Growing Kingdom Character: Practical, Intentional Tools for Developing Leaders

Introduction

IT’S CHARACTER THAT COUNTS

Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit in us whereby our inner being is progressively changed…. It does involve our wholehearted response in obedience and the regular use of the spiritual disciplines that are instruments of sanctification.

JERRY BRIDGES

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

JOHN 15:5

Emerging leaders, lacking leadership experience, perceive their need for skill development most urgently. Deadlines must be met. Strategic plans must be submitted. Important events need to be organized and led. So new leaders are consumed by vigorously seeking out the skills needed to accomplish the work at hand and meet the immediate demands of their responsibilities. If they are successful in acquiring these competencies, they are likely to be entrusted with more responsibility and greater influence, for this is the reward of successful leaders. Thus the daily busyness of leading erodes the time and energy needed for intentional character development.

Focusing on collecting leadership skills early on frequently results in leaders who arrive at their pinnacle of influence just as they discover that their inward character is at its weakest. Their character can’t stand the load of their position. The pressure and strains of increased leadership duties begin to expose character flaws that have been ignored or covered up for many years. And now, with greater responsibility, the ripple effects of their shortcomings are too great, for they affect exponentially more people and resources. So it goes with many young leaders who find themselves chasing after skills when they should be developing character. Acquiring leadership skills is needed, but character development must be a priority, and to develop deep and genuine character we must look first to Jesus Christ.

THERE IS NO INSTANT INTIMACY WITH CHRIST

I grew up in central Florida with its year-round growing season, and yard work was a constant duty. Every Saturday morning my father would outline the chores to be completed by my brother and me before we were released to play with our neighborhood friends. Being much more interested in play than work, I would often rush through my responsibilities as quickly as possible with one objective: cut the time required to a minimum so that I could get on to playing with my friends.

When finished, I would find my dad, who was usually off working in another part of the yard, and he would review my chores, inspecting the results of my hurried efforts. He would point out where I’d missed cutting some parts of the front yard, where a certain flower bed had not been weeded thoroughly, or where I had forgotten some specific task. Then he would send me back to complete the work. My disappointment and frustration were frequently evident, so he would send me off with this reminder: If you’ve got time to redo it, you’ve got time to do it correctly the first time!

What I didn’t understand at the time but now have come to appreciate was that my father was seeking to build character qualities into my life through the routine of weekly yard work. I learned the importance of excellence, faithfulness, perseverance, and many other qualities as I labored, week after week, with mowing, weeding, and edging. It was a process that took many repeated lessons to affect a change in my attitude and behavior, a process that I grew to appreciate later in life when I had my own children.

Character formation is a process, not an event. Actually, it’s a process that begins with an event. When we trust Christ we are made a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) as the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. Theologians call this regeneration. After being reborn as new creations in Christ, the Spirit goes to work on our character, much like my father worked on mine as a young man. The Holy Spirit begins a renovation project that lasts a lifetime, seeking to build Christlike qualities and the resulting behavior into us. Paul described this process for us in 2 Corinthians 3:18: And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Looking at Jesus, we are transformed by the Spirit! Theologians call this process sanctification, and it continues until we die.

Just as in the natural realm of God’s creation there is no instant harvest, so it is in the spiritual realm. Plants bear fruit after a season of growth and maturation. They also benefit greatly from care and pruning, and so it is with us. Yes, there will be some immediate changes in the life of a new believer, but to see a great yield we must allow time for growth and maturation to take place and for the Master Gardener to work. This is the work of sanctification, as Jesus described it in John 15:

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (verses 5-8)

There are four principle characters in this parable: the gardener (God the Father), the vine (Jesus, God the Son), the branches (followers of Jesus), and the fruit (Christlike character and influence for Christ in the lives of others). Note how Jesus clearly defines our position in verse 5: We are the branches, not to be confused with the vine! It is from Jesus the vine that the fruit-bearing nutrients flow from the soil to the branches. If a branch becomes separated from the vine, no fruit will be born and the branch will wither and die. A branch cannot bring forth fruit by itself; it is totally dependent upon the vine.

It is this intimacy with Jesus, remaining attached to the vine, that will guarantee much fruit in the lives of His followers. This fruit is first of all the fruit of the Spirit, the Christlike character qualities that are brought forth in the life of a believer as the Spirit fills and controls it. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23). It is also the fruit of influence, as Christlike character spills over from the life of a believer into actions that impact others for Christ. The result of the fruit of a believer’s life is to bring glory to God (see John 15:8).

While it is the responsibility of the branches to remain attached to the vine—to pursue this vital life-giving relationship that enables them to be daily, increasingly changed into the image of Christ—we must also note the work of the gardener in this process of growth and maturity. Jesus says that every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful (John 15:2). Our loving heavenly Father desires much fruit from our lives, and He knows what is required to accomplish this end. He prunes those who are on their way toward maturity in Christ, showing signs of some fruit, so that they will bear even more! Pruning is not a pleasant process, though, as He cuts and trims those areas of our lives that are not in conformity to His will. But in the end, when we see the results of His loving hands and the abundant fruit in our lives, we rejoice. God’s pruning, though difficult, is for our good, that we may share in his holiness (Hebrews 12:10).

We can take great comfort in His promise that a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out (Isaiah 42:3). Yes, we will be stretched and pressured, even to the point of feeling like things are hopeless. But all this is necessary if we are to be changed into the image of Christ. Paul testified to the end result of God’s press: Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead (2 Corinthians 1:9). God promises to go through these trials with us, enabling us to withstand the pain of the pruning process.

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:2)

THE HEART JESUS GAVE US

Perhaps nothing stands out in this parable as much as Jesus’ plain statement in John 15:5: Apart from me you can do nothing. Jesus rivets our attention to our total dependency on His power to affect change. If we are to see any lasting change into the image of Christ, if we are to reach maturity in Christ, it will be the work of the Holy Spirit within us. Yet this dependence on the power of God to change us will not be a passive waiting on God to act but rather an active pursuit of God, seeking Him with our whole heart and practicing the spiritual disciplines. But, in all of our pursuit of God, training ourselves in godliness, we rest in knowing that it is ultimately not our own efforts but rather the power of God that affects the change within us. Jerry Bridges reminds us, If we are to make any progress in the pursuit of holiness, we must assume our responsibility to discipline or train ourselves. But we are to do all this in total dependence on the Holy Spirit to work in us and strengthen us with the strength that is in Christ.¹

God uses multiple means, combined with the power of the Spirit, to affect this change process within us. What’s essential for us is to maintain a submissive, teachable, and obedient heart. It was the condition of the heart that Jesus focused much of His teaching on, rather than external performance, for He knows that if our hearts are changed, then performance will follow.

A mark of maturity in Christ is learning to live from the heart Jesus gave us. James Friesen explained,

The heart is where understanding resides, and is the origin of spiritual discernment. It is particularly influential in shaping a person’s sense of spiritual identity. Living from the heart Jesus gave you is a term that brings identity together with the spiritual reality of who we are. It is a term that says God designed each of us to be a particular kind of person, with characteristics uniquely our own. When we are living from the heart Jesus gave us, we are being the persons He specifically designed. Living this way integrates the soul, where the feelings are, and the mind, where the thinking takes place…. Note that the heart is not the emotions. Living from our hearts is not simply doing what our feelings tell us. That would be folly. Living from our hearts means that there is an inner directive that, if governed by the Spirit of God, keeps us on a path that is spiritually attuned to who we are and how God is leading. When our hearts are focused on God, we see who we are and know what we are to be doing.²

GOD’S TOOLBOX FOR TRANSFORMATION

The Word of God is a primary tool that God uses to shape the character of His children. The Holy Spirit can use the Word to bring conviction of sin, and the Word can soften the hearts of individuals, bringing them to repentance (see John 16:8). It is the Word that helps us understand God’s truth and identify falsehood and error. By saturating our lives with the Scriptures we can think from God’s perspective and develop convictions and values that are based on Kingdom principles. Emerging leaders will need to discipline themselves to hear, read, study, memorize, and meditate on the Bible, not for the sake of ministry to others but for their own growth and development. Searching the Scriptures for answers to today’s questions and issues is essential if one is to be like Jesus and lead like Jesus.

A second tool that the Lord uses to develop our character is the life situations and circumstances that we find ourselves facing. As we have already discussed, these are the pruning measures taken by God for our good. How we respond in our hearts in these situations is often much more important than what we finally decide or do. God is arranging these situations for our continued growth and development. Rather than being frustrated or discouraged by our trials, we can welcome them as tools being used by God for our good. If we learn to rest in Him and draw strength from Him in the midst of these times, we will benefit greatly, knowing that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Another means that God uses to change our character is prayer. Often we pray in response to the crises we find ourselves facing rather than praying strategically regarding our own growth and development in areas of character. Through prayer we can prepare the ground for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, asking Him to make us sensitive to opportunities to grow and apply what He is teaching us. In doing so, our eyes will see many instances each day where He reminds us of applications of scriptural truth as we deal with people and decisions.

In addition to praying over the ten character qualities mentioned in this book, let me also suggest that you take time to reflect on your life, asking God to reveal to you other areas of character that can be developed. These may be areas of strength that you will want to maximize and package into forms that can be used to help others you are leading, or they may be areas of weakness that are hindering your ability to lead. These must be changed to enable you to have greater influence for Christ.

Some years ago, Marvin Smith, former director of missions for The Navigators, made a study of Navigator missionaries. From his study, he listed ten qualities that were common to all who had served and finished well. I took those ten qualities and made them into a prayer list for myself. I regularly ask God to build these things into my life and leadership. The ten qualities are dependence on God, love and compassion, sensitivity, humility, flexibility, creation of harmony, courage and perseverance, willingness to sacrifice, emotional stability, and a good family life.

THE POWER OF EXAMPLE

The powerful impact of a model is another common tool used by God to help shape us. For many of us, people (parents, teachers, pastors, mentors) will be used to positively model character qualities and subsequently build them into our lives. We will observe how they implement certain character qualities in their lives and then apply these principles in our own. Sometimes this application is deliberate, but many times it comes about because we have been around certain people for so long that we unconsciously become like them. The writer of Proverbs tells us, He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm (13:20) and As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (27:17). A modern proverb states the same principle: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. We become like those with whom we associate.

Among the Dutch the rose was sometimes cultivated by planting an inferior rose close to a rose of superior quality. The rose of inferior quality was carefully watched and its anthers removed so it could be pollinated only by the superior rose. Gradually the rose thus treated took upon itself the characteristics of the superior life of its companion.³ So it is in our relationship with a model. We can be greatly helped and developed in our leadership characteristics by close contact with an experienced, godly model.

A wonderful way to learn from the example