The Making of A Leader

Transcript:

Pastor Priji: Good morning and greetings in Jesus name. Welcome to Leadership talk. It is such a joy to have you join this morning podcast. I have a dear friend of mine, Prophet Hari Rao joining us for today’s conversation. I hope it will be a blessing to you. You will have exposure and an understanding of leadership that is going to help you in your skills, heart, in your character and will help you lead the way Jesus leads.

Prophet Hari: Thank you Pastor Priji. An absolute joy to be here.

Pastor Priji: What is the definition of leadership? How do you look at leadership?

Prophet Hari: This is something that has grown and evolved over a period of time for me. I think I would describe leadership with two words :

1. Imitation: Leadership for me is when you can live a life worthy of imitation. Somebody can look at the way you run business, handle finances, conduct your marriage, ministry. You have set such an exemplary example that is worthy of imitation. It is something where someone can peep into your life and say this is something that I would like to happen in my life, to be able to live in such away. This puts the burden of living a worthy life on me.
2. Influence: John Maxwell said, “If you are walking and nobody is following you then you are just taking a walk.” Leadership at some point outgrows my personal boundaries and it has its effect on other peoples thought, work; for good of course. Leadership is a positive influence on peoples thoughts, words and actions.

Pastor Priji: I wanna know from your perspective; is it necessary to keep evolving in leadership? There are different seasons that we go through, so should we be constant in our leadership style or is it important to evolve through the different seasons?

Prophet Hari: I think personal growth is the only way to ensure relevance. We live in a time where things are shifting so much; things that were relevant, big and taken for granted at one point of time are not even in existence now. Growth is the only guarantee for relevance. Constantly keep adapting, growing. Growing personally in your skills, value system, relationship, communication; personal growth is not an option for anyone who wants to be in leadership. When people who follow you are also constantly upgraded because they see you being constantly upgraded. I do not compartmentalize leadership like, pastor, mentor, businessman. Leadership is core. It influences and embodies everything that we do.

Pastor Priji: What are those things that should remain constant even when we constantly evolve and grow in leadership?

Prophet Hari: There are certain parts of my life that are set in stone, like my loyalty to my friends and family. I love my wife, I love my family, I love my friends and with that, there is an expectation. I can’t be friends with everybody because it is not possible to be friends with everybody. Nobody is a friend to everyone. So, understanding that there are certain values I will not compromise like integrity, my love for the Lord, my love for the word of God, my love for my family; is set in stone. The other category is that there is a certain selection of values that derive their strength by constantly changing and evolving based on what is required of you in that season. Like adaptability; the value of adaptability constantly changes with different seasons. We need to make a distinction. What are the core value set in stone for me and what are required by me to succeed in what God has called me to be?

Pastor Priji: There are seasons in our life like Apostle Paul would go through fiery trials and still would be expected to do ministry. How easy is it for us to minister when there is a difficult situation around us, it could be loss of a loved one, troubled marriage, financial upheaval; there might be a lot of personal issues which may not be categorized as sin; we still have to continue to serve the church, our children or company and at the same time we have a troubled side. How do we still continue to serve with a right heart not getting bitter and not using anger or hurt from the other side on this part? What is your opinion?

Prophet Hari: I’m of this opinion; the only cure to pain is purpose. You take purpose away from anybody, that pain will eat that person up! What gives us motivation to crawl out of that situation is that light at the end of the tunnel which is our purpose in Christ. You take that away from a man or a woman or from a marriage, you now have no motivation to strive towards that higher goal and excellency that is above and beyond us. We have to bring certain things to perspective; there are times where we must rest or break from this hassle culture that we have created. But never take a break from your purpose. Our purpose is so much intertwined with our identity that we cannot take a break from that. Whatever is your God-given destiny, you cannot take a break from it, it’s who you are. God cant take a break from Himself. Jesus cant take a break from saving. The purpose is the quintessential pursuit in life that allows us to transcend all the seasons of life. It allows us to rise above every hurdle or pain because it is a worthy call to pursue irrespective of our present circumstances. The purpose is that high ground that we all aim to achieve. On the ministry aspect, I have experienced the most powerful times of ministry when I am most vulnerable. There is something about being broken before the Lord that produces life and power. There is an anatomy of pain and brokenness that attracts the strength and power of God. The vulnerable are always close to Christ. I’m not saying that you create a marriage with pain or have a close affinity with pain, but in those moments of brokenness know that Christ is the closest to you. And your gifts are most amplified when you are in pain. Some of the greatest ministries are formed out of pain, desperation and absolute helplessness. Pain can be a gift. Everyone goes through it at least once in a lifetime and it is an opportunity to catapult your life to a different dimension altogether. Use pain to your profit and for the glory of Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Priji: Sometimes when we are in a season of pain all around us, we are unable to see the purpose of it. What do you do at those times, when you know you are a leader, a father and at the same time there is so much pain that you can’t make sense of any of it. How can you stop your circumstances from taking charge or stop being led by pain and circumstances?

Prophet Hari: One thing is perspective. Perspective is one such thing that changes situations overnight. Externally nothing might change but you change as a person. When God gives you a perspective of yourself, your seasons and the situation you are going through, something happens to you like you might have the same pain but it doesn’t have the sting. You are not a victim anymore. People betray or offend you but you are in control. It is not that it does not pain but now you have a perspective that is above and beyond the temporary situation you are going through. Our dear Prophet in the Lord once said, “If your preparation is greater than your test, you have already won.” So you will be shocked by your circumstances if there is a vacuum or defect or hole in your preparation.

Second, we are a very self-reliant culture. And seasons teach us the dependency on others and there is beauty in finding friends in seasons. It is important, we are inter-connected.

Pastor Priji: How important it is to be receptive to the community that God brings in our life as a leader?

Prophet Hari: Unless you have people who are actively participating and listening to what you are preaching, you just have theories. Our community is our laboratory; I don’t say that in an evil mean way. Everything that we produce has to be tested, somebody has to follow what is being spoken and see the benefits and results of it. Unless you have fruits you just have theories. Community plays a fundamental role in testing what you believe in. The God-given community can absorb not so refined part of you so that the larger world can see the refined part of you. The gift in me can found expression.

Pastor Priji: How do you measure growth as a leader? When do you know that you have grown a little bit and grown to next season and that you are not redundant?

Prophet Hari: I am one of those people who can be critical about myself. I still cannot watch an entire sermon of me preaching. Within a few minutes, I can find twenty things that I could have done differently and better. I am in my sense my biggest critic and encourager because you have to do that. I am in a competition with myself. One of my complaints to God is, “I wish I could preach like the guy inside (talking about the Holy Spirit).” When I hear from the Lord, it comes with such power, grace and authority and I am in a constant battle to duplicate it when I am preaching. I keep asking God can I come to a place where I can deliver the word the way I receive it.

Pastor Priji: We are grateful Prophet Hari to have you with us and to have your valuable insight. Thank you so much for joining us. What is the best way our listeners can receive from you?

Prophet Hari: The best way to connect right now would be Telegram group and the next one would be Instagram.