Inception of Envisioned Leader

INCEPTION of ENVISIONED LEADERS

Dear Father,

You are the Great Shepherd of the Flock. You are the only Eternal Father and Rabbi. Please help Your people to know the eternal wisdom of leadership.

In Jesus Christ’s Name,

Amen

OUTLINE

1.     The Phantom Leader

2.     The Marrow of the Phantom Leader

A.    Fear of Man

B.    The Mammon Antichrist

C.    The Devil

3.     The Birth of a True Leader

A.    The Inpouring of the Vision

B.    Transformation

C.    The Followers

D.    Culmination under the Will of the Triune Godhead

1.     The Phantom Leader

There is a central tendency among mankind to lead and to be led. Mankind finds utmost inner satisfaction in being a leader or in being led by a worthy leader. Sometimes there is a combination of these two desires in a man. For those who seek to lead, the world has several resources to offer to perfect the likeness of a leader: the “phantom leader”. One of the most powerful resources is a vision or inspiration present within the hearts of aspiring leaders. These visions are often centered around political, monetary, familial, social, and moralistic causes: the condemned wisdom of the world. Another resource is the written word of leadership education which describes axioms, traits, rhetoric, features, body language, etiquette, etc. of leaders. Aspiring leaders may read and learn from such writings to become better leaders and perfect their phantom techniques of persuasion, crowd-pleasing, goal-accomplishing, and charm. Finally another resource is the self-derived learned behavior and character of the phantom leader learned from personal experience, imitation of other men, or from the devil himself masquerading as the angel of light. 

 ¹³ For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. 2 Cor 11

          These phantom leaders are present throughout every arena of society including the government, competitive environments, finance, corporations, churches, charitable organizations, knowledge banks, education, health, and science. The masses seek their insight and direction. The masses are influenced by numerous phantom leaders driven by the darkened understanding, depraved mind, hardness of heart, and self-seeking nature of mankind. Their labor and words are altogether useless. Both the phantom leaders and their followers will surely meet their end in God’s timing.

I, the LORD, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this desert; here they will die.”Num 14:35

WHEN WE SAW THESE PHANTOM LEADERS, THEIR DYNAMIC PASSION, STAUNCH RHETORIC, AND MAGNETIC CHARM WAS UNDENIABLE, BUT THE ESSENCE OF TRUE LEADERSHIP WAS ABSENT FROM WITHIN THEM.

2.     The Marrow of the Phantom Leader

 ²⁵ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. Matt 23

A.   The Fear of Man

Many aspiring leaders have lost their chances because of their inconfidence arising from their fear of men. Certainly those among mankind who seek to follow a great leader are unwilling to follow a leader who is either incapable or inconfident. The masses look for both competency and passionate confidence in their leader(s). The phantom leader is also given to the fear of man. Many have perfected the technique of disguising their fear of man. They are able to appear bold and self-renewing, and yet in the core of their being, they have been driven by the fear of man. The fear of man may refer to the literal fear of men: opponents, rivals, competitors… The fear of man may also refer to the fear of the rejection, disrespect, disapproval, condemnation, and judgment of man. In any case, the fear of man disqualifies a man from true leadership. This fear of man is not in the marrow of the essence of the true leader.

I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. I Sam 15:24b

B.    The Mammon Antichrist

The phantom leader worships the antichrist of mammon. Mammon, μαμωνᾶς, refers to money, riches, material goods, pleasures of the corruptible flesh, victories in the vain battles of men, sensuality, and earthly comfort. All of the ideals of the phantom leader are contained in the overarching category of mammon. His vision will last as long as the mammon domain to which he had aspired endures. The idol of mammon is exceedingly present in our world and makes haughty claims within the territory of human souls, minds, and hearts. Her power is persuasive, alluring, commanding, sucking, draining. Indeed the Sovereign God is breaking off her power over the chosen ones… her reign has almost deceived the elect.

¹ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. ²With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”Rev 17

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.Phil 3:19

C.    The Devil

In some cases, the visions of phantom leaders are given to them by demonic influence. Examples include the entering of Satan into Judas Iscariot and the control of the “lawless one” by the devil.

²⁵ Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,²⁶ and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.2 Tim 2

THE ORIGIN, ESSENCE, AND DESTINY OF PHANTOM LEADERS ARE CONDEMNED

3.     The Birth of a True Leader

The eternal essence of the true leader comes from the conception of his vision and purpose. He is not born of the resources mentioned above: earthly visions, leadership education, or self/demon-derived purpose. His nature as a leader, his strength, his purpose, his character, his perseverance, his willpower and zeal, come from a vision that is poured into him from above. He becomes: “the envisioned leader”.

A.   The Inpouring of the Vision

The inpouring of the vision comes from God who has chosen to reveal Himself to this man. He has heard the Words of the Gospel and his granted faith accompanies his hearing of the Words of Christ. His faith in the Word of God is accompanied by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

⁸ When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: ⁹ in regard to sin, because men do not believe in Me; ¹⁰ in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see Me no longer; ¹¹ and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. ¹² “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. ¹³ But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.¹⁴ He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is mine and making it known to You. ¹⁵ All that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is Mine and make it known to you. John 16

          As the glory of God is continually revealed to him, the eternal purpose of the everlasting God is poured into him. The result of the inpouring of the Vision is that this man is made a leader from the core. No longer does he require leadership education, rhetorical skills, or the study of lists of leadership axioms. The Vision of the glory of God has possessed him and conceived in him the purpose for the fulfillment of the will of God. All of the traits of a true leader are granted to him with increasing inpouring of the Vision. The source of his strength of leadership is the inpouring of the Father’s vision.

THE PERFECTION OF LEADERSHIP IN AN ENVISIONED LEADER COMES FROM ABOVE NOT FROM WITHIN OR AROUND THE LEADER.

B.    Transformation

The revelation of the Father’s vision is transforming to the man. The core of the transformation are the words of John the Baptist “HE MUST BECOME GREATER. I MUST BECOME LESSER.” As these words are fulfilled, the leader is released from the slavery to the old marrow of the fear of man and the idolatry of mammon. The old marrow is removed and the new marrow of righteousness, humility, sacrifice, Agape, and the zeal for the honor of God are given to him.

His overarching goals become the glory of God and obedience/conformity to Christ: a life lived in love. The true leader’s goal is to love as Jesus loved. It is not as though love is his tool to accomplish some other noble goal or that love is a valuable asset that he carries as he goes about his work. The very end goal of the true leader is love. In the process of believing the Word of God and receiving the atonement for his sin, he is granted a clear conscience before the Father. His clear conscience results in his acting, thinking, and speaking in faith. He does everything with complete acknowledgement of God’s Sovereignty and grace. The result of his actions of faith is that his love increases. Indeed this is his goal. His goal is the love of the Father.

These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. ⁵ The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. I Tim 1

          His love abounds more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. His love bestowed to him from the Father becomes the overarching motive for everything that he does. He is completely devoid of self desires and longing. He is altogether poured out as a living sacrifice.

      His love increases his zeal and strength. He is given the supernatural power to labor tirelessly. He is able to work on behalf of the Vision during the waking hours and spend the dark hours in prayer. The Spirit gives life to his mortal body.

¹⁰ Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very Words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. I Peter 4

          His desire for the Father’s Kingdom will supersede any temptation of the fear of failure. His failures do not shake him because his faith is in the One whom He has believed in who will “keep what he has entrusted to Him for that Day”. He is not afraid to try 100 times and fail 99 times. When he falls, he rises again and finds his place in the Sovereign will of God. Indeed his leadership is still valued among the believers.

for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, 
   but the wicked are brought down by calamity. Prov 24:16

One of the greatest traits of a true leader is that he lives among the people. His living, working, eating, training, conversing, and resting with them shows the trueness of his rhetoric and the worth of his passion. God often works to increase the sincerity and trueness of His leaders through the training of having them work and labor among the people. They will be tested and often feel inadequate, but God will bring them forth as pure gold. God has a way of training His leaders in innumerous ways through failures and outwardly fruitless time and work. His beautiful work brings forth jewels of Truth and Godliness from single encounters and experiences.

⁷ Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. ⁸For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 2 Cor 13

THE TRUE ENVISIONED LEADER IS FOLLOWED IN SPITE OF ALL HIS ERRORS BECAUSE OF HIS ETERNAL STANDING AND ONGOING SELFLESS REFLECTION OF THE IRRESTIBLE LOVE OF CHRIST FOR THE FLOCK.

C.    The Followers

There is state of leadership coexistence between envisioned leaders that does not occur with phantom leaders. The interaction of two or more phantom leaders in the worldly arena may expose the worst character traits of competitiveness, ambition, jealousy, and pride. The nature of their aims of darkness often disallow coexistence: the root cause of many type of conflicts, wars, battles, and the absence of peace in the world. In other cases, phantom leaders work together to lead the world astray.

 ¹ I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” ² I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

 ³ When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” ⁴ Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword. Rev 6

However, the coexistence of true envisioned leader of God is not only peaceful and filled with the righteousness of the Father, but it is desirable and is included in the will of God. It is a great mystery that in the Kingdom of God, the leaders perform their duty by following Jesus (To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. I Tim 2:21). In their wholeheartedly knowledge of Christ, they become beacons of righteousness, shields of faith, a royal priesthood, examples of Godliness (Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I Cor 11:1)…leaders of sacrificial and servant-like love on behalf of the glory of God in the fulfillment of His will with the love of Christ as the end goal. This mystery allows for each follower of Christ to be a leader, to be a fisher of men. He calls each one to follow Him that they may become fishers of men.

I will put my laws in their minds 
   and write them on their hearts. 
I will be their God, 
   and they will be my people. 
¹¹ No longer will a man teach his neighbor, 
   or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ 
because they will all know me, 
   from the least of them to the greatest. 
¹² For I will forgive their wickedness 
   and will remember their sins no more.” Heb 8

Every believer is given a needed purpose in the body of Christ. For the Father has configured the body in this very way in order that there may be equality, respect, honor, and value attributed to each member. They are all leaders of one another as they reflect the love of Christ and are possessed with zeal for His honor.

ZEAL FOR THE FATHER’S HONOR ALONE GIVES TRUE ENVISIONED LEADERS THEIR NEEDED SKILL

          As each believer follows in the footsteps of the Servant King of Love, Jesus Christ, they become leaders. The other sheep are drawn to each believer who follows Christ. The end goal of all of these leaders is the conformity to Christ’s love. In this sense, the stronger the leaders are, the greater will be the uniting force of love, humility, and sacrifice. Thus, as opposed to the nature of phantom leadership, the increasing faith, knowledge of the Word, and envisioning of leaders results in stronger leaders who possess more sacrificial love and humility. This love and humility draws in the other believers who follow suit. Stronger envisioned leadership results in a stronger unity among believers based on sacrificial love.

 ²⁰ “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their Message, ²¹ that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in you. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. John 17

THE ENVISIONED LEADERS UNITE THE BELIEVERS IN SACRIFICIAL LOVE AS THEY ACCOMPLISH THE FATHER’S WILL.

D.   Culmination under the Will of the Triune Godhead

We use the term “envisioned leader” and yet, ultimately there is only one Teacher, one Father, one Great Shepherd, and one enthroned “Leader”. All leadership roles given to the believers are useful for the present time to carry out the Father’s will: “to give the servants their food at the proper time”, “to be overseers of the flock”, “to set examples in life, love, faith, and purity”, to “train others in righteousness and in the Word”, “to be imitated for obedience to Christ”, and “to make disciples of all nations”.

¹⁸ I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, ²⁰ which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way. Eph 1

EVEN TRUE ENVISIONED LEADERSHIP IS TEMPORARY AND ULTIMATELY SUCCUMBS TO THE HEADSHIP OF GOD IN HIS FULNESS.