Being a leader is a calling of the Father, it is not a decision you take or something you would like to do.

1Tim 3:1-13 The saying is true and irrefutable: If any man [eagerly, enthusiastically, willingly] seeks the office of bishop (superintendent, overseer), he desires an excellent task (work). Amplified

Leadership is not a position to covet, it is an important role to play, it is not a position of authority over others, it is a work to be done, a calling to fulfil; the calling of a servant.

The desire to be great and to be first among the brethren is something that our Saviour warned specifically about. He made it clear that we must be servants and slaves to one another. We see so many churches and ministries being destroyed of split because of exactly that. Competition in the congregation is an evil that has crept in.

Mat 20:25-28 But Jesus called them to Him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 "And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave; 28 "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." KJVIs your life an example to others? Does your life give hope to others?

1Tim 3:2 Now a bishop (superintendent, overseer)

• must give no grounds for accusation but
  
• must be above reproach (criticism, reprimand, accusation, and not be in need of rebuke),
  
• the husband of one wife,
  
• circumspect (cautious) and
  
• temperate (pleasant) and
  
• self-controlled;
  
• [he must be] sensible and
  
• well behaved and
  
• dignified and
  
• lead an orderly (disciplined) life;
  
• [he must be] hospitable [showing love for and being a friend to the believers, especially strangers or foreigners, and
  
• be] a capable and qualified teacher,
  

3 Not given to wine,

• not combative but gentle and considerate,
  
• not quarrelsome but forbearing and peaceable, and
  
• not a lover of money [insatiable or greedy for wealth and not ready to obtain it by questionable or dishonest means].
  

4 He must rule his own household well (stand before his household as an example), keeping his children under control (manage of direct), with true dignity, commanding their respect in every way and keeping them respectful. 5 For if a man does not know how to rule his own household well (stand before his household as an example), how is he to take care of the church of God well (How is he going to an example to the assembly)? 6 He must not be a new convert, or he may [develop a beclouded and stupid state of mind] as the result of pride [be blinded by conceit, self-importance, pride, arrogance and] fall into the condemnation that the devil [once] did. [Isa. 14:12-14.] Amplified

Isa 14:12-14 How have you fallen from heaven, O light-bringer and daystar, son of the morning! How you have been cut down to the ground, you who weakened and laid low the nations [O blasphemous, satanic king of Babylon!] 13 And you said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit upon the mount of assembly in the uttermost north. (I am more qualified and better equip that other leaders)Amplified

Pride and self-glorification is one of the deadliest weapons of the enemy. Satan was kicked out of Heaven because of pride and self-glorification.

There was pride at the bottom of it, a proud conceit (self-importance, vanity, superiority) of their own merit (advantage), a proud contempt (contempt, dislike, disapproval, disrespect) of their brethren, and a proud desire of honour (admiration) and preferment (promotion, advancement, elevation); pride is a sin that most easily besets us, and which it is hard to get clear of. It is a holy ambition to strive to excel others in grace and holiness; but it is a sinful ambition to covet to exceed others in pomp (showiness, pageantry) and splendour (magnificence, brilliance, majesty, grandeur, luxury). (Mathew Henry's Commentary on the whole Bible)

1Tim 3:7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation and be well thought of by those outside [the church], lest he become involved in slander and incur reproach (being accused) and fall into the devil's trap (his/she is being destroyed as a leader with great harm to the body). Amplified

8 In like manner the deacons

• [must be] worthy of respect,
  
• not shifty (untrustworthy, deceitful) and
  
• double-talkers (liars, deceivers) but sincere in what they say,
  
• not given to much wine,
  
• not greedy for base gain [craving wealth, (self enrichment) and resorting to ignoble (shameful) and dishonest methods of getting it].
  

9 They must possess the mystic secret of the faith [Christian truth as hidden from ungodly men]

• with a clear conscience.
  

10 And let them also be tried and investigated and proved first; then, if they turn out to be above reproach, let them serve [as deacons]. Amplified

11 [The] women likewise

• must be worthy of respect and
  
• (they must be) serious,
  
• not gossipers, but temperate (pleasant) and self-controlled (tongue and temper),
  
• [thoroughly] trustworthy in all things. Amplified
  
  

12 Let deacons be the husbands of but one wife, and let them manage [their] children and their own households well. 13 For those who perform well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves and also gain much confidence and freedom and boldness in the faith which is [founded on and centers] in Christ Jesus. AmplifiedThe Almighty gave clear instructions in the scriptures of what He expects of a leader.As I was sitting before my computer working on this training session, an e-mail came in. This is what it says:

SMALL STRAWS IN A SOFT WIND by Marsha Burns -- March 19, 2010: Quiet your soul, be still, and let Me speak to your heart. Come into a place of quiet trust. Yield to the leading of My Spirit so that you can be positioned to receive all that is available to you. There are many great and precious promises awaiting fulfillment when you get in the right position to acquire them. Have faith in Me to reposition you at this time, says the Lord.

2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Do we begin to understand the importance of hearing the Voice of the Almighty and the guidance of the Spirit of the Almighty?

1 Samuel 3:10-19 And the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, Samuel! Samuel! Then Samuel answered, Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening. 11 The Lord told Samuel, Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of all who hear it shall tingle. 12 On that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 And I [now] announce to him that I will judge and punish his house forever for the iniquity of which he knew, for his sons were bringing a curse upon themselves [blaspheming God], and he did not restrain them. 14 Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for or purged with sacrifice or offering forever. 15 Samuel lay until morning; then he opened the doors of the Lord's house. And [he] was afraid to tell the vision to Eli. 16 But Eli called Samuel and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here I am. 17 Eli said, What is it He told you? Pray do not hide it from me. May God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all that He said to you. (Thys: Eli was pronouncing a curse on Samuel to force him to speak - beware of uncontrolled anger!)18 And Samuel told him everything, hiding nothing. And Eli said, It is the Lord; let Him do what seems good to Him. 19 Samuel grew; the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. Amplified

Samuel desired to serve the Almighty to the full and because of his desire to serve in obedience and humility the Almighty never let one of his words fell to the ground. One of the basic principles of leadership was not in place: his sons were bringing a curse upon themselves [blaspheming God], and he did not restrain them.

Father calls us to be still and wait upon Him.

Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Eph 1:17 [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,