Thursday, June 19, 2008
God is so powerful
I thank you God for being my alimighty. I realize that your love is sufficient for all of me. I enjoy sharing your words with all through OurGV. There is power in teaching a business but really focusing on changing lives to reflect Jesus. That is my call and I work diligently to fulfill it. My wieght this morning was 178.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Commitment
Commitment comes before anything else in a leader's life. Nehemiah had it and drew it out of others. Because of this the wall was completed in 52 days despite all of the difficulties that they were faced with. He was so excited that he wrote, " When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things...they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceuived that this work was done by our God." Neh 6:16
Leaders who complete a task possess at least four characteristics:
1. A compelling purpose: They make a great commitment to a great cause.
2. A clear perspective: They don't let fear and frustration cloud their view of they goals and their future.
3. A continual prayer: They pray about everything and gain God's favor.
4. A courageous persistence: They move forward despite all odds.
Leaders who complete a task possess at least four characteristics:
1. A compelling purpose: They make a great commitment to a great cause.
2. A clear perspective: They don't let fear and frustration cloud their view of they goals and their future.
3. A continual prayer: They pray about everything and gain God's favor.
4. A courageous persistence: They move forward despite all odds.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Servanthood
Throughout the bible and in 2 Chronicles we find the impact a poor leader can have on their nation. These leaders lose their positions and their lives in a pursuit of self-centered power. They forget that the purpose of a leader is to serve others.
Human leadership:
1. Motive is to remove or kill the opposition.
2. Pursuit of power and prestige.
3. The result: the leader is glorified.
4. Improve wealth and status of the leader
5. See others as enemies and competition
God's leadership:
1. Motive is to meet the needs and grow the cause
2. Pursuit of love and service to others
3. The result: God is glorified
4. Improve the welfare of people
5. See others as brother who complement
Human leadership:
1. Motive is to remove or kill the opposition.
2. Pursuit of power and prestige.
3. The result: the leader is glorified.
4. Improve wealth and status of the leader
5. See others as enemies and competition
God's leadership:
1. Motive is to meet the needs and grow the cause
2. Pursuit of love and service to others
3. The result: God is glorified
4. Improve the welfare of people
5. See others as brother who complement
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Law Of Influence
David was so powerful that he was actually leading before Saul even left the throne. Position does not give someone influence only a title. David had earned his influence while Saul had not. Why?
1. Unity: David gathered and motivated the people and created unity.
1 Chronicles 11:1 Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, "Indeed we are your bone and your flesh."
2. Credibility: David had already led great military campaigns.
1 Chronicles 11:2 Also, in time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord your God said to you, "You shall Sheperd My people Israel, and be ruler over My people Israel."
3. Anointing: David enjoyed God's power and hand on his life as discussed in the verse above.
4. Partnership: David worked with key leaders in unity not over them.
1 Chronicles 11:3 Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.
1. Unity: David gathered and motivated the people and created unity.
1 Chronicles 11:1 Then all Israel came together to David at Hebron, saying, "Indeed we are your bone and your flesh."
2. Credibility: David had already led great military campaigns.
1 Chronicles 11:2 Also, in time past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them in; and the Lord your God said to you, "You shall Sheperd My people Israel, and be ruler over My people Israel."
3. Anointing: David enjoyed God's power and hand on his life as discussed in the verse above.
4. Partnership: David worked with key leaders in unity not over them.
1 Chronicles 11:3 Therefore all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Changes Outside Happen Inside First
King Josiah led himself and his people for 31 years focusing on God. His own spiritual passion began to change the entire public. He is a perfect example of someone who started inside on these changes first and then created a large impact. Leaders make a big impact just like an atomic bomb, they implode before they explode.
How did Josiah show this in his time as King? After 10 years on the throne when he was a teenager he sent several men to the high priest to reenergize the process of repairing the temple. While they were clearing up the rubble the high priest found "the book of the law". After finding this the bible says this in 2 Kings 22:8-13:
8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple!” Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it.
9 Shaphan went to the king and reported, “Your officials have turned over the money collected at the Temple of the Lord to the workers and supervisors at the Temple.” 10 Shaphan also told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” So Shaphan read it to the king.
11 When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. 12 Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser: 13 “Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.”
His heart and love for God created a national program of spiritual reform.
Personal reform-->Personal Change Occurs-->Public Change Implemented-->Public Reform Occurs
How did Josiah show this in his time as King? After 10 years on the throne when he was a teenager he sent several men to the high priest to reenergize the process of repairing the temple. While they were clearing up the rubble the high priest found "the book of the law". After finding this the bible says this in 2 Kings 22:8-13:
8 Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple!” Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it.
9 Shaphan went to the king and reported, “Your officials have turned over the money collected at the Temple of the Lord to the workers and supervisors at the Temple.” 10 Shaphan also told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” So Shaphan read it to the king.
11 When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. 12 Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser: 13 “Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do.”
His heart and love for God created a national program of spiritual reform.
Personal reform-->Personal Change Occurs-->Public Change Implemented-->Public Reform Occurs
Thursday, April 3, 2008
How Not To Lead
Ahab and Jezebel were perfect examples of what not to do. Instead of leading in positive ways they resorted to manipulation, selfishness, and sneakiness to try and get ahead.
1. They set out to selfishly build their kingdom.
1 Kings 22:8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, there is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Jehovah, Micaiah the son of Imlah: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
2. They worried about image and lived a lie.
1 Kings 21:8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, and that dwelt with Naboth.
3. They abused the authority they had been given.
1 Kings 21:18-19 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwelleth in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to take possession of it. And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, Hast thou killed and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
4. They used people in order to get ahead, everyone was expendable.
1 Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel send a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time.
5. They sulked and got angry when they did not get their way.
1 Kings 21:4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
1. They set out to selfishly build their kingdom.
1 Kings 22:8 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, there is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Jehovah, Micaiah the son of Imlah: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
2. They worried about image and lived a lie.
1 Kings 21:8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, and that dwelt with Naboth.
3. They abused the authority they had been given.
1 Kings 21:18-19 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwelleth in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to take possession of it. And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, Hast thou killed and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
4. They used people in order to get ahead, everyone was expendable.
1 Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel send a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time.
5. They sulked and got angry when they did not get their way.
1 Kings 21:4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Difficult People
Every person is going to face difficult people. The Gibeonites became those difficult people for David.
2 Samuel 21:1 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the presence of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites, and the sons of Israel made a covenant with them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah).3 Thus David said to the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you? And how can I make atonement that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”
After David listened and fulfilled their desires God then listened to his prayers for the land.
These following personality types are bound to come up in everyone's personal dealings especially leaders:
1. The Sherman Tank; rides over people.
To get along-Always look at the issue at hand and decide if it's worth standing up for or not.
2. The Volcano; explosive, unpredictable.
To get along-remove from the crowd, listen, speak directly.
3. The Drainer; demands lots of energy and time.
To get along-set boundaries, require accountability and manage that agreement.
4. The Space Cadet; lives on a different planet.
To get along-realize they have different unique gifts and help them develop them.
5. The Garbage Collector; attracts the worst.
To get along-challenge their self-talk and statements, force honesty.
6. The Baby; self-pity, whiny, pouts when they don't get their way.
To get along-Don't reward, expose them to real trouble that others face so they can realize there are better ways to handle their situations.
2 Samuel 21:1 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David sought the presence of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is for Saul and his bloody house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them (now the Gibeonites were not of the sons of Israel but of the remnant of the Amorites, and the sons of Israel made a covenant with them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the sons of Israel and Judah).3 Thus David said to the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you? And how can I make atonement that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”
After David listened and fulfilled their desires God then listened to his prayers for the land.
These following personality types are bound to come up in everyone's personal dealings especially leaders:
1. The Sherman Tank; rides over people.
To get along-Always look at the issue at hand and decide if it's worth standing up for or not.
2. The Volcano; explosive, unpredictable.
To get along-remove from the crowd, listen, speak directly.
3. The Drainer; demands lots of energy and time.
To get along-set boundaries, require accountability and manage that agreement.
4. The Space Cadet; lives on a different planet.
To get along-realize they have different unique gifts and help them develop them.
5. The Garbage Collector; attracts the worst.
To get along-challenge their self-talk and statements, force honesty.
6. The Baby; self-pity, whiny, pouts when they don't get their way.
To get along-Don't reward, expose them to real trouble that others face so they can realize there are better ways to handle their situations.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Genuine Love
David had the opportunity to take Saul's life, which would have been well deserved since Saul had been chasing him around to kill him, but he did not because he was a leader who possessed geniune love.
1 Samuel 26:7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.
8 Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice."
9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go."
12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep.
13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, "Aren't you going to answer me, Abner?" Abner replied, "Who are you who calls to the king?"
17 Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is that your voice, David my son?" David replied, "Yes it is, my lord the king." 18 And he added, "Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the LORD has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD! They have now driven me from my share in the LORD's inheritance and have said, 'Go, serve other gods.' 20 Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains."
21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly."
1. Genuine love is not defensive-be patient. David knew that God had put him into that position for a purpose and trusted that He would deliver him. David offered to make a sacrifice for anything he may have done wrong and waited to hear Saul's reasons for trying to kill him. Impatience means we lack trust and want our rights.
2. Genuine love is not always popular-be different. Many of David's men wanted him to take Saul's life and David refused. We must be careful how we look at circumstances and who's views we are letting influence us.
3. Genuine love is powerful-be forgiving. Saul later apologizes to David and admits his wrong. He promises to go home. David is in control of the situation and forgives Saul of everything. Like David, we must trust God to make things right.
4. Genuine love needs a clear perspective-be humble. After David had taken Saul's spear and jug he called from a distance, " what have I done?". We will never be able to love people correctly until we see them clearly, with God's eyes.
1 Samuel 26:7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.
8 Abishai said to David, "Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of my spear; I won't strike him twice."
9 But David said to Abishai, "Don't destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD's anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the LORD lives," he said, "the LORD himself will strike him; either his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11 But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD's anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let's go."
12 So David took the spear and water jug near Saul's head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep.
13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14 He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, "Aren't you going to answer me, Abner?" Abner replied, "Who are you who calls to the king?"
17 Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is that your voice, David my son?" David replied, "Yes it is, my lord the king." 18 And he added, "Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen to his servant's words. If the LORD has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, men have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD! They have now driven me from my share in the LORD's inheritance and have said, 'Go, serve other gods.' 20 Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains."
21 Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have erred greatly."
1. Genuine love is not defensive-be patient. David knew that God had put him into that position for a purpose and trusted that He would deliver him. David offered to make a sacrifice for anything he may have done wrong and waited to hear Saul's reasons for trying to kill him. Impatience means we lack trust and want our rights.
2. Genuine love is not always popular-be different. Many of David's men wanted him to take Saul's life and David refused. We must be careful how we look at circumstances and who's views we are letting influence us.
3. Genuine love is powerful-be forgiving. Saul later apologizes to David and admits his wrong. He promises to go home. David is in control of the situation and forgives Saul of everything. Like David, we must trust God to make things right.
4. Genuine love needs a clear perspective-be humble. After David had taken Saul's spear and jug he called from a distance, " what have I done?". We will never be able to love people correctly until we see them clearly, with God's eyes.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Self-Discipline
Often we worry about other people way before we have really given ourselves enough of a look at. The journey of growth and success must come from the inside out. The first person that each leader must lead is themselves. There is no way to lead effectively without self-discipline. In Number 33 there is a recap of the entire journey out of the land of Egypt to Jordan. What a crazy trip! It ended up taking 40 years when it should've lasted 11 days. Why did it take so long? It was because they weren't prepared, the people were not ready for God's blessing until 40 years later.
How about you? How is your self-discipline? Plato said, " The first and best victory is to conquer self." If you want to be self-disciplined follow these points:
1. Challenge your excuses.
Get rid of the tendency to make excuses. If you come up with reasons why you aren't self-disciplined realize these are barriers to your success that must be removed. We all have reasons why it's not convenient and the leader gets rid of those reasons in their mind so they can go on to the next level.
2. Develop and maintain your priorities.
Everyone is busy, but the successful people have a plan. Figure out what is necessary to your goal and let the other stuff go. This will make it much easier to focus.
3. Stay focused on results.
Most of us want focus on the difficulty of the work that must be put in instead of focusing on the results. We have to stay away from doing what feels good and convenient and make sure we focus and pay the price that is necessary in full and up front. Keep in the front of your mind the benefits from accomplishing your goals and dive in.
4. Make a disciplined lifestyle your goal.
Self-discipline can't be a one-time event. It has to be an overall life philosophy. Develop systems and routines in all areas but specifically to the areas that are important to your main prioirities. Once you have them put them into play every day.
5. Rewards come at the end.
If you lack self-discipline it could be you are in the habit of eating dessert before you've eaten your vegetables. Success will always separate between the shirkers and the workers, because if it didn't we'd all be lazy.
How about you? How is your self-discipline? Plato said, " The first and best victory is to conquer self." If you want to be self-disciplined follow these points:
1. Challenge your excuses.
Get rid of the tendency to make excuses. If you come up with reasons why you aren't self-disciplined realize these are barriers to your success that must be removed. We all have reasons why it's not convenient and the leader gets rid of those reasons in their mind so they can go on to the next level.
2. Develop and maintain your priorities.
Everyone is busy, but the successful people have a plan. Figure out what is necessary to your goal and let the other stuff go. This will make it much easier to focus.
3. Stay focused on results.
Most of us want focus on the difficulty of the work that must be put in instead of focusing on the results. We have to stay away from doing what feels good and convenient and make sure we focus and pay the price that is necessary in full and up front. Keep in the front of your mind the benefits from accomplishing your goals and dive in.
4. Make a disciplined lifestyle your goal.
Self-discipline can't be a one-time event. It has to be an overall life philosophy. Develop systems and routines in all areas but specifically to the areas that are important to your main prioirities. Once you have them put them into play every day.
5. Rewards come at the end.
If you lack self-discipline it could be you are in the habit of eating dessert before you've eaten your vegetables. Success will always separate between the shirkers and the workers, because if it didn't we'd all be lazy.
Inner Circle
The people closest to us determine our level of success. Moses learned in the wilderness that he needed good leaders next to him to carry out God's plans. When people decide to be leaders that is a very important line that they cross in their lives. They no longer can rely on their own discpline and abilities to get things done but now their value depends on what they can get done through others. Moses taught us some great lessons:
1. Vision: See the land. Moses saw and reminded everyone of what God had already done in their lives and on their journey. He showed how God would fulfill His promise. Moses could clearly see this outcome, and he motivated others by his vision.
Deut. 1:6-8 "The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, 'You have stayed long enough at this mountain. 'Turn and set your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites, and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in the lowland and in the Negev and by the seacoast, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. 'See, I have placed the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and their descendants after them.'"
2. Delegation: Shared responsibilities. Moses put aside his ego and shared the responisibilities with others. He gave them authority over their jobs and it now became a team effort.
Deut. 1:9-12 "I spoke to you at that time, saying, 'I am not able to bear the burden of you alone. 'The LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are this day like the stars of heaven in number. 'May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand-fold more than you are and bless you, just as He has promised you! 'How can I alone bear the load and burden of you and your strife?"
3. Leadership: Selection of the leaders. Moses chose the inner circle from among those qualified, approved, and appointed according to their abilities.
Deut. 1:13-15 'Choose wise and discerning and experienced men from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.' "You answered me and said, 'The thing which you have said to do is good.' "So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and appointed them heads over you, leaders of thousands and of hundreds, of fifties and of tens, and officers for your tribes."
4. Organization: he structured the leadership. Moses set up the system where the leaders could listen fairly, minister, make decisions based on principle, and any hard cases would still come to him.
Deut. 1:16-18 "Then I charged your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear the cases between your fellow countrymen, and judge righteously between a man and his fellow countryman, or the alien who is with him. 'You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not fear man, for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.' "I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do."
1. Vision: See the land. Moses saw and reminded everyone of what God had already done in their lives and on their journey. He showed how God would fulfill His promise. Moses could clearly see this outcome, and he motivated others by his vision.
Deut. 1:6-8 "The LORD our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, 'You have stayed long enough at this mountain. 'Turn and set your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites, and to all their neighbors in the Arabah, in the hill country and in the lowland and in the Negev and by the seacoast, the land of the Canaanites, and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. 'See, I have placed the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and their descendants after them.'"
2. Delegation: Shared responsibilities. Moses put aside his ego and shared the responisibilities with others. He gave them authority over their jobs and it now became a team effort.
Deut. 1:9-12 "I spoke to you at that time, saying, 'I am not able to bear the burden of you alone. 'The LORD your God has multiplied you, and behold, you are this day like the stars of heaven in number. 'May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand-fold more than you are and bless you, just as He has promised you! 'How can I alone bear the load and burden of you and your strife?"
3. Leadership: Selection of the leaders. Moses chose the inner circle from among those qualified, approved, and appointed according to their abilities.
Deut. 1:13-15 'Choose wise and discerning and experienced men from your tribes, and I will appoint them as your heads.' "You answered me and said, 'The thing which you have said to do is good.' "So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and appointed them heads over you, leaders of thousands and of hundreds, of fifties and of tens, and officers for your tribes."
4. Organization: he structured the leadership. Moses set up the system where the leaders could listen fairly, minister, make decisions based on principle, and any hard cases would still come to him.
Deut. 1:16-18 "Then I charged your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear the cases between your fellow countrymen, and judge righteously between a man and his fellow countryman, or the alien who is with him. 'You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small and the great alike. You shall not fear man, for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, you shall bring to me, and I will hear it.' "I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do."
Thursday, February 14, 2008
EMPOWER LEADERS
Leaders often wonder if it is really their job to create other leaders or simply inspire them and release them. A Pastor may wonder if their main role is on Sunday but the rest is all just extra. We were actually called to a much higher level by His word to equip other leaders to go lead. We are to identify, prepare, and release teams to work.
God did this very thing with Moses and the 70 leaders he had selected. Now what do these potential leaders need? God says:
1. Authority. Num. 11:16 And the Lord said to Moses, Send for seventy of the responsible men of Israel, who are in your opinion men of weight and authority over the people; make them come to the Tent of meeting and be there with you.
He had them stand with Moses.
2. Anointing. Num. 11:17 And I will come down and have talk with you there: and I will take some of the spirit which is on you and put it on them, and they will take part of the weight of the people off you, so that you do not have to take it by yourself.
He took the spirit that had been on Moses and would put the same on them.
3. Ownership of the vision. Num. 11:17
Again, he put the spirit on them as well.
4. Responisibility. Num. 11:17
They shall bear the burden of the people.
5. They need specific ministry roles. Num. 11:24 Moses went out and told the people what the LORD said. He gathered 70 of the leaders of the people and had them stand around the tent.
He placed them around the tabernacle.
6. They need to express their gifts. Num. 11:25 And Jehovah came down in the cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and put it upon the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, but they did so no more.
When the spirit rested upon them they prophesied.
7. They need a secure leader who will release them to succeed. Num. 11:26-29 But there remained two men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but had not gone out unto the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp. And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Art thou jealous for my sake? would that all Jehovah's people were prophets, that Jehovah would put his Spirit upon them!
God did this very thing with Moses and the 70 leaders he had selected. Now what do these potential leaders need? God says:
1. Authority. Num. 11:16 And the Lord said to Moses, Send for seventy of the responsible men of Israel, who are in your opinion men of weight and authority over the people; make them come to the Tent of meeting and be there with you.
He had them stand with Moses.
2. Anointing. Num. 11:17 And I will come down and have talk with you there: and I will take some of the spirit which is on you and put it on them, and they will take part of the weight of the people off you, so that you do not have to take it by yourself.
He took the spirit that had been on Moses and would put the same on them.
3. Ownership of the vision. Num. 11:17
Again, he put the spirit on them as well.
4. Responisibility. Num. 11:17
They shall bear the burden of the people.
5. They need specific ministry roles. Num. 11:24 Moses went out and told the people what the LORD said. He gathered 70 of the leaders of the people and had them stand around the tent.
He placed them around the tabernacle.
6. They need to express their gifts. Num. 11:25 And Jehovah came down in the cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and put it upon the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, but they did so no more.
When the spirit rested upon them they prophesied.
7. They need a secure leader who will release them to succeed. Num. 11:26-29 But there remained two men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the Spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but had not gone out unto the Tent; and they prophesied in the camp. And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun, the minister of Moses, one of his chosen men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Art thou jealous for my sake? would that all Jehovah's people were prophets, that Jehovah would put his Spirit upon them!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Rest and Refocus
What does the Sabbath mean to you and I? In Leviticus 35:1-55 we see God laying out the rules for the Sabbath and the year of Jubilee. These special times called for special behavior: God's people were to stop their usual labor, change their normal routines, and alter their routines. Let's consider how we as leaders can learn from these Sabbaths:
1. The people had a time of rest. Lev. 25:5 'Your harvest's aftergrowth you shall not reap, and your grapes of untrimmed vines you shall not gather; the land shall have a sabbatical year.' These special times God set aside for the land to rest and the people's lives.
2. This gave people a chance for redemption. Lev. 25:10 "Set apart the fiftieth year as holy, and proclaim liberty to everyone living in the land. This is your jubilee year. Every slave will be freed in order to return to his property and to his family." Every Israelite could return to their ancestors lands and redeem them just as God did with them.
3. There was time given to reflect. Lev. 25:12 "The jubilee year will be holy to you. You will eat what the field itself produces." It was a gift from God, meant to be holy.
4. It gave time for repair and reward. Lev. 25:18-19 "Obey my laws, and carefully follow my rules. Then you will live securely in the land. The land will give you its products, and you will eat all you want and live there securely." As a reward for following in God's will God would supply them with food and time to sharpen their ax.
5. There became time for relationships. Lev. 25:35-46 Everyone was to put people first over any material gains.
6. There would be time to refocus. Lev. 25:55 "The Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants. I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God." God reminds us that we are His and that He is our Lord.
1. The people had a time of rest. Lev. 25:5 'Your harvest's aftergrowth you shall not reap, and your grapes of untrimmed vines you shall not gather; the land shall have a sabbatical year.' These special times God set aside for the land to rest and the people's lives.
2. This gave people a chance for redemption. Lev. 25:10 "Set apart the fiftieth year as holy, and proclaim liberty to everyone living in the land. This is your jubilee year. Every slave will be freed in order to return to his property and to his family." Every Israelite could return to their ancestors lands and redeem them just as God did with them.
3. There was time given to reflect. Lev. 25:12 "The jubilee year will be holy to you. You will eat what the field itself produces." It was a gift from God, meant to be holy.
4. It gave time for repair and reward. Lev. 25:18-19 "Obey my laws, and carefully follow my rules. Then you will live securely in the land. The land will give you its products, and you will eat all you want and live there securely." As a reward for following in God's will God would supply them with food and time to sharpen their ax.
5. There became time for relationships. Lev. 25:35-46 Everyone was to put people first over any material gains.
6. There would be time to refocus. Lev. 25:55 "The Israelites belong to me as servants. They are my servants. I brought them out of Egypt. I am the LORD your God." God reminds us that we are His and that He is our Lord.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Intimacy With God
People do what people see. Moses showed this truth as he modeled intimacy with God, which helped them more than any words could say. Today we must continue to do just as Moses did:
1. Separate yourself regularly. Exodus 33:7 "Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp." You must be able to come away from the crowd to just be with Him. Key phrase, outside the camp.
2. Seek God with all your heart. You must pursue truth over popularity. Exodus 33:7 "Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp." Key phrase, sought the Lord.
3. Be watched by the public. You must be willing to take a risk, even though it can be intimidating to be watched by others. Exodus 33:8 "And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent." Key phrase, watched Moses.
4. Learn to listen and obey to God's voice. You must practice patience of silence and submission. Exodus 33:9 "Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the LORD would speak with Moses." Key phrase, The Lord would speak with Moses.
5. Enter covenant partnership with God. You must be faithful and commited, just as Moses was with God. Exodus 33:10-11 "When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent." Key phrase, The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.
1. Separate yourself regularly. Exodus 33:7 "Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp." You must be able to come away from the crowd to just be with Him. Key phrase, outside the camp.
2. Seek God with all your heart. You must pursue truth over popularity. Exodus 33:7 "Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp." Key phrase, sought the Lord.
3. Be watched by the public. You must be willing to take a risk, even though it can be intimidating to be watched by others. Exodus 33:8 "And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent." Key phrase, watched Moses.
4. Learn to listen and obey to God's voice. You must practice patience of silence and submission. Exodus 33:9 "Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the LORD would speak with Moses." Key phrase, The Lord would speak with Moses.
5. Enter covenant partnership with God. You must be faithful and commited, just as Moses was with God. Exodus 33:10-11 "When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent." Key phrase, The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Leadership Lessons In Exodus
1. Leaders need time and experience to grow and prepare for leadership.
2. Leading means planning: plan your work and work your plan.
3. Leaders should never try to do everything all alone.
4. Leaders must be prepared for things to go awry.
5. Leaders must continually remind themselves and others of past successes.
6. Leaders must repeatedly cast the vision.
2. Leading means planning: plan your work and work your plan.
3. Leaders should never try to do everything all alone.
4. Leaders must be prepared for things to go awry.
5. Leaders must continually remind themselves and others of past successes.
6. Leaders must repeatedly cast the vision.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Action In A Crisis
Problems never stop great leaders. They know that solutions exist and they have to work their way towards them. Joseph accomplished much even in tough situations:
1. He was given a compelling vision from God.
Even as a child the Lord knew he had something special in store for him, just as he does for you.
Genesis 37:5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.
6He said to them, "Please listen to this dream which I have had;
9Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, "Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."
10He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?"
11His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.
2. He had a deep relationship with God
Genesis 39:2 The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
21 But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.
23 The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper.
All these scriptures say the Lord was with Joseph.
3. He had special gifts given to him by God
Genesis 41:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
16 Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."
These gifts enabled Joseph to make a difference in many peoples lives. Just like your gifts.
4. He gained experience through his life
Genesis 39:22 The chief jailer committed to Joseph's charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it.
This inproved his abilities and opportunities.
5. His character was shaped through difficulties
Genesis 39:7-8 It came about after these events that his master's wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." 8But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge.
With each tough situation Joseph was growing stronger.
6. He had blessings from God
Four times the Bible talks about God's blessing of Joseph, with some version of "whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper."
Genesis 39:2 The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
Genesis 39:3 Now his master saw that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.
Genesis 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.
Genesis 39:23 The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper.
1. He was given a compelling vision from God.
Even as a child the Lord knew he had something special in store for him, just as he does for you.
Genesis 37:5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.
6He said to them, "Please listen to this dream which I have had;
9Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, "Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."
10He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?"
11His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.
2. He had a deep relationship with God
Genesis 39:2 The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
21 But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.
23 The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper.
All these scriptures say the Lord was with Joseph.
3. He had special gifts given to him by God
Genesis 41:15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
16 Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."
These gifts enabled Joseph to make a difference in many peoples lives. Just like your gifts.
4. He gained experience through his life
Genesis 39:22 The chief jailer committed to Joseph's charge all the prisoners who were in the jail; so that whatever was done there, he was responsible for it.
This inproved his abilities and opportunities.
5. His character was shaped through difficulties
Genesis 39:7-8 It came about after these events that his master's wife looked with desire at Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." 8But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Behold, with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house, and he has put all that he owns in my charge.
With each tough situation Joseph was growing stronger.
6. He had blessings from God
Four times the Bible talks about God's blessing of Joseph, with some version of "whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper."
Genesis 39:2 The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.
Genesis 39:3 Now his master saw that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hand.
Genesis 39:21 But the LORD was with Joseph and extended kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the chief jailer.
Genesis 39:23 The chief jailer did not supervise anything under Joseph's charge because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made to prosper.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Doing More Than Expected
In this day and age it seems like we are all worried about trying to do as little as possible and get as much as possible. With the lottery, weight loss pills, and every other quick fix we struggle to get by with cutting corners. Jacob wanted to marry Rachel and new that meant paying the price to Laban her father. Even after working for Laban 7 years to win her hand he then had to marry Leah first and work another 7 years to be able to marry Rachel. Finally ready to leave Laban still felt he wanted more. In Genesis 31:38-42 we see Jacob's response.
"For twenty years I have been with you, caring for your flocks. In all that time your sheep and goats never miscarried. In all those years I never used a single ram of yours for food. If any were attacked and killed by wild animals, I never showed you the carcass and asked you to reduce the count of your flock. No, I took the loss myself! You made me pay for every stolen animal, whether it was taken in broad daylight or in the dark of night. I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and through cold and sleepless nights. Yes, for twenty years I slaved in your house! I worked for fourteen years earning your two daughters, and then six more years for your flock. And you changed my wages ten times! In fact, if the God of my father had not been on my side-the God of Abraham and the fearsome God of Isaac-you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your abuse and my hard work. That is why he appeared to you last night and rebuked you!"
We each need to make a habit of doing more than expected for many reasons:
1. It pleases God
2. It earns recognition and advancement. It enhances your reputation. It builds others' confidence in you
3. It gives you more experience and knowledge
4. It develops your spiritual maturity
"For twenty years I have been with you, caring for your flocks. In all that time your sheep and goats never miscarried. In all those years I never used a single ram of yours for food. If any were attacked and killed by wild animals, I never showed you the carcass and asked you to reduce the count of your flock. No, I took the loss myself! You made me pay for every stolen animal, whether it was taken in broad daylight or in the dark of night. I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and through cold and sleepless nights. Yes, for twenty years I slaved in your house! I worked for fourteen years earning your two daughters, and then six more years for your flock. And you changed my wages ten times! In fact, if the God of my father had not been on my side-the God of Abraham and the fearsome God of Isaac-you would have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen your abuse and my hard work. That is why he appeared to you last night and rebuked you!"
We each need to make a habit of doing more than expected for many reasons:
1. It pleases God
2. It earns recognition and advancement. It enhances your reputation. It builds others' confidence in you
3. It gives you more experience and knowledge
4. It develops your spiritual maturity
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Born to Lead Gen. 1:26-31
You and I were born to lead.
1. We were made in God's image.
Gen. 1:26 Let us make man in our image according to our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps the earth.
2. God commanded both male and female to have dominion.
Gen. 1:27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them.
As we can see both men and women have the authority and ability to lead. Being a leader is not gender specific.
3. We are to rule over the earth, but not necessarily over each other.
Gen. 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.
We were not directed to rule over each other, but over the earth's creatures. Throughout the history of the world into today we can see cases where people tried to force their rule over others.
4. All of us are to serve one another in the areas of our gifting and purpose.
Gen. 1:29-30 And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so.
God created everything for a purpose. You and I are a seed that has to find what specific purpose we were brought to life from God to create. Each of us should ask God, "Lord, what's my specific purpose?"
5. Each persons leadership is best utilized in their particular area of giftedness.
Gen. 1:31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
When we discover our gifts we will naturally lead in those areas where we are most productive, influential, and satisfied.
1. We were made in God's image.
Gen. 1:26 Let us make man in our image according to our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps the earth.
2. God commanded both male and female to have dominion.
Gen. 1:27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him, male and female He created them.
As we can see both men and women have the authority and ability to lead. Being a leader is not gender specific.
3. We are to rule over the earth, but not necessarily over each other.
Gen. 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.
We were not directed to rule over each other, but over the earth's creatures. Throughout the history of the world into today we can see cases where people tried to force their rule over others.
4. All of us are to serve one another in the areas of our gifting and purpose.
Gen. 1:29-30 And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so.
God created everything for a purpose. You and I are a seed that has to find what specific purpose we were brought to life from God to create. Each of us should ask God, "Lord, what's my specific purpose?"
5. Each persons leadership is best utilized in their particular area of giftedness.
Gen. 1:31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
When we discover our gifts we will naturally lead in those areas where we are most productive, influential, and satisfied.
Visison Gen. 12-22
Many people throughout history till today obsess and get tripped up on the many challenges that lie before them. Leaders see the future from a distance. They dream dreams not about what's happening now but what will happen in the next year, the next decade, and even the next generation.
God told Abraham to leave his home in Haran, his relatives, and everything he knew to that he might start fresh in another land. Abraham caught ahold of this vision as God gave him the hope of fathering a great nation, in fact God told him he would father many nations!
By studying Abraham in Genesis 12-22 we can learn some basic criteria for a God-given vision. A vision must:
1. Begin with God's priorities Gen. 12:1,2
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.
This was God's vision not Abraham's. When leaders start with God's vision, they can more easily stay the course and keep their motives pure.
2. Connect with the leaders identity Gen. 15:2-4
2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord , what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. 3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”
4 Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.”
The vision Abraham received matched him and Sarah perfectly, it matched both their needs and desires of the barren couple. Even better it's fulfillment woudl serve others. A God given vision will always involve service to others.
Connect with the leaders motivation
Gen. 18-9-12 9 “Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked. “She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied. 10 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” They both desired a family, which was at the core of their personal motivation.
3. Be exciting and simple to communicate Gen. 15:5
5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
God gave him a great picture of the vision, this helped for Abraham to embrace and want to fulfill the vision.
4. Include others Gen. 12:2,3
2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
A vision from God will always include and bless others.
5. Be bigger than the leader Gen. 17:1-8
While Abraham wanted to have a son to pass his belongings to God wanted him to father nations. This vision went beyond anything Abraham could ever do by himself and would take more than a lifetime to fulfill.
6. Have eternal value Gen. 17:19-20
19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac,[a] and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
Abraham's vision went far beyond his lifetime and would include way more than wealth and fame. His vision would affect the eternal destiny of millions.
God told Abraham to leave his home in Haran, his relatives, and everything he knew to that he might start fresh in another land. Abraham caught ahold of this vision as God gave him the hope of fathering a great nation, in fact God told him he would father many nations!
By studying Abraham in Genesis 12-22 we can learn some basic criteria for a God-given vision. A vision must:
1. Begin with God's priorities Gen. 12:1,2
1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.
This was God's vision not Abraham's. When leaders start with God's vision, they can more easily stay the course and keep their motives pure.
2. Connect with the leaders identity Gen. 15:2-4
2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord , what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son? Since you’ve given me no children, Eliezer of Damascus, a servant in my household, will inherit all my wealth. 3 You have given me no descendants of my own, so one of my servants will be my heir.”
4 Then the Lord said to him, “No, your servant will not be your heir, for you will have a son of your own who will be your heir.”
The vision Abraham received matched him and Sarah perfectly, it matched both their needs and desires of the barren couple. Even better it's fulfillment woudl serve others. A God given vision will always involve service to others.
Connect with the leaders motivation
Gen. 18-9-12 9 “Where is Sarah, your wife?” the visitors asked. “She’s inside the tent,” Abraham replied. 10 Then one of them said, “I will return to you about this time next year, and your wife, Sarah, will have a son!” Sarah was listening to this conversation from the tent. 11 Abraham and Sarah were both very old by this time, and Sarah was long past the age of having children. 12 So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?” They both desired a family, which was at the core of their personal motivation.
3. Be exciting and simple to communicate Gen. 15:5
5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
God gave him a great picture of the vision, this helped for Abraham to embrace and want to fulfill the vision.
4. Include others Gen. 12:2,3
2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”
A vision from God will always include and bless others.
5. Be bigger than the leader Gen. 17:1-8
While Abraham wanted to have a son to pass his belongings to God wanted him to father nations. This vision went beyond anything Abraham could ever do by himself and would take more than a lifetime to fulfill.
6. Have eternal value Gen. 17:19-20
19 But God replied, “No—Sarah, your wife, will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac,[a] and I will confirm my covenant with him and his descendants as an everlasting covenant. 20 As for Ishmael, I will bless him also, just as you have asked. I will make him extremely fruitful and multiply his descendants. He will become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation.
Abraham's vision went far beyond his lifetime and would include way more than wealth and fame. His vision would affect the eternal destiny of millions.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)