Practical Ecclesiology (8)

Leadership in The Church

What are the benefits of having an Easter play?

Some people don’t want come to a formalized church service they would prefer to come to a play. So your reach is extended.

Its a body building exercise.

the leadership can invest in the body.

Other body member's could invest in each other.

It promotes unity .

3. Many souls could be won to Christ.

So we officially had our first ordination this sunday. It was quite the experience.

Joy erupted in the church.

Confidence was heightened in the church and those who got ordained.

As soon as the ordination was done the Pastor and the deacons started opporating in there calling it was great.

Leadership in the Bible is framed within the overarching context of divine sovereignty.

In others words theres no leadership thats not delegated by God.

In this context Gods leadership is not just over the church.

Rather , all human government is apart of Gods divine leadership. The sovereignty of God is over the leadership of this world.

Here are verses that prove my point.

Col 2:10 “and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”

Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

Just as a the farmer directs water by digging canals. So the Lord directs the hearts of Kings.

Men like Jay Z believe that Gods isn't sovereign. Jay Z said in one of his lyrics. “ Life starts when the church ends” qouted that verse as if to say God isn’t sovereign outside of the church.

Phil 2:9-10 “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,”

Eph 1:20-21 “which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.”

The sovereignty of Christ is above the worlds institutions.

Thats why the gates of hell cannot prevail over the church because its an institution given by God.

Jesus told Pilate

John 19:11 “Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.””

The promotions of leaders is the prerogative from God and God alone.

Psalm 75:6-7 “For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.”

Talk to your neighbor about the verse. Give examples in the scriptures where this verse is a reality.

Did you notice how this verse didn’t mention the north.

God put down Saul and Exalted David

God’s desire is that the world would be governed by people Gen 1:28 “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.””

God could easily run the world without human beings just Himself. Or with angelic beings. But His desire is to have delegated leadership from man here on earth.

Ultimately those in leadership are held accountable before God

- Luke 12:48 “But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”

- Hebrews 13:17 “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

when human leaders resist God’s directing, he variously uses his prophets (Hag. 2:20–23), the leaders of foreign nations (2 Chr. 36:15–17; Is. 45:1), and even natural disasters (Exod. 7:4) to instruct them, to judge them or to impose his sovereign will on them.

He uses Prophets

- Hag. 2:20-23 “And again the word of the Lord came to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, saying, “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying: ‘I will shake heaven and earth. I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms; I will destroy the strength of the Gentile kingdoms. I will overthrow the chariots And those who ride in them; The horses and their riders shall come down, Every one by the sword of his brother. ‘In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the Lord, ‘and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

Haggai was to tell Zerubbabel about earth quakes that where to come. The earthquake motif speaks about divine judgement. And also God’s judgement on the gentile world.

God used these prophets to exercise judgement on these leaders.

The leaders of foreign nations.

- 2 Chr. 36:15-17 “And the Lord God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy. Therefore He brought against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or virgin, on the aged or the weak; He gave them all into his hand.”

- Isaiah 45:1 ““Thus says the Lord to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held— To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut:”

And natural disasters

- Ex. 7:4 “But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.”

Similarly those who are under leadership must submit to that authority.

Because if God placed the authority ultimately we are not submitting just to people or a structure but we are submitting to God.

Before I can submit to leadership I must first submit to God.

James 4:7 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Some people submitting comes naturally. They actually look for people to submit to.

They look for strong leadership. They look for very persuasive people to come under. Boarder line manipulative.

I was talking to one young lady who just came out of very strong and damaging leadership. And she didn’t know what to do now that she wasn’t apart of that kind of leadership.

People don’t like to think with God they won’t someone else to do the thinking for them.

The problem with the person that is to submissive to people is that another persons voice could trump the voice of God in there lives.

Like I’m to submissive so what ever this person says I’m gonna yield to it.

But when a very submissive person gets hurt they become suspicious of every leader. Even good leaders.

As a leader you have to recognize that so you wont indirectly mishandle people.

Many of the principles which characterize biblical leadership are timeless. They surface frequently and remain foundational in widely differing contexts in both OT and NT.

But throughout the OT, NT God’s overarching leadership is rejected by Gods people. And they usually want to adopt worldly leadership.

We see that with Israel as they wanted a King so they could be like other nations. 1 Sam. 8:7-8

You see when Jesus comes along they rejected Him as there leader. Theres always an attack against godly leadership. 1 Cor 2:8

Thats why throughout church history the leadership changes to try to fit the mold of how people see leadership which is quite dangerous.

Leaders are afraid to express core Biblical truth for the fear of offending someone.

Not only are the principles of godly leadership are rejected the kinds of people God uses to be leaders are not the rejected.

Godly leaders don’t necessarily fit in the mode of wordly leaders.

Moses, lacked eloquence ( Exod. 3:9-4:16) . The world says you have to be fluent persuasive, for power and motivational speaker.

Gideon was hiding in fear and cowardice. Timothy same way. Elija 1 King 19 fear in hiding and suicidal . But yet these are the people God used.

Principles for Godly leadership

Godly leadership is a gift that derives from God. Because its a gift we have no room to boast .

- 1 Cor 1:26-31 “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.””

- 1 Cor 3:21 “Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours:” , 4:6-7

- Romans 12:8 “he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

- 1 Cor 12:28 “And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.”

On occasions the gift of leadership was recongized by laying on of hands.( Acts 6:5, 1 Tim 4:14, 5:22 )

2. A godly leader has the desire to continually seek and respond to the revealed will of God.

1 Sam 13:14 “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.””

Imagine you’re in a position of church leadership. and God reveals to you that you are not seeking His heart for His people. And He raising someone else up to take your place.

Secular leadership is drive , ambition, and knowledge.

Godly leadership, is humility , trust, and prayer and a life in the word.

3. Godly leadership are teachers and communicators of the will of God. So they are not only seekers of Gods will but communicators.

The priest in the OT where called to teach the law Lev. 10:11, 2 Chr. 15:3, Ezra 7:10 “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.”

Jesus was a teacher Mark 1:22 “And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

John 13:13 “You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.”

4. A godly leader is one whose lift stye provides an example for others to emulate.

Jesus calling the disciples saying “ Follow me” They wanted to emulate His life.

Matt 9:9 “As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.”

Matt 4:18-25, 8:18-23

Godly leaders are to imitate Christ . 1 Cor. 4:16 “Therefore I urge you, imitate me.”

Acts 20:19-35, 1 Cor 11:1, Eph 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.” Phil 3:17 “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.”

Pauls told timothy to emulate himself. 2 Tim 3:10-17

Hall fame of faith Hebrews 11:4-40

5. Godly leader is one of humble service ( Luke 22:26-27 “But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.”

Acts 20:19 “serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;”

World leadership is self exaltation Ex. 10:3 “So Moses and Aaron came in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me.”

1 Peter 5:3 “nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;”

This is not only humility is relation to God but also humility to those who are being served. Matt 21:5 ““Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”” 2 Cor 12:2 “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven.”