Imparting a Leadership Legacy
A leadership legacy, a biblical legacy, is defined not just by finances or reputation, but by generational faith and spiritual inheritance. It requires a planned transfer of values and identity.
It involves confronting generational curses and being willing to stop destructive patterns by the power of the Holy Spirit. It takes intentionality, a willingness to stand in the gap, and the fruit of it is freedom, breakthrough, and alignment with God’s Kingdom plan for your family.
In a world of idolatry, we’re called to impart a legacy of enduring faith. As Joshua 24:15 declares, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Cultivating the Sonship Mindset
Ever since the Garden of Eden, humanity has been plagued by an orphan spirit– a lonely, survivalist mindset. This spirit hijacks your lifestyle and legacy. What you’re passing down is shaped by how you’re living today.
To ensure “your house serves the Lord” rather than destructive spirits, you must break off the orphan spirit and cultivate the spirit of sonship or adoption. As Paul declared in his letter to the Romans:
- “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba Father.’” –Romans 8:15
This is especially true for parenting and healthy fathering. To be a godly spiritual covering, fathers and husbands must first come under the spiritual covering of their Heavenly Father. This is where painful generational patterns are broken, and alignment with God-honoring leadership occurs.
When fathers and mothers know their identity as God’s beloved children, they raise children who are secure, confident, and not left to wonder who they are. The spiritual covering of godly parents is one of the greatest gifts a child can have.
We often want to avoid facing painful patterns from the past, but transparency is the secret to a prosperous legacy. Whether we are leading a family or a business, confessing and renouncing old patterns open the door for the next generation to go further than we did and to receive an inheritance of life and good fruit, rather than bondage.
5 Levels of Ascension to Impart Godly Legacy
We don’t just wake up with a legacy; we climb toward it through 5 specific levels.
- Identity—Establishing whose you are in Yeshua.
When you know who you are as a son and daughter, not a slave, you lead with selflessness and integrity. You’re guarded from comparison and the temptation to leverage your position to validate yourself rather than lift others up. When you already know who you are, you have nothing to prove. Your focus shifts to leading to give rather than leading to receive.
- Purpose— Identifying your unique “Why.”
Everyone asks, “What is my purpose? Why am I here? What was I made for?” We were created on purpose for a purpose, and when we know our identity in our Creator, we’re pointed toward our Kingdom mission. When you know God loves you, and you’re part of His family, when you know He speaks to you, and you turn to His Word for clarity, you begin to find guidance and answers. You likely won’t get the full plan at once, but you can trust the Father to lead you in steady steps forward as you stay in step with His Spirit.
- Destiny—Walking out the assignment for this season.
Once you know your purpose, you start to walk it out–being faithful with little until God entrusts you with more. Your assignments change over the course of your life, but your callings, to love and worship the Father, remain forever. Remember, no matter what hats you wear, your identity as a child of God remains secure!
- Legacy—This is the spiritual footprint you are currently making and will leave behind.
No matter your age, you are in the process of creating a legacy. The question is, what will it be? Will it be a continuation of pain patterns from the past, or breakthrough for your children and your children’s children?
- Inheritance—This is the wealth (spiritual and physical) that remains for the next generation.
You’re called to be a good steward of money and provide, but this inheritance is beyond the physical. The spiritual inheritance you leave the next generation is the greatest gift you can give. You’re called to point them to the eternal, beyond the temporary–to their Heavenly Father, their heritage as grafted in Believers–their part in God’s great story.
Discover more about the 5 levels of ascension in the Curt Landry Podcast episode, This Is How to Live Out True Biblical Legacy | Equipping the Next Generation.
4 Things to Impart a Leadership Legacy
There are 4 things successful spiritual leaders have in common. When all 4 of these habits are put into practice, they unleash a transaction on the trading floors of Heaven, restoring any blocked blessings and laying the foundation for a leadership legacy.
- Perform Acts of Generosity
Trust and honor are Heaven’s currency. For God to bless a legacy, it must be operating in His Kingdom. Multiplication is a gift from God that He bestows upon His faithful spiritual leaders.
“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.” —Luke 16:10
- Watch and Take Inventory
These are 6 areas spiritual leaders need to monitor and keep surrendered to the Holy Spirit.
- Self: Spiritual leaders must be self-aware. A good rule of thumb is this: Don’t preach what you cannot demonstrate with your actions.
- Family: Your home life reflects the true condition of your character. Investing in your family gives you the space to build a leadership legacy in other areas of your life.
- Church/Occupation: Whether you’re pastoring a church or leading a company, you need to be operating under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Stay humble and surrender to God, and you will lead your congregation and staff in step with His Spirit–with wisdom and integrity.
- Ministry/Anointing: Discerning the voice of the Holy Spirit and being obedient to those nudges is the only way to stay aligned and keep your anointing active.
- Business: Ensure your business dealings align with God’s Kingdom work. If you have employees, treat them with honor that testifies to your life as a Believer.
- Community: Be authentic with those around you. This includes anyone with whom you surround yourself—whether it be fellow Church members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, or employees.
- Don’t Waste God’s Time
This is a word for the whole Church. God is calling His people to return to Him–the God of Israel– and honor the root of our faith during this season of prophetic fulfillment.
To establish a leadership legacy, spiritual leaders need to align their ministries with God’s Kingdom work in Israel. The gospel is going full circle around the world and back to its place of origin, pointing toward the return of Yeshua, Jesus, the Lion of Judah.
As we come together as One New Humanity, as congregations, Jewish Believers, Gentile Believers, brothers and sisters, we align with God’s heart and Kingdom mission.
- Seek First & Build God’s Kingdom
“But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
—Matthew 6:33
This circles us back to Joshua 24:15–the declaration that our hearts, lives, and homes are dedicated to partnership with God. Earthly titles and accomplishments will fade, but a life built on His Word will echo into eternity.
We’re called to be Kingdom builders and to build with what will withstand the fires of testing.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:10-13:
- “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.”
Is your legacy being built with wood, hay, and straw, which will burn, or gold, silver, and precious stones, which will remain? Paul says, “Take heed how you build.” When we seek God’s Kingdom first, we align with His ways. We build with precious stones what will last forever.
Legacy That Brings Him Glory
We cannot lead our households or our callings where we aren’t willing to go ourselves. Leaving a God-honoring legacy is holy work, and you are not in it alone.
We bless you today. May God direct you to make the smallest changes in your habits to meet your Kingdom goals. May He empower you to operate from victory, not as a victim of past patterns. May you be equipped to steward your gifts well, leaving a legacy that glorifies Him and blesses the next generation.