GEORGE DAVIDSON'S MATERIAL ON LEADERSHIP - PART 1
Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>
Introduction:
Human beings were meant to be led. That is one of the things that comes from reading the scripture. God had a way of leading people through other people for the benefit of those led. .
Moses; was a model for leadership. Leaders are not perfect. They are human and have human frailties. Things you should know about leadership. God is not interested in our past. He calls us to a job. Satan is the one who likes to remind us of our past and tell us we are not up to the job. Whenever Satan tries to remind you of your past, you remind him of his future.
I have six characteristics about leadership that I would like to share with you this morning.
First thing, a leader must have; purpose
Point One : Purpose
A leader to be effective must have purpose.
Moses was not content to be the son of the Pharaoh. He wanted to be Hebrew and lead his people. God had given him training in the household of Egypt, and further training in the wilderness.Training is important but it does not always produce instant results. Sometimes training has to be tested in the school of hard knocks.
(Exo 10:24-28 NIV) "Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Go, worship the LORD. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind."
Moses had a desire to help his people. He let that desire usurp God’s timing. Notice in the book of Acts.
We need to wait for God to call us to leadership positions. Moses tried to appoint himself before it was God’s time.
(Acts 7:17-25 NIV) ""As the time drew near for God to fulfil his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt greatly increased.
{18} Then another king, who knew nothing about Joseph, became ruler of Egypt.
{19} He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our forefathers by forcing them to throw out their new-born babies so that they would die.
{20} "At that time Moses was born, and he was no ordinary child. For three months he was cared for in his father’s house.
{21} When he was placed outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him and brought him up as her own son.
{22} Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.
{23} "When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his fellow Israelites.
{24} He saw one of them being mistreated by an Egyptian, so he went to his defence and avenged him by killing the Egyptian.
{25} Moses thought that his own people would realise that God was using him to rescue them, but they did not."
When the time was right Moses was bold to say what was on his mind. He was ready.
Please notice that there were forty years between the time Moses thought he was ready and the time when God actually used him.
Moses had dealt with Pharaoh and let him know that his purpose was to lead the children of Israel to worship their God.
Pharaoh had tried to get him to compromise his situation. He said you go and take a few with you. Leave the women and children here. Then he moved the goalposts again. Moses stood firm He held to his purpose. He was going to lead God’s people out of Egypt.
Here is another example of how a man of God stuck to his purpose.
Nehimiah
Returned to Jerusalem with the purpose of building the wall. He was criticised from all corners. They told him he was a fool and to come down of the wall.
(Neh 2:19-20 NIV) "But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us. "What is this you are doing?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king?"
{20} I answered them by saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.""
Sometimes as a leader, you will need to suffer ridicule and mocking. False accusations are common.
When Nehemiah had prayed for the relief of his countrymen, and perhaps in David’s words, Ps 51:18, he did not sit still and say, "Let God now do his own work, for I have no more to do;" but set himself to do what he could towards it; and here we find that the people were of one heart with Nehemiah.
A leader must have a purpose and stick to it.
Neh. 4:15
15 When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work.
Point two: Performance:
Exo10:25{25} But Moses said, "You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God.
{26} Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshipping the LORD our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the LORD."
We are required to do the best we can in the situation. It is easy to do shoddy work once we have a leadership role. Our performance is important, in fulfilling our purpose.
Remember that Pharaoh suggested to Moses that he only take the men to worship . By doing that he had a hold over Moses and the children of Israel.
EX 10:11 No! Have only the men go; and worship the LORD, since that's what you have been asking for." Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of Pharaoh's presence.
Our performance has to fulfil our purpose.
A leader has to show fairness. Fairness is not the same as compromise.
Pharaoh was trying to get Moses to compromise and hold their religious sacrifices in Egypt, notice this verse in Exodus chapter 8.
(Exo 8:24-25 NIV) "And the LORD did this. Dense swarms of flies poured into Pharaoh’s palace and into the houses of his officials, and throughout Egypt the land was ruined by the flies.
{25} Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "Go, sacrifice to your God here in the land.""
(Exo 8:26 NIV) "But Moses said, "That would not be right. The sacrifices we offer the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. And if we offer sacrifices that are detestable in their eyes, will they not stone us?"
Sometimes a compromise would not be right. It is a leader’s job to try to determine when that is so.
A leader has to be fair. A father spoke to his two young sons. They both wanted to go out in the snow and go sledding. The father said to the older of the two, you are responsible for seeing that you both have equal time on the sled. After a while the young son came into the house and complained to his Dad that his brother was not treating him fairly. So the father called the older boy in and asked him what was happening. The older boy said" He has exactly the same time as me with the sled. I slide it down the hill and he pulls it back up"
The letter and the Spirit of the law can be different. Not always but sometimes, they can. A good leader will discern that difference.
Fulfilling the purpose is not enough. How you fulfil the assignment is determined by your performance.
A leader will come in for criticism, because people are not perfect. When I played football, it was fashionable to criticise the referee. We had a wise old coach who said to the players at the beginning of the game. Remember, "If you make as few mistakes today as the referee, you will have played your best game ever"
I often wonder why, referees are never nominated for "man of the match." Performance is not about comparison; it is about doing what God wants you to do.
Point Three: Perspective.
(Exo 10:26 NIV) "Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshipping the LORD our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the LORD.""
Sometimes God does not give it to us all at once. We need to keep leadership in perspective. He may lead us a little at a time.
We may have to do different things along the way. We may have to deal with different people in different ways. We need to always look to Christ on a daily basis. There are always problems and possibilities. Choices to be made.
We need to keep broad principles in mind. Not focus on individuals, although God uses individuals.
During the Korean war the American GI’s had a hard time as prisoners of war. The Koreans told, them that there were no longer any ranks in the army and they could do and say what they pleased.
So, many of the GI’s did exactly that. Soon they discovered without a leader they could be picked off and turned against each other at little cost to the enemy. Many were sold out for a cigarette or a blanket.
Because of that, the American Army changed their training. They taught GI’s the importance of leadership. Whenever, an officer was taken away the next in rank immediately assumed command. All the way, down the line. Even to privates and command was determined by how long they had been in service.
Long -term project.
Brooklyn BridgeThe Brooklyn Bridge (1869-83) was the first great suspension bridge in the United States that had cables formed from parallel steel wires that were spun in place. This fundamental method is still used today.
Designed by John ROEBLING and completed by his son Washington Rebelling, the Brooklyn Bridge links the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan across the East River in New York City. The bridge carries six lanes of traffic on a span of 486 m (1,595 ft), 50 percent longer than the previous maximum span.
The foundations were built in timber CAISSONS sunk to depths of 13.5 m (44 ft) on the Brooklyn piers and 24 m (78 ft) on the Manhattan piers. Compressed air pressurised the caissons. At that time little was known of the risks of working under such conditions, and more than a hundred workers suffered serious cases of the bends. But in spite of all hazards, the work was completed, and the bridge stands today as an enduring tribute to its daring engineers. New York City honoured the bridge with a gala centennial celebration in 1983.
Sir Hubert Shirley-Smith
Bibliography: Brooklyn Museum, The Great East River Bridge, 1883-1983 (1983); McCullough, David G., The Great Bridge (1972; repr. 1983); Shapiro, M.J., A Picture History of the Brooklyn Bridge (1984)
The interesting thing about Washington Roebling, he was confined to a wheelchair most of his adult life.
Roebling, John A. and Washington Augustus
{rohb’-ling}
Roebling is the family name of two American engineers, father and son, who were pioneers in the development of suspension bridges and wire cable. They are best known as the designers and builders of the Brooklyn Bridge.
John Augustus Roebling, b. Muhlhausen, Germany, June 12, 1806, immigrated to the United States in 1831. In 1841 he produced the first wire cable in the United States and built a railroad suspension bridge (1851-55) over Niagara Falls. He designed the Brooklyn Bridge but, while supervising preliminary construction operations, was injured and died on July 22, 1869.
Washington Augustus Roebling, b. Saxonburg, Pa., May 26, 1837, was made chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge after his father’s death. He completed the bridge in 1883. In his later years he managed the family firm in Trenton, N.J., where he died on July 21, 1926.
Bibliography: McCullough, David, The Great Bridge (1972; repr. 1983); Schuyler, Hamilton, The Roeblings: A Century of Engineers, Bridgebuilders, and Industrialists (1931; repr. 1978); Steinman, David B., Builders of the Bridge: The Story of John Roebling and His Son (1945; repr. 1972)
Perspective. Leadership is a long-term event. It may be that you will not be the one to finish the job you have been called to do. It is the job of a leader to keep that in perspective and make sure he has prepared others to carry on the work.
Who followed Moses as leader of Israel? Joshua!. Much of that was due to Moses, looking for someone to follow him.
Point four
Point four: Perseverance(Exo 10:27 NIV) "But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was not willing to let them go."
At this stage, leadership is put to the test. Well! It is impossible! He is not going to budge. We need to remember that God will provide if we stay at our post.
Sir Winston Churchill, was invited to address a group of graduates at Oxford. He gave the shortest address on record. But probably the most effective. He said three words. "Don’t ever quit"
When Pharaoh got tough, Moses persevered and won the day. He did not quit.
There is a story told of two frogs who fell into a vat of cream. Neither on of them could reach the top of the barrel to get out. One of them decided it was hopeless and gave up and drowned. The other one kept kicking away and an hour or so later jumped out of the barrel of butter, to safety.
(Phil 3:13-14 NIV) "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
{14} I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Keep going. Don’t ignore the criticism; we can all learn we are not perfect. However, persevere in the job God has called you.
Point five. Priority.
(Exo 10:28 NIV) "Pharaoh said to Moses, "Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die.""
The priority of a leader is not to please people. That may be part of what happens along the way. That is not primarily the task of leadership. Our priority is to do the job we have been assigned to. Some will be pleased by the way we do it others will not. The task of the leader is not to be popular. Popularity is for politicians. Leadership is about following the priorities God has set for us.
Here is a common reaction to those who are given leadership responsibility.
(Amos 7:13-16 NIV) "Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom."
{14} Amos answered Amaziah, "I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees.
{15} But the LORD took me from tending the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’
{16} Now then, hear the word of the LORD. You say, "’Do not prophesy against Israel, and stop preaching against the house of Isaac.’"
This is quite a common reaction to leadership. "Who does he/she think they are?" I could do the job better than they can. Notice Amos, said, God took me. Our priority is to follow God and Christ in these matters.
Point six . Presentation
(Exo 10:28-29 NIV) "Pharaoh said to Moses, "Get out of my sight! Make sure you do not appear before me again! The day you see my face you will die."
{29} "Just as you say," Moses replied, "I will never appear before you again.""
Moses had to put his faith in God. He did not know where he was going or how it would work out. He had to have faith in the things that God had told him. Notice this incident shortly after they were on their own.
(Exo 14:10-16 NIV) "As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD.
{11} They said to Moses, "Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt?
{12} Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"
Here is a point that you need to remember. Everybody knows better than the leader. That is human nature.
Your presentation must be what God has asked you to do not what others think would be best.
Exo14:
{13} Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.
{14} The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
God sometimes requires a leap of faith on behalf of the leader. If you make a mistake make sure it is because you were obedient to what God was telling you. Not on the basis of popular opinion.
{15} Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.
Sometimes the leader has to say, this is what we are doing and this is how we are doing it.
{16} Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground."
If you are to follow somebody. Follow those who are obedient.
You may think that you will never be in a position to lead anybody. Think about families, employees, and children ext.
Think about your life. How do you lead the life you have now. How do these six principles affect your life?
1. Does it have purpose? If so is God connected to it.
2. What kind of performance does it give? Does your performance reflect your purpose?
3. What is your perspective? Is it temporal, or eternal?
4. Are you willing to persevere? Never quit.
5. What are your priorities? Does God figure high in them?
6. How do you present that life to the world? Do others see you are a person of God?
Leadership is a position of service. He that is greatest among you will be your servant.
Great leaders were at one time great followers
. If you have not learned to follow, you will not be able to lead.Because your concern will be for yourself and not for those, you are supposed to lead.
(Isa 40:6-11 NIV) "A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
{7} The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass.
{8} The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."
{9} You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"
{10} See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.
{11} He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."
We all need to learn to lead like God.
Ezra 7:10
AOL INSTANT MESSENGING SCREEN NAME - JackPeters47
MSN MESSENGER SCREEN NAME - johnwpeters@hotmail.com
Looking for preaching and teaching ideas?
Try Sermon Seeds!
http://www.sermonseeds.org