Chapter 9 - Spirit-Directed Governance
The Pieces Come Together
A man . . .
In position with God
Humbly surrendered in His presence
Seeking Him intently, confessed and repentant
Experiencing God's promise to hear, forgive, and restore
On assignment by God . . .
Next: Spirit-directed governance
This is new terminology for many of you. So, slow down, work through it, and take it in. This is not about government, though government systems are an important application of Spirit-directed governance.
Here is the definition: It is a man's responsible exercise of God's delegated authority to order, direct, and steward people, resources, and systems toward their intended purpose.
Application of Spirit-directed governance is directed by the various active roles in a man's life. For example, a business owner may apply it to the management of his company. A mayor may apply it to the conduct of his administration. A father may apply it to the management of his family.
What it is.
It establishes direction. It makes decisions. It sets boundaries. It ensures accountability. All under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, protected, cultivated, and aligned with the will of the rightful owner, God. It is stewardship of God's things, under God's authority, for God’s purposes and the flourishing of those under care.
What it is not.
It is not ownership. It is not command and control. It is not domination.
It askes, "Lord, what would you have me do with your things today?"
Spirit-Directed Governance -- Leadership Turned Right Side Up
The Bible’s consistent teaching is that God is the ultimate ruler, that human authority is delegated, and that the Holy Spirit actively guides those entrusted with leadership. Several key biblical themes establish this foundation:
[1] God is the source and delegator of authority.
All legitimate authority originates with God and is entrusted to humans as stewards or caretakers, not owners. The Apostle Paul wrote, “There is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1. Daniel said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings." Daniel 2:20-21.
Governance, therefore, is not self-generated power but a God-assigned responsibility.
[2] Leadership is exercised under God’s direction.
Biblical leaders were expected to govern by seeking God’s counsel rather than relying on personal wisdom. Solomon’s request for “an understanding heart to govern your people” 1 Kings 3:9, is a clear that righteous governance flows from divine wisdom. Proverbs reinforces this: “By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just” Proverbs 8:15.
[3] The Holy Spirit guides leaders.
The Old Testament repeatedly shows the Spirit coming upon judges, kings, and leaders to enable right governance (Judges 3:10; 1 Samuel 16:13). In the New Testament, this extends to Spirit-led discernment in communal and institutional decisions, as seen when leaders declare, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…” Acts 15:28. Jesus Himself promises that the Spirit will “guide you into all the truth” John 16:13, a principle that applies to leadership decisions made in His name.
[4] Governance is stewardship ultimately accountable to God.
Jesus explicitly frames leadership as stewardship under divine accountability. In the parable of the faithful steward, the leader is judged not by power retained but by faithfulness to the master’s will (Luke 12:42–44). This aligns with Paul’s teaching: “It is required of stewards that they be found faithful” 1 Corinthians 4:2.
[5] Jesus is the model of Spirit-directed authority.
Jesus governs as one sent by the Father and empowered by the Spirit, declaring, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me” (Luke 4:18). His authority is exercised in obedience, humility, and service (John 5:19; Mark 10:42–45), setting the pattern for all Christian governance.
Overall, Scripture describes Spirit-led governance as authority given by God, influenced by the Holy Spirit, limited by God’s plans, and held accountable to Him. It is a form of governance based on understanding and faithful stewardship of God's will, rather than on control.
It is Other-Focused
Spirit-directed governance gives rise to what is called "other-focused" leadership, marked by a consistent orientation away from self-interest and toward the flourishing, growth, and well-being of those being led. If you notice the themes of Shalom rising in this approach to leadership, you are understanding it perfectly.
Here is what to look for in the Spirit-Directed Governance model . . .
Genuine Care for People -- The leader values people not merely for their productivity but for their inherent worth. Decisions are guided by concern for how outcomes affect individuals, families, teams, and communities.
Active Listening and Presence — Leaders who focus on others listen carefully, aiming to understand first rather than be understood. They provide their full attention, encourage input, and foster an environment where everyone's voice is heard and valued.
Humility and Self-Awareness -- Leaders who embody these qualities acknowledge their limitations, stay open to learning and admit errors when necessary. Their leadership is driven not by ego, status, or desire for control, but by a commitment to serve a greater purpose.
Empowerment Over Control — They foster growth in others by delegating responsibility, sharing authority, and providing the tools needed for success. The goal is to cultivate multiple leaders, reducing reliance on a single leader.
Clarity of Purpose and Alignment -- An other-focused leader clearly communicates the vision so people understand how their role contributes to something meaningful beyond themselves. Purpose becomes a shared commitment, not a personal platform.
Integrity and Consistency -- Trust is built on the alignment of words and actions. Decisions are fair, transparent, and principled, even when personally costly to the leader.
Long-Term Perspective -- Rather than pursuing quick wins, the leader prioritizes sustainable growth, a healthy culture, and lasting impact on people’s lives.
Advocacy and Protection -- The leader is committed to supporting others, handling pressure, and accepting responsibility during challenges. Credit is given generously, and blame is assigned fairly.
It Works.
The 1970's saw the rise of several influential business and leadership writers who explicitly championed other-focused, people-centered leadership—often using terms such as servant leadership, humble leadership, or human-centered leadership. Peter Drucker, Robert Greenleaf, Jim Collins, Stephen Covey, Ken Blanchard, to name a few.
Over decades and across various fields, these authors increasingly agree that the most effective leaders view leadership as stewardship rather than self-interest. They emphasize caring for people, purpose, and culture, offering a solid intellectual basis for leadership that prioritizes others in contemporary organizations.
Now, Let's Talk About Your Arena of Governance
In the last chapter, you learned the characteristics of a God-assignment. Assignments seldom come to a man one at a time. They tend to be in concurrent sets that may include a large number of roles. Each will be in concert with the others, but each will have its own set of responsibilities and its own timeline.
Let's go back to Moses as the example. The biblical story indicates that he had several roles concurrently. He was a son, a father, a husband, a brother, a son-in-law, a leader, an employee, a general, a negotiator, a statesman, and you could easily make a case for a few more, all pulling at him for good governance at the same time.
The same is true for you. Each role has a place in your life, represents a set of responsibilities, requires the application of resources and strategies by which resources are effectively applied, and identifies a starting and an end point.
Spirit-Directed governance is BUSY!
Take a minute and identify the roles you currently play. You will have several. These are where you exercise governance and apply resources.
First, make sure you are in position. Then select the five most applicable to your life.
Now prioritize them from most important to less important from what you believe to be God's point of view.
If you are in position, Scripture applied by the Holy Spirit will form your thought and set the list order.
Now, get real honest, and rank the same roles from a time-investment standpoint.
It is entirely possible that you will find a difference between your understanding of God's will and your application of time.
The Struggle and the Solution
A man's set of top five roles will include one that pushes all his buttons. It will be deeply meaningful and will command most of his priorities. His governance in that particular role will meet the top need in his life -- the need to be significant to someone or for something. That role may be the source of affirmation from other men. It may be financially lucrative. It may lend itself to the exercise of power over others. Whatever it may be, it pushes that one most important button.
The will to significance is one of the most powerful drivers in any man. The two highest contenders for a path to significance according to Victor Frankl in his seminal work, "Man's Search for Meaning," are creative effort (work), and love. Scripture teaches that the greatest of these is love, (1 Corinthians 13). But the choice of most men is work. Here is the reason - the fruits of work -- money, admiration, power -- feed a man's pride.
Regarding the role differentiation above, God's list vs. yours -- it is not the role that is out of position, it's the man.
Do you remember the first element of position, humility? When pride rises, that element of position is dysfunctional -- like a dead cylinder in the engine.
On my desk is a radio compass from a P-51 Mustang. It was a gift from my friend, Andy Andrews who knows my "Light in the Star" story from a flight in that classic aircraft. The needle on the compass is fixed on the last heading of the aircraft from which it was pulled -- 10 degrees off true north.
Given the 360-degree range of the compass, 10 degrees off does not seem like much as it sits on my desk. But if it were being relied on to guide a pilot flying 300 miles per hour, 10 degrees off true would put that pilot seriously off course and likely lost.
Similarly, a man, seeking to honor God with the governance of an assignment, but out of position regarding humility will follow his pride into a mess. The solution is in the Spirit-Directed model. The Holy Spirit sits in the control center of your heart. If a man is even one degree off course, the Spirit will raise the alarm. It then falls to the man to confess the truth, turn away from his pride, and accept God's correction back on course.
Ok...now click over to Chapter 10...
Mark Foley, Ph.D.
effectivesolutions.today