The Anointed: God’s Chosen Leaders!
”The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:8–19).
Caesarea Philippi, a Greco-Roman city, located in the northern part of Israel had a history of pagan religious influence that included the idolatrous activities of Syrians, Greeks, and Romans. A place known for its dark, immoral worship — the gate of hades — was where the Lord chose to affirm his identity as Messiah and establish his church as an unstoppable force in the world (Matt. 16:13–20).
Jesus had assembled twelve disciples — later apostles — who at the tail end of his ministry on earth were sent out to all the world to recruit more disciples and advance the domain of God’s kingdom. Thereafter, hundreds of thousands of apostles have been appointed and sent out.
The Church in Philadelphia, an arm of this Body, has just lost a General in the unstoppable Army — Rev. Nathaniel Winslow of Chesnut Street Global Mission. Rev. Winslow has gone to his rest at the bosom of our Lord — the One he spent his entire life in his service.
Rev. Winslow in his lifetime epitomizes the model of mission enterprise, while his passing brings into focus what leadership ought to mean in the New Testament Church.
As expected, glowing tributes have been paid and are being paid in reminiscence of his missionary outreaches within and beyond the shores of the United States of America.
Rev. Winslow’s answer to the call upon his life — fulfilling the Lord’s Great Commission knew no bounds — from America to Liberia and Ivory Coast in West Africa, to Haiti and the Virgin Islands, to Uganda in East Africa, Egypt in the North, and Zimbabwe in Southern Africa — his ministry touched the lives of men and women around the world.
Only eternity will tell of the impact made on humanity by this quiet but effective missionary and leader.
Leadership remains a key component of human systems and organizations. Its central role in spheres of human endeavor is underscored by the amount of time and resources invested into the selection of leaders in corporate and sociopolitical entities. Nations have risen and fallen on account of the quality of their leaders.
It's little wonder that the search for competent, visionary leaders has remained at the center stage in national discourse over time. Well-meaning citizens often lament situations of neglect and inaction by national leadership towards arresting incidences of abuse, insecurity, and the general economic hardship in their country.
In some ways, the modern presidential system of government shares some common characteristics with the monarchy of the past.
In spite of professing to be democratic, with constitutional checks and balances, “elected” presidents in developed and developing nations have abused the powers and authority bestowed on them — in clear violation of the constitution. There is hardly any constitution without loopholes that are easily exploited by corrupt leaders.
As Christians join the chorus of complaints about leadership failure we need to remind ourselves of our own roles as leaders. There is little doubt that believers are packaged to function and lead in whatever context we find ourselves in.
In one sense we are all leaders — whether in government, at home, in the workplace, as a pastor in the church, or as committee chairpersons in the community. Visionary Leadership is a gift from God.
As leaders, we also follow others — physically, spiritually, and ideologically. Who are you following as a leader? I mean who is your role model? Is Jesus your role model?
As Christians, we need to get our acts together as we navigate the political terrain without getting unduly enmeshed in the horsemanship of racial, ethnic, and religious politics of our country.
Monarchical leadership.
The Bible contains different genres of literature including the history of Israel and the ancient world. Israel was a theocracy before the ascension of Saul to the throne of Israel. God was their king. At Sinai, God made a covenant with Israel to be their leader and king, while Israel identified as God’s people.
On getting to the promised land, however, they began to see others who had human kings and desired to be like them. They forgot who they were. They were meant to be unique and set apart for God’s predetermined purposes. But because they wanted to be like others, they demanded a king.
God granted them indulgent permission through Samuel, hitherto in the role of a priest and judge. Saul emerged as the people’s choice. “He was head and shoulder above everyone.” His physical appearance marked him out. “He was tall, dark, and handsome — looked good, smelled good, and talked sweet!”
God allowed Saul in order to show the nation of Israel why they should put their trust in him and not in a human king. God’s thoughts and standards are always different from humans.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways.” (Isaiah 55:8–9).
This is why God-ordained leaders must pursue God-given vision and follow His direction — not popular opinion.
Samuel was in place to give guidance and direction to King Saul. But 1 Chronicle 10:13 says, “So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and because he consulted a medium for guidance…”
Saul’s reign as king was positional and irrelevant to God’s plan for Israel and irrelevant to the people. He was more or less a figurehead occupying the position but making a little or no positive impact.
Leadership for some is positional. Their goal begins and ends with occupying positions of power and authority. For them, leadership is about goading and manipulating people to do their bidding. It’s a matter of “I am in charge — you must obey my command.” For others it is accidental. They find themselves in leadership positions and are surrounded by men whose interest is in using power for selfish purposes.
A leader without vision is at the mercy of his advisers — tossed up and down like a ship without a rudder.
In 2 Samuel 4:1, we read about a little-known and little-talked-about king in Israel. His name is Ishbosheth. Ishbosheth, propped up by Abner, the Chief of the army, became the king.
Ishbosheth had no zeal for the people; he had no vision and no insight as to what he wanted to do. In modern parlance, he had no clear manifesto in place. He was there; he occupied the position of king, sat in the position, and enjoyed the perks. Ishbosheth enjoyed the fact that people came and served him — until he was killed by Joab.
It is heart-sickening to see a church leader who has nothing to offer his congregants and membership other than parroting prayers and messages that add nothing to the spiritual growth of the church. Leadership in such a context is satisfied with routine and performance — with mere numbers and the company of an inner circle of praise singers.
The third king in Israel was David, utterly different from his predecessors. David had God’s heart. With God’s heart, a leader will accomplish great and amazing things.
David had what Bishop Vincent Mattew in ODB Leadership Basic characterizes as a “sustainability plan.”
God made a covenant — the Davidic covenant — with him. King David rallied and united the people who previous insensitive leaders rattled. Remarkably, the mantle of leadership fell upon David long before he became king. God, saw in David, virtue — a contrite spirit and commitment to service. God, through Samuel, anointed him as king after rejecting Saul.
Saul continued on the throne years after his rejection. His reign became toxic wreaking havoc in the land as he sought to thwart God’s plan.
David had a vision. His daily desire was to please God. Though he had his weaknesses and failed when they mattered most, he provided inspiring leadership. He rallied the people and restored true worship — impacting lives and moving the nation forward.
Moving the nation forward becomes more apparent when located within the covenant relationship between God and the descendants of Abraham.
King David’s vision for the nation of Israel was tied to the will of God for the people. He was highly motivated to build a befitting house for the Ark of God and began to make moves towards that end (2 Samuel 7: 1–2).
But God would not allow David to build a house for him; rather God announced his covenant with David promising to establish his kingdom through his offspring. This is what God said about David’s offspring:
“I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever…Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” (vv.12–17).
It was a covenant that foreshadowed the coming of the Messiah and Christ’s eternal kingdom.
What type of leadership are you offering in the church, your family, the neighborhood, and the nation?
How would you be remembered? What will be your legacy?
