Understanding Church Leadership 3
By Pastor Raphael Adegoke
16Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning. 17Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time—for strength and not for drunkenness. (Eccl 10: 16-17)
Glory be to God, the supernatural Father who is dependable and reliable, for the grace to witness another Easter celebration and a new month anticipated to be full of wonders and testimonies. I pray God in Hs infinite mercies sees us through the month in peace, happiness and joy. Amen!
It is not an uncommon today to see ministers take spiritual gift(s) for office. It is expedient to note that, that you’ve got the gift of prophecy does not make you a prophet and that you have got the gift of teaching does not make you a teacher. Having the gift of leadership isn’t the same as occupying the pastoral office and vice versa. So, taking gift for office is erroneous. This has caused a lot of havoc in the body of Christ today. Many self-acclaimed prophets today may have the gift of prophecy but don’t do not occupy the prophetic office, just as many pastors don’t have the gift of leadership and many leaders don’t function in the pastoral office.
There is a need to clarify this, so as to help all, especially those in the pastoral office to sincerely desire the gift of leadership or develop the leadership gift in them. Since the Bible encourages that we can covet when it comes to spiritual gifts, then it is going to be a good idea if all of us that find ourselves in leadership positions either by default or human set-up to covet the spiritual gift of leadership. This will make us productive and make our leadership impactful.
There are two types of leaders in life. These are:
(1) Good leaders and
(2) Bad leaders.
The type of leader we become is defined by the traits we manifest. While some traits are supernaturally imparted on the good leaders, these traits, if care is not taken, can be neglected and left uncultivated. Also, they can as well be nurtured or cultivated if care is taken.
The act of cultivating the leadership trait in us defines our exceptionality. We become exceptional and outstanding in our leadership by the conscious efforts we put to making ourselves distinguished. This, we can definitely not do on our own, but by the help of the Holy Spirit, which is readily available for anyone willing to accept it. “26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness”. (Romans 8:26)
Also, before we begin to examine the characteristics and traits of exceptional leaders, there is a need to understand the place of the gift of leadership which God gives men for the purpose of edification and the equipping of the saints and the place of natural leadership ability which an individual can acquire or develop.
It is thereby paramount to understand that the leadership ability developed or acquired is never enough to lead a Church, but the gift of leadership which is supernaturally imparted and can as well be developed (after having been imparted). The supernaturalness of such leaders distinguishes them from those with natural leadership traits. This is because God has specially raised these ones and His oil is upon them. When it comes to the results they produce compared to that of the natural leaders, it is visible and the difference is clear. This is because their products are such with eternal values, both in them and those they lead, whether secularly or sacredly.
Pastor Raphael Adegoke is a Pastor in Christ Apostolic Church (Nigeria & Overseas) and a Lecturer in Christ Apostolic Church Theological Seminary.
