Friends, we are facing a climatic change in our nation and if we do not harness these isssue before us, we are going to witness the most catastrophic destabilization our nation has ever witnessed. The issue before us is a leadership delimma? In my book "America's Sustainability" I mention that times like these demand action! My friends if there ever was a time for a revolution it is today! Revolution is nothing more than a dramatic change for the better. We have to understand that we the people are responsible for the leadership we choose to govern us. I am going to clarify our role as Christians and citizens of this nation our responsibility, when determining leadeship not only in government, but also for any other type of organization. I am going to give you some principles out of the word of God that will help you determine who you should vote for as leader as well as determing in life what leaders you should follow.

There are Four basic principles when choosing leaders.

The first principle is CHARACTER.  And there are Seven characteristics that describe character which I am going to give you.

Now why is character important? Character describes a person's behavior, it is their moral constitution. It bothers me to hear someone say what difference does it make what a man's character is as long as he can lead. Friends, this is a serious mistake when someone is thinking that way, I call that stinkin thinkin. Allow me to illustrate a story I heard referring to the statement that Character does not count only skill. What would you think of a surgeon who performed surgery on you but failed to scrub up before he performed surgery? He might be a skilled surgeon but he will contaminate whatever he touches. This is as true as an ungodly man, a man without character will contaminate all that he touches.

I want to share with you now what God says about the characteristics a leader ought to have. Keep these in mind as you determine the person you choose to follow or even elect to represent YOU!

Characteristic #1 He needs to be a godly and righteous man. Psalm 148:11-13 "Kings of the earth, and all people; princes and all judges of the earth: Both young men, and maidens; old men, and childere: Let them praise the mane of the Lord: for this name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven." See, God say's to every earthly ruler he is to worship God. Proverbs 16:12 " It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness." The throne is established by righteousness and anything else is ungodly. He may carry around a big black Bible, he may show up to church, but if he is unrighteous, ungodly he is unfit for leadership.

Characteristic #2  He must be wise.  True wisdom comes from godliness. Look at these scriptures: Proverbs 8:12-16 "I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge and discredtion. the fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.. By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princess rule, and nobles, all the judges of the earth."

Which is more important? For a leader to be smart or for a leader to be wise? How much better are we to have as a leader of this country one who is a wise man or one that is a smart man?

Solomon was to lead Judah, actually all of Israel and this is what God said to Solomon. II Chronicles 1:7-10 On that night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, "Ask! What shall I give you?" And Solomon said to God: "You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. " Now O Lord God, let your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?"

Solomon was wise enough to ask for wisdom. The wise mans asks for wisdom, the asking man gets wisdom and wisdom is the gift of God. Do you know what is wrong with many leaders and politicians today? They are not statesman, they are politicians. At statesman is a person who shows wisdom, skill and vision in conducting state affairs and dealing with the public issues. A politician is self serving, scheming and opportunisitic. The politician makes his decisions based off the polls. Let me explain. The politician says I will take a poll and based off what the poll says I will find out what the people want at the moment. So, I will tell the people what they want so they will vote for me. As you can see they are not leading from Godly wisdom they are leading by human opinion at the moment.

To sum it up on this let me give you a quote from Harry Truman. "What would Jesus Christ have preached if he had taken a poll in the land of Israel? What would have happened to the Reformation if Martin Luther had taken a poll? It isn't the polls or public opinon of the moment that counts. It's right and wrong leadership." We want someone that has wisdom from Almighty God and that person can't have wisdom from Almighty God if he or she is not under Almighty God in service and worship.