THE SANCTIFIED LEADER

"And for their sakes I SANCTIFY myself, that they also might be SANCTIFIED through the truth." (John 17:19).

The phrase "sanctified leadership" is jumping around in my spirit through this prayer of Christ. He stood before God and used Himself as the standard of sanctified leadership. The example He laid down was that of holiness: obedience to God, humility, purity, integrity, service, selflessness and sacrifice. For the sake of those He came to save and lead, He sanctified Himself to God so that the power of God could flow through Him and save them. A submission to this truth is what produces other sanctified leaders under Him.

To be sanctified is not to be perfect. It is a submission to truth. A separation to God. A father should sanctify himself because of his children. A pastor should sanctify himself because of his congregation. A CEO should sanctify himself because of his company. A Prime Minister should sanctify himself because of the nation he is called to lead. The principle should run through the gamut of leadership.

Sanctification is important in leadership because only a sanctified leader can produce other sanctified leaders. The oil of leadership flows from the head in any nation (community of people). One prophet puts it like this, "And there shall be, like people, like priest" (Hosea 4:9).

In the Old Testament when the high priest is rejected in Israel, it also means that the people are rejected. Until a high priest is found who is accepted by God the sins of the people remain; the nation is in trouble. Jesus as our High Priest was accepted by God. We are accepted by God when we believe in Jesus.

Someone might say, but Jesus is the Messiah. Okay, what about David? David was a great example of a sanctified leader. David was not perfect. But David was a man of truth and integrity. God Himself testified of him. 

"He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:

From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

So he fed them according to the INTEGRITY OF HIS HEART; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands." (Psalms 78:70-72).

So a sanctified leader is one that is separated and submitted to God. You know what to expect. He will serve the people in submission to God. A leader produces his likes. David was a lion slayer and a giant killer. He produced other lion slayers and giant killers. 

Hear what David said, "The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, HE THAT RULES OVER MEN MUST BE JUST, RULING IN THE FEAR OF GOD.

And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun rises, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow." (2 Samuel 23:3-5).

David knew the standard for leadership. He heard from God. That was why he was prone to run to God for help. David knew how to repent. He was an honest leader. The scripture is replete with his cry to God for mercy. He was a humble man. 

BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR LEADERSHIP

Again, sanctification is not perfection. But there are traits to look out for. Honesty, integrity, humility, repentance, fear of God, obedience to God, kindness, sacrifice, selflessness, service. Submission to truth is the basic requirement for leadership. There are traits that are not to be permitted in leadership. Otherwise everything will go down the drain as it flows down. It is predictable. 

That's why God gives people the right to choose their own leaders. They will have no one to blame. It is a reflection of their own sanctification. When leadership is forced on people; you can guess how God feels about it. Satan has come to town. He comes to kill, to steal and to destroy. It can only produce oppression. Only a sanctified leader can deliver people from oppression.