Character and Nature of a Leader

Do they actually are now let's back it up and I'm going to take them to a process where they will be prepared for them. It is exciting, but it's not such a scripture is the Potter clay analogy. And I want to show you how that really relates directly to how God repairs is. So, so 1st Timothy 3/10 is this Regarding they must first be tested and then if there's nothing against them, let them service deacon. Penalties has let them be closely examined and then the Amplified which always makes things way bigger, right? Let them also be tried and investigated and proved first. Then if they turn out to be above reproach, let them serve as a deacon. So this process of being tried investigated and proven is the process, we all go through and where do they play in LG. Look at is we look at the weight benches made emerged and pulled apart and down in order to get to the point. Where is Doug from the ground in September,

So he found us, 40 verse 2 says he brought me out of any set, my feet upon a rock in the established.

Out of the Miry clay. So all of us were dug out. We were unlike the clay being brought out the ground so that our Salvation I gave my life to Jesus at 6 years old. So my wife was a lot quicker and responding. She was 3 years old which is about 4 years old. She was very spiritually mature to understand that at 3 and want to give her life to the Lord. But how about I was harder of artistic until I was six. But anyways, I thought

I don't know maybe with them or Glory tomorrow when Jesus Christ is being revealed. So we have trials. We will go to try to prove us actually, and refinance and letting to my own life was about the big that was 25 to 35. The 10-year window that I owed it. That really God forcefully Street number for finally function or maturity, a finished vessel, ready to be fully use for design purpose. So, for me, this was kind of 36. + + H 36, I became a senior pastor Bell and I took over Church in medicine, that was struggling. We, we felt we were called to lie to church and if it was years of preparation by Despair and I never get there, it was such a weird Journey, it felt like and yet God did it not 36? We started, so since that time in the ministry but we've gone through other cycles of preparation. So there's a journey that were on. So let's look at the test. So what I want to look at is All of this preparation of the of the clay and so forth, the scriptures that God Grants Pass OR fail, first one is so he'll be to God in Arabic. When we are weak, then we just talked to Paul said, he said he would Glory this week is cuz when he was weak, then he was strong. So testings from God actually often, show us that were we can actually create a greater dependence which makes us stronger which is kind of upside down. Would you think myself? I will do better in and actually got his nutsack to not true because you feel stronger yourself. You'll actually focus on yourself and you will fail so he has to show us. Hey I don't have it all together. Second thing is to purify the leader to purify them. Our God is a consuming fire The fire word. Again, who needs? Who wants the fire of God? No lies. And yet God has to take us through things. So that the impurities Everhart eye removed, and that's what wire does, right? That's, that's how precious metals are purified, their heat it up and then the impurities are skimming off the top, right? Anybody here into precious metals and you know. Flying person that probably nobody but I thought I'd ask

I'm so that's what God does. He heats up the situation like that? He takes those impurities off. The third thing is to separate those who are not truly called from those who are So sometimes it's kind of like the whole principle of being a hireling. Remember, scripture talks about the hireling, who he's not really The Shepherd of the sheep. He just doesn't as a job is being paid. So okay, I'll do it. But then when hard times come, what does it say? Takes off at the hireling and so,

God wants people who are willing to fulfill his purpose, no matter what. But they're not doing it for accolades are not doing it because man is going to plow them. They're not doing it for money. They're doing it because they love him. And they're willing to endure. So sometimes I remember it in in college, I remember the first semester was really hard for everybody seem like the teachers are really hard. They were loading. The papers like are currently committed. They're not following the 1993. My wife and I were in a church in Lethbridge Alberta Canada. And we we had, what was called, prophetic Presbyterian. You know what that is. So they bring in 3 profit is people they, they think they would say, or you don't level in sword and shield.

And so he can come to those in any trouble with the Cucumber. We ourselves have received from God or just as his sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives. Anybody love that scripture, just as the sufferings of Christ. Anybody like the sufferings of Christ flowing over into your life, not really we've all had that but just as that happens. So also to Christ Our Comfort overflow. If we're distress is for your comfort and salvation, we are comforted is for your comfort, which produces a new patient during some of the same sufferings we, So, here's the appointment. So princess, it's in working through our own tragedies, our own pain, and our own problems that were able to help people with their their problem. So, God will allow us at times to go through hard things that we have to overcome so that we have some testimonies and strength for those. So that we are comforted, so that we have comfort Brothers. In other words, the picture is that the comfort that I have four other people is actually born and produced out of the areas where I've been, is that makes sense. So, even when something is terrible If I go to God and say, comfort me, I can be used by him. Something terrible happens, but I turned to God rather than turn elsewhere or turn away from God. Ever seen, people go through a really hard thing and they turned away from God. They got bitter and green, I don't understand.

But I need any passes. So the word test for the words, I have some, I have some examples and hopefully what we can do is a closed off, so we can hear from you in a bit to hear some thought and meditation.

Give you that word like we're not going to be able to do it in a year's time. It is working to pass the word of the Lord tested him.

Joseph's word tested you. I'm sure he was tempted to let go of it. You ever think he was Forget that word. I wish I'd never gotten that work. You realize that word is what probably causes problems. You got a little like I didn't already like him and now they really don't like him and so I'm sure he was tempted times. Like I wish I never got that word. I wish I never sent that God had that for me because it it it's almost warm and think is here. I am in prison now and I wonder how this is going to happen. and it says, It in the new living, it says, until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph character. So all that time, was God test his character and then, and I B says, till what the foretold came to pass. Till the the word of the Lord proved intrude. The word of God, the word that God gives you will often prove you drew. It has a power in itself. So Joseph was tested, his character was tested and Todd. Went hard for his wife. Would he be faithful even in prison? Would he give glory to God with his dream making your belly? He was tested or why does God give us? Prophetic words ahead of time. I'll give you a call. Because he wants to Telegraph his intentions to us for a lie. So we can do everything that follows through that lens. I never found it helpful. I have where things are uncertain. You wondering what's going on. But when you remember what God told you and how he's called you suddenly some of the pain and struggles make sense your like looking at it through that lens I kind of see what he's doing. I think that's why it's so important. We understand is That's why Joseph was able to enjoy them Prosper, he realize it somehow what he was going through was going to produce greater good. so, you know, We could be so princes it be encouragement. Takes longer than you expected. That simply means that God wants to do something you measure me more than all you can do. Remember when we we got married in 96 coming up on four years, we We had it was either who is there and gave us but I was 21 when I was 19 almost 20 and Keith. We are trying to watch this video this year. We can watch for a while,

I've been my journey with a. Nice paragraph.

Challenge with my mom and dad died a week later. Google it and thinking, I got you, a part of the Indian colony was Connecticut on a eyes until you start of those pathetic were held on the first one. So think about where you've been given word. So it might be

I'm going to be right. And so those words did test me on YouTube. The second thing is this calling in God? I know it sounds funny to even say that, but we can become entitled of it. I deserve this or in the back is a lot of them. They deserve to Ember. Ashley had a hope, we had a knee. Ready to believe you sleep.

Good luck, but I was on I just you know it and I feel we need to always maintain. These are hearing about you look and tell him I met him at 30 right now.

Do you like in the chair? Here's a great day. Here about church leader of the number, right? B. A

Hi, how are you?

He is, of course, an arranged marriage would be. So it's quite a story to tell my mom and dad had the way they think about the Whitaker married until the whole eastern part of your singing. And that'll help me out later on when we were the Women's Conference and the sea was Rachel.

And it just was such a few children, but I did differently.

Is this where we let him to materially and spiritually dry place for certain amount of time a l? Feels like you're she's in the wilderness when there's no fruit or good coming from his life for Ministry or it feels that way ever been. There we are felt like there's not a lot of fruit coming but I'm putting in a lot of effort, I've been there multiple times so this is really important that we understand that God does lead us in the wilderness. Let me just say this. Every time I've gone through a significant increase in mine is real life. I've gone through it.

Look at scripture leaders were often taken through the desert. Wilderness and desert experiences. God uses them. What is the purpose of it? Will increasing the person appreciation. For the good things, God's already given. In the in the wilderness, there is an appreciation that grows for what God has done and you can determine whether it's really goddesses names, you or rather your ministry or your functions, the saying, here's the thing. We can be easily tempted to attach our Worth. To what we do. You ever done that? I've done that. I am valuable because I do this because I function light up there. Sometimes, Gods had to allow me to go through a hard time where I don't sense that. So that I realized my worth is not in my fruit, not at how successful that my worth is in my faithfulness to serve the Lord and love him. Faithfulness is Keith but everything else. Well done, good and faithful servant, that's what you'll hear. Not, well done, good and successful service faithfulness you know, we look at people, you don't even have to increase, is the L liquor in the study of the Sad to say this, but some of my tea time in prayer have come out of the best police released. Muscles are built in the wilderness. 245 puts a rod pictures of the enemy. You write the word, what's been grueling, right? And it says that the end the enemy left him until an opportune time. Do you know when the opportune time was the Garden of Gethsemane? Night came back the Garden of Gethsemane. Give me the Garden of Gethsemane was another tempting moment for Jesus. He, he was struggling with his Humanity, he was struggling with this pressure and I, I Know The Enemy was there resting him as well. And he again, he overcame but Wilderness moments that we have to go through and God will meet us at this moment. Remember Jesus, when he overcame and press through the Garden Kissimmee, what did it say? The Angels, game intended to strengthen. So after sometime, we go through many grilling times, God, strengthens us and prepares us. To do what he's called us to do, but he's also tough in this up. Those ten years, I went through that. I mentioned earlier that they were grueling in multiple ways. I mean, multiple jobs at two businesses, one failed 1168 and when I, when I stand, I saw it in the second one failed lost. Most for kids Sole Provider straight commission, sales, no base salary, like the pressure was huge when I look back now, I mean, now at my age thinking about it, I don't know how did I do that? Like how did I stay sane in the pressure without a steady income selling trying to be faithful in ministry as well? That I look back. It was the grace of God and what he taught Nana something cause of depend on you know you taught us. You know and then out of that he was like the Phoenix. You brought us up out of that terrible place with those ten years were a Wilderness. But God man And without that Wilderness, we wouldn't be doing what we're doing. I'll bet, not sure. Then we'll jump to the Fort Lewis.

some of you might, I don't know. But anyway, he's the one actually that bad words that you want to hear us about and take longer to 76. You're going to go see. And we pray, pray. We were times, I remember standing in line for groovy rain today. All of those Miracles all the time. If they think that they just needed that day, all the whole story.

Also be that but doesn't find the needs of the man, the opportunity, your invitation to use. And so this is a test often, this is the term used for this is put on the Shelf someone who has been put on the Shelf. So print in the Books open, he says it's the time we spent on the sidelines that prepares us for the Frontline.

Why does he do this? Sometimes he'll banish us from active service in an area to show us where to depending on that service rather than on himself for you kind of are old wrapped up in what you do. So I'm going to show you that. I'm your Source Hill, humble us, The times and he'll purify our motives. You know, I look back at those ten years where I was, you know, in the wilderness and you know, here, here's where I got to youth group and I was really ambitious and I I had it all figured out. I remember sitting in my office at the church that when you one time and thinking what my future would be and I thought I know what's going to happen, I'll be sociopaths are here and someday, I'll be the lead. Pastor has had it all figured out and I was like not even close for you and but but I I was really it was about me. So you're with that without youth group, we change the name, we called it Solid Rock Youth. And then I got Room on the local cable channel and I was going to have a a show called Solid Rock videos, and I got all the, at the time, word records was a big deal. I got all these videos where the records and I was going to show music videos and I was going to be the star, I say that because I think that was honestly going to be many, many people for Jesus, we're going to have you. No, like, phone phones that are at our church and Solid Rock Youth and people would call and we would get on it and I would be a hero. Now, I wouldn't have said that the time I wouldn't have said that was the case, but that was kind of gay. And so we'll wait until the set and all this stuff and I had it booked and blah, blah, blah, and then they said we're laying you off. Not as a freshman. Dream. Well, God said, yeah, I'm stalking you right now. You need a better moments. Is there a little stuck? Like seriously, I didn't Securities and I was trying to prove something and so really was it all about God. A lot of me, there is a little bit. We got it. Sweetheart. Never even called me. I member I was an insurance agent. They called me said. This was your idea. Do you want to be with me and be the co-host? Remember. From moment, I love. Then I quickly realized Lord thing.

It's interesting that that Vision never came up again. After I've been purified know that, that all kind of died, but he had to show me that, right? He had to head to the bench me the other time. I remember him doing this, with run at St. I've always enjoyed preaching. Voice found it. Listening easier if I could say that, I just really like it easy to me. Until? I went through a whole year in our church and Tabor that I didn't print it off for various reasons, I didn't preach it off. I found a really hard. In fact, I remember one time sitting in the back row so you the background doesn't mean that you're backslidden. But in my case, I have been sitting in the back road, I can do better than that and I heard the Lord right away and goes. That's exactly why you're sitting here because you need to remember and learn that any gift you have is from me and I will use it at my pleasure. It's not your gift. So get in line because I'll use you. If I choose to that is not your gift. That is not your ability that's mine. Only good year hard and it taught me something, even to this day, it's your, it's your ministry, Lord, whatever you choose to do, or not to do, and I don't have a ride so hopefully prices in 67, no one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalted man? It is God who judges I learned not to promote myself, learn to wait for God. Stop the motion is really poor and I tried it a few times and I won't get into the examples, but the Lord is the one who raises us up. We need to wait for him. Alright, well you have something to share on that and then we have the final final test.

As you can imagine, has been about prospective, right? Having the mind of Christ in the situation as I remember being at a pastor's Retreat once. And I remember that, you know, when even I got called into Ministry to 33 and 35, when we got called to Clans More like, I think, 43 and 45 and I remember testing feeling like link bloomer. so many of our friends have been in, Right out of Bible school and all the rest of it. And I remembered a prayer Retreat. Just somebody praying for me. And I express that. I said that he like a late bloomer and one of the things that Somebody Prayed on the news they should value some blooming and ever. And I think that that was something that really spoke to my heart was that I thought successor I thought Gods call looked a certain way and yet the Lord took off because we kept looking to Humble humble ourselves before him do whatever was in front of us, but that's what he was looking at and he said, that's what was bleeding. So that's how I extreme

Okay, the last test the success of test. Does this sound like a good one? But I would like to give me that all day. Well yes we want success, but this is actually, it can be a really challenging moment when long-awaited successor fruitfulness comes. Will the person remain humble and give God the glory or will price evening. And again we see Ministries, we're suddenly they're not humble anymore, they somehow think they have it all together. Some examples or Solomon. Hezekiah looking phone. How about now? Humble man. Going to ask them in a dream. What what do you want? I'll give it to you. Whatever it is. He's just I want wisdom so I can rule your people well and gods impressed Gods. Like you could ask for the death of your enemies. You could ask for money. You could ask for a long life if you could ask anyting and well, but you asked for wisdom there for I'm going to give you everything. I'll give you the wisdom, you'll be like the wisest guy ever and I'll give everything else. Sounds like a good thing I got was so impressive, but how did Solomon handle success? Hoarding.

You forgot. God, literally embraced other idols and other gods with his wives and he had like 900 wives. that's excessive but but the bottom line is, he

Interesting Hezekiah and goes through a really tough time, right? He he's almost wiped out. They defeat the enemy God comes through. He died. He almost dies. Can I get some 50 years? Never all this and so it says, here's what it says about Hezekiah.

And let's see. Where is it now? 2nd Chronicles, 32, 30 and 31. It says this, it was Hezekiah who blocked, the upper Outlet in the E on Spring and channel the water down to the west side of the city of David. He succeeded in everything, you undertook 31, but when an invoice are envoys, were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask about the miraculous sign that occurred in the land. God, left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart. So, members the Babylonians come and they, they say to Hezekiah, we've heard some great things about you. And God's waiting to see what will he do? What will you say? Will you say? Oh, yes, because we serve God and I want to honor God, or will he on himself? You know what I did? You don't hurt himself. It says he showed the Babylonians everything he owned. Why would he do that? Cuz he wanted to be impressive. Did you want to see or storehouses? Come look at the amount of gold we have. Hey listen, right? And as a result God comes to him and says, hey what did the Babylonian seed? Remember that. I'm going to ask you a question. Does he usually know the answer. I was usually ask you because he wants you to know the answer to what did they see everything I showed him everything and then God says well time will come. They're going to have everything. Won't be in your lifetime. You know how short-sighted Hezekiah is? Think about this, you know, short-sighted and stuck on himself. He is sorry. It's Gaia. He says, well that's good cuz it won't happen in my life. That's a little short-sighted and unkind. If you like us saying, well, at least in my lifetime, everything will be okay. I know that after I'm gone this world is going to get terrible for my kids to drink while I'm alive.

So, ask the guys hard, was it the best and it's because He didn't handle it.

Encourage you. A lot of leaves that have fallen today is because they couldn't handle this. if this is a test, so when you become successful or fruitful, whatever it is, Just remember, always why? And you do what I do personally here's what I do. I like to remember back to when I was nowhere. I like to remember when I was so off-grid that I felt like no one even saw me. I would have no opportunity to do anything back. I didn't I didn't have a password for many years. I didn't go anywhere and I was stuck in this little town and I just felt invisible. Like I wasn't going anywhere and I like to go back and remember that. And then remember why I am doing what I do. Oh yes. It's the grace of God. I don't deserve any. Thank you. Lord. I get to do these things. I feel honored and I just want to continue to serve you. So don't last word and then we're going to be

When we took over Medicine Hat, when we finally were able to be the pastor's that we felt God, and call us to be among the first five years were building, right? It was a lot cleaner and and then a rebuilding and then we got the joy of raising up some young adults you got to Mariano's to them. They ended up being on our Team and called it the Dream Team and it really was. And I remember having started with a handful of worship. God in his Mercy, I was a reluctant leader building that team up and when I turned it over, there was about 25 people on the team or worship leaders and bands and all the rest of it over to a gal. That Dave came in for church and prophesied that she was the next one. And I thought she was, I was hoping she was Another pastoring, leaving. But I remember for me. I'm a router like, as in, when I'm play somewhere, I think I'm going to stay here. I'm going to really stay here. This is my home. I don't think this is the next step to the next place. I just didn't, I just thought this is, this is where home is going to be. So then when the call came to leave and to go find another church, it was handing over to God, all the things that we're going. Well, everything that was good, everything that I love and I feel like one of the 6s tattoos that just because we get to build something, just because we get to experience the good. It has done some X bottle. Say, can I have that? I don't think we're ever done giving over to the Lord, the things that he's given to us sounds like a scam to and so the making of a leader is Sochi.

Show the last picture I want to give you hear of this whole thing is that life is often like a tapestry. No, we probably heard this analogy before, but I've never seen a really nice tapestry that you hang on the wall. It's beautiful, it's colors. And the way the picture is for me, but if you turn over that tapestry, was it look like on the back, all these loose threads? Like, this doesn't feel like this doesn't make it to connect.

What are the warp in the identity and Destiny are the colors that Mark, the defining moment. They are the frames that help us explain her experiences. They are the shuttles that refiners Define us and if you will simply put yourself in the loop with all the weed, a masterpiece you finally connect the dots between past experiences and present circumstances in a way that reveals the favor of God in your life.

All right, it's questions for overtime here. Sorry, I really am. But you have some questions common. What stood out to you? there's some things that just really resonated, you know, I always think if there's one or two things out of everything, it was just said that stood out to you. It's a wind seriously. So I look, I mean, I'm the kind of guy that can barely remember what I felt like that DVD. so,

And you are mine. Sure. But Jesus, whatever is supposed to do.

Victorious, really comforting just to hear the whole thing about the Luminous. It's like me. When you're in the midst of the Wilderness, when in the midst of the test last place you want to play and you don't want to even hear something. So I told you so I could say, but on the other hand,

Another underwear. I used to it already halfway, okay.

You welcome.

Any of the test stand out to you. I mean the Wilderness obviously jneid the other test that you say yeah I remember that or I've seen that or I mean that.

so,

You want?

Training.

Where am I?

Outlet near me.

Like I said, it's New Order. No, I'm not always the same pattern. I'm saying to somebody yesterday to you, now our generation. A hike is to give sometimes to give to others.

So, that word lonely don't be worried. Austin, how it goes, right?

If I can stop it up from Salt, princess with excited on Morton when and where I got primary concern, is that you where he wants you to have a baby, do you want to play manifest in the question?

I might be going to meet to be tonight without you a question. It is. Yeah, it's good point. Yeah, yeah, we focus on the wrong thing. I think I think it's like saying, you know

I'm still grow healthy things. Grow It's like us. Healthy people, grow healthy, people need and blast, and help reitzel us being connected to the Lord and receiving his rowing. We will open YouTube. anyway, I hope that was helpful and it and if it's not helpful right now, you don't do what I did as a twenty-year-old and remember Even just five years later, pic a four-member. I remember the queen Ava, help. One another

And you're welcome.

Lego toys.

I don't think so.

Okay.