III. Develop the PERSONALITY of a King
The next point to develop is your personality. A friendly interest in and outgoing concern for others is a tremendous asset to any potential leader. For a leader is one who LEADS — not one who shouts and screams or physically forces his ideas on others.
The outgoing concern, the courage, the dynamic enthusiasm and ringing conviction of Sir Winston Churchill for the cause of Britain and free peoples everywhere was a truly powerful factor — all by itself — in helping to prepare the way for Allied victory in the Second World War. Dozens of times, in fact, the history of entire nations has been affected and altered by the personality of their LEADERS.
"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones" (Prov. 17:22). This statement in God's Word shows the powerful effect of a happy, positive frame of mind not only on one's self, but on others!
"A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Prov. 18:24). To inspire his subordinates and command their respect and loyalty, a real leader certainly will cultivate a friendly persuasive personality and GIVE of himself to others.
In preparing to become a literal KING in God's soon-coming government, learn to GIVE of your personality, warmth and genuine friendliness to others!
IV. Develop the CHARACTER of a King
The development of right character is paramount for anyone in a position of ruler ship. The honesty, purity, fairness, self-discipline and LOVE exemplified in the life of a King or ruler is the strongest possible influence on his subjects to be this way themselves.
Throughout the history of God's people Israel in the Old Testament, the inspired record shows again and again that the entire nation followed the example of its king's personal honesty, morality and willingness to follow and OBEY the Eternal God. When the King was a murderer, whoremonger or idolator, the vast majority of the people followed his derelict example. When any King yielded himself wholeheartedly to the Eternal to walk in His commandments, statutes and judgments, the entire nation was swept by this sentiment and quickly began to experience the BLESSINGS and protection of the Creator.
People do follow their leaders.
The basis of ALL true character is found in Matthew 22:35-40 in your Bible. It is Jesus Christ's answer to the question of which is the "great commandment." He said: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. "
If any national leader truly yielded himself to the will of His Creator — the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob — his people would be blessed indeed. If such a leader would follow, obey and WORSHIP the true God with ALL HIS BEING, the character, accomplishments, happiness and prosperity of his nation would be absolutely and literally FANTASTIC.
Following his example, his people would become honest fair to each other and completely loyal to their King. They would honor their parents; obey the laws of the nation — as long as these didn't conflict with the laws of God. They would work hard six days — producing MUCH PROSPERITY, and they would rest on the seventh day, worshiping the Creator God and renewing not only their physical strength but their spiritual energies and convictions. Murder would be practically unheard of. Divorce, broken homes and crime would soon become almost obsolete.
And in their rainfall, their overall weather, their crops and the entire produce of their fields and forests, lakes and streams, plus the fabulous underground wealth of their oil wells and mines, they would be BLESSED with overflowing wealth and riches.
Fantastic?
Not at all!
For this describes literally what is prophesied to happen in The World Tomorrow when the Kings and Governors over nations will be leading their people in THE WAY of God! For when leaders everywhere have the character to discipline themselves, to worship and OBEY the Creator — living by ALL TEN of the Ten Commandments — then the truly "great society" will be established on this earth under the living Jesus Christ.
V. Develop Your FAMILY LIFE
If we human beings are in training to be literal Kings in the soon-coming government of God, what better training could we have in guiding, protecting and, in great love, RULING OVER human beings than with our own children and families?
The fact is that each family is like a miniature kingdom. It should be ruled over — not by screaming, rebellious children — but by a father and a mother who truly LOVE each other and work together to set the right attitudes and patterns of behavior in their home.
The father should play the part of a strong, wise, masculine, yet protective and beneficent King. The mother is his Queen — set over the household affairs and exercising her responsibilities with love and wisdom, and in complete accord with her husband's wishes.
The children are taught, trained, nurtured and disciplined for THEIR GOOD. Family duties and chores are allotted to each member of the household. Family play and recreation is something to which everyone looks forward. There is order, harmony, and discipline in this miniature kingdom. There is JOY. And there is PEACE.
A beautiful description of this type of family "kingdom" is extended to the man who obeys God: "Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table" (Ps. 28:3).
In anticipation of your ultimate GOAL, go to work and build this area of your life. Understand God's purpose in it — and be BLESSED.
VI. Grow in SERVICE and LEADERSHIP
Jesus Christ will soon return to this earth with majestic POWER to rule this earth as King of kings and Lord of lords. Tremendous trumpet blasts will accompany His return. His face will shine like the sun in full strength.
Men will never again talk about whether God is "dead"!
Rather, they will finally wake up to the fact that human life did not just "happen." They will stand in awe and FEAR of their Creator!
In person, Christ will RULE this earth at last!
But WHY does He want to rule? What is His MOTIVE?
He will do it in order to save man from blasting himself off this planet. He will do it in order to bring about peace, happiness, and prosperity. In a word, He will do it in order to SERVE His own Creation — the human race.
In His earthly ministry, Jesus taught: "Whosoever will be great among you let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant" (Matt. 20:26-27). Jesus' entire motive in ruling and directing people is to help and SERVE them. It is NOT to "show off," exalt the self, or crush others down through human pride and vanity.
It is only to help them lift them up point them in the right direction for their own good.
This should become OUR MOTIVE, always.
In this life, then, we should cultivate the attitude e and habit of SERVICE and LEADERSHIP — leading only in order to serve. So think ahead be alert to the opportunities you may have to advance the welfare of your family, your friends, your group. Learn to concentrate your time and energies in these areas where you are just naturally able to lead — where your natural talents and abilities are greater. Be willing to take the lowest job first — if it affords you an opportunity to serve your fellow man. Master that responsibility — then greater opportunities of service and leadership will present themselves.
In the attitude of serving others, learn to lead and dominate in carrying out any of your responsibilities at work, at home, in your club or group. By friendliness, enthusiasm, confidence, preparation and DRIVE, learn to lead others in the right way and thus SERVE THEM.
Christian leadership based on SERVICE is the best possible preparation for your job as a King under Jesus Christ in The World Tomorrow!
VII. Seek and Learn to EXERCISE the POWER of God
In preparing to be a literal King in Christ's soon-coming government, awareness of and ability to exercise God's POWER is absolutely vital. For although we are not given anywhere near the degree of supernatural power in this life as we will in God's Kingdom, we certainly need to become familiar with it, appreciate it, and learn to exercise the wisdom, patience, and self-control in exercising it that we should.
It is sad but true that many of you readers will simply not know what I "mean" by God's power. For most professing Christians today think that it is a sort of generalized "force for good," or that it is a type of so-called Pentecostal emotionalism which involves shouting and screaming, chills up and down the spine and other products of crowd psychology and mass hysteria. Or perhaps, many of you will have no clear-cut idea of what it is.
The apostle Paul prophesied that this would be so. He warned: "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers . . . Having a form of godliness but denying the Power thereof: from such turn away (II Tim. 3:1-5).
But what is the true exercise of that power?
It is, first and most important of all, the spiritual strength of character that enables the truly converted Christian to OVERCOME his own human nature and vanity and grow to become LIKE GOD. It is God putting His very own nature in us through the POWER of His Holy Spirit!
The apostle Peter speaks of the precious promises given us, "that by these ye might be partakers of the DIVINE NATURE . . . (II Pet. 1:4).
Paul describes the Divine help we receive through the Holy Spirit: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of POWER, and of love, and of a sound mind" (II Tim. 1:7). As begotten sons of God, we receive His very nature. This gives us — as we yield to God and grow spiritually — the spiritual strength to increasingly MASTER the wrong ways, habits, lusts and vanities that seemed impossible to overcome before.
Then, gradually, we become FIT to be given additional spiritual powers. These include the spiritual "gifts" listed in I Corinthians 12:8-10 — wisdom knowledge faith healing miracles prophecy etc.
Although the Bible definitely indicates that more outstanding miracles are intended by God to be performed in some ages than others, those who are really close to God in study, prayer, faith and obedience are to be the recipients of supernatural MIRACLES and BLESSINGS in every aged.
This Power comes from personal direct yielded contact with the God of the Bible — the God of Peter and Paul — the God of Jesus Christ. Notice the illuminating account in Mark 1:32-35. Jesus had been casting out demons and healing every sickness and every disease of those who came to Him. Then: "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there PRAYED.
Jesus spent countless HOURS in communion with the Father. He walked with God, talked with God, yielded His will to God and obeyed His commandments. He was God-centered — constantly seeking in all things to be an instrument in God's hands. And so the POWER of God's Holy Spirit literally surged through Him like a torrent and GREAT MIRACLES were performed!
That is the "key" to this facet of exercising God's power! But there is much more that will have to wait until the final article in this vitally important series.
Act on These Points
Remember, though, this world REALLY needs straightening out! Whether this world believes it or not, likes it or not, prepares for it or not, the Creator God is GOING to straighten things out through the direct RULE, the government of the living Jesus Christ and His spirit-born saints.
Then, as the world begins to cooperate, there will be permanent peace prosperity and deep Joy.
Those who assist Jesus Christ in straightening out this world's staggering problems will need to be dedicated and balanced leaders. They will be those who — as Zealous dedicated Christians in this life — understood and ACTED on the matter of glorifying God in the development of mind, body, personality, character, family life, service and leadership and in seeking and exercising the POWER of God.
So go to work on these qualities. Anticipate and study the coming articles in this continuing series. Prepare now, to be a King!