12 Traits of Leadership: Part One

Colossians 1:1-9

A leader must be secure. 1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, (Colossians 1:1)

Leadership begins with self-discovery.

i. Know who you are.

1. If you are not secure in whom God has made you, your leadership will overwhelm you.

2. Leadership does not minimize our insecurities; it magnifiesthem.

3. The world tries to tell you who you are. People try to tell you who you are. So, you better know who God says you are.

4. People can be intimidating. God’s message to Jeremiah was, “Don’t be afraid of their faces” (Jeremiah 1:8). If you just watch people’s responses you will feel like a failure.

ii. Know where God has called you.

Paul was a secure leader.

i. He had a personal encounter on the road to Damascus.

ii. He had personal times of growth in Arabia.

iii. He had personal accountability in Jerusalem.

A leader has impact. 1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, (Colossians 1:1).

A leader has fruit.

i. People will grow because of you.

ii. People will be helped because of you.

iii. People will lead because of you.

A leader’s fruit is people, not finances or programs.

3. A leader has power. 2To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, (Colossians 1:2-3).

There are no shortcuts in leadership. Leadership must be processed in prayer.

i. Pray up.

ii. Pray in.

iii. Pray through.

iv. Pray for.

Before you lead people in life you must lead them in prayer. For a leader, prayer isn’t an option, it is a necessity.

i. People pray for things; leaders pray for people.

ii. People pray for God to change problems; leaders pray for God to change people.

iii. People pray for today; leaders pray for tomorrow.

A leader knows where to invest. 4since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, 6which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth (Colossians 1:4-6).

A leader has a reputation for growth.

i. People hear about you before they know you. So what do people hear?

ii. Your reputation either draws people to your life or it keeps people from your life.

A leader has testimonies of growth from his people. A leader has a commitment to growth. A leader values a team. 7as you also learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8who also declared to us your love in the Spirit. (Colossians 1:7).

Others can have the spotlight. Others can get the credit. Others can produce results. A leader is continuously learning. 9For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; (Colossians 1:9).

The tools of learning.

i. Knowledge – you get it.

ii. Wisdom – you pray for it.

iii. Understanding – principles you live by.

The process of learning.

i. Knowledge – education.

ii. Wisdom – application.

iii. Understanding – transformation.

The results of learning.

i. Knowledge of God’s will – You know what to do.

ii. Spiritual wisdom – You know how to do it.

iii. Spiritual understanding – You can impart God’s knowledge and wisdom to others.