In Part One of this article, we talked about the damage insecure leaders can cause to the ministries and people they lead. This time we will look at the blessing a God-ordained, secure leader is to the Kingdom of God, and to the precious people God has given them to lead.

Secure leaders are a benefit to the Kingdom of God. Why? I believe one of the main reasons is that they empower others. Empowerment enables people to operate more independently of the leader. It also allows those that are empowered to use their unique gifts to show Christ to a lost and dying world. It means that they get a chance to shine in the spotlight and enjoy the fruit of their success.

As leaders, we need to lead in such a way that we help our people develop a dependency on God. My wife likes to say that, especially in crisis, we are to be like extension cords, connecting to God and giving what we receive from Him to our people…with the exception that we continually grow shorter until they can connect to God for themselves. Our goal is to be the same as that of John the Baptist:

He must become greater; I must become less.
(John. 3:30)

Jesus mentored 12 men, and then placed the future of the Church in their hands. Paul entrusted the ministry to Timothy, and encouraged him to follow suit (2 Tim. 2:1-2). How can we do any less?

In Part One, we talked about a student named Ryan who visited our youth group. We left the story with an off-the-cuff insult he gave to me. Well, Ryan ended up coming back to our youth group. We went out of our way to include him and make him feel welcome.

I was eventually able to pray with him to give his heart to Christ. Then his brother followed suit. They became an integral part of our sound team. Ryan even ended up playing bass in our Praise & Worship team. It was neat to see the things God was doing in his life.

In July of 2001, Ryan and two of our other teens were killed in a car accident. It was an incredibly difficult situation, to say the least. But it was a comfort to be able to look Ryan's parents in the eyes and assure them that He was now with Jesus.

If we had allowed ourselves to be offended at his initial assessment of us, we would've never seen what he could become. He left a mark on our youth group of the power of God to change lives.

One final thought…Jesus was the most secure Man ever to walk the face of the planet. And He gives us the secret of this security in John 8:

Jesus answered, "Even if I testify on My own behalf, My testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going…."

But he continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world."
(John 8:14, 23)

His source of security was threefold:

• He knew who He was.
• He knew where He had come from.
• He knew where He was going.

I encourage you to spend some time with God during the next few weeks and months studying who God says you are and what He says you can do. Drawing your security and self-image from God is one of the best things you can do for yourself, and for your people.

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