Reluctant Leadership ~ Tozer

Reluctant Leaders
A. W. Tozer

The true and safe leader is likely to be the one who has no desire to lead but is forced into a position of leadership by the inward pressure of the Spirit and the press of the external situation. Such were Moses, David and the Old Testament prophets; and I think there was hardly a great Christian leader from Paul to this present day but was drafted by the Holy Spirit for the task and commissioned by the Lord of the Church to fill a position he had little natural heart for.

I believe that it might be accepted as a fairly reliable rule of thumb that the man who is ambitious to lead is disqualified as a leader. The Church of the Firstborn is no place for the demagogue or the petty religious dictator. The true leader will have no wish to lord it over God’s heritage, but will be humble, gentle, self-sacrificing and altogether as ready to follow as to lead when the Spirit makes it plain to him that a wiser and more gifted man than himself has appeared.

It is undoubtedly true, as I have said so often, that the church is languishing not for leaders but for the right kind of leaders; for the wrong kind is worse than none at all. Better to stand still than to follow a blind man over a precipice. History will show that the church has prospered most when blessed with strong leaders and suffered the greatest decline when her leaders were weak and time serving. The sheep rarely go much farther than the Shepherd.

That is why unqualified democracy is not good for a church unless every voting member is full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. To put the work of the church in the hands of the group is to exchange one leader for many; and if the group is composed of carnal professors it is to exchange one weak leader for a number of bad ones. One hundred blind men cannot see any better than one.

Will you escape perdition?

All too often humanity passes on religion and/or tradition but neither can save a soul from perdition.

No other addition can cleanse the souls sin saturated condition. Though many "like" things gladly audition.

Only one medication sacrifically given is strong enough to cure this in bedded condition.

Carefully take this in consideration, it is sin that causes our separation.

There is One great Physician able to cure this situation. He's experienced humiliation, pain and rejection in order to bring this stupendous reconciliation.

Let's cancel out this recreation of frustration and depression and trust this One who cures sin's cancerous condition which sadly results in eternal damnation.

What an accommodation given without manipulation! Christ is the only nomination given who can completely regenerate this depraved situation.

It was His mission, born of no reputation in order to save this population, matter of fact, every generation!

So much more than pious inspiration. The completion of perfection by Divine intervention.

Will you accept this profound admonition? Will you escape admonition and let go of religion and tradition? Will you embrace His invitation?

Selfishly sustained

Confronting falsity and admitting failure can be super hard. In this humility there is reward. When we are dishonest, even unintentionally, we hide God's glory, His work and His victories.

I wasn't completely honest in an answer given yesterday, completely out of character. It's true, I tell on myself, lol! As I gave it to the Lord He gently corrected me, and it stung! BUT wisdom was gained.

My answer pointed to me rather than Him. In this there was no opportunity for Him to be seen. I allowed the enemy to use me as his tool in robbing God. Ever think of it that way? I sure didn't!

In my quiet time this morning, He brought me to this verse. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;" 2 Corinthians 3:5

Sufficiency means ability. There is nothing in me or you that enables us to do right much less the ability to handle life's challenges apart from Him. He IS our ability!

Though I'm not sure how or if this will be made right with the one I spoke with, but I do praise God for His sharp love lesson gained.