As a Christian leader in the non-profit sector and previously in the secular sector, I have seen many models for leadership, including the Traction model[1] for leadership and the Servant model[2]. While both models have validity and have contributed significantly to effectiveness in the workplace, they miss the component of being led by the Spirit and focus on practices and principles.
Whenever practices and principles lead us, however good they are, we miss the point. We see this repeatedly throughout history. As far back as the Old Testament, they failed terribly when the people stepped forth, not in obedience to the Spirit, but in creating their own framework of how God operated.
In the New Testament, we mainly see this with the Scribes and Pharisees. They began to develop rules for everyone to follow. This was especially true about the Sabbath. There were rules about the number of steps you could take. While their intentions were good, they were creating burdens for others. It led them so far away from the Lord, and their hearts became so hard as a result that they became offended by someone being healed on the Sabbath.
Following rules and models can make our hearts hard, no matter how good the intentions are. Today, some of this comes out with the support of sin. We see leaders of the church stepping in to support sin, encouraging and performing marriages of same-sex partners in the name of embracing and loving everyone. Love was never meant to push someone off a cliff, but to grab hold of those who are perishing and hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter (Proverbs 24:11), leading them into a new way of living.
I believe that leaderswho are being led by the Spirit are not only able to follow other frameworks and gain from servant leadership and productivity models but are also open to what God is doing. As a result, they can bring a measure of vitality, wisdom, counsel, and foresight to leadership following a Spirit-led model that following other models cannot bring.
Being a Spirit-led leader can bring an element of the prophetic and call out potential in people and situations that bring forth the Kingdom of God in greater measure. The result is that God’s blessings, peace, and purposes manifest through situations in ways they would not otherwise. They manifest not only in each situation but also through the leader as they are being led (Isaiah 55:12).
And as the Kingdom comes forth in more significant measure, God’s purposes are accomplished which causes flourishing. Throughout the Bible, we capture pictures and examples of the flourishing and fruitfulness that God intended for us from the beginning. Psalm 92:12-15 paints a picture of this righteousness of being led by His Spirit as a flourishing palm tree that is planted in the House of the Lord. It says they will bear fruit even in old age and be “fat and flourishing.”
In Isaiah 55:9, God speaks through His prophet that just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so His ways are so much higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts. Therefore, in looking at being Spirit-led, I believe it is important that the launching place for my study is His word and not my thoughts or other’s thoughts. A little later in the exact text, He speaks that so it shall be with His words that go from His mouth. They are higher and better and will not return void but have the power to accomplish His purposes. (Isaiah 55:11)
Finally, I want to note that Jesus is our greatest example of a Spirit-led leader. Prior to Jesus starting His ministry, we see this picture of Him stepping into the baptismal waters to “fulfill all righteousness.” As He does, the Holy Spirit alighted on Him as a dove. From this place, He was “led forth” into the wilderness for a period of forty days. As He came out of this time of fasting, prayer and temptation, Jesus begins His ministry.
It is important to note that the Spirit alighted on Him, settled, and began to guide Him in power. The Spirit guided His decisions on who to choose as disciples and guided Him into opportunities to provide healing for others.Jesus was continually guided and led by the Holy Spirit of God.
Isaiah 11:2-5 prophesies about Him, “And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by appearance not make a decision based upon hearsay. He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of His word, and one breath from His mouth will destroy the wicked. He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment.”
As a result of Him being led by the Spirit, the Kingdom of God comes through Him and is established in more significant measure on earth. Isaiah 11:6 goes on to paint a picture of fruit from this. He prophesies, “In that day, the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.”
As we strive to be more like Jesus, it is important that we start by being guided by His Spirit. As we receive Christ, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling inside us. We know this from Ephesians 1:13-14, which tells us that we are sealed with Him as our guarantee of inheritance to come.
However, this is not meant to be the end of our journey; it is only the beginning. Paul goes as far as to say in Romans 8:14 that those being led by the Holy Spirit are the sons of God. And, if we are led by the Spirit, we are no longer under the law (2 Galatians 5:18).
So, as Christians, we are called to not only live by the Spirit of God as we receive Him but also walk by the Spirit, keeping in step with Him, not living any longer according to our flesh but by the life-giving, overflowing empowerment of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus walked on earth.
In the book of Acts, after the Holy Spirit descends upon the believers and fills them with tongues of fire dancing on their heads as well as a miraculous language that is the native tongue of some non-believers near them (Acts 2:1-13), we see the value placed upon being led by the Spirit in the New Testament similar as the prophets and key leaders like Abraham, Moses, and Joshua in the Old Testament.
In the Old Testament, as an example, it says that Joshua was full of the Spirit of wisdom when Moses laid his hands on him, so he was established as a leader of the people (Deuteronomy 34:9). And in the New Testament, Acts 6:3 says about caring for the widows, "So, brothers and sisters, choose seven of your own men who are good, full of the Spirit and full of wisdom. We will put them in charge of this work". These leaders were chosen as leaders solely because they were full of the Spirit of God and His wisdom.
While there were several believers to choose from, it was not their belief or performance but their filling that made them good leaders. Joshua not only became strong and courageous, but The Spirit clearly guided him into battles. As he followed the leadings and promptings of the Holy Spirit, he not only had the victory but saw the sun stand still (Joshua 10:12-13).
Another Old Testament leader, outside the prophets, who made a significant mark because they were Spirit-led leaders was Solomon. He asked for wisdom and was given not only this but also prosperity and the flourishing of his kingdom as a result of following the voice of wisdom (the Holy Spirit). He was world-renowned for his wisdom, his administration, and his leadership abilities.
In the New Testament, Paul and Barnabus are spirit-led solid leaders. Barnabus was more led by his heart in helping people and seeing them advance and develop. At the same time, Paul was led by dreams, visions, and a burning passion to see souls saved.
Both of these leaders made a significant contribution to the Kingdom of God's coming forth, and the Holy Spirit was clearly guiding them both. This brings up the conflict they had in Acts 15:36, where Barnabus wanted to take Mark on the journey, and Paul refused because he had abandoned them during the first journey. They had a sharp disagreement and went their separate ways.
Being led by the Spirit will not guarantee that we do not have disagreements or will always see eye-to-eye. The leading of the Spirit is individual and personal. Paul was being called to go in one direction, while Barnabus was called to invest in Mark and lead him on a path that would help him develop. Both were successful as a result despite any disagreement. We wouldn’t have the incredible book of Mark had he forsaken Mark and gone off with Paul.
Therefore, we must listen individually for the leading of the Spirit. While there may be confirmations from other people, we need to know how to hear from the Holy Spirit and be guided individually. Like Paul, who set his face like flint and headed to Jerusalem despite the prophetic warnings he received from some prophets of the time, there are times when we are being led will call us out away in a different direction than the voices around us.
Being filled and led by the Holy Spirit raises the question or issue of having additional filling(s) by the Holy Spirit. How much is enough? We receive the Holy Spirit at salvation and begin being led by His Spirit at this time. While we can refuse to listen or follow, it is clear that the Holy Spirit is not dormant at the time of salvation. He begins leading us into greater righteousness.
While having additional fillings or baptisms, where one is immersed in the Holy Spirit, is not required to be led by the Spirit, I would argue that it does make a significant difference in our walk with the Lord being empowered. The leaders in Acts were specifically chosen because of their fullness in the Spirit. They were not only guided by the voice of wisdom, but empowered by the Spirit.
We see an example of additional fillings with the early believers in Jesus being intimidated by persecution. They came together and prayed for a greater infilling of the Holy Spirit. The ground shook, the earth quaked and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and a new boldness to preach the gospel (Acts 4:23-31).
We also see this as the gospel is spread, and people accept Jesus and are baptized in His Name but lack His power. Additional disciples of Christ connect with them, pray for them, and are given “power from on high,” which includes gifts of the Spirit such as prophecy, tongues, the ability to perform miracles, and healing (Acts 19:6, Acts 10:44-46).
This brings me to two important definitions of terms that I am choosing to define as I am launching out into this study:
Spirit-Filled Leader—Biblical text depicts both receiving and filling with the Spirit. Just as Solomon, in the Bible, asked God for wisdom to lead the people and was given special empowerment, a Spirit-filled leader has received an infilling from the Holy Spirit beyond their born-again experience at salvation to further empower them as the Spirit guides them.
Spirit-Led Leader –A Spirit-led leader is one who is guided by the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, in wisdom, counsel, vision, insight, and understanding. It is from a position of surrender, faith, and obedience. A Spirit-led leader is present to the Holy Spirit while also holding in a hopeful and anticipative manner to future potential God-driven opportunities.
What I hope to discover upon this journey is how to be a better Spirit-led leader and, as such, how to help others be more Spirit-led. As the Word of God promises, I believe that it will lead to greater flourishing and fruits of the Spirit in my own life, but also in the life of those who I lead further in their journey. As Revelation depicts, the Holy Spirit is like a flowing river of life from the throne of God that gives needed life and refreshing to all willing to drink it in, causing them to not only flourish but to be trees bearing fruit and leaves for healing that touch the nations.
Lord Jesus, let us be Spirit-led leaders. Give us Your sweet guidance through Your Holy Spirit, the wisdom we need to build Your Kingdom on earth, and the empowerment we need to live fully into all You have for us. We want all that You have.
1. More information on the Traction Model for leadership at: (20) Building the Leaders of Tomorrow: The Traction Approach to Talent Development | LinkedIn.
2. More information on the Servant Model for leadership at: What Is Servant Leadership? A Philosophy for People-First Leadership (shrm.org)
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