Spiritual resources for leadership

Dann Spader Feb. 18, 2019

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Even though Jesus never used the God card, He nevertheless had access to some incredible resources. In fact, throughout His ministry, Jesus had access to four resources to which all Christians also have access.

1. The Holy Spirit. 

Every aspect of Jesus’ life was saturated with the Holy Spirit. We are told that He was conceived by the Spirit (Luke 1:35), anointed by the Spirit (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38; Isa. 11:1–2) and even “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Luke 4:1 NKJV; see also v. 14; John 3:34). 

Jesus was also sealed by the Spirit (John 6:27) and “led by the Spirit” (Luke 4:1). In Luke 10:21, we are told He “rejoiced in the Holy Spirit” (ESV), and He even performed miracles by the power of the Spirit (Matthew 12:28). Paul records in Romans that Jesus was raised by the Spirit (Romans 8:11). 

If the living Son of God, in all His greatness, chose not to live without the constant help of the Spirit for even one moment, how can we do any less?

2. Jesus relied on prayer

Second, Jesus relied on prayer. More than 40 times Scripture tells us that Jesus “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16). Jesus’ ministry began after 40 days of fasting and prayer (Luke 4:1–11) and Jesus ended His ministry in prayer (Luke 23:46–47).

It was while Jesus was praying that the Spirit came upon Him (Luke 3:21–22). It was after a season of prayer that Jesus walked on the water (Matthew 14:25), chose His 12 apostles (Luke 6:12), showed compassion on a woman caught in adultery (John 8:1–10), and faced the horror of the cross (Matthew 26:36–46). 

For Jesus, prayer was a source of strength to resist temptation (Matthew 26:41) and an opportunity to learn His Father’s desires (Mark 1:38) and listen to His Father’s words (John 12:49–50).

3. Jesus had access to the written Word of God. 

On over 90 occasions it is recorded that Jesus quoted the Old Testament Scriptures, referring to 70 different Old Testament chapters. He knew the Scriptures, studied them, and used them in the everyday events of life. 

The Word had center stage in Jesus’ life and ministry. Three times in John 13 it is said that Jesus “knew” that the time had come, that the Father had put all things under His power, and who was going to betray Him. Why? Because He studied the Scriptures. Jesus knew the events before Him because He clearly studied and knew the Scriptures must be fulfilled (Matthew 26:54, 56; Mark 14:27; Luke 22:36–37; John 19:24, 28).

Jesus demonstrated the depth of His understanding of the Scriptures after His resurrection when, on the road to Emmaus, Jesus explained the entire Bible to a couple of His disciples. “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). 

With His disciples later on, Jesus reiterated this truth: “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44).

4. Jesus had access to supportive friends and family. 

Even though Christ’s brothers were not initially supportive of His ministry, Jesus gained strength from His family and parents. Mary and Joseph were obviously a source of strength when Jesus was younger. Even up until His crucifixion on the cross Jesus was concerned for Mary’s care. 

Jesus’ 12 disciples were a source of both great joy and great sorrow. But in Jesus’ own words they moved from just followers (John 1:43), to servants (John 13:13, 16), to friends (John 15:15), and then brothers (John 20:17). Hebrews 2:11 tells us that Jesus was not ashamed to call us His brothers.

Every aspect of Jesus’ ministry was relational. To Jesus, relationships were not a strategy; they were part of being fully human. Just as God the Father is in community in the Trinity, so God the Son established a community of brothers. Jesus drew strength from those relationships (Matthew 26:36–38), and Scripture tells us not to “give up meeting together” but to “encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:25). The early church in Acts clearly understood this resource (Acts 2:42).

This post is excerpted from 4 Chair Discipling © 2019 by Dann Spader. Used by permission from Moody Publishers.

Photo source: istock

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Dann Spader has dedicated his life to disciple-making and teaching others how to take someone from a seeker to a reproducing disciple themselves, all by following the pattern Jesus laid out for us in scripture. More than 750,000 people in 90 plus countries have been trained to make disciples emulating the life of Christ through organizations and initiatives he has led. He is the Founder of Sonlife Ministries and currently serves as Founder and President of Global Youth Initiative (an alliance of organizations in 95 countries committed to "equipping leaders for movements of multiplication”). Learn More »

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