LEADER

Leader

          (Grk. Kathegetes) a teacher who also leads by an example. Matt. 10:25 "it is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher, and the slave as the master"

          The world wants a leader when it already has One. This was the problem with Demetrius in 3 John 12. The Lord doesn't need a leader, He needs bond-servants like Paul, like Jude, like Peter, like James; and that is how they labeled themselves. That is how Christ labeled them.

          A popular title of evangelical Christianity today of which the Bible warns to avoid the use of the term.

Matt 23:10  10 "Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted."

          This verse spoke of One Who was greater than Moses and Who now has the seat at the right hand of God the Father and waits for His enemies to be put beneath His feet. We have nothing like that on the earth today. The title Leader only belongs to Him. Any use of that title today is a degrading of His title.

          Notice the actions of our One Leader in Luke 22:17-22. As soon as He made His display as their Leader, they argue who is the greatest among them. As He listens to those leaders of the church age, He teaches them in vs. 27: "For who is greater, the one who reclines at table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as one who serves." For in verse 26 He taught: "But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest , and the leader like the servant." Both are the lowest in rank [youngest-servant]. Willingness to serve and suffer, where todays Americanized leaders want those below them to do both of those tasks while they bask on a smoother and higher plane receiving reward for the labor and pain of those below.

          Notice that in the previous verse Catholicism is warned not to use one of their favorite titles.  9 "Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. The Catholics degrade the title of Father by their useage.

          The use of these titles doesn't stop either group, saying that they are using it in the proper context.

          The proper title according to the Bible is mentioned in Luke 22:26  26 "But it is not this way with you, but the one who is the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like the servant.  

          David would not have qualified today as a leader for his qualifying characteristics would have left him wanting 1 Sam 16:11  "There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep." 

          David disqualified for the office as king as far as Jesse was concerned because of both his age and the menial work of the family was left to him. He was the most unlikely prospect according to his father. The reason God picked him was the supposed disadvantages of David that God saw as advantages. David would therefore have freedom from arrogance, and as a shepherd he was learning the true art of being a king.

Cf. vs. 7 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."   

          The person who was looking for a leader, (Jesse) saw him as so far out of the running that he didn't even send for him leaving him in the field taking care of the animals.

          David constantly referred to himself as the servant of Saul, of his father Jesse, and of God, never one of their leaders.

          Today men still fail to realize God's desire for those who are to be examples. John 2:24-25  24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men,   25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.  

Mark 10:43-45  43 "But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant;   44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.   45 "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." 

          We do not need a successful business man to be in the forefront of the church body but one who duplicates Jesus Who came not to be served, but to serve, and give His very life for even me.

Matt. 20:25-28 also speaks to America on leadership.

Only by His grace can the weakest of men, who think they are strong, be given the regal character that is essential in the royalty of the Kingdom of God.

Christ deals with men who show examples of His qualities of being First and Great in Matthew 20:24-28. 24 And hearing this, the ten became indignant with the two brothers.  25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.  26 "It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant,  27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;  28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. "

Now that’s The Leader.