When one listens to speeches, public utterances, people’s aspirations and congratulatory messages sent to national leaders, one can see that there is a great yearning and longing for Godly leadership in Nigeria. Let’s take a look at just a few examples below:

“We thank Mr. President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo GCFR for his purposeful leadership, for being able to stabilize our economy and making us to have a pride in the community of nations, above all for attaining peace and stability in our beloved country,” Signed by Hon. Alfred C. Itiedu, Publicity Secretary, PDP Bayelsa State. The Punch, Tuesday, May 30, 2006, page 52.

“Nigerians have been urged to eschew violence and embrace the injunctions of God in their day-to-day living… Governor Tinubu, who was represented at the event by his Special Adviser, Local Government and Chieftancy Matter, Alhaji Oluwatoyin Hamzat, blamed the high level of corruption and general decadence in the society on the deviation from the norms and God’s divine injunctions. He said if the country could trace its way back to God, the problem, which the country has long sought would be over.” Same Paper as above

“The point to emphasise here is that decisive leadership with legitimate authority greatly facilitates development through effective implementation of development programmes. There is nothing as harmful to the development process as an illegitimate and indecisive leadership. An important aspect of good governance is a legitimate and a very decisive leadership.”

Welcome speech at the Africa Leadership Development Conference on Wed., 13^th March 2004 by Prof Jerry Gana, Political Adviser to the President. Excerpts from page 3

It is clear from the above quotations that there is a longing for godly leadership. Godly leadership stems from the heart of a leader God uses. From his leadership seminar, Dr. C. Maxwell lists twelve qualities of the heart that every great leader God uses should have. Take note the heart and the leader God uses mean the same thing here in this treatment.

The leader God uses therefore:

1. Has a Great purpose in life

Paul had a great purpose in life. Read what his driving purpose in life was:

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed, I also count all things loss for the excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered loss of all things and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him… That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to his death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Phil 3:7-14)

Do you know your God-given purpose? You must answer these questions:

§  What are your burdens?

§  What are your spiritual gifts?

§  What are your natural talents?

§  What are your desires and passions?

§  What do others affirm about you?

§  What are your dreams and visions?

§  What opportunities are in front of you?

These questions are meant to identify your purpose or what should be your purpose and to pursue it vigorously.

2. Has by God’s Grace Removed any Hindrance From His Life.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance, the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2).

Character and integrity are indispensable in leadership. Character can be defined as self-leadership. It is the foundation on which the leader’s life is built. Leadership operates on the basis of trust. If people don’t trust you, they won’t follow you. Dr. John Maxwell outlines that :

a)      Character communicates credibility,

b)      Character harnesses respect,

c)      Character creates consistency,

d)     Character  earns trust

That in order to build strong character, leaders must choose to:

a)      Develop personal discipline,

b)      Develop a personal security and identity,

c)      Develop personal convictions, values and ethics.

3. Has placed Himself absolutely at God’s Disposal

Paul says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that acceptable and most perfect will of God (Rom 12:1-2). To lead others, we must develop three attitudes of total surrender to God:

a)      We must have nothing to prove (we don’t try to project ourselves worthy),

b)      We must have nothing to lose (we don’t strive for image or popularity),

c)      We must have nothing to hide (we don’t play games but are transparent).

4. Has Learned to Prevail in Prayer

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray… Is any among you sick, let him call for the elders of the church, and the prayer of faith will heal the sick…” James 5:13-17.

Jesus listed three kinds of prayer:

a)      Ask

b)      Seek and

c)      Knock.

‘Ask’ is the prayer of faith, ‘seek’ is the prayer of dedication and ‘knock’ is the prayer of intercession.

5. Is a student of God’s Word.

“All scriptures is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,, for instruction and righteousness that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Tim 3:16-17, II Tim 2:15). Being a student of God’s word, we examine the scriptures to understand its meaning:

a)      One time: what did it mean at one time to the original audience?

b)      All time, what is the universal and timeless principle we can learn?

c)      Now time, what should we do in response to it?

6. Has a Vital, Life-Changing Message for a Lost World.

“Holding forth the Word of life, so that in the day of Christ, I may have cause to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain (Phil 2:16).” In Romans 1:14-16, the Apostle Paul expressed three attitudes concerning the gospel:

a)      I am obligated v.14, sharing it as a debt I owe to the world.

b)      I am eager v.15 (I am on fire to share the message with the world),

c)      I am not ashamed v.16 ( I will share it because it alone can save us).

7. Has a Faith That Expects Results

“And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already… and the deadness of Sarah’s womb… He did not waiver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what he had promised, he was able to perform” (Rom. 4:19-21). Heb. 11:13 describes men and women of faith, and what they each had in common, vision, confidence, hunger, resolve and dreams.

8. Chooses to serve in Attitude and Action

In Phil. 2:5-11, Paul write about Christ being the model of humility and service, that although he was God he did not cling to his position but rather to his purpose. Leaders naturally arise when someone determines to serve. It always starts with a need which sparks a passion within a person. That person acts in response to the need. This action moves others to cooperate.

9. Stirs up the Gifts in themselves and others

Paul declares: “Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of eldership. Meditate on these things, give yourself entirely to them that your progress may be evident to all… (I Tim 4:13-16). Leaders naturally arise when they find their gifts abd use it to serve. It usually follows this pattern:

·         A leader identifies a primary gift,

·         Second, they develop that gift,

·         They match the gift with the place of service,

·         That gift provides a platform for influence,

·         Finally, the leader eventually flourishes because of that gift.

10. Is Secure enough to empower others.

Apostle John writes, “Jesus knowing that the Father has given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God, and was going back to God, rose from supper, laid aside His garments, and taking a towel, he girded himself about, then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciple’s feet” (John 13:3-5).

Comparison between the secured leaders and insecure leaders is as follows:

a)      Secure leaders are into towels while insecure leaders are into titles.

b)      Secure leaders draw strength from identity while insecure leaders draw strength from image.

c)      Secure leaders pursue service to others while insecure leaders pursue status with others.

d)     Secure leaders want to add value to others, the insecure leaders want to gain value from others.

11. Lives under the Anointing of the Holy Spirit

“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord” (Eph. 5:18-20).

Please observe that anointed leaders possess spiritual authority with others. That anointed leaders consistently see God move in their ministries, and anointed leaders’ lives demand a supernatural explanation. We as leaders should be aspiring and praying that the Lord should cause us to be anointed leaders in our generation.

12. Has chosen to be Example before he leads others

You may well read I Cor. 9:24-27… “Thus I fight, not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to other, I myself should become disqualified.”

May the Lord help us to be good models of Godly leadership. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Samuel Tugba was the pioneer Pastor of ECWA Wuse II and he pastored the Church until he retired in 2006, recently, he was called home but his works still live on both physically and in our hearts.   

By:Rev. Dr, Samuel Tugba