THE LIVING WORD CENTER, INC.
Rev. Jay Werman, Director
Text based: 2 Timothy 2:15:
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.”
Analyze the key words of this passage:
- The Character of a leader is developed by the Word of God.
- The Abilities of a leader is given through the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
- The Levels of leadership is given by the obedience to God’s calling.
- Biblical background of leadership
- God’s process to form a leader: To shape up the leadership role.
- God’s evidence in a leader: We see God’s works in manifestation.
– The Character of a leader is developed by the Word of God
One of the most important aspects of the leadership role is the character that such a person has developed throughout the stages of spiritual growth. Our commitment in our walk with God will determine what type of leadership role we have received. God has revealed to us part of who He is, His character and personality through the Scriptures and it is our obligation not only to learn all that is related to that but to form and shape our lives according to what we have received. The Scriptures have the ability and power to shape us according to God’s plan and purpose, as long as we are willing to submit ourselves to such changes. Isa. 55:11
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it (my word) shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
This passage expressed the abilities and powers that lay on God’s divine word and the results that it produces once it is planted. Verse 10. We could spend days just detailing and explaining each word expressed in Isa. 55:11 connected with the pertinent context. For instance, the Hebrew word used in such passage for “void” is “reyqam” which means “without effect”, expressing under the context of the text the inability of God’s Word to produce, not because of the seed but because of the ground and the elements on it. Compare with Mt. 13:1-23; Mk. 4:1-25; Lk. 8:4-15
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.”
1 Peter 1:23
“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”
1 John 3:9
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”
James 1:21
Let’s analyze and define God’s character in the Scriptures under the context that such character is defined in the absolute or complete sense.
God is Love: Jn. 3:16; 1 Jn. 4:7-8, 19. No other being is capable of love in the dimensions that God loves. We are called to love others as he has loved us. Mk. 12:31; Lk. 6:35; Jn. 13:34-35; 15:13; 1 Cor. 13:3-4; 16:14; Eph. 5:25; Col. 3:14; 1 Pet. 4:8.
God is Holy: Lev. 20:26; 1 Sam. 2:2; Ezek. 39:7; Hab. 3:3. No other being is Holy like God is Holy. We are called to be Holy. Lev. 20:26; Isa. 35:8; 2 Cor. 7:1; 1 Th. 4:7; 5:23; 2 Tim. 2:21; Heb. 12:14; 1 Pet. 1:13-16; 2:9; 1 Jn. 3:6-10.
God is Peace: In Isaiah 9:6 we found 5 names given to the Messiah and one of them is “prince of peace”, which is related to God’s character: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” The term should be understood as “The peaceful Prince” and it expresses the Messiah’s government and ruling for 1,000 years without wars, after that the government of God will be established forever as it was before Lucifer and Adam’s rebellions. We are called to walk in peace. Prov. 12:20; Isa. 12:2; 26:3; Mt. 5:9; Jn. 16:33; Rom. 12:18; 15:13; 1 Cor. 14:33; Php. 4:6; 2 Th. 3:16; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 3:9-11; 5:6-7.
God is Perfect: The Hebrew word “perfect” used in Deu. 18:13 implies “complete, or having integrity and what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact”. Deu. 32:4; Psalm 18:30; Mt. 5:48. Any imperfection came to the creation as a result of the sin and rebellion committed by free moral beings and not because it was created that way by God.
God is great, powerful, stable, immovable, and dependable: James 1:17: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”. These are some of the words that expressed God’s character but again, I need to emphasize that the usage of every word in connection with God must be understood as an absolute, complete and pure in the sense of the word. We are called to form the character of God in our born again spirit by allowing the divine seed to grow in us. Mt. 13:23; 4:20; Lk. 8:15; 1 Pet. 1:23; Jas. 1:21; Psalm 1. Also Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” describes the character of God formed in us.
– The Abilities of a leader is given through the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Any ability we have received from God has been given through the person of the Holy Spirit. Our true biblical identity is as “the body of Christ” Rom. 12:3-5; 1 Cor. 1:10; 11:27-30; 12:27; Eph. 4:1-6, 16. And we are the continuation of Jesus’s ministry here on earth. Eph. 4:12:
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
The identity of the church:
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence”
Colossians 1:18
“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
Ephesians 1:22-23
After Jesus ascension to the third heaven, the Holy Spirit was sent to prepare us to do Jesus’s works as it is expressed in Jn. 14:12:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father..”
In Acts 1:8 says
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth”.
The word greek “power” used by Jesus in relation with the baptism with Holy Spirit is “dunamis”, which is translated “strength power, ability; inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth”. It’s a Power for performing miracles- the power and influence which belong to riches and wealth. It’s an inherent power that enables us to performance and archives God’s purpose in our calling. Compare with Mk. 16:15-20; Lk. 10:19; Eph. 1:19.
“Behold, I give unto you power (Gr. “dunamis”) to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Luke 10:18
The greek word used for “To Tread” is -pateō-, wich means “to trample, crush with the feet”; “to advance by setting foot upon, tread upon: to encounter successfully the greatest perils from the machinations and persecutions with which Satan would fain thwart the preaching of the gospel”. The expression “serpents and scorpions” used in Luke 10:18 it symbolized “demonic powers”. In the same passage Jesus included any power that satan might possessed, which is ineffective against any born again.
11 biblical abilities and qualifications that a leader must have:
- Capable and God fearing. Ex. 18:21; 2 Sam. 23:3; Ezra 7:25
- Truthful. Ex. 18:21; Dt. 16:19
- Hating covetousness. (From the Hebrew word “betsa”, which means; “to detest profit, unjust gain, gain (profit) acquired by violence”. Ex. 18:21
- Able to refuse bribes. Ex. 23:8
- Must be wise and have understanding as it is written in Dt. 1:13;
“Take you wise men, and understanding, and known among your tribes, and I will make them rulers over you”.
- “Wise” from the Hebrew “chakan,” which means; wise, i.e., intelligent, skillful, or artful.
- “Understanding” from the Hebrew “biyn” which is translated:
- To have discernment, insight, understand, consider, perceive, know (with the mind), to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, intelligent, discreet.
- To cause to understand, give understanding, teach.
- To show himself discerning or attentive, consider diligently, prudent, regard, to teach, to instruct
- “And known among your tribes” meaning “Esteem among the people.” The Hebrew word for “known” is “yada” which is translated:
- To be made known, be or become known, be revealed among others
- Be acquainted with, to know by experience
- One known because of acquaintance or involvement with others
- Must love justice and judgment. Dt. 1:16; 16:18-19; 27:19; Zach. 7:9-10. Judgment relates to “The act of deciding by distinguishing from right and wrong and the use of discernment”.
- Without favoritism of persons when judging. Not accepting bribes and one who doesn’t discriminate; do not show partiality in judging. Compare with Dt. 10:17; 2 Ch. 19:7; Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11; Gal. 2:6
- Fearless. Dt. 1:17. “Ye shall not be afraid of the face of man;”. Implying “not to be intimidated but embraced the authority that has given to that person”. The word had the sense used when God spoke and sent Joshua to start his ministry. Jos. 1:9.
- Must be diligent, hardworking, dedicated. The whole idea of Dt. 1:17 is that such person that is executing a leadership position must be conscientious. Compare with Pro. 12:24, 27; 21:4-5. Rom. 12:8 says “he that ruleth, with diligence;” Implied any type of leadership in the body of Christ. Compare with 2 Pet. 1:5; 2 Pet. 1:10.
- Strong and courageous. The Hebrew word for “courageous” is “amats,” which means:
- To be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, and hard.
- To be determined, to make oneself alert, strengthen himself, confirm himself, persist in, prove superior to.
- Obedient to God’s commandments. Jos. 1:7-8; 1 Sam. 15:22; Isa. 1:19; Mt. 7:14, 21; Lk. 5:1-39; 6:46; Jn. 14:15, 21; Rom. 6:16; 8:28; 2 Cor. 2:9; Eph. 6:5-9; Jas. 1:22; 2:24;
In the New Testament we found “17 qualifications for preachers” in Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3:1-13. We also found 17 disqualifications for preachers in Titus 1:10-16. Compare with Titus 1:5-9; 1 Tim. 3
In 2 Cor. 4:1-6 Paul described a “Ministry designed by God”. When someone performs a ministerial work lacking these “spiritual qualities”, such person will not perform a “spiritual leadership designed by God” but a “religious work” motivated by the works of the flesh as it is expressed in Gal. 5:19-21. The fruits of such Ministers will damn the soul of those that are guided by them. Compare Mk. 7:21-23; Rom. 1:29; 1 Cor. 6:9. In reference with the spiritual leadership role Paul wrote the following; “apt to teach”. 1 Tim. 3:2. Which basically means “apt and skillful in teaching”, from the Greek word “didaktikos” and it is also used in the same context in 2 Tim. 2:4.
The leadership designed by God involved others to help in the development of God’s purpose, Moses as a leader couldn’t do all the work by himself, so God provided help. Read Num. 11:14 and Verses 16-20. “And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone”. V. 17
We will explain the concepts below and expand their definitions according to the Scriptures.
- The Levels of leadership is given by the obedience to God’s calling.
- We can see Joshua becoming a leader after Moses’s death. Joshua 1:1-9
- Biblical background of leadership.
- We must use the leadership example expressed in the Scriptures in order to achieve God’s purpose for us. Explain Eph. 4:7.
- God’s process to form a leader: To shape up the leadership role.
- Moses is the perfect example of God shaping a leader. Moses fled Egypt when he was forty years old, after killing an Egyptian. Ex. 2:10; Acts 7:20-28. After that spent forty years in the Midian. Ex. 2:11-15; Acts 7:29-30. Led Israel in the wilderness for forty years. Ex. 5:1-19:2; 32:1-6; Num. 12-14; Acts 7:35-36.
– In the first 40 years Moses was formed under the Egyptian’s model of leadership.
– In the second 40 years God processed Moses and killed everything that Moses learned while he was in Egypt. God’s breaking through process formed Moses to become the leader God wanted him to be.
– In the third 40 years Moses led God’s people through the wilderness where God showed his greatness through Moses’s ministry.
- God’s evidence in a leader: We see God’s works in manifestation.
We are called to have a “unique” place designed by God in the body of Christ to execute his purpose. 1 Cor. 12:12-30; Eph. 4:7-11. In order for us to see the evidence (proof) in our ministry, we must find that specific calling for us. We have plenty of examples throughout the Scriptures of God’s manifestation in the people that were called to do a specific ministry or work.
- Samuel The Prophet. Became the next named prophet after Joshua. Compare 1 Sam. 3 and Judge 6:7. Samuel was the 16th and last judge of Israel. 1 Sam. 7:15-17. We can see God’s evidences in the calling of Samuel.
- Elijah The Prophet. Elijah is considered one of greatest prophets. 1 Kings 17:1-19-21; 21:17-28; 2 Kings 1:1-17; 2:1-15; 3:11; 9:36; 10:10, 17; 2 Chr. 21:12; Mal. 4:5. He is the only prophet who people tried to mix with John the Baptist. Mt. 16:14; Mk. 6:15; 8:28; Jn. 1:21-25. The leadership character of Elijah was imitated by John the Baptist, as well in ministry, spirit and power as it is written in Mt. 11:14; 17:11-12; Mk. 9:12-13; Lk. 1:17. Elijah is one of two men translated and living in the Planet heaven with a natural or physical body. The two olive trees and the two candlesticks, which stand before God in heaven, represent both men. 1 Kings 2:11-12; Zech. 4:11-14; Rev. 11:3-4.
- Jesus’s ministry. No other than Jesus could have expressed God’s evidence in a leader. Jesus showed in his earthly ministry the characteristics of leadership we must follow. The physical evidence was part of the purpose he came to accomplish. Acts 10:38; 1 Jn. 3:8. But above all he came to do his Father’s Will. Mt. 6:10; 7:21; 12:50; 18:14; 26:42; Luk. 11:2; Jn. 4:34; 5:30; 6:38-40; 7:17; 9:31; etc.
Academia Ministerial 
You must be logged in to post a comment.