The prophet's handbook

number, the greater the prospect of stressing a group’s bond of cohesiveness, decreasing the likelihood it will complete the job at hand without leadership. Once the suitable person has been identified and appointed as the leader, a large part of the distracting factors previously hindering the work disappear. The leader’s presence and skill see to it. However, such a person must be invested with the authority to do what it takes to benefit those who trust him or her to enforce the will of the majority on the few opponents. Trust, consequently, is a large part of leadership. The people must perceive an atmosphere of safety, integrity, fairness, and ethics to relax their guards and establish unity. A sense of safety and well-being must foster within all followers the belief that justice, equity, and balance will prevail with those to whom they entrust their leadership. Because of this, any delegation of authority has to convey these to those who follow, or else the entire structure is vulnerable. Authority, as we have said, implies power that can negatively affect a group’s support of its leaders. Still, an element of force is needed to ensure compliance, conformance, and performance demanded by the authority. Without it, there can be no motive for obedience, and as a result, little or no success. The vision is not realized because the goal is not achieved. When strong leadership is absent or undefined, only the fruit of failure, disillusionment, and disappointment are experienced. Followers become bitter and cynical and their leaders confused and insecure. Everyone walks away from such ventures defeated and jaded when there is a breakdown of authority, which is native to leadership. Only in an environment where leaders are clearly established and respected can efficient means of completing projects occur. It is the leaders who discover and release that efficiency. Christian leaders need to understand that every delegation of God is accompanied by a corresponding degree of power, supernatural more than natural. As the manifestation of the Son of God showed us, the problems of earth have spiritual origins and their roots can only be handled on the supernatural plane. That begins with sound, responsible, prophetic authority! Leadership Authority Figures Traditionally, more than a few aspirants and newcomers to leadership struggle with authority figures. They dislike being told what to do unless they agree with it and feel their positions are as vital to their organization’s mission and goal as their superiors’, whether or not they know the mission and goal. To avoid