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Sunday, August 4, 2013

"THE LEADERSHIP MATURITY KEY" - Morris E. Ruddick

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THE LEADERSHIP MATURITY KEY

(c) Morris E. Ruddick



"He who rules his own spirit is mightier than he who takes a city."

Prov 16:32


We have entered times described by the Bible as when the

"nations rage." In the midst of the mounting turmoil those

known by His Name must adhere to a higher standard. Likewise,

when paving new ground in this setting, much more by way of

discernment and wisdom is required. The task of one of employing

righteous power in corrupt settings. The issue is one of leadership,

mature leadership. The bar has been raised.



Biblical leadership requires a high-level of self-discipline. With it is

the ability to grasp and perform well two primary tenets: 1) the

accomplishment of the mission and 2) the welfare of those being led.



In keeping with the military standard used in the opening scripture,

a non-Marine combat reporter (Thomas Ricks, Making the Corps,

Simon & Schuster, New York, 2007) made an unusual observation

after an extended first-hand study of Marines operating in combat.

Trained in the teamwork and discipline needed to achieve often

impossible tasks, Ricks described those in the junior enlisted ranks

as men who in the world would not have been given the responsibility

to run a copier. Yet, in instance after instance in life and death

situations, they demonstrated the maturity and presence of mind to

know what to do in leading others.


"Greater love has no one than this, than a man give up his life for

his friend." John 15:13


This standard reflects a culture of discipline that engenders a society

of trust. Yet, at a point when the Body should be operating as a society

of leaders, it falls short of this standard and too often is embroiled in

disorder, discord and diversions.



Some Kingdom leadership issues involve maturity. Some are matters of

experience. The bottom line for each is the norm of ruling your own spirit.



Two friends I admire are each Kingdom leaders. One has the unique ability

to see God's blueprint in a person and draw it forth. The other equally

proficient as a leader has a tendency, when things don't seem to measure

up, to see the devil's blueprint and then works to stamp it out. The way of

the world is the survival of the fittest. However, Kingdom leadership bears

a greater responsibility.



Within the parameters of Truth and good stewardship is the wisdom and

balance of a leadership to nurture. It is a key part of what distinguishes us

from the world. The way of the Kingdom always offers Life for both the

mission and the people involved.


The friend whose mode is to discern God's blueprint is fearless in terms

of penetrating enemy territory and of taking risks when convinced God

is involved. It is the approach evidenced by Jesus during His earthly ministry.


"The Son can do nothing of Himself, but only what He sees the Father

doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does also." John 5:19


In contrast, Jesus' scrutiny of the Pharisee's nit-picking approach to

leadership indicated that their blindness was impeding the way for others.


"Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you shut off the

Kingdom of God from men. You neither go in yourselves nor do you

allow those entering to go in." Matt 23:13


Beyond the Natural

Jesus' response to the Pharisees punctuates the truth that leadership is

not about getting people to conform. Nor is it about judgment. As soon as

the judgment factor arises, Jesus urged caution and warned that we would

find ourselves in danger of being judged.


"Judge not, that you not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be

judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured back to you."

Matt 7:1-2


Kingdom leadership contains responsibilities and requirements beyond the

best our natural capabilities offer. It takes discipline and the maturity of

ruling ones own spirit to wield.


Kingdom leadership incorporates stewardship. It's about wisely managing risk

in order to leverage opportunity and increase. It's about nurturing and enabling

the gifts operating within one's community. Leadership requires a responsible trustworthiness that simultaneously inspires and guides for the common good.

It sets things in order, God's order.


Stewardship. Jesus' parable of the talents depicts leadership as emerging

from the application of wise stewardship. Good stewardship embraces

responsibility and builds from it. In this parable, the one who minimized their

risks and didn't make ANY mistakes, but in so doing also minimized their increase,

was deemed a "wicked servant" On the other hand, the one who brought increase

was given promotion and more responsibility (Matt 25:26). So it is that the

principles of stewardship are central to Kingdom leadership.


Leveraging Increase. Leadership maps out, builds up and brings increase.

In another instance, Jesus told the story about the merchant who discovered

a pearl of great value. He risked all that he had in order to leverage opportunity

to acquire the pearl of great value (Matt 13:46). Kingdom leadership adapts and manages the change needed to take and navigate the pathway into significant opportunity.



Enabling Gifts. Paul wrote the Romans of his deep desire to play a role in

advancing the will of God in their lives by imparting a spiritual gift to them.

Paul understood biblical community with a depth that came from His Jewish

heritage. Understanding ones gifts and how that fits into their role in the

community is very central to being "the light on a hill" that Jesus indicated

we would be to the world around us.



"For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so

that you may be established." Rom 1:11



Trustworthiness. Understanding the difference between giving people what

they "want" versus nurturing their roles, while raising the bar to serve the

common good is pivotal to sound leadership. When done consistently,

trustworthiness will result. Trustworthy leaders are foundational to the

operation of biblical community.




God's Order. Jesus said that you would know them by their fruit. When

God's order is operating it bears good fruit. It brings increase. It nurtures

the gifts. It draws others because the fruit is evident to all. Isaac sowed

in famine and yielded a harvest because God told him to do so. Everyone

witnessed God's hand being on Isaac.


Reckless Disregard

However, there is a reckless disregard operating within leadership 
circles that short-circuits the standard needed for the Body to be 
properly navigating the snares and hurdles in today's world. It is a 
myopia that fails to see either the process or the progress.


The story of the young prophet from Judah (1 Kings 13) sent to the 
King of Israel illustrates a short-sightedness, that misses the forest 
for the trees, which has become almost as a plague today. In this 
story the young prophet clearly wielded a prophetic gift and the 
power of God, but was so blinded by his focus on his own return t
hat he missed the real opportunity with the King of Israel, and due 
to his personal concerns was entrapped by the very warning the 
Lord had made so clear to him.


This sad story illustrates the myopic blinding that needs to be guarded 
against among those deemed most gifted. It represents an 
irresponsible, reckless disregard for God's priorities due to 
overriding soulish obsessions. James admonishes the 
double-minded to purify their hearts.


God's standard for leadership carries an awe necessitating 
an ongoing poise of the spirit before Him. It cannot emulate the
 world nor reflect a blended approach. It is a standard that roots 
out the precepts of men and the cleverness of the clever. It gives
no place to deceit or the lust for power. It is the standard that 
eliminates the need for striving and ambition, because of being 
immersed in the flow of the Spirit.


This standard applied opens the gates for a safe place where the 
gifts flow naturally, in unison and harmony to the benefit of all. When 
this norm is met, it offers the potential described by the Church at 
Philadelphia in Revelations: keys to open doors that no one can 
shut and shuts doors that no one can open.


Operating with this standard requires an understanding of what 
distinguishes the function of leading from the gift of leadership. 
A lack of understanding and misapplication of the gifts creates 
confusion and dissatisfaction; with disorder and discord following. 
The requirements of leadership vary according to the uniqueness 
of the gifts of its leaders.


Similarly, managing resources and projects is very different from 
leading people. The Romans 12 leadership gift flows with both 
influence and authority, without the need of position. On the other 
hand, the gift of administration in 1 Cor 12:28 specializes in the 
management of resources. Joseph the Patriarch operated in both. 
Within the function of leading are diversities of applications, again
 based on the gifts of those serving as the leaders.


The bottom line is the issue between soul and spirit. This is the 
cause of much confusion within the ranks of believers. Those 
who try to employ the spirit to nurture their soul-longings are out 
of God's order. The priorities are upside down. The standard for 
leadership requires raising the bar.

"The Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to minister, 
and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt 20:28


A Culture of Discipline and Trust

In his riveting "Trust: Social Virtues and Creation of Prosperity," 
an analysis of social economics, Francis Fukuyama notes that 
economic life cannot be divorced from cultural life. He contends 
that in an era when social capital may be as important as physical 
capital, only those societies with a high degree of social trust will 
have what is needed to compete in the new global economy. 
High levels of trust based on cooperative behavior and shared 
norms are foundational to maximizing the economic potential of a society.


Fukuyama's views make a case for the reason the Jewish people have 
survived the civilizations that have come and gone over the millennia. 
As a culture within a culture, their foundation is a model of biblical 
community and a culture of discipline that engenders a society of trust.


Spiritual Maintenance


Jesus cautioned of days in which the very elect would be subject to 
being deceived. Peter warned those who indulge in corrupt desires 
and despise the authority over them. The gravity of the times calls 
deep to deep and shouts for the need to spiritually overcompensate.


Spiritual maintenance for leaders cannot be confined to devotional 
readings or corporate devotions. The defilements of the day must 
be compensated for and refreshed by a regular washing in the 
Word of Truth and interactive prayer vigils. Proactive personal time 
with the Lord must be carved out of the busiest schedules. 
David Wilkerson had a mature local ministry that went viral, 
when he obeyed the promptings of the Spirit and began spending 
an extra hour in prayer each night at midnight.


The Apostle Paul frequently in his letters makes a case for the 
importance of discipline needed as believers. Again and again 
he uses the analogy of running a race. There's no coasting for 
those at the forefront of the spiritual drama unfolding in this day. 
Peter admonishes leaders to clothe themselves with humility. 
The calling of leadership demands vigilance and diligence. 
Likewise, the book of Hebrews indicates the need to check 
our priorities and maintain the attentiveness needed to rule your 
own spirit in maturity.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of 
witnesses, let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance 
(unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily 
(deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run 
with patient endurance and steady and active persistence 
the appointed course of the race that is set before us." Heb 12:1 Amp


It is a time for true leaders to redirect their attention from issues 
of soul and position and into the realm of service. It is a time 
when ruling ones own spirit will yield not only the power to serve 
as Jesus admonished in Matt 20:28, with the valor and capacity 
of those willing to give up their lives as a ransom for many; 
but with it, embracing the joy and contentment of truly being in 
the flow of His business.

"Then the fool will no longer be called generous, nor the miser 
said to be bountiful. The schemes of the schemer are evil; devising 
wicked plans to destroy the poor with lying words, despite the needy 
speaking justice. The generous man devises generous plans, and 
by generosity he shall stand." Isaiah 32: 5-8
___________________________________________________
Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the 
call of God in the marketplace since the mid-90s. As founder of 
Global Initiatives Foundation and designer of the God's Economy 
Entrepreneurial Equippers Program, Mr. Ruddick imparts hope 
and equips economic community builders where God's light is 
dim in both the Western and non-Western world.


He is author of "The Joseph-Daniel Calling;" "Gods Economy, I
srael and the Nations;" "The Heart of a King;" "Something More;" 
and "Righteous Power in a Corrupt World," which address 
the mobilization of business and governmental leaders 
called to impact their communities with God's blessings. 
They are available in print and e-versions from Amazon.com, 
BarnesandNoble.com and other popular outlets.

Global Initiatives Foundation (www.strategic-initiatives.org) is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit whose efforts are enabled by the generosity of a remnant of faithful friends and contributors whose vision aligns with God's heart to mobilize the least of these our brethren. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to PO Box 370291, Denver CO 80237 or email us at sign@strategicintercession.org for access information on our secure web-site.


2013 Copyright Morris Ruddick - sign@strategicintercession.org

Reproduction is prohibited unless permission is given by a SIGN advisor. Since 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For previous posts or more information on SIGN, check: http://www.strategicintercession.org

Morris Ruddick

Global Initiatives Foundation

www.strategic-initiatives.org

www.strategicintercession.org

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Thanks for sharing. Blessings on your head from the Lord Jesus, Yeshua HaMashiach.

Steve Martin
Founder
Love For His People
Charlotte, NC USA