Leadership Qualities

Leadership Qualities - Humility

I Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

One of the greatest qualities and necesary traits of a leader is humility. Peter is teaching two groups of people in this passage about leadership. First he is speaking to the elders. The word elder refers to one of the three names that we find in the New Testament referring to a Pastor. Three titles (all referring to the same position) are:

1) Pastor
2) Elder
3) Bishop

I would like to focus on the word elder. In this case, I believe Peter is referring to leadership in general. Allow me to note that the word “elder” is not referring to a person’s age but his position of leadership and his maturity. It speaks of a leader that he should be wise, seasoned, and mature in his leadership. Peter reminds them that they should be a good example to the flock.

Now, notice in verse 5, Peter addresses the younger or the young men. Once again, I believe he is not referring to those that are young (although, it does apply) but rather is referring to those “young” in experience and maturity of leadership.

Look at verse 6. He says that a younger man will be exalted in due time. The younger man will be exalted from “younger” to “elder” or rather from follower to leader. God does the exalting when a young man is ready.

Now, what makes a “young” man ready to become an elder?

Look at verse 5. He says that a younger man should submit. Submission to leadership is a sign of humility.
Then, he says to be clothed with humility.

This is an interesting statement made by Peter. When writing this, I believe that Peter had a mental picture of an example of being clothed with humility. I believe it is the key to becoming a Biblical leader.

Look at the following passage.

John 13:4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

I believe the wording is specific. I believe that he had girded himself. (Clothed with humility)

Basically he was saying, you can wipe your feet on me.

Please continue.

6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

He was the elder giving an example to the younger men, soon to be exalted to “elder.”

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

Of course, Christ was exalted. We see him in Revelation chapter 1 with a golden girdle.
He upgraded. He has been exalted.

Now let me make this practical.

The ministry or “working with people” can be very “dirty.” For the young men to become leaders they should watch the example of the leaders. How well can you let people wipe their feet on you?

That is being clothed with humility so that one can be exalted from being a younger to an elder or from being a follower to a leader.

The day of “exaltation” will be the day that you can clothe yourself in humility and allow others to clean their feet on you.

I am reminded of a story that Bro. Schaap told about a conversation that he had with Bro. Hyles. After Bro. Hyles told Bro. Schaap of how a certain church member had treated him recently, Bro. Schaap made the statement:

“People treat you like a door mat; they just wipe their feet on you.”

Bro. Hyles responded, “Yes, isn’t great?”

Perhaps that’s why Bro. Hyles was one of the greatest leaders of all time and why he was exalted to be such a great “elder.”

Do you wish to be a greater leader? Greatness lies in being “clothed in humility.” Our example of being clothed in humility is John 13 when Jesus allowed the disciples to clean their feet on him. The ministry is allowing “people to wipe their feet on you”.

The ministry is serving. The greater the leader means that you serve more people.

-Dan Hubbard

October Prayer Letter 2011

Dear Praying Friends, November 1, 2011

As snow falls in the Northeast and temperatures drop back home, the sun is shining bright in southern California. This past month has been a whirlwind! We began the month in Alaska, finishing up a wonderful four-week trip. I am so amazed at the number of great churches in Alaska! We have been blessed to rub shoulders with some phenomenal pastors and truly great Christians. It was hard to get on the plane to head back to the continental U.S., but our journey must continue.

After landing at O’Hare, we spent about 20 hours at home! We regrouped and loaded up the car to head out West. Last month a precious church in Kansas took us on for support without ever meeting us! We were able to go to Kansas, spend the weekend with them, and then head to southern California. With the exception of one meeting, we will be in California for the next three weeks before heading home for Thanksgiving. Jessica and I will definitely be looking forward to the holidays in order to catch our breath! God is so good, and I am very grateful for our full schedule. All in all, October took us to Alaska, Kansas, and California and a total of eleven churches.

I am so thankful for the opportunities God gives us to share the Gospel. Our soul winning was very different last month. However, God still allowed us to see 10 people trust Christ. Just after our arrival in California, I went to a Jiffy Lube in Long Beach to get my oil changed. As I was checking in my car, Tuy, a young Asian man, was amazed at my mileage. He asked what I did for a living, and I told him. He was amazed that I would do that! I handed him a tract and began to tell him why I do what I do. After several minutes, Tuy put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ! He was so excited, he took two more tracts and gave them to two of his coworkers. I was able to witness to the young lady, Liza; and although she didn’t trust Christ, a seed was planted. Seeing the enthusiasm of someone who first realizes the love of Christ, I wonder why everyone doesn’t share the love of Christ!

God continues to show Himself strong in our deputation. So many churches across the country have “caught” our vision for the people of Peru. After just 10 months, God has blessed us with 67% of our needed support! I am so grateful for every church and individual that has invested in us. I would especially like to thank Concord Baptist Church in Delaware, Harvest Baptist Church in California, and Northern Lights Baptist Church in Alaska for taking us on for support in the month of October. My wife and I are honored to represent so many fine people in the country of Peru.

I count it such a high privilege to serve God as a missionary! There is no greater call, I believe, then being able to share the Gospel with those who have never heard. While in Kansas, I was standing by our display table showing our pictures to several children. One of them was a young girl whose family lived in Vietnam. As she
looked through our pictures, she asked why I was going to tell the people in Peru about Jesus. As I explained to her, she let out a huge sigh, and said, “I wish someone would go to Vietnam and tell my family about Jesus.” Oh, the dagger that shot through my heart! If all of God’s people had that childlike faith, I wonder what a difference would be made in this world!

Thank you for your prayers and friendship. The many friends we have made and other missionary families we have met while on deputation have made this journey such a joy. Please keep in contact with us, as we will with you. Our website, www.fbmiteamperu.org, is up and running, as well as our team and personal Facebook pages. We want everyone to be as updated as much as possible with our progress and God’s goodness. God bless you!

Your ambassadors to Peru,

Junior and Jessica Martin
Romans 9:3