The LORD'S Authoritative Servant Leader

Introduction:

The problem with Israel’s leadership is not a new problem. Throughout Isaiah’s messages, we have seen an indictment against corruption of the leaders. , (Ahaz), .

In the New Testament, Jesus himself had clear words to say to the religious leaders:

This passage continues this understanding of the corrupt leadership and what the LORD was going to do about it.

Passage:

(1) The removal of a poor leader -

(a) Note the position of this poor leader (v. 15)

(b) Note the presumption of this poor leader (v. 16 )

(c) Note the pronouncement upon this poor leader (v. 17 - 19)

We can safely conclude that Shebna was a self-serving leader. Self-serving leaders are proud and presumptuous. This means that they plan/prepare for their own comfort and with an assumption of what they feel they are owed. Their thought process is shaped by the pursuit of their own glory.

They are fueled by people’s perceptions, “Oh, I wonder what they thought of me” rather than true concern for the edification of the people of God.

Illustration: Recent situation with the Governor of PR.

(2) The replacement of the poor leader -

(a) Note the person of Eliakim (v. 20)

(b) Note the promotion of Eliakim (v. 21-24)

(i) by the LORD -

(i.a.) his apparel

(i.b.) his administration (government)

(i.c.) his authority

(i.c.a) as father

(i.c.b) at to access to the king

(i.d.) his assurance

(ii) by the Laypeople

(ii.a.) He is dependable

We can safely conclude that Eliakim is a contrast to Shebna. Eliakim is not the self-serving leader, but he is the sovereign-serving leader. He is evidently the One that the LORD has seen as the leader for his people.

Proposition:

(3) The requirement of the Lord regarding a leader

God requires that leaders be those who are serving Him rather than serving themselves. Many today don’t consider themselves to be leaders, at least not on this scale; but God has given to all of us a measure of influence. Dads you are leading in your home. Mothers, you are leading in your home. Grandparents you are influencing your grandchildren.

Application:

In some cases, some of you are leading employees at work. In some cases, you leadership influence is over electronic correspondence or social media. The question is, “How are you as a leader?” Are the decisions you make, the investments you make, the time you spend all decided by factors that revolve around you or are you serving the LORD truly in that capacity?

I think that if we were all honest, we must admit that we fail in some capacity to be the servant leader that God demands. In all of these OT cases, there are some leaders whose deficiencies make us look ahead for a perfect leader in the story. In other cases, like Eliakim, we are seeing glimpses of goodness in leadership but we certainly cannot say that he was perfect.

Because this is what God requires and man can not perfectly meet this standard, we must see the...

Application:

(4) The redemption of the servant leadership role in Jesus Christ

From the beginning, God gave to man a role of dominion. Clearly, the Fall has destroyed this being done perfectly. In this passage, there are several key elements that make a concrete connection to Jesus Christ:

(a) Notice the title given by the Lord - “my servant” (v. 20)

It is a phrase of privilege that points to who this individual is serving, and points

This is a term that is used for Israel and for the Suffering Servant. . It is a phrase of privilege that points to who this individual is serving, and points ultimately to the greatest fulfillment of this role of “servant of the Lord”. This is found in the Person of Jesus Christ. See

(b) Notice the government committed and the key on His shoulder (v. 21-22)

This connection is see in . Jesus is ultimately the One who would bear the weight of the government.

(c) Notice the “key of the house of David” more specifically. See

What is important to notice here is that the role of the perfect servant is clearly fulfilled in Jesus Christ. As having the key of David, this confirms for us a few things:

If you want an audience with the King, you have to come through the One who has the authority. This is Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is

While Eliakim was a good replacement, he was only a shadow of the perfect servant leader. To Jesus has been given all authority. On what basis? It is on the basis if Jesus righteous life, humble death, burial, and resurrection that to Jesus authority has been given.

This means that being the servant leader that God accepts does not begin with doing activities of service. Being the servant leader that God accepts begins by submitting to the authoritative servant leader to whom God has given authority - that is Jesus Christ.

Outside of having Jesus Christ, you will never be accepted with God. This then means that there is the...

(5) The responsibility of Christ-empowered servant leadership

For all those who are in submission to Jesus Christ, the authoritative servant leader, you have the responsibility to live according to who you are. Because you are accepted, you can live a life of humble servant leadership.

(a) live by faith that self-interest leadership will be judged by God

(b) live under the rule of Jesus in every area of life

(c) live in service to the body of Christ

(d) servant leadership may require that you make decisions that are against your personality

(e) servant leadership may require that you make decisions that are contrary to your established habits

(f) servant leadership does not begin with you, it begins with Jesus Christ (the gospel)

Conclusion:

Thus, the LORD’S ultimate, authoritative servant Leader is Jesus Christ; and it is in the finished work of Jesus Christ that we find the power to live as servant leaders. If you are unsaved, you need Jesus. If you are saved, you need Jesus. Because of the finished work of Jesus, we are accepted with God and equipped to live a life of service & leadership.