Represent Him Well

A character flaw that is always disheartening to me is when soul issues turn into sin issues because leaders refuse to take time and heal. The second flaw I will highlight is the inability to lead outside of the church walls. Leadership takes up the totality of the person - spirit, soul and body. As we discussed during the live session, if issues in the soul are not dealt with, it can cause a reproach to the body. No person is perfect, but we should always press toward the mark (Philippians 3:13-14). The bible says we must examine ourselves (II Cor. 13:5) and work out our salvation with fear and trembling. That fear is not in terms of being afraid, but in terms of having enough respect for God that we desire to represent Him well. These two issues can be prevented when leaders denounce pride and take time to heal. Even Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane when He needed a moment to prepare for what He was about to face (Matt. 26). We are not greater than the Master. He knew He needed strength for the assignment of God. The second preventive measure is to be accountable to an elder who is endowed with a spirit of wisdom. Timothy had Paul to encourage him to stir up his gift. Peter had Jesus to rebuke him when he spoke out of the wrong spirit. Leaders have to be accountable to an elder or senior leader. Sometimes you canââ'¬â¢t see your own flaws. The bible says we are read of men like a letter of God. If leaders donââ'¬â¢t have a heart to want to represent Him well, we do a disservice to the title. Leaders have to embrace their strengths, prayer over their weaknesses and be humble in their greatness. II Corinthians 3:2-3 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. Our fleshly tables have to be renewed daily as we walk in roles of leadership. The world is watching. We must represent Him well.

Love it, love it! Sister you broke that down well. I enjoyed reading your thoughts. You hit it on the nail. Issues of the soul must be dealt with and yes it comes from self examination, being accountable to a leader and total awareness of the leadership role. Soul issues are like issues or the heart. This takes my mind back to one of my favorite lessons in Shekinah Bible School… we have to deal with the roots of our heart because those roots will manifest in many different ways depending on the root. The root of rejection may manifest as anger or bitterness. Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; and Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: