These words jumped off the page this morning:

“Establishing that the leader’s role is not to set the vision or to sell the vision begs the question:

‘What is the spiritual leader’s role?’

It is to bear witness to what God says. 

Spiritual leaders must bring followers into a face-to-face encounter with God so they hear from God directly, not indirectly through their leader.  Jesus shared the Father’s revelation with his disciples corporately (John 15:15).  Spiritual leaders may never convince their people they have heard from God personally, but once their people hear from God themselves, there will be no stopping them from participating in the work God is doing.  That is because the Holy Spirit will take the truth, shared by the leader, and confirm it in the hearts of the people.  The leader cannot convince people that a particular direction is from God.  This is the Holy Spirit’s task…

We advised [a frustrated pastor] to worry less about the people’s activity in the church and to concentrate instead on encouraging their walk with God.  If their relationship with God grew strong, their obedience would follow…a church program never changed a life.  Only God does that.  Church activities are nothing more than busywork unless God initiates them.  As people see God at work around them and as they are encouraged to join him, they will demonstrate much more than compliance.  They will enthusiastically participate in the things they sense God is doing…people are willing to adjust their lives when they are helped to see God at work…When people sense they are a part of something God is doing, there is no limit to what they will be willing to do in response.”

Henry Blackaby, “Spiritual Leadership” (pgs. 75, 76, 77)