⏱ 8 min read

• Just as we see in our world today, the disciples were fighting for who would be in charge.
• And as they were fighting and striving amongst each other, Jesus realised that their understanding of leadership was wrong.
• So He decided to seize the opportunity to explain what leadership is not and what leadership is.

But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” ~ Mark 10:42-45

• Remember, we learnt from Mark 9 (G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) ~ Dcns. Denise) that greatness (or leadership) in God’s kingdom starts with humility.
• Why is it that we have to be humble before we can lead? The reason is to check abuse. Because “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
• This is why God would not like you to lead until you are under His authority, so He can check all the excesses that power can bring.

You see, when Jesus came into the world He couldn’t do as He pleased (Phil 2:5-8). A man of great power, but when the devil said “If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread…” Jesus said no, “it is written…”

Which simply means: “I can’t do what I please or feel; there is a power over that controls me (God’s Word), and when I checked in it, it is written that man shall not live by bread alone…” I have the power to turn the stone into bread but I can’t do it because there is a higher power over me.

Examples of leadership abuse we are prone to:
#1. In the Church (universal): a minister of God can abuse God's children if he/she is not humble (willingly) to place himself/herself under the authority of Christ. 
- It saddens me to see people being exploited all the time, in the name of Christ. And if you and I are not submitted under authority, we will abuse the power He gives.

#2. In marriage: husbands not controlled by the Holy Spirit do whatever they like. They act how they like, speak as they like, totally out of control. That is why God requires humility so that we are subject to the Word of God and to the power of God. Otherwise, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

#3. At the workplace: men abuse young ladies in the office and women abuse young men. It is so sad to hear the stories of ladies seeking counsel on what to do because their boss in the office wants to sleep with them or sack them. These are leaders who are out of control. Why? Because there's no power above them. 

“You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

What Godly leadership is not? (Do not mistake worldly leadership with Godly leadership because they are different).

• #1. Jesus said in the world leadership is about power; but in the kingdom, leadership is about responsibility (the rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them…)
• Most of the time when we say leadership, people are thinking about power and not responsibility (Now for sure as a leader, you’ll have power). But the aim is not the power; it’s all about responsibility.

And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

• In Luke 12:43 Jesus said: “Blessed is that servant whom his master WILL FIND SO DOING when he comes.”
• In other words, the rulership is about what he is doing and not the power that has been given to him.
• As individuals, we all have responsibilities towards our own selves. Focus on those responsibilities.

#2. Jesus said leadership is not about exercising authority. “Their great ones exercise authority over them.” Exercising authority means being in control. Many of us are not responsible, all we like is control.

• In Luke 12:45, Jesus describes another servant who when he was given the power, forgot about his responsibilities completely and was abusing others.
• “Listen to me; You have to do what I tell you; Don’t you know I am so and so…?” Dear friend, it’s not about control, it’s about responsibility.

But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk ~ Luke 12:45

So now, what is leadership? (two short points)

• #1. In Luke 22:26, “But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger;…” So here he’s talking about being under authority.
• To be the younger means there’s an older person above you. A young person has a father; the father is above him and the father tells him what to do.

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be their name. Thy kingdom come…” That means rule over us so that everybody can see that you’re in control.

• How will this be: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” So when a young person has a Father who is over him, it is the Father’s will that is done.
• What is the result of that? “Give us this day our daily bread.“
• That is where our material and financial blessings even come from; because there is a father in control. So as Christians, we are not free, the Holy Spirit is in control.

Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 

• #2. A leader should be a servant/slave (“whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.“)
• Wherever there is a servant, it means that the servant has a Lord. For us, that Lord is the Holy Spirit. This is a requirement in kingdom leadership.
• Whether you work in the bank or hospital, whether you’re a teacher, a student, married, not married, etc., a leader must first be the servant of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, “even the Son of Man (Jesus) did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Power corrupts dear friend. Let us humble ourselves and serve. Heyy… you’re blessed!

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