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
Friday, April 25, 2008
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.
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