The Virtues of True Spiritual Leadership

And he began to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard and let it out to tenants and went into another country for a long while.  When the time came, he sent a servant to the tenants, so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.  And he sent another servant. But they also beat and treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed.  And he sent yet a third. This one also they wounded and cast out.  Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.’  But when the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’  And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?  He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When they heard this, they said, “Surely not!” But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?  Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him” (Luke 20:9-18).

Jesus had just confronted and laid bare the unbelieving hearts of the religious leaders. He was not through with them yet. He presented a parable where a vineyard represented the people whom the Lord brought up out of Egypt. He built a temple for them and established priests and leaders to keep them safe and to produce a good harvest of spiritual fruit. But these laborers degenerated, rejecting their Master’s law, His messengers and ultimately His “beloved Son”. On this day, a current generation of wicked leaders challenged Christ’s authority and His response provoked their hard hearts with a parable that reveals the serious responsibilities and requirements for a new kind of leadership. This is a timely truth for today as God has appointed leaders to care for another vineyard, His Church… “He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). There are important truths here for diligent, maturing disciples. To grow up into Christ, we must discern and follow only those leaders whom God has appointed and invested with the virtues of true spiritual leadership.

True spiritual leaders abide in the prophecy of God’s Word. In the parable, the Master sent servants three times to gather some of the fruit of the vineyard. Fruit is the result of seeds that have been carefully planted, nurtured, and harvested by the hand of a caring farmer. What a beautiful reflection of the work of the caring spiritual leader who is diligent to plant the Word of God in the hearts of young, growing disciples… “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:5-6). The seed that bears spiritual fruit is the Word of God… “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). Do you have spiritual leaders that love and share the truth found in the prophecy of God’s Word?

True spiritual leaders acknowledge the presence of God’s Son. The religious leaders in today’s text felt threatened by the presence of Christ in their temple. He disrupted their plans and distracted their people. True spiritual leaders anticipate and rely upon the presence of Christ in all they do… “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him” (John 12:26). Do your pastors, teachers, elders, and deacons welcome and celebrate the presence of Christ in the fellowship and ministry where you are planted to grow?

True spiritual leaders accept the provision of God’s hand. Jesus restated His authority and sovereignty over His Church with a declaration that He will replace these fallen religious leaders. True spiritual leaders hold the reigns of ministry very lightly, recognizing that the ministry and their position belongs to Christ… “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 34:15). Do your spiritual leaders encourage your trust in the perfect provision of Christ?

As we grow up into Christ, we learn to recognize and submit to those God has invested with…

The Virtues of True Spiritual Leadership.