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Let’s take another look at how Jesus empowered His disciples. From the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, He provided us with several helpful principles of empowerment:
- Jesus let them know that He would transfer power to them (v. 18).
- He commissioned them to use the power for specific purposes, which he specifically defined (v. 19-20).
- He assured them that He would be there to back them up (v. 19).
- He prepared them before delegating the authority to them (v. 20).
- He held them accountable for how they used His power (Matthew 24 & 25).
Leaders need the assurance that the authority of their organization stands behind them, so they are enabled to lead their teams effectively. It is nearly impossible to lead without that support.
Jesus understood what Out of This World Leaders know – that more is accomplished when power is dispersed than when it is hoarded. In their book Leaders: The Strategies for Taking Charge, Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus observe, “Leadership is not so much the exercise of power itself as the empowerment of others. Leaders are able to translate intentions into reality by aligning the energies of the organization behind an attractive goal.”
Further, to be effective, empowerment must be adapted to the needs of the individual. Let’s look at how the Apostle Paul did that:
Paul & Titus
As a mentor, Paul encouraged and trained Titus. Titus accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey, and the apostle sent this “partner and co-worker” (2 Corinthians 8:23) to Corinth on three separate occasions during that period. Following Paul’s release from his first Roman imprisonment, he took Titus to Crete and left him there to strengthen the ministry on that island (Titus 1:5).
Paul & Timothy
Even though it’s written around the same time, Paul’s letter to Timothy is more personal and less official than his letter to Titus. While Titus needed clear instruction, Timothy needed encouragement. Paul encouraged Timothy not to “let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity… Fight the good fight of faith… Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care” (1 Timothy 4:12, 6:12,20).
Are you empowering others on your team? If not, start today by giving them the resources they need to do their jobs and spend some time helping them reach greater levels of leadership. Now, that’s Out of This World Leadership!