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It is vital in this age for the Church to find leaders who are examples to, and can be followed by, the flock.
I strongly believe that the most important characteristic of a true leader is the love that he carries for the flock. It reminds me of the conversation that Jesus had with Peter in John 21:15-17, " When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "do you love me?' He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus was reminding Peter of the call of God on his life even though he had gone back to fishing for a living. The time had come to take care of the New Testament Church, and Jesus wanted to be assured that Peter would really love and care for the flock that would be entrusted to him. Three times Jesus asked Peter, " Do you truly love me? " When Peter replied positively, Jesus instructed him to take care of the flock. He told him three times to " feed" or " take care of my sheep !" Jesus wanted to make sure that Peter would care for the flock in the same way that he would love Him. To feed the sheep is to care for, to love, to watch over, to nurture, to instruct, to lead them with the true heart of Jesus, and to want the very best for them.
This episode is a clear revelation that Jesus is looking for men who love His people more than men who just work for the Kingdom. It is not only a matter of teaching, or preaching to, the people of God. It is the heart that a leader carries for the people of God that matters most. In the book of Jeremiah, Ch. 23:1-4 , God spoke severely to the shepherds who do not care and love His people in the way they should. "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!" declares the LORD. Therefore this is what the LORD, the God of Israel , says to the shepherds who tend my people: "Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done," declares the LORD. "I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.
Unfortunately there are leaders who are more interested in building their own kingdoms than truly caring for, and loving, the flock. Some are even using the people of God for their own benefit. They are more interested in what the Christians put in the offering basket than in their daily lives.
How can a pastor, a prophet, an apostle, or an evangelist be fruitful in the Ministry if he does not truly love the people of God? All his preaching will not bear the right fruits.
There is a scripture that has always fascinated me; Paul says: " Follow me as I am a follower of Christ. " Here is a leader who leads by example! It is a great responsibility to ask people to follow you if you are not sure that you can bring them to the correct place! Paul's life must have been a model example for others to follow. Certainly he was leading them on the right road. This declaration was not a matter of what he was preaching, but rather, of a way of life.
Paul preached the cross of Christ and he was also a broken man who had been dealt with by God in all aspects of his life. He was determined to run the race to become more like Christ every day. That gave him the assurance to ask the Christians to follow him. It would lead them to the road of the cross where he, himself, walked as an example.
Look at Philippians 3:10-17; " I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
These verses are self explanatory and they show the heart and desire of the apostle Paul for his life and ministry. His life was an identification with the sufferings, the death and the resurrection of Christ. He had to make sure that he himself was living that life, because it was the life he was encouraging Christians to live. Paul was a man broken by the Lord, who carried the heart of Christ to the people. His primary objective was that they would finish the race in an honourable manner, worthy of the Lord. His life was given to the Lord and to the people of God. He was a true model and a true example of leadership.
I believe that God is ready to form this calibre of leaders for His people today. It is how much we are prepared to be formed, and moulded, by God. For that, a return to the cross is needed. A true revelation, of what identification with Christ, in His death, His sufferings, and His resurrection means, is essential for the restoration of a new generation of leaders in the body of Christ.
Christians want models and examples to follow. They desire to feel the broken hearts of their leaders.
Miki Hardy
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