Leadership Will Determine the Future of God

1
Leadership Will Determine the Future of Gods
People

• Many Old Testament warnings bear this fact out.
  (Jer 613-15)

2
Leadership Will Determine the Future of Gods
People

• (Jeremiah 613-15 NKJV) Because from the least
  of them even to the greatest of them, Everyone is
  given to covetousness And from the prophet even
  to the priest, Everyone deals falsely. 14 They
  have also healed the hurt of My people slightly,
  Saying, Peace, peace! When there is no peace.

3
Leadership Will Determine the Future of Gods
People

• 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed
  abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed
  Nor did they know how to blush. Therefore they
  shall fall among those who fall At the time I
  punish them, They shall be cast down, says the
  LORD.

4
Leadership Will Determine the Future of Gods
People

• Why would God punish the people because of what
  the leaders did? Because they put up with this
  kind of leadership! (Jer 531)

5
Leadership Will Determine the Future of Gods
People

• (Jeremiah 531 NKJV) The prophets prophesy
  falsely, And the priests rule by their own power
  And My people love to have it so. But what will
  you do in the end?

6
Leadership Will Determine the Future of Gods
People

• Real leaders must first be servants of God.

7
Leadership Will Determine the Future of Gods
People

• Real leaders must first be servants of God.
• There are similar warnings in the New Testament.
  (Acts 2028-32)

8
Leadership Will Determine the Future of Gods
People

• (Acts 2028-32 NKJV) Therefore take heed to
  yourselves and to all the flock, among which the
  Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd
  the church of God which He purchased with His own
  blood. 29 For I know this, that after my
  departure savage wolves will come in among you,
  not sparing the flock.

9
Leadership Will Determine the Future of Gods
People

• 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise
  up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the
  disciples after themselves. 31 Therefore
  watch, and remember that for three years I did
  not cease to warn everyone night and day with
  tears.

10
Leadership Will Determine the Future of Gods
People

• 32 So now, brethren, I commend you to God and
  to the word of His grace, which is able to build
  you up and give you an inheritance among all
  those who are sanctified.

11
Leadership Will Determine the Future of Gods
People

• Why are not there more Elders in churches?

12
Leadership Will Determine the Future of Gods
People

• Why are not there more Elders in churches?
• The answer lies in two parts. First we do not
  want Elders very strongly and second we do not
  know how to "grow" them!

13
Leadership Will Determine the Future of Gods
People

• The church will never have elders until we are
  willing to be challenged by the word of God.

14
What is Leadership?

• It comes from men of conviction. (2 Tim 113
  Titus 19)

15
What is Leadership?

• (2 Timothy 113 NKJV) Hold fast the pattern of
  sound words which you have heard from me, in
  faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

16
What is Leadership?

• (Titus 19 NKJV) holding fast the faithful word
  as he has been taught, that he may be able, by
  sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those
  who contradict.

17
What is Leadership?

• They will be tested within the church. (2 Tim
  43-4)

18
What is Leadership?

• (2 Timothy 43-4 NKJV) For the time will come
  when they will not endure sound doctrine, but
  according to their own desires, because they have
  itching ears, they will heap up for themselves
  teachers 4 and they will turn their ears away
  from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

19
What is Leadership?

• Rather than despise and be suspicious of those of
  conviction, support them!

20
What is Leadership?

• Conviction gives you the ability to go against
  the crowd.

21
What is Leadership?

• Conviction gives you the ability to go against
  the crowd.
• "Never follow the crowd if you want the crowd to
  follow you.

22
What is Leadership?

• Conviction gives you the ability to go against
  the crowd.
• "Never follow the crowd if you want the crowd to
  follow you.
• It comes from men of character. (Rom 53-4)

23
What is Leadership?

• (Romans 53-4 NKJV) And not only that, but we
  also glory in tribulations, knowing that
  tribulation produces perseverance 4 and
  perseverance, character and character, hope.

24
What is Leadership?

• "No one deserves the right to lead without first
  persevering through pain and heartache and
  failure.

25
What is Leadership?

• Character is a condition of the heart. It denotes
  strength. (2 Pet 15-7)

26
What is Leadership?

• (2 Peter 15-7 NKJV) But also for this very
  reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith
  virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge
  self-control, to self-control perseverance, to
  perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness
  brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness
  love.

27
What is Leadership?

• Arten - (1) generally of a good quality of any
  kind excellence, goodness, valor. as a moral
  characteristic virtue, uprightness, goodness (2P
  1.5).

28
What is Leadership?

• Arten - (1) generally of a good quality of any
  kind excellence, goodness, valor. as a moral
  characteristic virtue, uprightness, goodness (2P
  1.5).
• Men of character act upon principle! Here is
  where God is able to control us.

29
What is Leadership?

• Without character you will have a leadership of
  fear. Under the banner "let's not have any
  trouble", they will always be controlled by the
  lowest denominator.

30
What is Leadership?

• It was back in the early '60s that Admiral
  Rickover wrote these few lines to those who are
  at the helm Responsibility is a unique
  concept. It can only reside in a single
  individual. You may share it with others, but
  your portion is not diminished. You may delegate
  it, but it is still with you.

31
What is Leadership?

• If responsibility is rightfully yours, no evasion
  or ignorance or passing the blame can shift the
  burden to someone else. Unless you can point
  your finger at the one who is responsible when
  something goes wrong, then you never had anyone
  really responsible.

32
What is Leadership?

• It comes from men who will be alert. (Mk
  1333-37 Ezk 336-7)

33
What is Leadership?

• (Ezekiel 336-7 NKJV) But if the watchman sees
  the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet,
  and the people are not warned, and the sword
  comes and takes any person from among them, he is
  taken away in his iniquity but his blood I will
  require at the watchmans hand.

34
What is Leadership?

• 7 So you, son of man I have made you a
  watchman for the house of Israel therefore you
  shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for
  Me.

35
What is Leadership?

• (Mark 1333-37 NKJV) Take heed, watch and
  pray for you do not know when the time is. 34
  It is like a man going to a far country, who
  left his house and gave authority to his
  servants, and to each his work, and commanded the
  doorkeeper to watch.

36
What is Leadership?

• 35 Watch therefore, for you do not know when
  the master of the house is coming in the
  evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the
  rooster, or in the morning 36 lest, coming
  suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I
  say to you, I say to all Watch!

37
What is Leadership?

• They must know what to be alert for! Some sound
  the alarm over righteousness rather than
  wickedness. (Isa 5610-11)

38
What is Leadership?

• (Isaiah 5610-11 NKJV) His watchmen are blind,
  They are all ignorant They are all dumb dogs,
  They cannot bark Sleeping, lying down, loving to
  slumber. 11 Yes, they are greedy dogs Which
  never have enough. And they are shepherds Who
  cannot understand They all look to their own
  way, Every one for his own gain, From his own
  territory.

39
What is Leadership?

• What kind of reception will a warning receive? It
  depends upon the hearts of those being
  warned. (Jer 616-17)

40
What is Leadership?

• (Jeremiah 616-17 NKJV) Thus says the LORD
  Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old
  paths, where the good way is, And walk in it
  Then you will find rest for your souls. But they
  said, We will not walk in it. 17 Also, I set
  watchmen over you, saying, Listen to the sound
  of the trumpet! But they said, We will not
  listen.

41
What is Leadership?

• Regardless of the reception of the people, a
  leader will warn! Consider the example of
  Jeremiah. (Jer 422-8 432-4)

42
What is Leadership?

• (Jeremiah 422-8 NKJV) and said to Jeremiah the
  prophet, Please, let our petition be acceptable
  to you, and pray for us to the LORD your God, for
  all this remnant (since we are left but a few of
  many, as you can see), 3 that the LORD your
  God may show us the way in which we should walk
  and the thing we should do.

43
What is Leadership?

• 4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, I
  have heard. Indeed, I will pray to the LORD your
  God according to your words, and it shall be,
  that whatever the LORD answers you, I will
  declare it to you. I will keep nothing back from
  you. 5 So they said to Jeremiah, Let the LORD
  be a true and faithful witness between us, if we
  do not do according to everything which the LORD
  your God sends us by you.

44
What is Leadership?

• 6 Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we
  will obey the voice of the LORD our God to whom
  we send you, that it may be well with us when we
  obey the voice of the LORD our God. 7 And it
  happened after ten days that the word of the LORD
  came to Jeremiah. 8 Then he called Johanan the
  son of Kareah, all the captains of the forces
  which were with him, and all the people from the
  least even to the greatest,

45
What is Leadership?

• (Jeremiah 432-4 NKJV) that Azariah the son of
  Hoshaiah, Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the
  proud men spoke, saying to Jeremiah, You speak
  falsely! The LORD our God has not sent you to
  say, Do not go to Egypt to dwell there. 3
  But Baruch the son of Neriah has set you against
  us, to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans,
  that they may put us to death or carry us away
  captive to Babylon.

46
What is Leadership?

• 4 So Johanan the son of Kareah, all the
  captains of the forces, and all the people would
  not obey the voice of the LORD, to remain in the
  land of Judah.

47
What is Leadership?

• It comes from men who will love others. (1 Cor
  1613 Col 314-15)

48
What is Leadership?

• (1 Corinthians 1613 NKJV) Watch, stand fast in
  the faith, be brave, be strong.

49
What is Leadership?

• (Colossians 314-15 NKJV) But above all these
  things put on love, which is the bond of
  perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in
  your hearts, to which also you were called in one
  body and be thankful.

50
What is Leadership?

• The job of leadership is to build men.

51
What is Leadership?

• If we work upon marble, it will perish. If we
  work upon brass, time will efface it. If we rear
  temples, they will crumble to dust. But if we
  work upon men's immortal minds, if we imbue them
  with high principles, with the just fear of God
  and love of their fellowmen, we engrave on those
  tablets something which no time can efface and
  which will brighten to all eternity. - Daniel
  Webster

52
What is Leadership?

• Love will allow you to be longsuffering and not
  to quit in this great work.

53
What is Leadership?

• Love will allow you to be longsuffering and not
  to quit in this great work.
• Leadership in any organization -- whether in the
  local church or in some other Christian activity
  -- is never just a job. It is always a way of
  life, demanding from those who would be leaders a
  24-hour-a-day commitment.

54
What is Leadership?

• The leader, in a sense, must always be on the
  job, deciding, directing and developing the work
  that has been entrusted to him while at the same
  time encouraging those in the work.

55
Leaders are grown.

• It starts in the home. (Eph 64)

56
Leaders are grown.

• (Ephesians 64 NKJV) And you, fathers, do not
  provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up
  in the training and admonition of the Lord.

57
Leaders are grown.

• You children will remember your example! Are you
  teaching leadership?

58
Leaders are grown.

• When the home functions as it should there will
  be men and women of character.

59
Leaders are grown.

• When the home functions as it should there will
  be men and women of character.
• The church needs to be a fertile ground for
  growing elders! (Eph 415-16)

60
Leaders are grown.

• (Ephesians 415-16 NKJV) but, speaking the
  truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him
  who is the head Christ 16 from whom the whole
  body, joined and knit together by what every
  joint supplies, according to the effective
  working by which every part does its share,
  causes growth of the body for the edifying of
  itself in love.

61
Leaders are grown.

• Too often needless controversies can destroy the
  "atmosphere of growth" needed to develop men. (1
  Tim 13-5 Rom 151-2)

62
Leaders are grown.

• (Romans 151-2 NKJV) We then who are strong
  ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and
  not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us
  please his neighbor for his good, leading to
  edification.

63
Leaders are grown.

• (1 Timothy 13-5 NKJV) As I urged you when I
  went into Macedonia remain in Ephesus that you
  may charge some that they teach no other
  doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless
  genealogies, which cause disputes rather than
  godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the
  purpose of the commandment is love from a pure
  heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere
  faith,

64
Leaders are grown.

• On the other hand we must be able to openly
  discuss and stand upon anything the Bible
  requires of us. (Acts 2026-27)

65
Leaders are grown.

• (Acts 2026-27 NKJV) Therefore I testify to
  you this day that I am innocent of the blood of
  all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare
  to you the whole counsel of God.

66
Leaders are grown.

• "He who has learned to obey will know how to
  command." - Solon

67
Leaders are grown.

• There must be a choice made to become a leader.
  (1 Tim 31)

68
Leaders are grown.

• (1 Timothy 31 NKJV) This is a faithful saying
  If a man desires the position of a bishop, he
  desires a good work.

69
Leaders are grown.

• This should be the choice you made when you
  became a Christian, to give your all! (Phil 23-4)

70
Leaders are grown.

• (Philippians 23-4 NKJV) Let nothing be done
  through selfish ambition or conceit, but in
  lowliness of mind let each esteem others better
  than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not
  only for his own interests, but also for the
  interests of others.

71
Leaders are grown.

• When you take the opportunities God has put
  before you, however small, you will in time find
  greater and new opportunities and the ability to
  do them. (Mt 2528-29)

72
Leaders are grown.

• (Matthew 2528-29 NKJV) Therefore take the
  talent from him, and give it to him who has ten
  talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will
  be given, and he will have abundance but from
  him who does not have, even what he has will be
  taken away.

73
Leaders are grown.

• The first concern of the leadership of the
  church should be for the filled seats, not the
  empty ones. When a young preacher complained to
  Charles Spurgeon that his own congregation was
  too small, Spurgeon replied, "Well, maybe it is
  as large as you'd like to give account for in the
  Day of Judgment." (Note These men had a false
  view of the preacher as the pastor. LWR)

74
What can I do to develop leaders?

• Encourage those things that develops conviction.
  (Gal 66)

75
What can I do to develop leaders?

• (Galatians 66 NKJV) Let him who is taught the
  word share in all good things with him who
  teaches.

76
What can I do to develop leaders?

• Do not flee from things that build character.

77
What can I do to develop leaders?

• Do not flee from things that build character.
• Praise those who are fighting those battles.
  (Encourage our young who participate in services)

78
What can I do to develop leaders?

• In too many instances brethren go "run and hide"
  when difficult issues arise. (2 Tim 416-17)

79
What can I do to develop leaders?

• (2 Timothy 416-17 NKJV) At my first defense no
  one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not
  be charged against them. 17 But the Lord stood
  with me and strengthened me, so that the message
  might be preached fully through me, and that all
  the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out
  of the mouth of the lion.

80
What can I do to develop leaders?

• "Liberty means responsibility. That is why most
  men dread it."

81
What can I do to develop leaders?

• Learn and teach the importance of warnings. (1
  Thess 56)

82
What can I do to develop leaders?

• (1 Thessalonians 56 NKJV) Therefore let us not
  sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be
  sober.

83
What can I do to develop leaders?

• Promote those things that bring love for the
  brethren. (Gal 513-14)

84
What can I do to develop leaders?

• (Galatians 513-14 NKJV) For you, brethren,
  have been called to liberty only do not use
  liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but
  through love serve one another. 14 For all the
  law is fulfilled in one word, even in this You
  shall love your neighbor as yourself.

85
What do we do when leaders arise?

• Support them. (1 Tim 517-19)

86
What do we do when leaders arise?

• (1 Timothy 517-19 NKJV) Let the elders who
  rule well be counted worthy of double honor,
  especially those who labor in the word and
  doctrine. 18 For the Scripture says, You shall
  not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,
  and, The laborer is worthy of his wages. 19
  Do not receive an accusation against an elder
  except from two or three witnesses.

87
What do we do when leaders arise?

• Seek their advice and help. (Heb 1317)

88
What do we do when leaders arise?

• (Hebrews 1317 NKJV) Obey those who rule over
  you, and be submissive, for they watch out for
  your souls, as those who must give account. Let
  them do so with joy and not with grief, for that
  would be unprofitable for you.

89
What do we do when leaders arise?

• Help to develop more leaders!

90
What do we do when leaders arise?

• Will the church at North Charlottesville one day
  have elders?

91
What do we do when leaders arise?

• Will the church at North Charlottesville one day
  have elders?
• If we apply God's words to our hearts we will!

92
What do we do when leaders arise?

• Will the church at North Charlottesville one day
  have elders?
• If we apply God's words to our hearts we will!
• What are you doing today to develop leaders? If
  you will yield to God's way you can play a part
  in this great work. It will take time.

93
What do we do when leaders arise?

• LeadershipGod give us men. A time like this
  demandsStrong minds, great hearts, true faith
  and ready hands!Men whom the lust of office does
  not kill,Men whom the spoils of office cannot
  buy,Men who possess opinions and a will,Men who
  love honor men who will not lie.-- Josiah
  Gilbert Holland