Submissive Leadership

1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ 

    In my own thoughts, I have recently been running over one phrase that Jesus said in the gospel. "I only do what my Father does." Jesus was so in tune with and locked in on the Father that He could easily discern His will and follow suit. In fact, He always did this! He never did anything of His own accord. He only did what the Father told Him. I want to live my life like that. I want to lead like that. In total submission to the Father's will.

John 5:19 So Jesus explained, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does (NIV)

    When describing leadership, the last thing most people think of is "submissive." How can you be a submissive leader? By submitting to God's plan and will for your life. By following Jesus' example. Jesus followed His Father's instructions perfectly. He often went away from everyone to spend time with His Father in Heaven. To talk to Him. To seek Him. To realign Himself with the truth. To be in total submission.

Matthew 14:23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. (NIV)

Matthew 26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” (NIV)

Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (NIV)

Luke 5:16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (NIV)

     Jesus was so aligned with His Father's will that He carried out the most important event of all time. In His all-human flesh, Jesus agreed to die a gruesome death because in His perfect, all-God Spirit He knew what His death would bring for us. He submitted Himself to a humiliating, shameful, torturous, prolonged death. For you. For me. For people who will never accept His gift. But He did it because the Father said so. And because of His great love for us.

Matthew 26: 39, 42 Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, Your will be done.” (HCSB)

Philippians 2:5-11
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (NIV)

    What great things can we accomplish if we were completely and totally submitted to the Father's will? What great things could we lead others into? Lead by following His plans and not your own. Lead by His will and not your own. Lead by submission. 

John 14:12 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (ESV)