#1
LACK OF ABILITY OR WORK ETHIC.
DEVELOPING LEADERS THROUGH EQUIPPING THEM TO EXCEL.
- Insight: All leaders want to achieve their organizational goals and they know that they can only accomplish them only after their teams and people excel and new leaders are developed.
2 Corinthians 8:7 (AMP) But just as you excel in everything and lead the way in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in genuine concern, and in your love for us, see that you excel in this gracious work of giving also.
- Excel: to surpass others or be superior in some respect or area; do something extremely well. To outdo. To shine. Exceed, to master, be good at, be proficient,
- Insight: Until we help them excel they are not qualified to lead. Excelling and leadership go hand in hand.
THREE MAIN REASONS PEOPLE DO NOT EXCEL IN THEIR PRESENT ASSIGNMENTS OR JOB.
A. NO ONE WILL EVER EXCEL IN AN AREA THEY HAVE NO ABILITY IN.
- Even God does not give us responsibilities beyond our abilities.
- Good news - anyone’s abilities can grow through training and experience
Matthew 25:15 (ESV) To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability…
B. NO ONE WILL EVER EXCEL IN AN AREA THAT ARE NOT WILLING TO PUT THE NECESSARY WORK IN.
Proverbs 20:4 (EXB) Lazy farmers don’t plow when they should, in the winter; they expect a harvest, but there is none.
#2
THEY ARE NOT PROPERLY TRAINED.
Discipleship is all about training others. Declare it! “I am a trainer!”
A. THE BIBLE IS OUR TRAINING MANUAL.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (AMP) 16 All Scripture is God-breathed, given by divine inspiration and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness, learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.
B. A GODLY LEADERS RESPONSIBILITY IS TO TRAIN OTHERS TO EXCEL IN MINISTRY AND TO GROW TO SPIRITUALLY MATURITY LIKE CHRIST.
Ephesians 4:12-13 (NLT) 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
- Equip: (katartismos) to perfect, to prepare, to make ready, to supply with whatever is needed for a particular activity or purpose.
Ephesians 4:12-13 (EHV) 12 for the purpose of training the saints for the work of serving, in order to build up the body of Christ. 13 This is to continue until we all reach unity in the faith and knowledge of the Son of God, resulting in a mature man with a stature reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ.
#3
To Be Continued...
- Prayer is meant for empowerment, favor, and strategy. No one can build a house, a business, or a ministry through prayer alone. While prayer is powerful, leaders must understand what to pray for:
- Wisdom to lead effectively
- Organization and structure
- Skilled laborers to fill needed roles
James 1:5 (NLT) "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking."
INSIGHT #3
The Necessity of Structure for Growth
- Solomon, like Nehemiah, did not just pray for success—he prayed for wisdom. He asked God for the ability to lead and organize people effectively. As a result, his leadership was marked by divine order, and everyone was positioned correctly.
1 Kings 3:9-12 (NLT) "Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?"
- Without order, growth is impossible. Leaders must do more than pray for expansion; they must pray for the ability to manage it.
Question: Why would God send more leaders and servants if there is no place for them?
Answer: God does not send people just to watch; He sends them to be developed. Many leaders desire a crowd, but the true purpose of leadership is to develop others. Growth without structure leads to chaos.
- The early church understood this principle. They had structure—meeting in homes, appointing leaders to oversee food distribution, and implementing systems to track numbers.
Acts 6:2-4 (NLT) So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program. 3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. 4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”
- Without structure, their rapid growth would have turned into disorder.
INSIGHT #4
The Danger of Success Without Wisdom
- Insight: One of the greatest dangers leaders face is success itself. When things are going well, it’s easy to assume that everything we do is right.
1 Corinthians 10:12 (NLT) "If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall."
- This false belief: can lead to complacency and poor decision-making. Overconfidence and carelessness can destroy what took years to build in a moment.
- Many ministries and businesses have collapsed because leaders failed to remain humble and diligent in their approach.
- Success should not breed arrogance—it should cultivate greater humility. Wise leaders surround themselves with counsel, track details meticulously, and remain grounded in fundamental principles.
Conclusion: Stay Humble, Stay Strategic
- Growth is not accidental; it is intentional. Leaders must go beyond simply praying for success and begin seeking God for wisdom, structure, and strategy.
- Pray, but also plan.
- Seek wisdom, not just power.
- Build a structure that can sustain growth.
- Remain humble, even in success.
- Beware of overconfidence, and always seek wise counsel. A single careless decision can undo years of hard work. Be successful, but stay humble.
- Growth is guaranteed for those who apply wisdom to their leadership.