Leadership Confidence

I was preparing to preach from Exodus 13 and 14 this morning - a well known passage detailing the Israelites crossing the Red Sea - when God grabbed my heart. .

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Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptian you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (14:13-14) THEN THE LORD REVEALED HIS PLAN OF DELIVERANCE TO MOSES.

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Could it be that God’s deliverance through the Red Sea, utilizing Moses, hinged on Moses’ faith and declaration of victory in God?

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We need to be people faith and conviction. We need to be leaders that proclaim victory and deliverance through the Lord’s power even when we do not have all - or any - of the details of God’s plan.

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Will we step forward in faith and proclaim victory in God and through God? 

#preparetheway

Leading The Way

Last weekend I was driving north on I-69 when I found myself behind a vehicle traveling 55 miles per hour in a 60 mile per hour zone. 

I didn't realize that we were traveling below the speed limit right away. Thinking back on the situation, it seems as though I was in a sort of semi-zombie trans where I was not fully processing my speed and not fully considering my surroundings.

I became aware of my decreased speed when another vehicle, one that had been behind us for some time, passed me as well as the vehicle I was following. 

As I was being passed, I thought one thing; "I could have - and should have - passed this car a while ago".

Then it occurred to me how the car that was passing me at the moment was leading the way. Not only was this vehicle reminding me of my decreased speed and of my ability and opportunity to pass, the driver was leading the way by giving me an example to follow.

Leadership is not only needed on the interstate, taking an initiative and leading by example is needed everyday. 

I wonder how often people around us are operating in a sort of semi-zombie trans where they are not fully processing their thoughts and not fully considering their surroundings. 

I wonder how often people around us are waiting for someone to lead the way. 

I wonder how often people around us are waiting for someone to remind them of their abilities and their opportunities. 

I wonder how often people around us are waiting for someone to give them an example to follow.

So, who are you leading? 

And, who will you lead? 

Give Me One Hundred

 

I was reminded of this quote of John Wesley's the other day, "Give me one hundred..."

As I contemplated this statement I allowed my imagination to run. As a local church Pastor I spend hours considering how I might inspire large groups of people to take up the call and fulfill the mission that Jesus has called The Church to; "Go and make disciples of all nations..."

Yet, this statement is not about inspiring the masses. This statement has to do with pouring into leaders and inspiring those that have a heart and a passion for God and for His kingdom. This statement speaks of those who have not only recognized God's call, but have taken it up - accepting and affirming His call in their lives. This statements speaks of those that have a heart - and love - for God and a desire to share His love with all those they encounter. 

As I continued to contemplate this statement I found myself shifting my focus. I shifted my focus from simply inspiring The Church as a whole. I shifted my focus toward identifying the leaders that God was calling me to pour into and inspiring them. 

Then, as I continued to contemplate this statement, I was wrecked by a convicting question; "Am I one of the one hundred?". 

Am I one of the one hundred that truly fear nothing but sin? One of the one hundred that have a boldness to call sin sin rather than striving to appease others with soft language and softer discipline?

Am I one of the one hundred that truly desire nothing but God? One of the one hundred that show evidence of my commitment to God through the use of my time, my attention, my money, my talents, and my resources?

Am I one of the one hundred that will truly shake the gates of hell? One of the one hundred that will go up against the perversion, the sin, and the evil that dominates our culture, ruins lives, and seems to be overcoming our world?

Am I one of the one hundred that will truly set up the kingdom of heaven on earth? One of the one hundred that will live a life of joy, hope, and love that will transform lives and change the world?

Am I one of the one hundred?

As I continue to contemplate this statement, let me invite you to do the same. Let me invite you to go through this statement, line by line, and ask yourself "Am I one of the one hundred?". 

Give me one hundred who fear nothing but sin...

Give me one hundred who desire nothing but God...

Give me one hundred who will shake the gates of hell...

Give me one hundred who will set up the kingdom of heaven on Earth...

Are You Too Humble?

Humility is a strange thing! 

Merriam-Webster defines humility as "the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people" 

I've always held to this definition of humility. Furthermore, I have aimed at being (or becoming) more humble based on what Scriptures calls me to;

1 Peter 5:6; Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

Philippians 2:3-11; Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.


James 4:6; But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Matthew 23:12; Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

The faith family that I serve in Robinson encourages me regularly, bringing compliments and praise. Just Sunday morning I sat in a Bible study with a dozen others as the leader stated how much they appreciated my leadership and teaching at the church. 

Often I brush these comments off and quickly point out how this is "not about me" but instead it is "all about Jesus" and "our" service to Him. 

Yet on Sunday I was brought to tears through this kind woman's compliment. In humility I do not consider myself "better than other people". 

Why would others praise me for my service when we are all serving The Lord together? 

This thought remained with me throughout the day and into the evening. As I sat in the sound booth late Sunday afternoon, preparing for our evening worship service the question struck me, have I gone beyond the call to humility to a point of valuing myself, my leadership, and the call God has given to me? Perhaps it sounds strange, but I asked, "Am I becoming too humble?" and wondered if too much humility could be deleting God's call for me to lead effectively. 

The Oxford Dictionary defines humility as a "low view of one's own importance". 

With this definition of humility we may see how humility can be a deterant to leadership and it may cause a person to assume less responsibility for their role as a leader and become less accountable for the failures - and even victories - of their leadership decisions and actions. 

I desire to be humble as a servant of Jesus Christ, called by God and empowered by His Holy Spirit. And while it is my belief that I can do all things (only) through He who strengthens me, giving Christ all the glory, honor, and praise, I never want to allow my humility become such that I have a low view of God's importance for and His call on my life. 

In the same way, I invite you to take an inventory of your own humility. Are you a humble person? Would others, who know you well, call you humble? Do you have a high view of God's importance for your life? Are you honoring this through your thoughts, words, and actions? 

Consider this quote by Christian author C.S. Lewis; "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less."

Elders: Worthy of Reproof

This past week I had a great discussion with a man about a former pastor of his, particularly the way he questioned him on a matter of the local church. As we talked we began to discuss the roles of the pastor, elders, deacons, and other key leaders. It occurred to us that many Christians have been misguided into thinking that the pastor and other ministry leaders should not be questioned, and that every decision of the church should be endorsed.

So, I thought I might look to The Source and find out what The Bible has to say about such matters.

1Timothy 5; 17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.