Kingdom Leadership: The Grand Disappearing Act

John the Baptist pulled off something just short of a miracle, he was willing to disappear.  Threatened by the growing ministry of Jesus from Nazareth, the followers of John wanted him to reclaim his territory, reassert his stake, and reaffirm his name.  But John says something unbelievable for a leader, "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." (John 3:30 NLT)

Yeah, that's convicting.  As leaders we often feed off of affirmation, esteem, importance, and recognition.  We even justify this addiction to popularity as helping accomplish God's plan.  We are quick to defend our agendas and stake claim on ministry territory.  We rush to criticism of those who do ministry differently than we do, especially when it has the appearance of being more effective than ours.  We are easily threatened.  Why?  Perhaps in our eagerness to be recognized for our accomplishments, we fear the possibility that we will be overlooked.

Yet John was willing to disappear.  Miraculous!  But what if this is the essential trait of a Kingdom leader who invests herself/himself in the priorities of Jesus' Kingdom?  What if clamoring for recognition actually hinders the possibilities of impact that Jesus desires to make in the lives of others.  

Paul picks up this theme of disappearance several times throughout his ministry.  I'm always amazed when I read in his letter to the church in Philippi that though he has been tucked away in prison, he rejoices that Jesus is still being preached.  In fact, Paul rejoices even when Jesus is being preached as insult to Paul, as long is Christ is preached.  He wasn't threatened by being overlooked.  He recognized that in overlooking Paul, they could see past him to Jesus.  In his letter to the church in Galatia, he writes, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."  Paul's preference was disappearance not recognition.  I know it's convicting!

What must we keep in mind for this to be possible in our own lives?
D - Determine that no matter how talented you feel you are, only in lifting up Jesus can lives change.
I - Identify and confess looming insecurities and the need to be recognized.
S - Serve, sacrifice, and surrender rather than seeking affirmation.
A - Accept that the least is the greatest, Kingdom Leaders carry towels and basins.
P - Prayer not personality is the power behind ministry.
P - Point again and again the faithfulness of God as the reason for ministry significance.
E - Eagerly celebrate all Kingdom victories, especially when they are not your own!
A - Align priorities with Kingdom purposes.
R - Repeatedly pray for God's Holy Spirit to fill the vessel and point to the source.