The Perils Of Abuse Of Power As Convicted By The Holy Spirit

1. The Holy Spirit convicts leaders of the perils involved with abusing their power. Jesus said, "The Counselor, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment." (John 16:7,8) Ask the Lord to help respond to the Spirit’s conviction whenever you fall into the following traps that manifest any of these corrosive effects on your relationships and ministries:

A. The abusive leader insists that "My team members" follow instructions or they will be ostracized from the group. By threatening to withhold love, a sense of belonging and acceptance, the controlling leader seeks to manipulate people into submitting to his authority at all costs.

B. The abusive leader shows false humility by pretending to be meek, but actually schoomzes with people only to gain their trust for selfish reasons. By being patronizing and sweet to numerous people, the carnal leader varies in disposition according to his mood swings. He can be kind one hour and apathetic the next.

C. The abusive leader tries to eliminate any of his opposition and is general suspicious of everyone who might try to overthrow in a coup. Carnal leaders refuse to tolerate any serious disagreement because they see it as a threat to their perceived authority.

D. Abusive leaders practiced Machiavellian politics within their organizations. They are fond of trying to destroy or subjugate any dissenters since they believe in the adage - ‘divide and conquer’.

E. Abusive leaders set up all kinds of rules, policies and procedures that tend to give them greater control. They are fond of using written codes and constitutions for their own sense of authority and empowerment.

F. Abusive leaders tend to use people as tools for their own goals. They are generally not very loving since they see people as objects to be used for their own selfish purposes.

G. Abusive leaders generally stays away from associating with people who are not on his level or above. Abusive leaders do not feel the need to humble themselves by associating with people of low status.

H. Abusive leaders do not feel the need to repent of their sins since they see themselves as a chosen possessor of the controls to their ship. Abusive leaders have learned how to rationalize away their need to humble themselves before the Lord and admit that they are weak and sinful.

I. Abusive leaders resemble Pharisees in the way they love to justify themselves in the sight of men, but fail to fear, love, or obey God. Abusive leaders tend to act more like politicians than servants.

J. Abusive leaders enjoy setting up barriers to people. By erecting walls around them, abusive leaders become more fixated on maintaining their own power than accomplishing God’s will for their church.

K. Abusive leaders tend to only associate with people who can help them advance and prosper. By concentrating on their own interests, abusive leaders are loath to spend much time with the needy because they feel the hurting are only impediments to their quest for more power, glory and prestige.

L. Abusive leaders are more concerned about things on earth rather than Christ and His kingdom. By worrying more about money, materials and possessions, abusive leaders acquire many idols.

M. Abusive leaders do not feel the need to be accountable to anyone since they see themselves as ‘above the law’. By setting up a false sense of their own importance, they fail to practice what they preach.

N. Abusive leaders set up their own language, phrases and terms that are code words used to communicate their hidden agendas. By disguising their real meanings in public they are able to anesthetize many of their people into believing that everything is normal and well supervised.

O. Abusive leaders likes to stress conformity to his rules, regulations and modalities. By requiring his people to submit to his style of leadership, he feels that people are not a threat to his low self-image.

P. Abusive leaders become cruel, hard and abusive whenever they get anxious about their sense of control. By cracking down on certain individuals, the abusive leader hopes others will learn from these examples.

Q. Abusive leaders continually practice denial of any personal sins, shortcomings or weaknesses. By pretending that they are basically infallible, the abusive leader fails to remember that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling.

R. Abusive leaders are fond at seeing people and situations in black and white terms. By viewing people as either right or wrong, for him or against him or good or bad, he is able to avoid thinking problems thru.

S. Abusive leaders generally has no real friends since they do not trust anyone and suspect everyone of trying to wrestle away their power and control. By surrounding himself with "Yes men" the abusive leader rewards people who praise him, compliment him and thank him for his "wonderful leadership".