Chapter 19

True Leaders Are Growing

By Dr. Lester Hutson

II Peter 3:18

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

Every church, family, business or other enterprise will stop where the leadership does. Stagnation of leadership is the main reason churches plateau, reach a zero or negative growth rate. Accountability for such stagnation and dormancy lies first with the pastor, but all others, in areas of condescending leadership, must also share part of the blame. Growth in leaders is not an option! It is a must! Without it the church, class, choir, youth department, Sunday school, missions outreach, soul-winning outreach, discipleship effectiveness and all other efforts of the ministry begin to die. Motivation and morale lag, confusion sets in and apathy develops.

Enlarge and increase

To grow simply means to "enlarge" or "increase." In the spiritual sense of the word, growth means continued forward progress, continuing development, the ability to do more and better. Growth means one is not staying at the same place of development in the various areas of his life. Growth says today is one step farther along than yesterday. Growth speaks of improved efficiency.

We're here discussing personal growth, not of the body, but in the spirit and life. Thus, we're not discussing numerical growth in a church. We're discussing spiritual growth in those who lead churches, which often results in numerical growth in churches.

In most cases the Bible uses the Greek word auxano to refer to spiritual growth. The idea is always that of increase or improvement. This word is used in many scriptures directed straight at the child of God. I Peter 2:2 says, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."

Ephesians 4:14-15 says,

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."

II Peter 3:18 says, "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."

In each of these cases, the word "grow" is from auxano, translated "increase" or "increaseth" in several other passages. Colossians 1:10 says, "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God."

"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase," Paul said in I Corinthians 3:6-7.

In II Thessalonians 1:3, the Holy Spirit added the prefix huper, "hyper" in English, to auxano to refer to the phenomenal progress of the Thessalonian believers. Listen to this verse where "growth exceedingly" is hyperauxano. W.E. Vine says, "hyperauxano means to 'increase above ordinary degree.'"

In the scriptures, it's really not hard to see that God's intent for every believer is continual growth. Every would- be leader needs to get a really good hold on this reality.

Grace and knowledge

The Holy Spirit, through the apostle Peter in II Peter 3:18, mentions two specific areas in which growth is especially important. In view of the fact set forth in I Timothy 4:12 that pastors are to be good examples for the people, every leader, particularly pastors, should pay the closest of attention to this commandment regarding growth. This verse says, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

Notice that the first area where growth is to occur is "grace." The second area is "knowledge." Grace in a believer's life is divine influence of God upon his life. Grace is practicing in one's life the knowledge he has of God. If grace is the outgrowth of knowledge, it would seem that the Holy Spirit should have said grow in knowledge first, then grow in grace second, although He didn't. He said first grow in grace, then in knowledge. Do not be confused. This passage is not dealing with the order of growth. It is dealing with the priority of emphasis that should be placed on these two areas of growth. Yes, in terms of order, one must know truth before he can live truth. The Holy Spirit here is emphasizing that it is more important to live what you learn than it is to just learn it. Great knowledge does not do a believer much good if he doesn't practice what he learns from God's Word.

Doing what is right, operable grace, is more important than just knowing what is right. Jesus said, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them," in John 13:17. James went on to say, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin," in James 4:17. Knowledge is never intended to be an end within itself. It is always a means to an end. Gaining knowledge of God and what He expects, through His Word, is only the means by which a child of God may begin experiencing a grace, the divine influence of God, in his life. It's hard to miss this fact in II Peter 1:2, "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord."

Note well that grace is made possible through knowledge, yet grace, not knowledge, is first in priority. A head full of Bible knowledge is not what pleases God. I Corinthians 8:1 says, "Knowledge puffeth up." Unapplied, it does. Instead, God is pleased when He sees His child expressing in experience, operable grace, the knowledge he gained. It's not so much how much you know that counts with God, but what you are doing with what you know that is most important with Him. That's why He says in Hebrews 12:28, "Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." Thus Peter said grow in "grace" and "knowledge," not knowledge and grace.

Oh, how miserably so many of God's children have failed in proper growth. Too many of God's children know what to do, but don't do it. They talk a good line, but their lives do not confirm what they preach. They're too much like the Pharisees of Matthew 23, whom Jesus said could dot every "i" and cross every "t" just right. They'd argue vigorously over even minor points of the law of God, and they were always imposing their exacting details of legal living on everybody around them according to Matthew 15:9. They were the pickiest of judges because, "they knew the law," Luke 12:54-57. Yet, they charged widow women extortionist's rent in Matthew 23:14, pushed their oxen in the ditch so they would have an excuse to work on the sabbath day, loved the praise of men (Matthew 6:2), paid tithes of "mint and anise and cumin" and yet grossly neglected "judgment, mercy, and faith," in Matthew 23:23. In that same passage, Jesus accused them of saying but not doing. They seemed, like many a modern legalist, to think knowledge was more important than grace, for they had a head full of the law of God, but none of His operable graces in their life.

Sadly, this reversal of the divine order of truth has produced a generation of religious egg-heads and dead, orthodox religious smart-alecs. They're sticklers in their stand for the divinely inspired, inerrant Word of God, the exacting interpretation of their pet scriptures, exact protocol in handling church business, the local church issue, salvation exclusively by grace and much more. Yet, very few of even the simplest, most fundamental, graces of God are operable in their lives. They have no grace of forgiveness, no grace of tolerance for imperfect or disagreeing people, no grace of integrity in dealing with others. They'll turn on each other, especially on those with whom they disagree slightly, with the viciousness of a pack of wolves eating a deer they've just killed. Their loyalty is as thin as tissue paper. They'll walk out of the lives of old friends and even turn on them for the flimsiest of reasons, as though it's nothing to end a relationship. They'll spread each other's faults. They know nothing of the grace of being objective and unemotional in assessing matters, though they preach long about honesty. They cut and devour and undercut one another, (even preachers do it), do not shoulder their responsibilities, and yet, with fervor, tell the world they're "standing on that blessed Old Book, the Bible." Believe me, they can quote the Old Book, and unsolicitedly tell others how it is.

I'm talking about God's people, church leaders from the pastor down, who have exalted knowledge above grace. Many of them are still growing in knowledge, though they've seen little or no increase in grace since the day of their spiritual birth.

Character

True leaders keep growing in the functional areas of the lives, the most basic of which is character. Top on the list of character traits for those who would lead others is love. I Peter 4:8 says, "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."

A growing love should ever be evident in those who lead God's people, and if it is there and growing, it will be evident, for the effects of love as described in I Corinthians 13:4-8 can scarcely go unseen.

High on the list of character traits should also be faith, a growing confidence in the Word of God, a genuine daily trust in Him. The disciples prayed, "Lord, increase our faith (auxano-grow)," in Luke 17:5. Every fruit of the Spirit should be increasing in leaders as evidence of their growing submission to the control and leadership of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Galatians 5:22-23 lists them as "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." This says people will see you doing a better job controlling your temper, a better job of coping with life's disappointments and hardships, and a less and less abrasive spirit and approach in you.

The character of those who lead should be ever growing in personal discipline (I Corinthians 4:2), honesty (I Timothy 2:2), attention to detail (Proverbs 22:29), stability (I Corinthians 15:58), vision (Matthew 15:14), wisdom (Colossians 1:9), a giving spirit (II Corinthians 9:6-7), humility (I Peter 5:5-6), subjection to God-ordained authority (Romans 13:1), compassion (Galatians 6:2), and responsibility (Proverbs 10:4).

There should also be growth in efficiency and the daily functions of life. As a leader studies and learns more and gains more experience, he should become richer, deeper and wiser in the word and all areas of his life. That certainly seems to be the jist of Hebrews 5:11-14,

"Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

Preachers ought to do an ever better, more enriching job in the pulpit. As teachers grow older, they too should grow better. Administrative abilities should improve, efficiency in caring for and overseeing a flock should improve, skills should get better, habits should noticeably improve and one's general efficiency level should improve.

One's life will constantly act as a tattle-tale to say whether or not he is growing. For example, new plans speak of growth in the one who has them. Such things as handling things better, increased capacity, deeper convictions, conquered habits and weaknesses and greater responsibility all speak of new growth. When you see someone in a new role such as peacemaker, forgiver, financial manager or wise counselor, you know that one is growing.

A believer can sit still or he can grow. A stalemate is a bad place to be in life. God seldom, if ever, elevates anyone to a larger task until he grows sufficiently to handle the task he already has. Jesus said, "he that is unjust in the least, is unjust also in much," in Luke 16:10. One who cannot effectively handle a Sunday school class is most unlikely to be promoted to the pastorate or oversight of a whole church. One who is unfaithful and inefficient in singing special music will not make it as a choir director. One who sluffs off because he's in a small church or position will likely not have the opportunity to handle a bigger church or more responsible position.

One who is growing is getting better and better at things, able to handle a bigger and more responsible load. He's not a sluffer or parker. He's a mover, and when one is moving forward and growing, people will see it and be motivated to follow. When growth stops, followers are shaken, and motivation and morale crash.

Formidable enemies

Growth has two especially formidable enemies. The first is pride, an over-inflated opinion of self, and with pride comes over-confidence. Out of over-confidence comes carelessness and self-reliance. Teachers who have it do not think they need to study all that much. Proud, over-confident preachers think they can get by with using old "rerun" sermons. Over-confident church leaders don't think they need seminars, training courses, workshops or new ideas. They doubt that anybody has much to show them.

People who do not keep reaching out do not keep growing. They stalemate, and they stalemate because their pride has made them over-estimate themselves. Oh, how sobering the words of Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

The apostle Paul wrote, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world," in Galatians 6:14.

The second great enemy of growth is laziness. Lazy, undisciplined people seldom grow very much. Like the proverbial grasshopper, they fail to apply themselves to constructive pursuits. They will not pay the price in terms of sweat, tears and mental discipline to learn and improve. So, they sit with little or zero growth. Again, I refer to Proverbs 24:30-34,

"I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man."

It's sad to see a talented person, who never harnessed his potential, who squandered it away because he was too flaky to buckle down and develop his potential. Preachers are especially susceptible to becoming "sluggard" and growing lazy. They have no mortal boss to whom they must answer and no time-clock to punch. It's very easy for them to start sleeping late, lose structure in their time, become detached from any truly demanding, long-term projects, and become generally slack and undisciplined in their approach to life. This sloven approach gets into their study habits, planning methods, time schedule, church administration, attention to detail, follow through, money management and even their sermon delivery as they begin to wander, "chase rabbits," and deliver less meaty and coherent messages, with too much fodder and too little grain.

Activating growth

Diligent study of God's Word especially activates the growth process in a believer's life. It is II Timothy 2:15 which says, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Remember I Peter 2:2? "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."

Paul told the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:32, "And now brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up...."

Get into the Word. Spend time there, not just to fill your head with knowledge, but to implement its teachings into your life. Don't let the Word just get into your spiritual mouth. Let it get through your spiritual digestive system, into your spiritual bloodstream and into every cell of your spiritual being.

The Word of God! It's an activator of spiritual growth. In fact, spiritual growth is impossible without it. Remember II Peter 1:2, which says, "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord."

Diligence to improvement also activates growth. Solomon wrote, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." he promised in Proverbs 12:24, "The hand of the diligent shall bear rule."

You can see how diligence activates the growth process in Proverbs 13:4, which says, "The soul of the diligent shall be made fat."

Proverbs 21:5 says, "The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness," and the grand words of Proverbs 22:29 are, "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men."

When men get off their seats of slothfulness, laziness and irresponsibility, and begin to really try, they start growing. Men who study learn, not just about the Bible, but better techniques in teaching, preaching and administration. They can grow better in music, youth work and the management of their personal affairs. Those who work at it get better in their ability to get along with and motivate other people.

Prayer also activates growth. James promised, "If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him," in James 1:5.

Jesus promised,

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" in Matthew 7:7-11.

It is James 5:16 which says, "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

Pray with more might and intensity. Pray about specific matters. Pray often, and keep talking to God about continuing situations. Pray about graver matters. You'll be amazed at how much prayer promotes humility, insight and wisdom. You'll find prayer changing your thinking and building your faith and dependence on God. Yes, many good things begin to grow in you as you pray fervently.

Grow.

Don't ever let yourself stop growing. Personal growth is vital to leadership. No one can be consistently fruitful without it, and there's no reason why it should ever stop in any believer, regardless of age. Yet, it often does, and becomes the difference between those who lead effectively and those who don't.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"