I heard this once, “Good leaders are never born. Good servants are born and they make great leaders.”

Acts 20:24-38.

We are examples for others to watch and learn from. The Bible has rules, yes, but it’s so much more than that. The Bible is a book full of examples. We don’t just see Joseph put on a throne after his dreams, but we see his journey. We see how he was betrayed, how he was imprisoned, and how he was cast down. We see his example of trusting in the Lord through all of that.

We don’t see David being anointed king and then immediately see him on the throne the next day. We see his example of how he walked on when Saul was trying to kill him, how he walked on when he was hurting and broken.

1 Corinthians 11:1. 2 Thessalonians 3:9. If people follow you, are you living a life that will lead them to Jesus? Are you doing your best to follow Christ? John 13:15.

To raise up good leaders:

These four steps have been taught in the secular world, but I am going to give you Biblical examples of these steps.

#1: Live what you are trying to teach them in front of them.
Again John 13:15. 1 Peter 2:21. If you are going to reach anyone, you have to live as an example of Christ in front of them. Preach this example in front of them. Love in front of them. It’s not right to preach about being kind and generous then go out and be mean and hateful to people. If we want this generation to follow us to Calvary and to Heaven, then we have to walk this Christian walk in front of them.

#2: Allow them to be a part of what you are doing.
Titus 2:7. It is the will of God for you to minister to everyone He brings into your life. But evetime you pour into someone, it will cost you something. When the woman with the issue of blood was healed, Jesus stopped and said that virtue went out of Him. When you help someone, you pour a part of yourself into them. Are you pouring out and emptying yourself for others? 1 Timothy 4:12. For those being called to be leaders, even the young, invite them to walk hand-in-hand to minister to others with you.

#3: Step back and give them opportunities to lead. 1 Peter 5:3-4.

#4: Hand off the leadership, knowing the seed you planted and watered with tears will reach into the next generation.

An example from the Bible of a leader who raised up more leaders would be Moses. He lived what he taught in front of Joshua. Exodus 33:11. Joshua was so enthralled with the teaching and the ministry of Moses that he wanted to stay in the Tabernacle. Through the ministry of Moses, Joshua was able to find God and he didn’t want to leave. Can you and I walk this Christian walk in such a way that when people get around us they want what we have? We can inspire others to desire their own personal encounter with God!

Moses then did ministry beside Joshua. Exodus 17:9. Numbers 27:18.

Moses watched Joshua. Deuteronomy 31:23.

Then later, Joshua leads the people as Moses steps back and hands the leadership over to him. Let’s ask ourselves if what we have planted will have a harvest in the next generation. Moses died and then God spoke to Joshua in Joshua 1:5-6.

Jesus did this as well. He preached in front of His disciples, He preached with them, He sent them out, and then He went away. He gave the tasks to His disciples to spread the Gospel, to make more disciples, and keep passing the leadership on.

It should be a Christian’s dream to teach someone to walk with Jesus. When you breathe your last breath, will someone be able to say, “Because of that dear soul, I fell in love with Jesus?”

Every soul counts. Every life matters. We need to minister to others. But know that you’re not the only one God has called to witness to people. It’s not all on your shoulders only.

The enemy will torture you with those you can’t reach. Mark 6:11. You were not Jesus when you were born, and you will not be Jesus when you die. You are just someone full of His power and His presence. You are not the Savior, you’re the person who delivers the Good News. Do all you can, do your best, and leave the rest of it in God’s hands. Don’t let the enemy beat you up.

Let me give you one more example of leadership from the Bible.

1 Timothy 1:2. Paul preached in front of Timothy. Then he worked in ministry with Timothy. Philemon 1:1. He taught Timothy and guided him. 1 Timothy 6:20.

If a person is going to be a leader, they can’t spend all their time arguing with carnal people. If a person is going to be a leader, they can’t let the haters and the name callers change who the leader knows he is. If a person is going to be a leader, they can’t let the fussers and the cursers pull them down. A good leader has to know when to walk away, not hate, not reject, and not be mean, but walk away and not let what the haters say affect them.

There will be some people who never remember anything good about you, but do not let them label you. You know who you are in the Lord. Don’t lay your ministry down because someone doesn’t like you. You are ordained and chosen by God. You are the apple of His eye. The hand of the Lord is on your life and if He be for you then who can be against you? Know who you are! You are a child of God! Don’t let your battles name you!

So, back to Paul and Timothy: 2 Timothy 4:1-2. 2 Timothy 3:10.

Check this out, a leader fails if he only raises up leaders as good as himself. For a leader to succeed, the leaders they have raised up must reach further and do more.

We’ve seen here Paul doing work in front of Timothy, doing work with Timothy, His guidance for Timothy to continue the work, and then Paul had one more letter to write to Timothy. 2 Timothy 4:5-8. Paul handed the leadership over, knowing that the Gospel was in good hands.

I want to encourage you to pray and ask the Lord to let you be a better leader in the midst of those He’s placed you around. Do you want your life to make a difference? Do you want to be the reason someone falls in love with Jesus? Tell God and ask Him for strength and guidance in this life as a leader so that you can minister to others!

— Pastor Anthony Wynn