What kind of leader does God use?

The first major battle between American and German forces in World War II was the battle of Kasserine Pass in February of 1943. The battle was a complete and total disaster for America. Over 3,000 Americans were killed and wounded. Two hundred tanks were lost. The Germans captured 3,700 soldiers. Local Arabs looted the bodies of the dead. Vast mountains of equipment were lost.

Eisenhower did not waste any time. He fired the commander and brought in a man named George Patton. Eisenhower gave Patton eleven days to reorganize the army and retake the offensive. Patton was a careful student of military history. He knew that even strong soldiers lose without discipline and faith in their commanders.

For the next week Patton displayed the largest stars his staff could produce. He went everywhere with half tracks and scout cars armed to the teeth with screaming sirens. He swooped down upon every battalion in his division. He mercilessly enforced the Army’s traditional orders for discipline. He rebuilt the division and the rest is history.

We need leaders today! We need to be strong. It doesn’t require armies and infantry to defeat a nation. A nation can be defeated through fear. Especially in this time we need strong leaders. The Books of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus are known as the pastoral epistles. Paul is writing to Timothy and Titus about how the church should operate. God uses leaders. In this critical time we need to step forward. In 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 God lists four qualities of a godly leader.

The first quality is a craving. There must be a desire to lead. 1 Timothy 3:1 says, “If any man aspires to the office of overseer (elder), it is a fine thing he desires to do.” The word aspires means “to reach out after, to stretch out oneself to grasp something.” Desires means “a passionate compulsion.”

Leadership begins with a craving or a desire to make a difference. Leadership is dangerous and difficult. In the early church persecution was rampant. Stephen was killed in Acts 7. James was murdered in Acts 12. Peter was arrested and almost killed in Acts 12.

Peter Drucker, the management guru, listed the four most difficult jobs- president of the United States, a pastor of a church, an administrator of a hospital and a mother of three or more children. Leadership is not easy. Spiritual leadership in this age is very difficult. There must be a desire to serve.

The second quality is character. 1 Timothy 3 and Titus list the character qualities required in a leader. The key is not perfection. It is direction. Only the Lord Jesus was perfect. God does not expect perfection in His leaders. He does expect an increasing direction toward godliness. The direction of a person’s life must be one of godliness.

The third quality is capacity. Capacity breaks down into two areas- the ability to teach and the ability to manage. 1 Timothy 3:2 says, “…able to teach…” There must be the ability to communicate God’s truth. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” 2 Timothy 4:2 is God’s job description for spiritual leaders. “Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season.”

John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim’s Progress. For many years it was the second best selling book in the world- second only to the Bible. John Bunyan knew the Bible so well his enemies said, “If you cut John Bunyan he will bleed Bible.” We must understand and communicate God’s Word.

There must also be the ability to manage. 1 Timothy 3:4 says, “He must be one who manages his own household well….” To see if a person is qualified look in their sock drawer! Is their garage organized? Does his family follow? Do they have the ability to manage?

The final requirement is confirmation. 1 Timothy 3:10 says, “These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.” There must be confirmation from other leaders in the church and from the congregation. A true leader gets involved and serves and others notice.

The Lord Jesus met all of these qualities perfectly. He desired to come and lead us from death to life. His character was perfect. He never sinned. He is God. He possessed perfect capacity. He memorized and meditated on and taught the truth. He led perfectly. He was also confirmed by others. The thief on the cross said, “This Man has done nothing wrong” (Luke 23:41). The centurion responsible for crucifying Jesus concluded, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

In these challenging times, let’s step up and lead. Let’s be the leaders God wants us to be!

Ethan Hansen is a pastor at Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.