Lead the Change

Intro:

Today we are wrapping our series Your Move. My prayer and desire for this series was that it would provoke personal evaluation. Asking the question am I a critic or contributor? Am I willing to pay the price for the benefit of others? Am I living as Salt and Light to the world?

Contribution as a front row leader requires the anointing, and self awareness to be effective. This morning I want to wrap this series up with a message I have entitled Lead the Change. Once again the premise of this series is that it is your move. Becoming a front row leader will be a personal decision followed by corresponding action.

To lead from the front will require a change in the way we think and act.

Something the Lord spoke to me recently. He said, “I am being disrupted in purpose by believers who are self-critical.” When I asked for understanding He said, “Many whom I have gifted downplay and doubt what I have given them. They criticize and marginalize what I have placed in them. Resisting the very gifts I desire to use.”

To be transparent I have done this myself. I have been filled with doubt thinking what do I have to offer? What could I share that would be helpful? Through wrong thinking I have diminished the possibility of what God could do with my life because of poor self image. This left me on the back row criticizing when I had the opportunity to lead from the front row.

I believe this morning that there is more in us than we think. The experiences we have had in life God wants to use. The knowledge we have gained God wants to use. The time that we posses God wants to use. Like the little boy in Luke 9:16 we need to be willing to bring our two fish and 5 loaves to Jesus. We do not need to predetermine what He can do with it. Just let Him work.

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Submit:

When it comes to front row leadership how do we lead the change?

We all have opinions right? Here are some thoughts.

The opinions we have come from the ability to critically think.

Each opinion about a topic, issue, or organization can be accurate or misdirected.

Opinions produce one of two things action or inaction.

Opinions can either be a help or a hindrance.

Many people on the back row let their philosophical objections prevent their participation in solving problems or adding strength to an organization, team, etc. Rather than being apart of the solution, they let their criticism become a distraction, or an end in itself.

Again in Matthew 5:13-14 Jesus said, ““You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

If a believer is to add kingdom flavor by revealing the nature of heaven we will have to move beyond philosophical objections and engage. Another dimension that Jesus brings into the mix is the concept of leaven.

Matthew 13:33 “Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.””

I believe the Lord allows us to see deficiencies or problems so that we can become an answer. You don’t see the leaven or yeast in the flour, but its effect causes the bread to rise and expand. Believers are intended to be like leaven. Engaged in daily activities, filled with the Spirit, having direct impact on the world around us causing it to rise for the good.

Engagement does not mean that everything is or will become perfect. The effect of leaven is seen over time. We will have to stick with it.

Another dimension of the issue of criticism is that we have culturally drifted away from personal responsibility. When problems arise the conversation is typically externally focused.

Questions or opinions come in this format.

Why doesn’t someone do something about this?

Why doesn’t the government do something about this?

Why didn’t that leader do more?

This type of thinking and posture is what I would call back row criticism. Seeing the need, but refusing to become a part of the solution. Negativity and criticism are easy and anybody can do it. Front row leadership is challenging and at times uncomfortable, but it is the place where we make a difference.

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Apply:

Comfort was not Jesus purpose for believers. He purposed for us to advance the kingdom in the midst of persecution and opposition with an attitude of joy and thankfulness. Knowing that our names are written in heaven, and we have an inheritance in the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 5:9-10 “Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Peacemakers are found in conflict zones. Those being persecuted are found in environments that are contrary and oppositional to them. This is where we are to thrive because God has empowered us to bring kingdom solutions to the worlds issues.

As I was studying I came across this excerpt from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia on the subject of the beatitudes in Matthew 5 along with qualities of salt, light, and leaven.

The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Volumes 1–5 (2. Argument: The Kingdom of God (Heaven))

2. Argument: The Kingdom of God (Heaven)(1) Characteristics of the subjects (5:3–12).—The Sermon opens with the familiar Beatitudes. Unlike many reformers, Jesus begins the exposition of His program with a promise of happiness, with a blessing rather than a curse. He thus connects His program directly with the hopes of His hearers, for the central features in the current Messianic conception were deliverance and happiness. But the conditions of happiness proposed were in strong contrast with those in the popular thought. Happiness does not consist, says Jesus, in what one possesses, in lands and houses, in social position, in intellectual attainments, but in the wealth of the inner life, in moral strength, in self-control, in spiritual insight, in the character one is able to form within himself and in the service he is able to render to his fellow-men. Happiness, then, like character, is a byproduct of right living. It is presented as the fruit, not as the object of endeavor.

It is interesting to note that character is the secret of happiness both for the individual and for society. There are two groups of Beatitudes. The first four deal with personal qualities: humility, penitence, self-control, desire for righteousness. These are the sources of inner peace. The second group deals with social qualities; mercifulness toward others, purity of heart or reverence for personality, peacemaking or solicitude for others, self-sacrificing loyalty to righteousness. These are the sources of social rest. The blessings of the kingdom are social as well as individual.

(2) Vocation of the subjects (5:13–16).—Men of the qualities described in the Beatitudes are called “the salt of the earth,” “the light of the world.” Their happiness is not, then, in themselves or for themselves alone. Their mission is the hope of the kingdom. Salt is a preservative element; light is a life-giving one; but the world is not eager to be preserved or willing to receive life. Therefore such men must expect opposition and persecution, but they are not on that account to withdraw from the world. On the contrary, by the leaven of character and the light of example they are to help others in the appreciation and the attainment of the ideal life. By their character and deeds they are to make their influence a force for good in the lives of men. In this sense the men of the kingdom are the salt of the earth, the light of the world.

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Closing:

Do you see this morning that you don’t have to know everything to lead well? The leaven of your character and the light of your deeds are what God uses to influence others for His kingdom.

We can be front row leaders! It’s not about being perfect and faultless. Use what you have. Be humble, stay hungry to learn, be willing to receive correction.

Don’t be afraid of Failure. Remember that success is not the absence of failure it’s the result of pushing through it. Success and influence wont always feel like you expect it to feel. Lead with a grounded heart choosing service to others over self exaltation.

God isn’t looking for perfect people. Noah wasn’t a boat builder, Moses had a stuttering problem and poor image of self, Gideon was fearful, Jeremiah thought he was to young, Peter was inconsistent and rash , Saul consenting to the death of Christians and was in fierce opposition to the Gospel for part of His life. But God used them.

Don’t downplay what God has put in you. Utilize it and put it to work through the power of the Holy Spirit. Walk with Him daily. He will lead you. The Key is time spent with Him.

1 John 1:1-4 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.”

Let me finish with something practical.

What does Front row leadership look like in the every day?

Instead of criticizing schools and teachers look for ways to be involved and make a difference.

Instead of complaining about the coaches, officials, and players choose to engage by coaching, officiating, and encouraging.

Instead of criticizing everything that government does, engage in the civic process. Maybe God has given you the solutions for the problems and you need to run for public office.

Instead of complaining about the work environment your in daily. Find ways to make it better and add value.

Instead of complaining about what ministries and churches could do better. Lend your hand, strength, and wisdom to make it better.

Above all remove the mindset that your contribution doesn’t really matter. Your life anointed by the Spirit will become salt, light, and leaven. Right now its YOUR MOVE. What are you going to do with the opportunity?

Let’s Pray!

1) Holy Spirit give us the courage to step out.

2) Salvation