THE CHRISTIAN LEADER

The Christian leader

John 10:11 – “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life to the Sheep”

                                                                                                                                                           

A sheep is an animal seen as one of the dumbest animal in the world. It is disorganized, dis- oriented, confused, frightened and incapable of finding its way back to the flock when it goes astray. It is unable to ward off predators and is easily helpless without a shepherd.

Therefore, Jesus calling us sheep implies that without Him as a shepherd, we are helpless. There is no finer leader than our Lord Jesus Christ.

Works of a Shepherd

The shepherd is one that:

·     Feeds, Leads, Nurtures, Comforts, Corrects and Protects the sheep.

Likewise the Shepherd of the Lord’s flock should shepherd by modeling godliness and righteousness on his own life and encouraging others to follow his example as Paul stated in 1Corinthian 11:1. The Christian leader is one who follows Jesus Christ and encourages others to follow Him as well.

Comfort

As Christians in the world today, we suffer a lot of injuries to our spirit and we need the leader of compassion, love and patience towards us and to encourage us with the word of God. A Christian leader should there have the character and spirit of comforting as the shepherd cuddles and comforts the broken and wounded sheep.

Protector

The lax shepherd always looses sheep to the predator who prowls around or sometimes among the flock. The predators are those who tend to love the sheep through false doctrine, dismissing the bible as old-fashioned, insufficient, unclear, not the only way to the truth and you can have control over your own destiny in life. We have been warned by the good shepherd, Jesus Christ in Matthew 7:15. A good leader must protect his flock from these false teachings by feeding them with the right bible-based pasture (word of God).

Nourisher

The Christian leader is also a nourisher of the sheep. The ultimate sheep food is the word of God. As the leader leads the flock to the right pasture he ensures also the right growth, strength and flourishing of the sheep. The word of God is the only diet that can produce healthy Christians. As a Christian leader, how much of the food do you know yourself? Do you taste it daily to know it is good for the sheep? Do you feed them the right diet of quantity and quality that the always yearn for more? Is your food making them weak, strong or mere truants? A leader should also correctly divide the word of God.  Can you correctly handle the word of God and be able to use it for 2Timothy 3:16-17.

Discipline

Just as the Shepherd uses his hook to pull a wandering sheep back into the flock, so also the Christian leader should discipline those in his care when they go astray with a gentle spirit and not in hostility (Galatians 6:1). A leader must correct according to scriptural principles not man’s principles. Correction or discipline is not a sweet/pleasant experience for both parties, but a leader who fails in this area is not showing love for those in his care (Proverb 3:12).

Negatives

The negatives of shepherding should be erased from the leadership style of the good shepherd. These negatives give the shepherd a false and superiority outlook.   Some of these styles include:

·       Pharisee-ism and Sadducee-ism i.e. very hypocritical. Always believing in the religious acts rather than the holy character to please God rather than men.

·       Being covetous and extorting to increase their possessions (2Peter 2:2-3)

·       Creating fear and dismay/ panic among the flock.

·       Nicholaitan-ism i.e  always suppressing. That without them you (the sheep) are nothing. But the leader should not forget that it is a responsibility to create leaders as well as encourage the gifts in the church.

Leader

Under God’s plan, those who want to be leader or lead the flock should:

·       Be humble not proud

·       Be in ministry not management

·       Not be governing monarchs

·       Be servants and not be served

·       Not be slick celebrities but laboring servants.

·       Learn sacrifice, devotion, submission and lowliness.

Where are the leaders who once took care of the church as a shepherd and his flock? Where are the leaders who prayed and fasted day and night out of burden for the flock of God? Where are the leaders who visited rebuked their wandering flock out of love? Where are the leaders who toiled day and night to make leaders out of their flock? Are you the leader who loves to work for mammon rather than God? The day of accountability is at hand. Where is the flock God left in your care? Have they increased hundred fold or negative 100 fold? Are you the leader God wants you to be? Are you the leader with that kind of anguish for God’s church?

Jesus Christ is coming, and the day for accountability is near. Are you ready to give a good account of your leadership? Amen!