Editorial Updated 25 September 2006
Leadership Informed From the Book of Daniel

Last week I wrote about having your Leadership Informed from the Bible. This week I want to give an example. I am working on my Daniel Biblical Leadership Commentary (originally done several years ago). I am in the process of putting it into hard copy.

You will remember from last week the following definition.

Definition
A Bible Centered leader refers to a leader whose leadership is significantly informed from the Bible and who personally has been shaped by Biblical values, has grasped the intent of Scriptural books and their content in such a way as to apply them to current situations and who uses the Bible in ministry so as to impact followers.

1. Essential Component: A leader whose leadership is being informed by the Bible,
2. Necessary Credibility Component: A leader who personally has been shaped by Biblical values,
3. Necessary Contextual Component: A leader who has grasped the intent of Scriptural books and their content in such a way as to apply them to current situations and
4. Essential Component: A leader who uses the Bible in ministry so as to impact followers.

Let me give you an important lesson from this Daniel commentary. Both red items above are illustrated in this short report. I hope it will inform your leadership.

One of seven major leadership lessons identified from comparative study of effective leaders states,

Effective leaders maintain a learning posture throughout their lifetimes.

Daniel is the classic O.T. leader demonstrating this leadership lesson. He is in his 70s, maybe even 80s and yet still studying the Scriptures. And as he studies the Scriptures (see Daniel 9—he is reading from Jeremiah 27-29) he senses God speaking to him through them. The 70 years are up. God wants to bring the scattered Israelites back into the land. God prompts Daniel! Will you grasp this truth and pray it in to being? And so Daniel responds to this prompting and breaks into intercessory prayer (vicarious prayer—i.e. identificational repentance). And we get the great Messianic prophecy of Daniel 9, as a result. This is a marker event which shows how God uses a leader to Partner with Him in bringing about His purposes in history.

Study of the Scriptures in a sensitive way so that God can speak through them brings life to a leader. The lack of learning posture is a prime reason for a leader plateauing, one of the six major barriers to leaders not finishing well. The continued study of the Scripture, on the other hand, brings renewal and give life. And the older we get, the more we can see in the Scripture because of our experience and expanded paradigmatic views. So don’t stop studying the Scriptures just because you are getting older. In fact, study them more. You will see more and have more to share with others.

The ability to hear God in the Scriptures and to respond so as to obediently move into a harmonious partnership with God is a major characteristic of a Bible Centered Leader. A leader is a person with God-given ability and a God-given responsibility to influence a specific group of God’s people toward God’s purposes. To influence toward God’s purposes requires the ability to hear from God and respond to Him in terms of what is heard or revealed. It is just such a word from God that enables a leader to motivate followers.

Are you still studying the Scriptures for your own personal edification as well as to minister using them? If so, what is something God has spoken to you recently via the Scriptures.

Blessings,
Bobby Clinton