Audacious leadership

Ten Characteristics of Audacious Leadership

If you were to look at 2 Samuel 23:8-37, you would read about David’s Audacious Men (‘mighty men’ to be exact).Guys like Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar & Shammah were awesome leaders who accomplished great feats because they were Audacious. There are 10 characteristics of Audacious leaders. If we had a nation of young leaders who embraced these – imagine what we could accomplish!

1. Be there

This is so simple – it’s profound. The reason that Josheb, Eleazar & Shammah inspired the nation through their leadership, is because when it counted the most – they were there!

Josheb (v8) means – ‘to whom people turn!’ The reason people could turn to Josheb was because he was proven in battle & life. He was there when it counted most, people had watched his life & had liked what they had seen.

I can imagine Eleazar as an old man, telling his grand children about the time when they ‘taunted’ the philistines before winning a great battle against them (v9). He had the story to tell because he was there – on the battle field!

Shammah was able to take ‘his stand’ (v11) – because he was there!

Audacious leadership is about making the decision ‘to be there’ when it counts the most. To be in the lives of the young people when they are going through difficult times & to be in their faces when they are about to make crazy decisions.

One of the great things you can do for your young people this year is make a decision on there behalf to be at ‘Audacious’ – to be there when God is moving, so that after the summer your young people can say – “I was there when that happened!”

2. Stood their ground in single combat

In verses 8, 9 & 11 we read about each of the three Audacious leaders standing their ground in single combat. There are times when I feel invincible & there are other occasions when I feel like I couldn’t fight my way out of a paper bag! Josheb, Eleazar & Shammah stood in the face of an oncoming enemy & retreating comrades – they didn’t have courage in numbers, they just simply stood their ground!

There are times in leadership when you simply have to stand your ground!

In verses 10 & 12, we see that their stand turned defeat to victory! When you stand, you have to have the confidence that you can turn potential defeat into victory (see Eph 6:10-14a).

Sometimes all you have do is stand!- even if those with you have run!

3. Excuse became opportunity

Someone once said – ‘One man’s junk is another man’s treasure!

Eleazar was on a battlefield where the excuses were flying thick & fast as his army fled before the oncoming enemy. He had an excuse to run away too. In v10 it says that his hand was so tired, it froze to the sword! Others at that point would have retreated, but Eleazar didn’t, he turned his potential excuse into an opportunity to stand!

This year, there will be lots of reasons why you can’t accomplish your God-given desires for your youth / young adults. In reality, the excuse can provide the opportunity you need to become an Audacious leader who rises above the obstacles & sees great things come about.

There will probably be reasons why some of you can’t make Audacious in the summer – Hey why not change the excuse into the opportunity you need, to see a miracle & commit to being part of the week!

4. Comradeship

In v9 it says ‘Eleazar was WITH David!’. In v11 it says ‘next to him was Shammah’. Their fight & service for Prince David wasn’t an independent one. They weren’t Lone Rangers attempting to make a name for themselves, they were in it with the Three Musketeers motto ‘One for all – all for one!’ Their service for David was a relational one!

In Judges 18:1-2a ; 7 ; 27-28, the tribe of Dan were still waiting to take possession of the promise land. They had fought battles previously against other cities & towns – but had lost. Then they saw the city called Laish & noticed that the people of Laish had no relationship with anyone else. The Danites attacked Laish & won because the people of Laish had no-one to call on for help.

The strength of Davids Mighty men, was who they were with.

The Audacious Culture is a relational culture. It’s about building networks & relationships with like-minded leaders who won’t let obstacles & excuses stand in the way of taking the nation for Jesus! Audacious leaders are relational!

5. Grace

In V9-10. Eleazar whipped the enemy single-handedly! By right, the spoils of Victory were Eleazars – but graciously he allowed his fellow soldiers to join in & collect the spoils of war because he was gracious.

Grace is best defined as- ‘Undeserved Favour & Mercy’. The soldiers didn’t deserve the spoils of war – but that’s grace – it’s undeserved.

You are recipients of God’s Grace every day. Audacious leaders show grace. They forgive; they choose not to write people off & choose to go the extra mile for those who need it!

6. Bold

In v12 it says that Shammah took his stand in the middle of the lentil patch! Notice that he wasn’t cornered like a rat in a trap, he boldly stood & faced the challenge of the enemy!

I remember hearing a preacher years ago make the point of noting that out of all the armour of God listed in Ephesians 6, there is none for the back of the body!

God has designed you to be bold, full on, with no retreat. Next time you are in a place of conflict in leadership – be bold!

7. Fought for supply lines

In v 13 it says that ‘During Harvest Time, the philistines camped in the valley of Rephaim’. Otherwise known as the “Valley Giants”, this valley was 1 mile long. It was here that the food was growing for the people & the enemy set up camp there. David’s mighty men made a decision to fight for the supply lines – the food that the people desperately needed in order to live!

Some of the most important battles you will fight, are for your supply lines!

In the Old Testament, Daniel had to fight for the supply line of communication / relationship with God. Esther had to fight for the supply line of Identity. David had to fight for the supply line of Sexuality. Job had to fight for the supply line of what is real.

If the Devil can corrupt or destroy the right supply line into you as a leader, he can affect your influence.

Question – what battles do you need fight with regard to supply lines concerning – Identitiy, sexuality, priorities, spirituality, future, and career etc.

8. Honour

In v14-17, David expressed his desire to drink from the well in Bethlehem. Some of his men then fought their way through enemy lines just to get him the water he wanted. David probably wasn’t overly thirsty – there would have been water in the mountains where he was hiding. More than likely he was expressing a desire to be home.

David was the prince of the mighty men & they chose to honour him by their actions.

The dictionary defines honour in the following ways, (i) “to show great respect for someone or thing especially in public (ii) “to do what you said you would…” (iii) “A quality that combines, respect, pride, honesty”

Audacious leaders honour those they serve.

Question – Who is your prince & how can you honour him/her? Your prince may be – a lecturer / boss / parents / pastors / leaders. Certainly we are called to honour the leaders of our nation ie the Prime Minister etc.

It would be awesome if the motto of Audacious was = Those who come learn forgotten code; HONOUR!

9. Generational

In v33 we read about Jonathon . Jonathon was Shammah’s son & he sought to follow in his fathers footsteps. Later, Jonathon was to be included in David’s 37 might men! To be an Audacious leader, our outlook on life has to be a generational one! – This not just about us, it is about those we lead & the generation that will come after them.

Leadership is so important because, the legacy we leave will affect generations to come! The future really is in our hands.

10. Cause

In 1 Chronicles 11:10, we read the same passage as 2 Samuel 23, but it defines the cause of the mighty men. Their cause was to give ‘David’s kingship strong support & extend it over land’.

Our cause as Audacious leaders is to give strong support to the King (Jesus) & shout His fame through the land! Everything we do as leaders should be aimed at lifting up the name of God & doing everything within our power to see the Nation won for Jesus! We can only really do that by living out the characteristics of the Audacious leader –

1. Be there
2. Stand your ground in single combat
3. Let your excuse be the opportunity
4. Comradeship
5. Grace
6. Boldness
7. Fight for your supply lines
8. Honour
9. Have a generational outlook
10. Live the Cause!

Glyn Barrett is the Director of Audacious and Youth Alive UK. He is a sought after communicator and author. Glyn and his wife, Sophia, are the Senior Pastors of Audacious City Church. They live in Manchester with their two children, Georgia and Jaedon.