you must have a conviction about something! A leader without a conviction is a lifeless personality.

People who have convictions rule the world. Suicide bombers who attack innocent citizens have the conviction that they are doing something right. They also believe that they will go to Heaven for that act of brutality. Men of conviction are difficult to contain. You cannot put them in a box. You cannot tie them down. You cannot keep them still. You cannot de-motivate them.

I firmly believe that it is conviction that many lifeless leaders lack.

Why do I do the things I do? Because I have a conviction. I believe in Heaven and Hell. I have a conviction that one day Christ will reward me for all my labour on this earth. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He rose from the dead. I believe that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. I do not just give mental assent to these facts. I believe them with all my heart.

A leader without a conviction is a lifeless, speech-reading and emotionless puppet. Nobody takes any notice of him. Nobody believes his words. Nobody follows him.

Do you sometimes wonder why people are not following you? It may be because you are not a man of conviction. A man of conviction is prepared to sacrifice many things for his conviction.

When I see people who claim to be called by God, but are not prepared to sacrifice anything for their calling, I wonder if they are really called. A calling is a conviction to work for the Lord.

Are you a real leader? Decide to be a man of conviction. Conviction of what, you may ask? Have conviction about the things God has called you to do. Have a conviction about the things you are supposed to accomplish in your lifetime. Have a conviction about the things that God has told you.

Live by these convictions! Be prepared to give up anything so that you can fulfil your conviction.

Wait for Your Season

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. – Psalm 1:3

All of God’s blessings have their season. Church growth has a season. Promotion has a season. Personal prosperity has a season. A leader knows the blessings he desires will not come overnight. He is prepared to stay at it until the breakthrough and promotion arrive. If you cannot wait for your God-given promotion, you are not a leader. I have had to wait many years for many things.

If you cannot wait for the mangoes on your tree to be ripe, you are never going to enjoy them. You will always pluck them off before they arrive. Mind you, unripe mangoes are very different from ripe ones.

I know of a pastor who bought a very expensive car. For several months, he had to use the entire income of the church to pay off the debt. This caused ripples in the church. Funds were raised in a desperate attempt to pay for this expensive car. In the end, a blessing turned into a controversy.

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. – Ecclesiastes 3:1,11

In His time, God makes all things beautiful. Are you a leader? Never forget that a leader is someone who is prepared to wait for his season.

Maintain Personal Integrity

Integrity is wholeness. It means being totally or completely sound. To have personal integrity means you are upright, sincere, loyal and pure. You need personal integrity to be a good leader. Your integrity is shattered by lies and deception. The reason why very few of us believe in politicians is because their integrity has been greatly compromised by the deceptions of past political leaders.

Give People Hope

Do you wonder why nobody stays in your company or church for very long? Perhaps there is not much hope for the future. Perhaps they cannot see good things in store for them in the future.

Six Ways to Give People Hope

1. Make promises and keep them.

Every time you break a promise, you erode people’s trust in you. It is very difficult to make people trust you. When people do not trust you they will not follow you. The whole of Jesus’ ministry was centred around a promise for the future.

…I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. – John 14:2,3

Jesus’ disciples were made to believe that there were good things in store for them in the future. They knew that Jesus would keep His promise so they had hope.

2. Preach the Word of God.

The Word of God is full of hope. Anyone who preaches the Word of God will not minister discouragement, disappointment and disillusionment.

3. Speak more about rewards than punishment.

The disciples had hope. They had hope in the glory and the rewards of Heaven. This was a great source of motivation to them. You must understand that Jesus’ disciples were so highly motivated that they had left their secular jobs for the ministry. They eventually died for their beliefs.

4. Show positive examples that inspire hope.

In your business or church, you must accept the fact that people need to be motivated. The key to having motivated people is “hope for the future”. That is why Jesus often spoke of Heaven and the rewards that await His faithful servants.

If you want to inspire pilots for instance, show them how many pilots have successfully flown for years and eventually retired. That is the sort of example that will give hope. If you want to inspire pastors, show them examples of ministers who have made it in ministry.

5. Avoid speaking about examples that bring about discouragement and depression.

If people see how badly others have fared, they will be discouraged. They will say to themselves, “This is how I will end up one day.” If you are an airline pilot, there is no point in discussing all the terrifying air crashes in aviation history.

6. Build permanent structures.

People have more hope in permanent things. It is natural to gravitate towards something that is more permanent. Every pastor who puts up a building, inspires hope in his congregation.

Never Use Power Without Wisdom or Wisdom Without Power!

A leader is someone who employs wisdom as an essential tool of life. Christian leaders have the task of combining the Spirit of God and the wisdom of God. That is the will of God. Every Christian leader must learn to achieve a balance between the power and the wisdom.

But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. – 1 Corinthians 1:24

I have highlighted the words “power” and “wisdom”. That is what I want you to get as you read this Article. Christ Jesus is not only power to us. He is power and wisdom. When you are able to effectively combine the power and the wisdom of God, you will begin to experience success as a leader. Remember, one without the other is not enough.

Interact with the Great and Small

A good leader will interact with two main groups of people: the great (humanly speaking) and the small (humanly speaking). The great people are the nobles, the rich, the influential and powerful people of society. There are not many of such people in the church.

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: – 1 Corinthians 1:26

The “small” speaks of the poor, the down and out, and the people of little material substance.

Four Reasons Why It Is Important to Relate with the Great

1. Jesus interacted with great people.

Jesus interacted with Nicodemus privately. Jesus honoured several invitations to dine with influential and powerful people. These interactions were so important that they were recorded in the Bible.

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night… – John 3:1,2

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: – Matthew 27:57

2. Great people have their role to play in the church.

Some of them will play vital roles for the church such as Joseph of Arimathaea, who helped to bury the body of Jesus. This was an important fulfilment of Scripture.

When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph…And when Joseph had taken the body [of Jesus], he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb,which he had hewn out in the rock… – Matthew 27:57,59,60

3. Great people are used by God to finance the Gospel.

If you think that everyone will contribute the same amount of money to the work of God, then you are ignorant and inexperienced. God raises up certain people so that the income of some churches is far more than others. This creates a necessary balance so that the work of God can go on among both the poor and the rich.

As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. – 2 Corinthians 8:15

4. The contribution of one influential person can result in the salvation of an entire nation.

Esther’s strategic relationship with the king was the one factor that saved the entire nation of Israel from being wiped out by Haman. Her uncle reminded her that she had been strategically placed for the salvation of an entire nation.

…who knoweth whether thou art come to thekingdom for such a time as this? –Esther 4:14

Three Reasons Why It Is Important to Relate with the Poor

1. The principal calling of Christ was to the poor.

When Jesus spoke of the anointing on His life He was specific about whom His anointing would affect. He specifically said that He had been anointed to preach the Gospel to poor people. We are Christ’s body and that same anointing is upon us.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. – Luke 4:18,19

2. Most people in the world are poor, therefore our ministries must reach the poor.

If we are to bear much fruit, a lot of the fruit will be among the poor people.

3. The sign of a higher anointing is that we are ministering to the poor.

Today, most ministers are excited if they are able to visit with the parliament members of a country. They gladly take pictures with members and publish them in their social media. There is nothing wrong with this. However, when Jesus was asked whether the great messianic ministry had arrived on earth, he replied that poor people have the Gospel preached to them. It takes a higher anointing to minister to poor people.

And said unto him, Art thou he that should come,or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. – Matthew 11:3-5

Three Reasons Why It Is Difficult to Minister to the Poor

1. The poor cannot pay for the Gospel.

Almost every ministry to poor people must be pre-financed. Books must be paid for, crusades must be paid for, salaries must be paid by others, etc.

2. The poor do not understand the Gospel.

Poor people have many problems. Their reasoning is affected by the many problems that surround them. Poor people are often frustrated and desperate. They cannot understand why God will give Heaven to us when things are so bad on earth. Can He not first make some changes on earth? How can there be a solution to my problems through Bible study?

3. The poor sometimes see you as the cause of their problems.

In my dealings with poor people I have learnt that many of them actually see their help as the source of their problems. Many poor people are also too proud to receive help.

Five Types of People You Cannot Help

1. People who do not accept the biblical solution to their problems.

2. People who do not think that they have problems.

3. People who feel to proud to receive help.

4. People who think that you are their problem.

5. People who think that you are the cause of their problems.

If you believe that you are called to the ministry, then you are called to leadership. Paul wrote to Timothy and told him to do certain things to make him a good leader. There are good ministers and bad ministers. Decide to be a good minister!

…thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ… – 1 Timothy 4:6

If you are going to be effective in the ministry, you must study leadership. Good things do not drop on you like ripe mangoes from a tree. You have to study and discover all that there is to learn.

It is obvious that there are not many good leaders around. If there were, you and I would be able to point them out without much difficulty! I believe that there are many reasons why there are few outstanding leaders, but let us start by looking at why people do not want to be leaders in the first place!

Five Reasons Why People Avoid Leadership Responsibilities

1. Many people do not know that they are leaders.

They do not know because no one has told them so! They don’t even know that they have the ability to lead. Some people think that only a few people are born to lead. I do not believe that few people are born to lead. I believe that many people are born with the ability to lead but they are not prepared to pay the price to become leaders.

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. – Matthew 20:16

For many are called, but few are chosen. –Matthew 22:14

The Bible teaches us that many are called to service. Anyone who yields himself to the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ becomes an automatic leader. A minister of the Gospel has to demonstrate leadership qualities and abilities all the time. If you are called to His service, then you are called to be a leader. You cannot avoid it!

2. People fear that they will be accused and hated.

Leaders are often accused of being ambitious. They are often accused of having bad motives.

Every good leader has many enemies. The nature of good leadership is that it charts out a course and maintains the direction. This means that you may cross over and hurt certain people.

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. – Luke 14:27

Becoming a leader will cost you your valued life. I have very little private life left. Most people know a lot of things about me.

I am praised by some and criticized by others.

This is the lot of a leader. This is why some people cut off from leadership. But Jesus said that you should take up the cross and follow Him. Christianity involves sacrifice. It is worth becoming a leader within the church.

3. People do not want to end up disgraced and hated as many prominent leaders have.

There are many leaders who have ended up in disgrace after taking up the mantle of leadership. Others have experienced terrible hurts and had bitter experiences. Some have been crucified by the people they led.

I have watched how leaders have been rewarded with evil after many years of service. I have seen several (and I mean several) churches throw out their pastor after he had led them for many years. I have seen pastors ridiculed and humiliated by members they have ministered to for years and at great expense. I have watched pastors being rejected over issues like cars and houses. How sad! We all know how Jesus was crucified after three and a half years of ministry. That was His reward for being a shining light to His people.

Who then would like to be a leader in such an environment? When you study the fate of the leaders around, it is only natural that people cut off from leadership and choose a quiet life of peace and anonymity.

I am urging you to take up the call to leadership in the church. It is worth it! The challenges are very similar to secular leadership. The accusations are often the same. But it is worth it! Secular leaders work for human rewards like money and fame. But these are perishable rewards. When you work for Jesus you receive an everlasting reward.

…Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. – 1 Corinthians 9:25

Looking unto Jesus…who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. – Hebrews 12:2,3

4. People think that they are not good enough to be leaders.

Some people think they are not morally up to the standard of leadership. Others think that they have no leadership qualities. Others feel that they have too many personal problems to become leaders. They cannot imagine being saddled with other people’s problems.

I have good news for you today! God does not work with perfect people. He works with willing people. He looks at the heart and He understands your human weakness. If Jesus had looked for perfection, I can assure you that none of the disciples would have qualified for leadership positions in the church. Take Peter for example; he betrayed the Lord Jesus three times just a few weeks before he was ordained. He swore and cursed as though he had received no training. Yet, the Lord used him.

Take the other disciples, who argued over their positions in Heaven. “Who would be the greatest?” they asked.

And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. – Luke 22:24

After arguing over who would be the greatest, they all deserted Christ when He needed them most. Would you trust such people? Would you use such people? However, the Lord did!

You do not have to be perfect to become a leader. If that were the case, then there would be no leaders in the world or in the church. This does not mean that there are no standards. God expects the highest standards of character and morality. And yet, He works with imperfect people. God looks at the heart. Make sure that your heart is right and God will be able to use you.

…for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. – 1 Samuel 16:7

5. Most people are too selfish to be leaders.

Such people care only about themselves. They are happy to have salvation. They are happy to have the Holy Spirit. They are happy to have prosperity.

However, they couldn’t care less about anybody else.

“Once I am okay,” they think, “Everything is okay.” That is a spirit of selfishness.

A selfish person cannot be bothered to go through any training or sacrifice to become a leader. He will not expend any energy to help another soul.

If Christ had decided to stay in the comfort of Heaven, where would you be today? He rose out of the grave and you cannot even get out of bed. I rebuke that spirit of laziness and selfishness!