Leading in the Spirit

Bill Sizemore

Letters to Leaders • Sermon • Submitted 4 years ago

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God has chosen his children to lead the world into the saving power of the gospel. To accomplish this task, he has given us the spirit of power, love, and self-control. So, why are we so timid in our leadership of the gospel. Pastor Bill teaches us how to come out of fear and lead strong in the gospel's power as he kicks off this new series entitled "Letters to Leaders" from 2 Timothy.

Notes

Transcript

Sermon Thrust: Leading people into a relationship with God requires strength, not fear.

Introduction: Defining the Pain

Introduction to 2 Timothy.

There is a very simple point and outline to the book of 2 Timothy. “If your going to lead well your going to lead through God’s Word.”

Chapter one: Follow the Pattern of Sound Words

Chapter two: Study the Word

Chapter three: Live out the Word

Chapter Four: Preach the Word

This outline works for a Pastor but it also works of the stay at home Mom raising her kids. The power of the Word of God to change someone’s life is all but forgotten today. It’s not that we don’t believe it we just don’t head to it or proclaim it to our kids. We say, “The Bible is the final authority for all life and practice,” but we don’t really mean it. If Jesus were to come to your house today and evaluate your claim that the Bible is the final authority for all life in your house. How would he rate it? I want you right now to stop and do a self-evaluation of the Bible being your final authority for life and practice right now. Put it on a scale from 1 to 10. 1 = my life looks nothing like the principle in the Bible. 10 = Jesus would find my life in accordance to his Word.

“You can only lead some down the path that your taking.”

What would Jesus ask you to correct in your home that would bring you more in alignment with the principles of his word.

Matthew 21:28–31 ESV

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you.

There are moments in our lives when all the weight of leadership falls on us. Sometimes you ask for it and prepare for it, and sometimes it is thrust upon you.

When a young man leaves his father and mother to start his own family, he assumes leadership.

When a man leaves his wife and children for someone else, he forces more significant leadership on the mother.

The apostle Paul had been faithful to his calling of preaching the gospel to the known world in his day. He now finds himself under house arrest by the Roman government and knows his time is coming to an end. Many walled with him in the ministry, and now, like it or not, someone has to pick up the torch and carry on the gospel's ministry.

This letter to Timothy was to encourage him in his new leadership role. People would now come to him for the answers to life and godliness, helping them find God. Paul had big shoes to fill. We all have a similar role to lead others in the ways of God and back to Him.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

It's terrifying when you are responsible for leading others. When you lead from a place of fear, you react to circumstances around you. Fear is a defense mechanism.

This letter was both an encouragement and a challenge in Timothy's new role. The principles of leadership apply to all of us, whether you are a single mom leading your kids, or a CEO leading a company (CEO would be easier).

Scripture: Defining the Passage

In Chapter one, Paul reassures Timothy of his calling and the necessity for his leadership in the gospel. Timothy’s leaders were his grandmother and his mother.

2 Timothy 1:5–7 ESV

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

I want us to look closer at these three attributes give to us by the Spirit to lead well.

Leading from Power

As children of God and ambassadors of His Kingdom, we lead from a position of power.

Say this with me:

“I am a child of God.”

“I am an ambassador of the kingdom of God.”

“I have authority in the name of Jesus.”

Matthew 28:18–19 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

If you're going to lead in power, you must claim the position.

We carry the weight and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We have the power of the gospel to change lives.

"The gospel is the power of God to reconcile all things back to Himself."

2 Timothy 1:8 ESV

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

We lead through the power of Christ and not our own.

2 Timothy 1:9–10 ESV

9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,

Ways to Lead in Authority:

Lead with the Authority of God Word.

Lead with the Authority of God's will.

Leading from Love

Leading through love demands sacrifice and suffering for the sake of others.

2 Timothy 1:11–12 ESV

11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

Love is the pattern of Leadership from Christ.

1 John 4:10–11 ESV

10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Ways to lead in love:

Lead by serving those around you.

Lead for the betterment of the whole and not yourself.

Leading from Self-control

Self Control is a fruit of the Spirit in your life

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Self Control reveals your ability to lead yourself.

1 Corinthians 9:25–27 ESV

25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

“Your character always determines your capacity to lead.”

Ways to lead in self-control:

Live in the pattern of God's Word.

2 Timothy 1:13 ESV

13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Yield to the Holy Spirit in righteousness.

2 Timothy 1:14 ESV

14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.