Heart of a Leader

INTRODUCTION

Fred was a man that never really went to church but he really thought what they did was good. But he himself always found himself working on the farm every Sunday. Fred was very matter of fact type person. I sure we all know a Fred. One day Fred called his local Baptist church and asked to speak to the Head Hog of the Trough. The Secretary very take back by this statement replied, How rude! I’ll have you know we would NEVER EVER refer to our pastor as a hog. She went on to tell him the pastor is very busy and cant take a call at the moment Fred not even realizing she was upset simply said, okay, then just take a message. Tell him I’ve come into a bit of money so I was calling to give your church $100,000. The Secretary quickly change gears and immediately said, Well hold the phone, dearie! I think I see that big fat pig coming down the hall right now.

BIBLE VERSE

1 Samuel 21:10-15 (ESV)

David Flees to Gath

10 And David rose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is not this David the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another of him in dances,

‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”

12 And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me? 15 Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to behave as a madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”

1 Samuel 22:1-5 (ESV)

David at the Cave of Adullam

22 David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

3 And David went from there to Mizpeh of Moab. And he said to the king of Moab, “Please let my father and my mother stay with you, till I know what God will do for me.” 4 And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. 5 Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not remain in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah.” So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

Point 1: Ready or not

EXPLANATION

Hide and Go Seek. Ready or not Here I come

David’s not ready - the birth of Ryker

David is fleeing for his life

David is sinning and lying - next week we will see the implications fo that

ILLUSTRATION

S. I. MacMillan, in his book None of These Diseases, tells a story of a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her

heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, “Are you a leader?” Being both honest and

conscientious, she wrote, “No,” and returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter

from the college: “Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new

leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower.”

APPLICATION

Ready or not here he comes. God uses us at his leisure not ours.

Often we talk about helping at the church when it convenient to us. when we are ready. After we get our lives ready, but

God will use us when he wants

Often times you will find God working when we are weakest to show his abilities not ours. In my weakness he is strong

Point 2: Willing or not

EXPLANATION

David didn't have much choice God sent hundreds of people to him. David just accepted it This is what makes David a

mans after Gods own heart. He knows he isn't in a good place, but he accepts it.

When the work needs to be done David steps up.

He begins to sort out what he needs to do and what needs to happen.

ILLUSTRATION

Matthew says a leader must serve, and 1 Timothy says that a leader must rule.

Matthew says that a leader must be confident, but James tells us that a leader must be humble.

Mark teaches us that a leader must be a man of action, but Luke teaches us that a leader must be a man of prayer.

Luke says a leader must have a strategy, and James says a leader must submit to God’s will.

APPLICATION

Willing or Not Here He comes

Are you willing today to do whatever it is God wants of you?

Or does it need to be something your good at, at a time of your choosing, with people you enjoy, at a location of

acceptance, in a position of importance.

That is actually the opposite of making Christ your Lord

Point 3: Able or not

EXPLANATION

God Chooses leaders not based on their qualifications and strengths, I believe it is on their ability to listen to him and be

used, a leader in the church is just the best follower

Moses - not brave or a good speaker

Gideon - not important

David - Shepard and youngest

Abraham - lier and impatient

Rich Gartman - NO discernible talents or gifts

Steve Henry Susan

ILLUSTRATION

Cal Thomas found himself called a "Christian leader" by a leading Christian magazine and he wondered what that meant. More speaking engagements? Perhaps an appearance on a Christian talk show?

"It would certainly give me the right to start putting Scripture references under my signed name in books I have written. I would surely sign more Bibles, which I find a curious practice since I didn't write that Book."

Thomas wonders if we have reversed things. God's strength is made perfect in weakness. "In a church I once attended, there was a man of tremendous faith. His wife is an alcoholic, His daughter has psychological problems. He was often poor in health. Yet, week after week, he never complained. He always smiled and asked me how I was doing. He faithfully brought to church a young blind man who had no transportation. He always sat with the blind man, helping him sing the hymns by saying the words into his ear. That man was a `Christian leader' if ever there was one." 

"Dear God, Please Don't Let Me Be a Christian Leader," Fundamentalist Journal.

APPLICATION

A true Christian leader just needs to be the best God follower

Conclusion

Leadership is the ability to put the plans into practice, and to accomplish the specified objectives through the skillful management of people, time, and tangible resources. A good leader is one who is able to motivate people; one who is capable of making good decisions, even under pressure or in conditions of uncertainty; one who can guide people through actions as well as words. 

George Barna, How to Find Your Church, pp. 104-105.