Leadership 101 (5)

Following Christ is a Call to Holiness

Holiness is a sepperation unto the Lord-

Exodus 19:6 NLT

And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Holiness is belonging to the Lord

Leviticus 21:8 ESV

You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the Lord, who sanctify you, am holy.

Sanctify means - To be made Holy

The Call to Holiness- the Progression of Following Christ

1. Remove the things that once were

Numbers 33:50–53 NLT

While they were camped near the Jordan River on the plains of Moab opposite Jericho, the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: When you cross the Jordan River into the land of Canaan, you must drive out all the people living there. You must destroy all their carved and molten images and demolish all their pagan shrines. Take possession of the land and settle in it, because I have given it to you to occupy.

We must clean out the old things- there can be nothing left for the past that is a scared cow in our lives

If you want the promises of God then remove the things that Hold the promise back from your life

Destroy them- - Remove them- this is an active thing we must do

Paul says, Phil 3:3-16

Philippians 3:3–16 NKJV

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

Don’t ever go backwards- “To the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule.”

Nlt- Phil 3:16

Philippians 3:16 NLT

But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.

Anything that you once held dear count it as loss- “And count them as rubbish”

We don’t build on old foundation

We don’t keep the things of God with the clutter of the old ways

1.a -Don’t dabble with the old ways

2. Emptying yourSelf- Having the mind of Christ

This is taking on the attitude that Christ Has for you, and having it towards Him

Pray, “Jesus may I love you the in same manor that you love me.”

Philippians 2:1–10 NKJV

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

Christ emptied Himself for you- Now the response is to empty ourselves for him

3. Carry your cross

Galatians 5:24 ESV

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

This is done and it continues to be done

1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Carrying your cross is discipline that keeps your flesh from disqualifying you

Matthew 16:24–27 NKJV

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

4. True faith is seen in dedication

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Leadership is a sacrifice

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

We live in a place of sacrifice to God

Our time

our energy

our emotions

Leaders set the example for the others

Paul says in 1 Cor 11:1

1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

He uses Himself to show the others what it looks like to follow Jesus

Meaning He was a living example - We need to set the example of commitment and sacrifice for others to see and follow