And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth… REVELATION 1:6 KJV
The world is crying out for leaders.
Romans 8:19 tells us that creation eagerly awaits the manifestation of the sons of God. Since the sons of God are those who bring peace (Matthew 5:9), we could say that the world longs for leaders who bring peace to our troubled planet.
The answer to the problems of humanity is leadership i.e. men and women who can lead us into a realm of peace, prosperity and harmony.
A religious-minded person would answer that only God can do such a thing. However, such thinking is an abrogation of our responsibility.
The truth is that God chooses to do it through people.
There are leadership principles that can be and are implemented in secular settings but the foundation of these principles is spiritual truth and reality.
There is an unseen world – the world of spirit. That world is more real than this one. It is not an ethereal, wispy “ghostly” realm with no substance. The truth is that this spiritual realm is more substantial; it is higher dimensional and further up the spectrum of reality. Its molecular structure is faster than the speed of light, hence its invisibility to us who live in sub-light speed dimensions.
In that realm the Creator lives, as do His created servants the angels. In other parts of the spirit realm live the fallen angels who are in rebellion against God. They are headed up by satan – once a mighty Archangel but now a spiritual renegade and outlaw.
This means that there are two kingdoms in the spirit realm. There are two opposing powers. Despite all the hype – most of it self-generated – satan’s power and kingdom is infinitesimal in relation to God’s. Indeed, satan and his minions are defeated foes after the events of Jesus’ crucifixion, descent into hell – where He overcame all the satanic host – and resurrection.
God as Creator is the ultimate authority. This is the principle that must be understood by all leaders everywhere. God created us and He has the ultimate authority over us. You may have people in your life who have authority over you e.g. your boss, the government, the Police etc. But God is the highest authority there is. He is the Most High to give Him a biblical title.
Our study is founded upon the most sensible and basic of principles that if you are going to exercise any authority in any leadership role, you will do it cognisant of and in alignment with the authority structure of the universe.
In other words, you will recognise in your own leadership role that all authentic authority flows down from the highest authority, God Himself. This recognition of unseen spiritual realities gives you an edge in both your leadership role and in how you function as a leader.
Pretending such a reality does not exist or, even worse, defying this reality, is dumb in the extreme. Many of our problems in this world spring from such dumb thinking. Indeed, much of what we term the “secular world” is a construct of those who would rather pretend God has no right to intervene in human affairs. That we get so much spectacularly wrong in our world is proof of the folly of such an approach.
The truth is that God created us in His image and, as the ultimate Leader, He has “hard-wired” us with all the necessary tools and wisdom to steward the physical dimension we live in.
He has not skimped in this, either. We are not just equipped to lead but to reign as kings in life. As He is, so are we in this world and, since Scripture is replete with verses speaking of Him as King, this means we are also to be kings and queens on earth. God has called us to dominion. Indeed, this attribute of dominion is so vital to our human being that God emphasised it when He spoke us into existence:
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” GENESIS 1:26-28 NKJV
In our modern age we could actually say that God made man a clone of Himself in this physical realm. Note that the distinguishing mark of being God-like is that we would have dominion. This is what it means to be like the Lord God – we will be lords!
You are supposed to rule and reign over every aspect of your life. This also means you are supposed to exercise leadership in the sphere or role you are called to. If you are a salesman, you are to have dominion over your job. If you are promoted to sales manager, you are still to have dominion over your own affairs but you are also to lead others. Being promoted to a management position does not mean you are licensed to be a tyrant!
Yes, you have dominion in your role but you are not to treat those you lead as subhuman creatures. Too many take dominion into areas it is not meant to go. Authority that is aligned with God as the Highest Power will not choose tyranny as a viable leadership model. It is dominion, not domination.
A true leader will not train others to be mindless followers but to be leaders themselves. True leaders raise up true leaders. A leader must teach those in his/her charge how to have dominion in their own sphere.
In the Army, a good Sergeant Major will train rookies how to be self-sufficient and capable soldiers with mastery over what they are assigned to do.
The difference between bad leadership and good leadership is vital to our understanding. Authentic leadership will align itself with spiritual reality, acknowledging God as the ultimate authority and co-operating with this. Any other approach to leadership is rooted in deception and prone to follow paths that lead to tyranny and manipulation of others.
The ultimate test of genuine leadership, then, boils down to one very basic question which every leader must ask if him or herself: Is what I am doing aligned with God’s authority and His purpose?
Leadership in the Kingdom is based upon two things: the dominion that we have as sons and daughters of God and serving others. We hold these two things in tension. The greatest leader among us will be a servant to all. Jesus modelled this. He also walked in great authority.
Authority is ours to exercise but we must walk in it with humility and a heart that serves others.
There is a sure way of passing the test of genuine leadership, a “North Star” by which you can be guided to authenticity as a leader. It is to recognise the ultimate authority of God as the Highest Power and to actively and consciously align yourself with this.
In Daniel chapter 4 the story is told of the mighty king of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar, who reigned over the mightiest empire of his time. Nebuchadnezzar was warned through a dream that unless he grasped a simple principle, he would be taught a lesson. That principle was that The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men.
Nebuchadnezzar did not heed that advice and instead attributed his kingship to his own greatness. As a result, he went mad and lived like an animal for seven years until he understood that all his power was God-given and that the ultimate ruler was God.
Nebuchadnezzar paid a severe price for failing the test of genuine leadership. His experience should be a lesson to all who have rulership over others. God takes very seriously how leaders think and how they conduct themselves because they have power over other peoples’ lives.
It is absolutely vital that those called to rule and lead guide themselves by the “North Star” of leadership and that they align themselves with the purpose of God.
WILLIAM McMURDO 