Let Your Light Shine.
Pastor Amat Fernandez
Matthew 5:14-16
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Leadership: A person who inspires others to follow, a guide, one who goes first, one who has influence and power.
I am sharing today as how Leaders think, speak, dream, and view their life. I am NOT sharing for you to be this way, but to inspire You to be YOUR best Leader that God intended You to Be.
As Fredrick Faust once wrote: "There is a giant asleep within everyone. When that giant awakens, miracles happen." Awaken the giant within you and " there will be the miracle"!
What would your life look like if you had absolutely no fear? What kinds of things would you do if you lived from a frame of reference that your thoughts literally could form your world? How brightly would your light shine if you stepped out of the limitations that are keeping you small and stretched yourself well past your comfort zone into the place that you know, deep within, you are meant to be? Authentic leadership is all about being the person you know in your heart you have always been destined to be. Authentic leadership does not come from your title or from the size of your paycheck. Instead, this form of leadership comes from your being and the person that you are.
Here are 10 things that authentic leaders do on a regular basis:
1. They speak their truth.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Most people today, frequently ’swallow our truth’. We say things to please others and to look good in front of The Crowd. Authentic leaders are different. They consistently talk truth. They would never betray themselves by using words that are not aligned with who they are. This does not give anyone a license to say things that are hurtful to people, we should do this with love . Speaking truth is simply about being clear, being honest and being authentic. Jesus spoke the truth always, you speak the truth always.
2. They lead from the heart.
Numbers 32:11 ’Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years old or more who came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob-
Life is about people. Leadership is about people. The best leaders wear their hearts on their sleeves and are not afraid to show their vulnerability. They genuinely care about other people and spend their days developing the people around them. They are like the sun: the sun gives away all it has to the plants and the trees. But in return, the plants and the trees always grow toward the sun.
Every thing you do it like for the Lord wholeheartly and you will be blessed.
3. They have rich moral fiber.
Proverbs 20:11 Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.
Who you are speaks far more loudly than anything you could ever say. Strength of character is true power - and people can feel it a mile away. Authentic leaders work on their character. They walk their talk and are aligned with their core values. They are noble and good. And in doing so, people trust, respect and listen to them.
4. They are courageous.
Proverbs 28:1 The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
It takes a lot of courage to go against the crowd. It takes a lot of courage to be a visionary. It takes a lot of inner strength to do what you think is right even though it may not be easy. We live in a world where so many people walk the path of least resistance. Authentic leadership is all about taking the road less traveled and doing, not what is easy, but what is right.
5. They build people and families.
Isaiah 58:11-12 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
One of the primary things that people are looking for is friendship and a sense of family. Authentic leaders create relationships that foster human linkages and lasting friendships, they quickly act to rebuild and restore the people around them.
6. They deepen themselves.
Proverbs 14:23 All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.
The job of the leader is to go deep. Authentic leaders know themselves intimately. They nurture a strong self-relationship. They know their weaknesses and play to their strengths. And they always spend a lot of time transcending their fears.
When it’s time for baptisms, I know when someone is not committed usually they have a thousand excuses not to go deep in the water.
7. They are dreamers.
John 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
Einstein said that Imagination is more important than knowledge. It is from our imaginations that great things are born. Authentic leaders dare to dream impossible dreams. They see what everyone else sees and then dream up new possibilities. How often do you close your eyes and dream? If you believe, the light of Jesus will get you out of darkness and show you the wonders God has prepared for you.
8. They care for themselves.
Mark 12:30-31 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31The second is this: ’Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."
If you can not love yourself you will love no one.
Taking care of your physical dimension is a sign of self-respect. You can’t do great things with your life if you don’t feel good. Authentic leaders eat well, exercise and care for the temples that are their bodies. They spend time in nature, drink plenty of water so that, physically, they are operating at planet-class levels of performance.
9. They commit to excellence rather than perfection.
Excellence; virtue; dignity; worth; superiority.
No human being is perfect. Every single one of us is a work in progress. Authentic leaders commit themselves to excellence in everything that they do. They are constantly pushing the envelope and raising their standards. They do not seek perfection and have the wisdom to know the difference. What would your life look like if you raised your standards well beyond what anyone could ever imagine of you?
10. They leave a legacy.
Joshua 22:5 ... to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."
John 12:26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
When the dust settles, what will you have to show.
To live in the hearts of the people around you is to never die. Success is wonderful but significance is even better. You were made to contribute and to leave a mark on the people around you. In failing to live from this frame of reference, you betray yourself. Authentic leaders are constantly building their legacies by adding deep value to everyone that they deal with and leaving the world a better place in the process.
CONCLUSION:
Make your life count, feel full and happy knowing that the will of God is being fulfilled in you. Leave a mark and inspire others to follow the greatest leader of all, Jesus.
