[This article is part of the “spiritual leadership today” study/discussion going on this year. For all articles in the series, click the Spiritual Leadership tab at the top of the page. To have them delivered, subscribe to The Brook Letter]
There are many variables in spiritual leadership. Some people are specially gifted in administration, others in teaching, others in strategic thinking, and so on. But one characteristic that should hold true of everyone in spiritual leadership is growth in wisdom. And one description of wisdom in the New Testament is “spiritual truths in spiritual words.” But what does that mean?
When the Apostle Paul wanted to authenticate his ministry to a group of people who were wildly erratic in their application of the gospel, he did it on the basis of wisdom. 1 Corinthians 2 is the passage and it begins with a personal word about the beginning of Paul’s relationship with these people living in the cosmopolitan and very worldly Greek city of Corinth. “When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.” I did not offer you a new and better philosophy, in other words. Many people at the time peddled wisdom as a set of beliefs. What we would call “religions” they would call “philosophies.” They were wildly different from each other and usually exclusive and esoteric. Paul’s approach was “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Grounded in history, centered in a great redemptive act, the fact of Jesus was the message.
In Jesus the primordial wisdom of God the Father is contained, and is mediated to human beings by the Spirit of God. Father, Son, and Spirit bring to us a wisdom that is “secret” (i.e. mysterious) and that stands in the starkest contrast to “the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing” (vs. 7).
And so, Paul says, “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.”
1 Corinthians 2 presents us with the clearest possible mandate for spiritual leadership. Paul’s form of leadership was proclamation, but the same wisdom principles apply to those who lead in any context. This is the same thing as the “wisdom from above” principle of James (see previous article).
It is the core of spiritual leadership.
When we let God use us as instruments of his influence in the lives of others…
• We realize how inadequate all the tools and techniques of generic leadership are–not necessarily invalid, just incomplete.
• We begin looking for the outcomes that God wants in every leadership challenge we face.
• We realize how much we don’t know without the revelation of God.
• We appreciate the amazing wisdom of respected leaders who accomplish great things not just for next quarter’s report or the balance sheet, but for eternity.
• We realize how much we need a higher wisdom.
• We ask God for wisdom, knowing that this is a prayer that honors God (2 Chron. 1:10).
• We realize that wisdom comes from an interaction of numerous past experiences, conversations in the present, and a deep reading of Scripture.
• We are disappointed when others don’t see the wisdom of God.
• We learn that wisdom sometimes comes like a flash of lightning, but more often comes like daily awakenings.
What do you think?
I really appreciate the idea that generic leadership tools are not “invalid, just incomplete”. So often we swing to one side of the pendulum or the other when it comes to how we live and work in this world. Either it is all God or all us…living in the tension of both/and is uncomfortable and most often untried.
Thanks for a great series!
I teach, coach, and support leaders as a part of my business. As I read this message I am aware of just how often I do that on my own – without calling on the Spirit to guide me. I often consider and thank God for being a tool which he uses to touch others, but maintaining that perspective during the work and not just before and after sure relieves me of the pressure of doing it on my own.
Paul’s words remind us that leadership is dependent on who I am in Christ – not what I do. To lead is to be led; to be mastered by the Master. Any form of leadership that is independent of the leading of the Holy Spirit is immediately and completely disqualified.
Looking at Romans 12:2 today, thought it underscored what you said about wisdom
“…be transformed (passive voice, God has the power to do the transformation) by the renewing of your mind (my active choice to be in God’s Word, listen, pray, obey, etc.). Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
Mel,
Thanks for the topic.
One description of wisdom in the New Testament is “spiritual truths in spiritual words.” But what does that mean?
It is important for me to distinguish soul from spirit as I read these messages.
1 Corinthians 15:45
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit.
I love this, and it is very important for me to understand that as a Christian, I contain the two Adams at the same time.
The first man Adam, Natural man, or “me” or “The Old Man” or “my normal way of thinking”, is a living soul.
The Kingdom of Self…a being separate from God and able to make its own decisions, thus being “like” God….but always exalting itself above God, it is rebellious in Nature and in fact cannot run its own being, even turning against itself, lost in denial.
A living soul is simply as I would say, due to the fall of Man, {That is the ingestion of a Poison within the Apple} that did make my Mind, Emotion and Will dominate over my spirit organ…thus placing itself in charge, claiming the ability to bring fulfillment without relationship with God…yet claiming to know Him and to believe that He exists…The Ego.
My spirit in the Natural man, now trapped, cutoff from relationship with God….only the conscience providing any input to the Soul {Mind, Emotion and Will}.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 18…I come to preach the Cross.
The Truth of the Need for Resurrection Life.
Jesus says: you must be Reborn to have access to The Father.
Jesus and Him Crucified and Rising up as the First born among many.
Jesus is the Second Adam, and a Christian is raised up in Resurrection Life as a New Species of human:Spiritual.
“spiritual truths in spiritual words” to me is simply expressing the truth of resurrection life.
Paul spent many years in Ephesus and he constantly said, it is not in philosophies of Natural Man, that I seek to bring you into a Richer life, but a New secret language that is called spiritual.
“I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Grounded in history, centered in a great redemptive act, the fact of Jesus was the message.
Jesus, Rising up in Resurrection Life, {and the fact that a New Man that was hidden as a Great Mystery was now coming into being}: Christ in us…a living spirit.
Christians, regenerated now have a spirit organ that looks like this: Spirit –married to —human spirit.
A New Species of human.
Paul speaks of this Great Mystery and he says simply the only way to bring it forth is to stay at the Cross.
The first Adam a living soul…his days have been judged at the Cross, {like the flood and have been declared by God the Father, as Vanity..emptiness…
Oh, how important it is for me to see this first Adam within me.
Paul says daily we have to go to the Cross and put off the Old Man and Put on the New.
The Word also says that we need each other..Christians need each other…
My first Adam is a Worker and he says the way to fix things is to work harder…and I try and I try and then the Second Adam breaks in and says….stop working of yourself and give it to The LORD and live by His Faithfulness.
I must admit that it is a journey, and often two steps back and one forward…but that is why we need each other so much.
I like to think of Peter as standing for Submission: Actively Walking with an energized heart with the LORD.
Jesus said, “Peter, I will build my Church upon you”.
Surrendered hearts…
Spiritual words in spiritual truth …A Christian is a man always at war…the war of Self Sufficiency…{soul aligned with flesh} or Another Sufficiency ….{soul in submission to Spirit—spirit}.
There are two languages for a Christian …and one has to be given over to The Holy Spirit …for Self always elevates itself.
I am ashamed of how often I tell people a solution without living in the reality of how I needed Another …that I was lost in spiritual darkness….the clarification of the need for a New Way of Living must be told..yet….unless I am living in Reality…I pass along a false message.
Spiritual truth….simply stating the Reality of our brokenness…and how we needed Another…a life giving Spirit…
The first Adam has been judged…and all things done in Self has no Eternal Value.
Man is the intended dwelling place of God and through Jesus…our spirit is Made Whole and Now man is once again spiritual, yet the Old man cannot be removed without killing the physical body, so the two are at battle for the heart of man.
This is The Cross Paul preached and the need to die to one and to live through the Faithfulness of The Son ….in the other..
The battle is real and it is quite a struggle for me..
Be blessed
Thanks for the topic.
Thank you for sharing those thoughtful words. It is a constant struggle. You are right, we live with both Adams, and by our faith and obedience we bury the first and walk in “ newness” of life, able to produce the spiritual fruit .
you really connected with me on the “we get disappointed when others don’t see the wisdom of God.” I don’t have it figured out, but that doesn’t stop me from trying to fix everyone else’s problems. I’m hoping that feeling fades with maturity.