That fall I turned 29 years old, and in December, my boss was let go from the company and I found myself as the new Marketing and Sales Manager for the company, with a department of about a dozen people reporting to me. Sales, Marketing, Customer Service were my responsibility. Forecasting sales was my responsibility. Training the sales force was my responsibility. I was in a position I had not been in before; I had moved into a new phase of life – I was now expected to be a leader.
Exodus 17:1-7; Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32
In our life, we pass through certain stages of life. We learn, we earn, we lead, we teach, and we move on. Today, I’ll be talking about that stage of life we almost all pass through – leadership. And Christ expects that we will all be spiritual leaders in this world.
Perhaps you’re sitting back there and saying, “Pastor, I’m not a leader!” But the reality is that almost everyone is a leader at some point in their lives. For example, have you had children who depended upon you at any point in their lives? If so, you’ve been a leader. Have you ever led other children in a game. If so, you’ve been a leader. Have you ever led people in any sort of activity? If so, you’re a leader. Have you ever been in a group of men told to dig a ditch – and then the supervisor walks away? You could be the leader!
We’ve all see the wrong types of leaders, the worldly leaders. They set us up, take credit when things go well, and blame us when things go wrong. But godly leadership is different from the ordinary leadership we see around us.
God has certain examples of leadership – and God has ways that leaders should act. While I could probably give you a ten-sermon series just on leadership, today we’ll settle for hitting the high points.
Let’s look at our first reading with Moses in the wilderness. Following God’s orders, Moses went to Egypt and negotiated the release of the 600,000 Israelites from slavery. Once again, following God’s orders – and with God’s active intervention – Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and across the Red Sea into the desert, moving when God said “move” and stopping when God said “stop”. Recently, Moses dealt with a bit of a rebellion when the people ran out of meat and bread in the desert. Moses prayed to God for help and God sent quail to cover the camp – those little chickens that cost $8 a pound at Kroger’s, and the people had plenty of meat during the evening. And God sent manna, mysterious bread-like flakes which appeared on the desert ground every morning when the dew dried off.
Now, the people were complaining that there was no water. Once again Moses turned to the Lord and prayed for help, and once again, the Lord came through. This time, God told Moses to take his staff and strike a particular rock. Moses did that, and water came gushing out.
Moses demonstrated three principles that we don’t find in normal leadership. In the world’s view of leadership, the leader develops the plan, convinces people to follow the plan, and then executes the plan. When the plan succeeds, the leader takes credit for the plan. But this is not godly leadership.
First of all, Moses never put together any of the plans. Moses listened to God and God had the plan. At the beginning, Moses didn’t even realize that there was a problem to be solved – God was the one who brought up the idea of bringing the Israelite slaves out of Egypt! Moses apparently didn’t even think about them – he had escaped and that was good enough for Moses. But now God gave Moses a plan to execute and Moses began to execute it. Good leaders do what God wants – not what they want…and this applies both to the church and to our ordinary, everyday leadership. Our problem, many times, is that we don’t want God to lead – we want to be the hero or heroine. So we try to solve problems that don’t really need solutions – and avoid doing what God wants done. Godly leaders do what God wants.
Have you considered that the raising of your children is worth a plan sent by God? Why not ask God to specifically send you a plan for your children each day. Why don’t you, Mom and Dad, pray together for that Godly plan to be sent to you?
The second principle that Moses followed was when there were problems, Moses did little except turn back to God and ask, “What next?” This was easy for Moses, since he knew it wasn’t his plan to begin with! Moses always maintained the position that he was just “following orders”. And this meant that if someone didn’t like the plan, then they should take their complaints to God – not Moses. It is much easier to deal with people when werealize that the God who made the plan is much, much, MUCH wiser than we are. All wehave to do is listen to what God wants done!
The third principle that Moses followed – most of the time – was he didn’t let the people get to him. When everyone was shouting and complaining, Moses simply reminded them, “It’s God’s plan, not mine!” And then he’d pray to God. “God, they’re about ready to stone me. What’s the next play?” And so, Moses was able to keep his cool – most of the time.
Remember these principles: God has a plan. When things look bad, God has the next step ready and waiting. If you want to complain, remember, the Plan is God’s Plan.
In our Philippians reading, the Apostle Paul points out several things that we should remember when we are leading:
First, look to the interests of others before ourselves. Jesus had also talked about a good leader being the servant of others. A godly leader should always do what is in the best interests of the rest of the people. In fact, that might even be the definition of a leader. A leader does what is best for the people; a tyrant does what is best for himself. And this applies in the church, in politics, and in the family.
The second principle that Paul draws us to is that Christ, even though He had the power of God, took on the nature of a servant to us. It doesn’t matter how high and mighty you are, how much talent you have and how much you know, you should still be the servant of others. That’s what Jesus did. Paul continues in Philippians Chapter Two:
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Friends, the world is full of worldly leaders. Our families are also filled with men and women who strive to get what they want – that’s why so many grandmothers and grandfathers are raising children for those who cannot or will not raise their own children. Our businesses are in trouble; yet good jobs are hard to find. It is because so many people believe that there is one way to lead which is godly (and just for the church) and another way to lead which we use in the world.
Folks, it does not matter if you are leading a church or leading a classroom or leading a group of men working or leading a group of children playing a game together, or are simply trying to get your teenagers out of bed to go to school – the godly requirements of leadership are the same and work in all circumstances. Godly leadership works in all situations.
- Do what God wants done.
- Ask God for the plan.
- Follow God’s plan at each step.
- Go back to God for the next step.
- Be a servant to those whom you would lead.
- Do what is best for your people instead of what is best for yourself.
Consider the experienced platoon of soldiers. Two-thirds have fought in Afghanistan. These men and women have seen friends shot by snipers and blown up by IEDs. They think – they KNOW they are tough.
A new, 22 year-old four-foot eleven inch 95 pound female lieutenant, just out of West Point arrives. The lieutenant has the training and has survived a grueling four years at West Point, but her skin is pale, not tanned and leathery like their skin. The lieutenant has the official authority behind her – but she’s never been in danger of her life. You know what these veterans are thinking. The lieutenant is standing there and wants to have the best platoon in the company – and after the platoon has just run 20 miles, she gives the order for an extra grueling five-mile run in the South Georgia heat and humidity. Is she the leader? She has the title? But is she the leader, the person the platoon takes their guidance and direction from?
NO! Not yet! The rough 40-year-old first sergeant who grew up and survived knife fights is the actual platoon leader. He has the credibility built up over months and months of interactions with the men and women of the platoon. He knows that the men are thinking the lieutenant is cute, she is delicate, she probably won’t be able to keep up. He knows they are wondering if she can even handle a full pack. He knows most of them haven't the slightest idea of what a West Point cadet goes through. And the sergeant knows that he could destroy her command with the slightest glance, the slightest roll of the eyes, and then the men will laugh at her. He knows the power he holds over her career.
And he knows the razzing he’s going to take from every other first sergeant in the platoon. He knows what they’ll say about him, about her, the innuendo they’ll hit him with when they go out for a drink or have a barbeque or simply are talking in the office. He knows what they’ll say and it will be difficult to bear, it will get old after the first ten minutes, and he is going to have to bear it for as long as she is the lieutenant and he is the first sergeant.
But because the first sergeant is a good leader, he turns to the platoon without a smirk, without a twinkle, but with every bit of his knowledge of command and bellows out , “You heard the Lieutenant, get moving!” And that is leadership.
Because he knows what West Point does to toughen any man or woman who survives to the end. Because he knows that she is smarter and stronger than she looks. Because he knows that in six weeks, this group of men and women might be fighting for their lives in Korea, and he knows that they’ll need that lieutenant’s knowledge of the latest technology and tactics, and her book knowledge of what worked in 1952 and 1953, and so he’ll make sure they respect her because their very lives may depend on it. And so he bellows again, “Faster!”
And he knows that this Saturday’s cookout is going to be rough when the other first sergeants come around. But he is a real leader, and he does what is best for his platoon, just as he always does what is best for his children and his wife and his aging parents. He is a godly leader. And with his support, the Lieutenant may also become such a leader over the next few months.
You see, Jesus wasn’t the official king of Israel. Jesus wasn’t the official high priest. Jesus wasn’t head of the army. Nobody on earth gave him any credentials to lead - in fact, people challenged Him and asked Him "By what authority are you teaching?"
NO! Not yet! The rough 40-year-old first sergeant who grew up and survived knife fights is the actual platoon leader. He has the credibility built up over months and months of interactions with the men and women of the platoon. He knows that the men are thinking the lieutenant is cute, she is delicate, she probably won’t be able to keep up. He knows they are wondering if she can even handle a full pack. He knows most of them haven't the slightest idea of what a West Point cadet goes through. And the sergeant knows that he could destroy her command with the slightest glance, the slightest roll of the eyes, and then the men will laugh at her. He knows the power he holds over her career.
And he knows the razzing he’s going to take from every other first sergeant in the platoon. He knows what they’ll say about him, about her, the innuendo they’ll hit him with when they go out for a drink or have a barbeque or simply are talking in the office. He knows what they’ll say and it will be difficult to bear, it will get old after the first ten minutes, and he is going to have to bear it for as long as she is the lieutenant and he is the first sergeant.
But because the first sergeant is a good leader, he turns to the platoon without a smirk, without a twinkle, but with every bit of his knowledge of command and bellows out , “You heard the Lieutenant, get moving!” And that is leadership.
Because he knows what West Point does to toughen any man or woman who survives to the end. Because he knows that she is smarter and stronger than she looks. Because he knows that in six weeks, this group of men and women might be fighting for their lives in Korea, and he knows that they’ll need that lieutenant’s knowledge of the latest technology and tactics, and her book knowledge of what worked in 1952 and 1953, and so he’ll make sure they respect her because their very lives may depend on it. And so he bellows again, “Faster!”
And he knows that this Saturday’s cookout is going to be rough when the other first sergeants come around. But he is a real leader, and he does what is best for his platoon, just as he always does what is best for his children and his wife and his aging parents. He is a godly leader. And with his support, the Lieutenant may also become such a leader over the next few months.
You see, Jesus wasn’t the official king of Israel. Jesus wasn’t the official high priest. Jesus wasn’t head of the army. Nobody on earth gave him any credentials to lead - in fact, people challenged Him and asked Him "By what authority are you teaching?"
But Jesus showed us real leadership when he went to the cross. At any time, He could have called down thousands of angels, like paratroopers dropping in with machine guns and rocket launchers. He could have frozen people with a word, as he did for a brief instant when he was being arrested, when he asked them who they wanted, they said, “Jesus of Nazareth” and for a brief moment let the power fly when He said, “I am He” and they all drew back and fell to the ground. Oh, the power to rebel against the Father, to save Himself was there, but He kept it under control because Jesus was not only a leader, a great leader, but was and is THE LEADER of all mankind. And so, Jesus went quietly to the cross and bled and died on the cross.
For that was what was best for us, the people He is leading. That is leadership, a stage which we all go through. Are you a leader?
What will you do, when you lead a group of children, a group of adults, a Bible Study, a church, a nation? For we should never forget, we are fighting a real war, a war for the souls of all the people of the earth, a war where we either end up alive for evermore – or die the real death, ending up in eternal flame, separated from God. We are fighting for all the people of the earth – and our enemy is also fighting that spiritual war.
We who follow Jesus must lead, for we cannot expect the battle to be won by those who do not follow Jesus. And we don’t fight for territory like in an ordinary war, but for souls, one soul at a time, one child, one teen, one adult at a time, pulling each one out of that eternal fire. We must lead well. We all must learn to be godly leaders, for every day, souls are dying without the knowledge of Christ that makes all the difference. Who will you lead out of the pit this week? Who will you lead to Christ? How much of your time, your talent, your treasure will you sacrifice for other people because you are a godly leader?
Will your willingness to sacrifice allow your words to be remembered, as Jesus was, when He said, “This is my body that is be broken for you. This is my blood, which is shed for you.”?
For that was what was best for us, the people He is leading. That is leadership, a stage which we all go through. Are you a leader?
What will you do, when you lead a group of children, a group of adults, a Bible Study, a church, a nation? For we should never forget, we are fighting a real war, a war for the souls of all the people of the earth, a war where we either end up alive for evermore – or die the real death, ending up in eternal flame, separated from God. We are fighting for all the people of the earth – and our enemy is also fighting that spiritual war.
We who follow Jesus must lead, for we cannot expect the battle to be won by those who do not follow Jesus. And we don’t fight for territory like in an ordinary war, but for souls, one soul at a time, one child, one teen, one adult at a time, pulling each one out of that eternal fire. We must lead well. We all must learn to be godly leaders, for every day, souls are dying without the knowledge of Christ that makes all the difference. Who will you lead out of the pit this week? Who will you lead to Christ? How much of your time, your talent, your treasure will you sacrifice for other people because you are a godly leader?
Will your willingness to sacrifice allow your words to be remembered, as Jesus was, when He said, “This is my body that is be broken for you. This is my blood, which is shed for you.”?
What will you be remembered for?
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