Jesus Style Leadership 3 - Crop & FaithSample

Faith Visions

Leadership Lesson

God gives Jesus-style leaders “faith visions.”

Read Romans 4:18–22.

Comment

There is a lot of talk about vision in leadership circles. According to secular leadership gurus, leaders need to have vision. But this is only partly true when it comes to Jesus-style leadership. Some Jesus-style leaders are visionaries (they can easily visualise a better future), but many are not. Abraham was not a visionary who was commended for his dream of giving birth to a great nation. He probably had no idea this was going to happen until God spoke and gave him a promise that he could hang on to. Abraham was not full of great ideas. He simply listened to God and then believed what God told him (4:20), no matter how unlikely it seemed (4:19). Abraham’s strength was his faith that God would do as He promised, not his clear vision. I hope that makes sense. You don’t need to be a visionary. If you have that gift, then praise God for it, but you don’t need it. As a Jesus-style leader, you need to listen to God and then hold tightly to what He says, despite the circumstances. I call a revelation from God about the future a “faith vision.” It may look like a normal leadership vision, but it is very different because it comes as a word from God that requires faith to believe and pursue.

Prayer

Lord, you made a promise to Abraham, and you kept it, even though it looked absolutely impossible for a long time. To follow you like Abraham, I need two things. I need you to speak clearly to me so that I can hear what you are wanting to do in and through me, and I need your help to hold on to your promises when they seem difficult or even impossible. Please grow my faith.

Personal Reflection

Do you have any faith visions that God has put in your heart? What has God promised to do through you or around you? It could be something quite small, like starting a new group, or something huge, like planting a church or bringing revival to your school. It’s okay if you don’t have any “faith visions” yet. Just continue to study Scripture and listen to God and to those who mentor you.