Identity: The Core of Leadership

God's people serve as Vessels of the Divine

Dec 16, 2024

Great Truths to Consider

You do and act like you see yourself.

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he Proverbs 23:7.
Change how you think, and you change what you do.
Who are you? Your values form your identity.
Leadership gurus say that you must see yourself as a leader to be a leader
Some say look in the mirror
Identity impacts your influence.
Influence is leadership
You must know who you are in Christ to know your true identity.
Leadership starts on the inside.
What if you found your identity in Christ and let that impact your life and ministry in your business

You are a Child of God

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1–3.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 1 John 3:1–3.

As a child of God (this is my identity)

Love others, especially those you lead, because you are loved.
1. Care for your employees beyond the bottom dollar
2. Care about their spiritual well-being and that of their family.
3. Value them as people of worth and not just a set of hands
4. Listen to them intentionally, not just waiting to give your instructions or reprimand.
You are forgiven, so forgive those who offend you, fail you, or even hurt you.
1. Help them turn mistakes into learning opportunities.
2. Help break the cycle of blame and resentment
3. Show spiritual maturity by releasing grudges.
4. Communicate from the heart, showing you care.
God’s acceptance requires that you accept others. In other words, see beyond the sin, beyond the skin, to the real person.
1. See the potential in every team member.
2. Help all to feel valued like Christ has given you value.
3. Don’t let any external things keep you away from seeing them like Jesus saw.
  
  And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. Matthew 9:9
4. See yourself as a servant, not a boss.

You are a New Creature

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

As a new creature (this is my identity)

Character is at your core. It is not rules to follow but your internal reality. It is who you are. You are new from the inside out.
1. As new creatures, we are marked by integrity and a commitment to honesty and truth. We are not timid to be transparent.
2. As new creatures, we understand what God can do with anyone, so we are ready to forgive and help.
3. We make decisions based on what is right and true, not ego or income.
4. As new creatures, we see ourselves as stewards, not owners.
5. Our past or failures do not define us, so we refuse to do that to others.
You conquer the criticism. Change the way you think. Challenge the world narrative.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 10:5.
1. Challenge the world’s narrative where everything is about self and success. Live recognizing your dependence on God and His grace.
  1. They say Christ should not mix with business, but we know Christ is our life.
  2. They say standing for Christ will conflict with business.
  3. You realize you are the light of the world, and in your ministry, the light is invading the darkness.
2. The world focuses on fear, but you have a message of hope.
3. We see ourselves as ambassadors for Christ and reject the idea that we are not worthy to speak for Christ.
4. We acknowledge that we are constantly growing.
5. We seek God’s perspective.
Care about people. It’s not about your ego but creating mutual respect. Recognizing the value of every person
1. Caring means we listen purposely to understand more than speak to be understood.
2. We value the people God places under our leadership and see their worth and dignity as God’s creation.
3. Caring means we consider them before us. We look for ways to serve, to recognize, to reward
4. Because we care, we share what God is doing in our lives and see how the truth can help others.
5. Caring means we live lives full of grace, mercy, and compassion.

You are the Contact Point for the Trinity

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20.

As the contact point for the Trinity (this is my identity)

My life is no longer my own. I am not erased, but I am transformed.
1. Everywhere I go, they go, He goes. He lives in me.
2. I realize my hands are his hands, my voice his voice, my love his love.
  
  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Acts 17:28.
3. For me, to live is Christ, and to die is to gain.
4. As John the Baptist said, He must increase, and I must decrease.
I am in Christ, and Christ is in me. And all of God is in Christ and me. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit.
1. Christ is our life the hope of glory Colossians 1 27
  1. All of the Godhead is in Christ
    
    For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Colossians 2:9.
  2. We are complete in him.
2. In Christ, I am the light of the world and the salt of the earth, and that affects how I treat everyone.
3. Christ in me and I in Christ means He lives His life through me.
4. I am in His ministry doing His ministry and used of Him to do His ministry.
5. Your identity is no longer defined by what you do but by who you are. You are loved, chosen, and intentionally designed to be a living connection point for the most profound relationship.
It is not about who I am but who He has chosen me to be. By losing my life, I find His.
1. My failures and mistakes make me see my need for Christ and their need for Him.
2. His love for me means that as He sheds His love on me, I will let that love flow through me.
3. I serve as His ambassador as if Christ were begging men to be reconciled to God through me.
4. My conversations are opportunities for God to speak, my actions for His purposes, my challenges a chance for God to show His power, and even my weaknesses give place for God to work.
5. They, the Trinity, God lives in me.