Courageous Leadership

We are reading the book dare to lead, why? We need more courageous leaders to Rise up and lead. We need more people willing to be used by God and to stand in the gap. We need to be reminded that God choose to use each one of us.

It takes courage to lead. All of us here were called by God into the ministry.

Being in the ministry has so many joys and benefits. We get to build relationships with people for our job.

and in this series created for significance.

We get to study the bible with people.

We have an incredible freedom of schedule and the ability to spend time with our kids.

What is your favorite part of the ministry? In one sentence what are you most grateful for being in the ministry?

All of us here were called by God into the ministry, but there are things that come up that mess with our heads.

We are in this series created for significance. We were all created and meant to make an eternal impact.

There are so many blessing of the ministry, but there are some unique challenges that work against us.

We can feel fear of why we aren’t good or make excuses. Let’s be inspired as we look at a few heroes in the bible and how they overcame their fear and excuses.

Moses feeling of insignificance

exodus 3-4,

Exodus 3:10–12 NIV

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.”

exodus 3-4, exodus 4:13

a. moses was given an important mission

Exodus 4:13 NIV

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

Exodus 4:13

exodus 3-4, exodus 4:13

a. moses was given an important mission

feeling of insignificance

a. moses was given an important mission

b. Moses thought God had the wrong guy!

c. Just as he was with Moses, God is with us in our evangelism.

lack of knowledge

Exodus 3:13 NIV

Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

fear of rejection

Exodus 4:1 NIV

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

lack of eloquence

Exodus 4:10–12 NIV

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

reluctance to obey

Exodus 4:13–14 NIV

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you.

4:13-14

a. This was the real issue

b. God is angry at our excuse making

Moses, already 80 yrs old, went on to become a bold leader in God's kingdom.

II. Gideon

6:11 he was fearful. he was threshing in the winepress at a time when God needed men of courage to rise up.

6:12 Mighty Warrior, really? God saw his potential

6:14 "Go in the strength you have" do not worry, just do your best.

6:15 Gideon claimed he was too insignificant and unimpressive to follow and obey God.

6:16 As with Gideon, God will be with you!

Gideon Repented of his fear and excuses and rescued his nation from the enemy- powerfully and bravely.

III. Jeremiah

God has a mission for our lives, too.

God rejected jeremiah's excuse of youth. (see 1 timothy 4:12)

a.God commands us not to fear.

b. God is with us! God + one = a majority

Jeremiah spread the Word for forty years, although most people rejected him, and became on of the greatest prophets of all time!

IV. Isaiah

he has an awesome vision of the awesome God!

"Woe to me!"

a. Isaiah saw God in all his glory

b. he realized his own lostness

c. he realized the lostness of everyone else

experiencing God's forgiveness transforms our lives

Then and only then are we ready to go and spread God's word.

Isaiah too went on to have a tremendous impact on his generation!

V. Peter

5:5 Peter was willing to take Jesus at his word

5:6 he experienced an incredible result - God's word is powerful

5:8 Peter realized who he was dealing with; knee deep in fish he came to Jesus, realizing his own sinfulness.

5:10 Jesus encouraged Peter to evangelize

a. he commanded him not to fear

b. catching men is evangelism

c. Jesus assured him that he would be effective.

5:11 We too must pull our fears and excuses up on the shore and actively obey Jesus Christ

Peter ultimately confronted his fears and fulfilled Jesus' prophecy of martyrdom ()

Peter and the others did great things for God because they gave up their excuses and stepped out on faith, despite their fears. You can do the same. God will change you , be with you and enable you to do great things for him.