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.
Monday, January 28, 2008
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.
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