Lesson 2 the heart of a leader

The Heart of a Leader

LESSON 2

In every age there comes a time when a leader must come forward to meet the needs of the hour.

Therefore, there is no potential leader who does not have an opportunity to make a positive difference in society.

Preparing Our Hearts

It is important that leaders develop skills in order to lead effectively.

However, there are several important qualities of the heart that every great leader should build into his or her life, first.

The Leader God Uses…

1. HAS A GREAT PURPOSE IN LIFE

Philippians 3:7-14

  7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in

Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, 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, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Do you know your God-given purpose? You must answer

these questions:

a) What are your burdens?

b) What are your spiritual gifts?

c) What are your natural talents?

d) What are your desires and passions?

e) What do others affirm about you?

f) What are your dreams and visions?

g) What’s most fulfilling to you?

h) What opportunities are in front of you?

2. HAS BY GOD’S GRACE REMOVED ANY HINDRANCE FROM HIS LIFE.

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ( Hebrews 12:1-2)

Character and integrity are indispensable.

Character can be defined as self-leadership.. Once you lead yourself well, others may want to follow you.

It is the foundation on which the leader’s life is built. It all begins with character , because leadership operates on the basis of trust. If people don’t trust you, they won’t follow you.

Here is what character does for a leader:

a) Character communicates CREDIBILITY.

b) Character harnesses RESPECT.

c) Character creates CONSISTENCY.

d) Character earns TRUST.

In order to build strong character, leaders must choose to:

a) Develop personal DISCIPLINE.

b) Develop personal SECURITY and IDENTITY.

c) Develop PERSONAL CONVICTIONS, VALUES and ETHICS.

3. HAS PLACED HIMSELF ABSOLUTELY AT GOD’S DISPOSAL.

1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. ( Romans 12:1-2)

To lead others, we must develop three attitudes of total surrender to

God.

a) We must have nothing to PROVE. ( we don’t try to project our self

b) We must have nothing to LOSE. (We don’t arrive for image or popularity)

c) We must have nothing to HIDE. ( We don’t play games but are transparent)

4. HAS LEARNED HOW TO PREVAIL IN PRAYER.

13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. ( James 5:13-17)

Three Kinds of Prayer ( Matthew 7:7)

a) ASK – This is the prayer of faith. With it we lay hold of God’s promises by faith.

b) SEEK – This is the prayer of dedication . With it we seek to know God’s will.

c) KNOCK – This is the prayer of intercession. With it we pray for someone who cannot or will not pray for themselves.

5. IS A STUDENT OF GOD’S WORD.

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Students of God’s Word , examine scripture to understand its

meaning:

a) One Time : what did it mean at one time, to understand its meaning.

b) All Time : what is the universal and timeless principle we can learn.

c) Now Time: what should we do in response to it?

6. HAS A VITAL, LIFE-CHANGING MESSAGE FOR A LOST WORLD.

16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. ( Philippians 2:16)

In Romans 1:14-16, the Apostle Paul expressed 3 attitudes

concerning the Gospel.

a) I am OBLIGATED. Vs. 14 ( Sharing it is a debt I owe to the world)

b) I am EAGER. Vs. 15 ( I am on fire to share this message with the world)

c) I am NOT ASHAMED. V. 16 ( I will share it because it alone can save us.)

7. HAS A FAITH THAT EXPECTS RESULTS.

19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. ( Romans 4:19-21)

Hebrews 11:13 describes men and women of faith and what they

each had in common:

a) Vision – each of them “ saw” the promises from afar off.

b) Confidence – each of them were assured of the promises of God.

c) Hunger – each of them embraced and owned the promises as their own.

d) Resolve – they confessed that they were pilgrims on the earth. Their God-given dreams , not their memories consumed them.

8. CHOOSES TO SERVE IN ATTITUDE AND ACTION.

  5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God,    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing    by taking the very nature of a servant,    being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man,    he humbled himself    by becoming obedient to death—       even death on a cross! 

Although He was God, he did not cling to His position, but rather to his purpose.

He was not position conscious but purpose conscious.

He knew the best way to accomplish His purpose was to serve people.

Leaders naturally arise when someone determines to serve.

It always starts with a need.

a) That need sparks passion within a person.

b) That person acts in response to the need.

c) This action moves others to cooperate.

9. STIRS UP THE GIFTS IN THEMSELVES AND OTHERS.

13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. ( I Timothy 4:13-16)

Leaders naturally arise, when they find their gift and use it to serve. It

usually follows this order:

1) First, a leader identifies a primary gift.

2) Second , they develop that gift.

3) Third, they match that gift with a place of service.

4) Fourth, that gift provides a platform for influence.

5) Finally, the leader eventually flourishes because of their gift.

10. IS SECURE ENOUGH TO EMPOWER OTHERS.

3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. ( John 13:3-5)

SECURE LEADERS

a) The secure are in towels.

b) The secure draw strength from identity.

c) The secure pursue service to others

d) The secure want to add value to others.

INSECURE LEADERS

a) The insecure are in to titles.

b) The insecure draw strength from image.

c) The insecure pursue status with others.

d) The insecure want to gain value from others.

11. LIVES UNDER THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ( Ephesians 5:18-20)

12. HAS CHOSEN TO BE AN EXAMPLE BEFORE HE LEADS OTHERS.

 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. ( I Corinthians 9:24-27)

Skills

Character

LEADERSHIP HOUSE

REASONS WHY A HEART OF INTEGRITY IS SO IMPORTANT

TO LEADERS:

Leadership functions on the basis of TRUST.

Integrity has high influence VALUE.

Our tendency is to work harder on our IMAGE than on our integrity.

Integrity means LIVING the truth myself, before leading others.

A charismatic personality may draw people , but only INTEGRITY will keep them.

REASONS WHY A HEART OF INTEGRITY IS SO IMPORATNT

TO LEADERS:

Integrity is a VICTORY not a gift.

You will only BECOME what you are becoming – right now.

Leaders are to live by a higher STANDARD than followers.

ASSESSMENT

If you were to evaluate yourself, how do you feel you would rank in the area of character? How is your leader’s heart?

APPLICATION

What are some activities and / or discipline you could apply in your life in order to develop a stronger character?