LESSON 4

NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:" (1 Corinthians 2:1-4)

1. Leadership is influence, the ability of one person to influence others. One can lead others only to the extent that they can influence them to follow their lead.

2. Spiritual leadership is the blending of God-given natural and spiritual qualities. A God-made leader.

3. The spiritual leader influences others not by the power of his own personality alone, but that personality irradiated, interpenetrated, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Because he permits the Holy Spirit undisputed control of his life, the Spirit's power can flow unhindered through him to others.

4. Spiritual leadership is a matter of superior spiritual power, and that can never be self-generated. There is no such thing as a self-made spiritual leader.

5. Natural leadership and spiritual leadership have many points of similarity, but there are some respects in which they may be antithetical. That is seen when some of their dominant characteristics are set over against one another.

NATURAL SPIRITUAL

Self-confident Confident in God

Knows men Also knows God

Makes own decisions Seeks to find God's will

Ambitious Self-effacing

Originates own methods Follow God's methods

Enjoys commanding others Delights to obey God

Independent God-dependent

Motivated by personal Motivated by love for considerations God and man