Leadership is validated by its fruit

One television program that I love to watch with my family is on the Food Network. It begins with a restaurant owner who has been experiencing unexplained losses in revenue, declining employee morale, or some other negative phenomena. So, the owner brings in the show's host to plant hidden cameras in the restaurant. As they sit in the private control room and watch the monitors, they are able to determine who and what the problem is.

As I try to develop three leaders of my own, I typically will talk my three boys through the show. One thing I want to make clear to them: The employees who are problematic that are being watched on the hidden cameras typically aren't the ultimate problem. The real problem is often the person sitting in the chair watching the monitors who calls himself/herself the leader!

It is typically because of their poor leadership that the work culture they are spying on exists. They sit in condemnation and with growing contempt for what they created (or at least allowed to grow by their incompetent leadership).

It is certainly not true in every case. That's why this is a 'general' truth.

Some parents do a wonderful job raising their children. Yet, their children leave home and decide to reject most if not all that they were taught.

Some bosses do a fantastic job and yet they end up with a knuckle-headed employee or two.

Some competent pastors have a heart and head to lead their congregations who are content to bicker or simply refuse to follow that leadership.

Yet, the general leadership principle is this: Given enough time, the leader is ultimately the one responsible for the atmosphere of the organization / church / family / etc.

This truth is illustrated in Numbers 16-17. In Numbers 16, the people of Israel complained (yet again!) about their leaders. So, God created a situation in which his approval of Aaron was obvious.

Numbers 17:1-5 (New Living Translation)

"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Tell the people of Israel to bring you twelve wooden staffs, one from each leader of Israel's ancestral tribes, and inscribe each leader's name on his staff. Inscribe Aaron's name on the staff of the tribe of Levi, for there must be one staff for the leader of each ancestral tribe. Place these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark containing the tablets of the Covenant, where I meet with you. Buds will sprout on the staff belonging to the man I choose. Then I will finally put an end to the people's murmuring and complaining against you.'"

After the staffs had been left in the Lord's presence all night, we read the following:

Numbers 17:8 (New Living Translation)

"When he went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron's staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds!"

What separated Aaron's staff from the rest? Fruit! Aaron's staff miraculously produced fruit while the other staffs produced nothing at all (which is exactly what we would have expected from a dead staff).

The tell-tell sign of leadership is what we produce (or what God produces through or for us).

Some hear this principle and resent it. They look at who/what they are leading and don't like what they see so they want to outright reject this leadership principle.

Yet, if we embrace this principle, it gives us hope! As leaders, we have the ability to greatly influence the culture of those we lead. So, let's get busy! There's work to do!

Leaders are lightning rods

Leadership isn't for cowards. If you are someone who craves people's affirmation, doesn't like conflict and can't bear to put yourself in a position where you could be attacked, leadership isn't for you.

Why?

Because Jesus-followers who recognize that they are people of influence are also people of the Word. They enjoy digging into their Bibles to develop a mind that sees "right" and "wrong" as God sees it. They come to have a clearer view of what God approves of and what ticks Him off.

As long as we keep that standard to ourselves and try to live accordingly, ridicule may only occur periodically. But, try to influence others and call them to live according to that standard and watch out! Lightning will strike and you will be the lightning rod.

John the Baptist was such a man. He knew God's Word. He understand the moral code that God expected each of us to comply with. He also knew that the governmental leader, Herod, had grossly strayed from that standard. So, John exerted his influence and spoke out against it.

Mark 6:17-18 (New Living Translation)

"For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip's wife, but Herod had married her. John had been telling Herod, 'It is against God's law for you to marry your brother's wife.'"

As expected, when a person of influence speaks up and calls people to conform to the truth, it typically isn't well received. People don't like acknowledging that they are wrong.

So, rather than make the necessary adjustments to conform to truth, the guilty parties attacked the spiritual leader.

Mark 6:22-28 (New Living Translation)

"Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. 'Ask me for anything you like,' the king said to the girl, 'and I will give it to you.' He even vowed, 'I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!'"

"She went out and asked her mother, 'What should I ask for?'"

"Her mother told her, 'Ask for the head of John the Baptist!'"

"So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, 'I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!'"

"Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn't refuse her. So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John's head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother."

Leadership isn't for cowards. Standing for what is right may be the very thing that puts you at odds with people who could make your life miserable.

But, while a person of influence doesn’t intentionally go looking for trouble, they will not keep silent to avoid trouble. They love others and they love truth enough to stand up and call people to conform to what is right and true and brings the greatest good.

For the Christian, they find satisfaction in knowing that one day the Lord will make things right. Injustice may take place here and godly leaders may get lambasted for standing for what is right.

But there is coming a day when we will stand before our Master (who was crucified for standing for truth). Regardless of what we've had to endure in this life, it will all seem a distant memory when we hear our incredible Lord say "Well done! Well done!" as He applauds our entrance into His Kingdom.

Stay strong! Get into God's Word and live it! Love others enough to encourage them to comply with it! Be a godly person of influence today!

If You're the Leader, Be the Leader!

Bad things happen when a leader doesn't fully fill his/her role. When a parent fails to lead and lets their young children call the shots, trouble is on the horizon. When a boss allows his/her employees to dictate to them how the business should be run or when a pastor fails to see his role as the leader who points the way, success will more than likely become a thing of the past.

Pure and simple, nature abhors a vacuum. If the leader doesn't fill his/her role as the person of influence, someone else (maybe much less competent) will fill the role. Bad things will soon follow.

In Numbers 13, we read that God told Moses to choose 12 men to spy out the Promised Land. The Israelites would soon be claiming God's promise and they needed information beforehand.

Numbers 13:1-3 (New Living Translation)

"The Lord now said to Moses, 'Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes.' So Moses did as the Lord commanded him…"

Numbers 13:17-20 (New Living Translation)

"Moses gave the men these instructions as he sent them out to explore the land: 'Go north through the Negev into the hill country. See what the land is like, and find out whether the people living there are strong or weak, few or many. See what kind of land they live in. Is it good or bad? Do their towns have walls, or are they unprotected like open camps? Is the soil fertile or poor? Are there many trees? Do your best to bring back samples of the crops you see.' (It happened to be the season for harvesting the first ripe grapes.)"

This is a vital step in leadership. Before making a big move, information needs to be gathered. God wanted Moses and the Israelites to know what was ahead of them.

The fact that the Promised Land was more incredible than they imagined would inspire and motivate them to take it. The fact that the people who resided in that land were strong and deeply entrenched would cause the Israelites to depend upon their God for the victory. This would be good information to have!

The problem wasn't that the 12 spies were sent to gather information. The problem arose in how they were allowed to report their findings.

Numbers 13:25-26 (New Living Translation)

"After exploring the land for forty days, the men returned to Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel at Kadesh in the wilderness of Paran. They reported to the whole community what they had seen and showed them the fruit they had taken from the land."

Did you get that? They didn't simply report back to their leader, Moses. They were given the full audience of the people of Israel. Moses probably assumed a lot and assumed these were men who would inspire the Israelites. But, he made a faulty assumption, shirked his leadership responsibilities, and allowed 10 of these 12 men to instill fear and doubt into the Israelites.

(Joshua, Moses' predecessor, learned this lesson. He sent out spies to explore Jericho but he did so secretly [Joshua 2:1]. When they returned, they reported to him and only him first [Joshua 2:23-24].)

This is not a 'power-principle.' It's not intended to inflate a leader's ego. This principle simply acknowledges that nature abhors a vacuum. If you are a person of influence and you shirk your responsibilities of leadership, someone will fill the void. There is no guarantee that the one who temporarily takes your place will be competent, compassionate, humble or have any other desirable leadership traits.

You owe it to those who follow your leadership to be the leader!

Leadership and complaining

We know that the Lord hates sin. It is the cancer that destroyed His perfect creation. It is the poison that continues to cause havoc in our world. It is the cross upon which His Son hung dying. He could not be a loving God if He was indifferent to something that has brought so much destruction.

Yet, have you ever wondered if there are some sins that really (I mean REALLY) get under God's skin?

It would seem in my Bible reading this morning (Numbers 9-11) that there is one sin in particular that really ticks God off. It is the sin of complaining and whining.

Numbers 11:1 (New Living Translation)
"Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the Lord heard everything they said. Then the Lord’s anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp."

Numbers 11:10 (New Living Translation)
"Moses heard all the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining, and the Lord became extremely angry. Moses was also very aggravated."

It is clear from this chapter (and many others in the Old Testament) that God can't stand complaining and whining.

So, as we recognize that God is the ultimate Leader and that learning from Him can help us become more effective influencers (leaders), let's ask the question: "What is it about complaining and whining that is so bad?" Pure and simple, complaining and whining is the natural result of a people who are showing their disapproval of the leader or the leader's plans.

If I could draw an analogy, it would be like a leader in the driver's seat with his/her hands on the steering wheel and their foot on the gas pedal while driving down the road to a desirable future. However, someone else in the car (the complainer) keeps engaging the emergency brake! It directly undermines anything/everything the leader is doing.

That much is seen in the following verse...

Numbers 11:20 (New Living Translation)

"...For you have rejected the Lord, who is here among you, and you have whined to him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?"

Complaining and whining, if it is left unaddressed, will undermine anything and everything positive a leader desires to do. It is the cancer that will kill a body. It is the sinkhole that will swallow up a building. A wise leader must address it.

If a leader knows that complaining is a problem among those he/she leads, they would do well to investigate. Maybe there are legitimate problems that the leader needs to address and fix. That is the leader's job. He/she paints the sky that those who follow them fly in. The leader would do well to make sure the sky is as free of hindrances as possible.

Yet, if complaining continues to be a problem, the leader may have to take further measures. A confrontational meeting may be in line. Maybe a replacement will need to be found. A complaining spirit really is a major problem and must be addressed.

Whether you are a pastor, boss, manager, parent or some other person of influence, you must address complaining if it is present.

But ... maybe you are the complainer. Many of us are from time to time. We would all do well to live out the truths of Philippians 4:11-13 (New Living Translation) -

"… for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."

Can a 'sinner' be restored to ministry?

In my sermon yesterday morning at Westside Baptist Church, I pointed out that Christians should stand for truth and righteousness. Yet, we should stand just as resolutely for grace and forgiveness.

Romans 5:20 (New Living Translation)
"God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant."

But, to what extent does this grace extend? We agree that God can forgive anyone who confesses their sin and repents (turns from it with the intention of not doing it again).

But, can such a person be restored? Must they always wear the 'scarlet letter'?

Some Christians and churches remember sins that folks committed years ago and, even though that sin has been confessed and repented of, that person struggles to find their way back into places of service and leadership within the church.

Most certainly a consequence of sin is that while we can be forgiven we may always wear the mark. Yet, that doesn't mean that we cannot be restored to service.

It is doubtful that you could commit a greater offense than outright denying your relationship with Jesus ... in fact, deny it so effectively that you utter curses to seal the deal. (You can read the account of Peter's denial in Matthew 26:69-75).

After Jesus crucifixion and resurrection, He revealed Himself to His disciples to show that He had really come back from the dead. In fact, we read in John 21:1 - "After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples..." So, the disciples didn't just see Jesus once. He visited with them on a few occasions.

In John 21:3, we see a defeated Apostle Peter. He had denied Jesus. Jesus had been crucified. Peter had seen Jesus a couple of times after His resurrection. And Peter said, "I am going fishing."

Why?

Probably because he was riddled with guilt. He knew that he had denied Jesus. Jesus had invested 3 years of teaching and training into Peter and Peter had blown it. He suspected Jesus would forgive him but as far as doing ministry for Jesus as planned, forget it! That plan was toast. Peter had blown it and there was just no way on earth that Jesus was going to stay with the initial plan of using Peter for great things ... or so Peter thought.

The third time Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples with Peter in the midst (John 21:14), Jesus looked at Peter. He knew that Peter was broken over the fact that he had rejected Jesus not just once but three times. Peter had wept bitterly, after all (Matthew 26:75). Peter had learned his lesson. He wouldn't do it again.

So, Jesus directed his attention away from the group of disciples and spoke directly to Peter as the others watched in silence. Jesus not only made it clear that Peter had been forgiven. He wanted Peter to know that 'Plan A' was still activated. Peter was going to be restored to ministry.

John 21:15-17 (New Living Translation)

After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?'
'Yes, Lord,' Peter replied, 'you know I love you.'
'Then feed my lambs,' Jesus told him.
Jesus repeated the question: 'Simon son of John, do you love me?'
'Yes, Lord,' Peter said, 'you know I love you.'
'Then take care of my sheep,' Jesus said.
A third time he asked him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?'
Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, 'Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.'
Jesus said, 'Then feed my sheep.'

Can someone be forgiven of major sin if they are broken over what they have done, confess that sin to the Lord and repent of it (and, if appropriate & necessary, make it right with whoever they have wronged)? Yes! A thousand times 'Yes'!

Can that person be restored to service and even positions of leadership within the church and God's Kingdom if they have turned from that sin? Jesus' words to Peter answer that question.

Sermon (video): "You'll Never Guess What God Gave to Me!" (Ephesians 1:11-12)

There's more to being a child of God than simply going to Heaven when we die. From the moment we get saved, we are "in Christ." Because our identity becomes tied up in Jesus, we are free to inherit and enjoy unspeakable blessings both now and in eternity.

The only natural and appropriate response to all that God has done for us is to praise Him.

(This sermon was preached on February 16, 2014 and can be accessed by clicking here.)

For previous sermons in this series, simply click on the titles/texts below:

"God Redeemed Me" (Ephesians 1:7-10)

"God Chose Me" (Ephesians 1:3-6)

"Who I Am in Christ" (Ephesians 1:1-2)

Leadership and making expectations clear

Have you ever gotten upset at those you lead for not doing something ... that you never asked them to do? We all have.

It is absolutely essential that as we lead others (parents leading their children, bosses leading their employees, pastors leading his congregation, volunteers leading other volunteers, etc.) that we make it clear beforehand what the responsibilities and expectations are. Be very specific and detailed in your explanation.

If we do a good job clarifying our expectations at the beginning, the odds increase greatly that things will go as planned. If we skip that step (or do it poorly), frustration and failure are probably imminent.

As I read through my Bible this morning, I saw this leadership principle clearly illustrated in Number 3-4. Here are some of the headings that were placed over the verses in this section:

"Levites appointed for service"

"Registration of the Levites"

"Redeeming the Firstborn Sons"

"Duties of the Kohathite Clan"

"Duties of the Gershonite Clan"

"Duties of the Merarite Clan"

"Summary of the Registration"

Ordinarily, I may have quickly read through these chapters and thought, "That's boring because it doesn't seem relevant to me."

Yet, when I asked the Holy Spirit to allow me to hear what God was speaking to me in these chapters and then fully engaged my mind in my reading, I saw it! This chapter shows God being the ultimate Leader. He is leaving no room for ambiguity. He is making His expectations clear and is very specific in how things should be done.

This is a necessary component of leadership. If you want the folks you influence to do something with success being the ultimate outcome, then be absolutely clear in your expectations. Be very specific and detailed in how things should happen.

Don't get upset at folks for not doing what you didn't ask them to do.

Leadership isn't a popularity contest

“You can please some of the people some of the time,

all of the people some of the time,

some of the people all of the time,

but you can never please all of the people all of the time.”

- Abraham Lincoln

A person of influence who has a constant need for everyone's affirmation will have nothing but stress and heartache. A parent, pastor, boss, or any other leader who must have the incessant approval of those they influence will undermine so many of their efforts.

Why?

Because there will always be folks who don't like something you are doing or calling them to do. A child doesn't like to hear their parent say, "Clean your room." An employee may have their own ideas of how something should be done and they will disagree with how their boss tells them to do it. On and on we could go. Actions that are necessary but unpopular will simply go undone if the leader lacks courage.

But, if you are a person of influence who is motivated by a love for those you lead and a love for the organization you are a part of, then you must do the right thing even though it may get folks upset.

A parent's primary goal in life isn't to get the approval of their children. It's to develop mature, godly adults who (among other things) know how to clean up after themselves. Craving their approval at all costs will undermine their attempts to reach that goal.

A boss' primary goal in life isn't to get the approval of his/her employees. It's to focus on making his/her employees better people while accomplishing a task necessary for the viability of the business. Craving their approval at all costs will undermine their attempts to reach that goal.

A pastor's primary goal in life isn't to get the approval of his congregation. It's to develop mature followers of Jesus who are getting fit for here and Heaven. He must confront sin and spur others on to holiness and service even though it may not be popular. Craving their approval at all costs will undermine their attempts to reach that goal.

One thing to keep in mind, though: Leaders will not always be right. There will be times when you need to apologize for being wrong or for not listening to the wise counsel of those you lead. There will be times when you need to acknowledge that you didn't lead with compassion and hurt people in the process. Never be too proud to apologize but, at the same time, never be too cowardly to lead even though it may be unpopular.

There was a time when Jesus experienced this very thing. He was confronted with whether or not to do the right thing and heal a man. He knew that if He did, it would get some very influential folks angry. He did it anyway.

Mark 3:1-6 (New Living Translation)

"Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand. Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus' enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man's hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath."

"Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, 'Come and stand in front of everyone.' Then he turned to his critics and asked, 'Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?' But they wouldn't answer him."

"He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, 'Hold out your hand.' So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus."

Leadership isn't for cowards. I suspect that's why God sends leaders through very trying times. Sometimes, it seems that they have more trials in life than most. Could it be that God needs to toughen up leaders so that they develop the strength of character and courage to lead His people to accomplish great things?

Christian leadership and the company we keep

Yes, our parents were right when they told us to be very careful who we befriended. They warned us that if we mingled with the wrong crowd, we might become like those we spent time with.

The Bible says as much:

Proverbs 13:20 (New Living Translation)
"Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble."

1 Corinthians 5:9 (New Living Translation)
"When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin."

Yet, while the reference in Proverbs is a general rule and the verse in 1 Corinthians only applies in certain contexts (see 1 Corinthians 5:9-13), a Christian simply cannot and should not completely avoid sinful company. (Remember, doing so would mean we couldn't even associate with ourselves. We are sinners, too.)

Why?

Because we have been called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16)! That means we will be a formidable force for good in our communities and world. As salt, we will strive to hold back moral decay. As light, we will strive to push back moral darkness. 

Essentially, we have been called to influence our culture for good and God's glory (yes, that means we are called to be leaders). And to do that, we must spend time with those we desire to influence.

But, let me tell you something else: It is an unfortunate truth that the first people to condemn you for being in close proximity to "sinners" will be self-righteous, religious folks. Many of them will condemn you even though your intent is to be with the unsaved so you can influence them for good.

The religious folks did it to Jesus. They'll do it to you.

Mark 2:13-17 (New Living Translation)

"Then Jesus went out to the lakeshore again and taught the crowds that were coming to him. As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. 'Follow me and be my disciple,' Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him."
"Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus' followers.) But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, 'Why does he eat with such scum?'"
"When Jesus heard this, he told them, 'Healthy people don't need a doctor - sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.'"

As a Christian who is called to influence your culture for Jesus, you need to surround yourself with godly relationships (not "religious" folks but folks who are genuinely sold out for Jesus). You will need those relationships to encourage you when life gets tough. You'll need those folks to lovingly confront you if you wander into sin.

Yet, you cannot limit yourself to "church folks." If you are to be the person of influence that God has called you to be then you must spend time with "sinners." People will ridicule you but that's just part of being an obedient follower of Jesus. 

Whoever said that it would be easy to be a Jesus-following person of influence … has never actually done it.

Leadership and egotism

If people in positions of influence aren't careful, they will lead to satisfy the cravings of their ego.

They crave to feel important. They want to be liked and admired. They suspect that if they can get enough affirmation from others, then that will satisfy the longings deep inside their heart.

That's why they lead. That's why they find it difficult to tell someone, "No, can't do it. Sorry." That's why they silently resent the pressures and demands of leadership but they do it anyway. Leadership, to them, is a drug that promises to satisfy their inner longing for significance. (It rarely does!)

Incidentally, many folks who claim to be followers of Jesus don't cultivate a vibrant relationship with Him. The consequence of this neglect is a deep cavernous hole in their heart that longs to be filled. Thus, the need for ceaseless affirmation, admiration, etc.

A leader does everyone around him/her an incredible favor by pursuing a relationship with Jesus and filling up that 'Grand Canyon' in their heart so that they lead for the right reasons - to develop people and not to satisfy that inner longing.

It is obvious from Jesus' example that He wasn't debilitated by cravings for other's affirmation. In fact, there were times when people were calling for Him to do things that would have brought upon Him more praise. His answer? "Sorry. Can't do it. I've got other areas I need to focus on." (And don't miss the fact that He illustrated for us that inner security comes from developing our relationship with God through a vibrant prayer life.)

Mark 1:35-39 (New Living Translation)

"Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Later Simon and the others went out to find him. When they found him, they said, 'Everyone is looking for you.' But Jesus replied, 'We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.' So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons."

This mindset is a sign of a spiritually mature leader!

Leadership and people-development

A parent doesn't just care for the physical needs of their children. If they are truly influencing (leading) their children, they have a goal in mind. They want their child to grow up to be mature in every way. They want their child to be an incredible tool in the hands of a Mighty God to impact their culture for good. They see their child as one of the next generation's leaders and they parent accordingly.

A boss who is a true leader has the same mindset. When they look at those who are under their authority, they don't see them as simply a bunch of folks hired to get a job done. The see them as men and women who desire to live lives that matter. They crave happiness. They want to be proud of themselves and what they are a part of. So, the competent, caring boss focuses on not only getting the job done - he/she also focuses on helping their workforce achieve many of the things they crave through training, creative encouragement, celebrating victories, etc.

Leadership isn't about simply getting a job done. It's about people-development.

This is the way Jesus saw leadership. As He walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee one day, He was looking for men to follow His leadership. But, He wasn't going to just order these new recruits around. He promised a trade-off: If they followed Him, He would develop them into men who knew how to call people into a relationship with God and influence others.

Mark 1:16-18 (New Living Translation)

"One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, 'Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!' And they left their nets at once and followed him."

Who do you influence? Do you just order them around or do you see that it is your job to develop them into better people than they are now? Ideally, those under your authority should like what they are becoming while following you.

Remember, life is short. We aren't here just to get mundane tasks accomplished … as important as they may be. It's all about relationships and helping others get fit for here and Heaven.

Leadership and sharing the Gospel

As the Gospel of Matthew comes to an end, Jesus commanded His followers to be leaders. These few verses are often called "The Great Commission" but they are also a call to be people of influence.

Matthew 28:18 (New Living Translation)

"Jesus came and told his disciples, 'I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.'"

Before Jesus gave some of His final instructions to His followers, He reminded them of His authority. He was not only an incredible leader - He had a position of supreme authority, too. God the Father gave Jesus the authority to lead in Heaven and on earth. He would, therefore, expect nothing but complete compliance.

If you will look carefully at Jesus' next few words, He calls each of His followers to be people of influence - leaders! He calls us to affect change in people. He wants us to share the truths of the Good News that through Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, folks who repent and believe can be completely forgiven and made right with God.

Matthew 28:19-20 (New Living Translation)

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Look back at the action words in Jesus' instruction. Look at how we are to affect change in others:

"Make disciples" - Share the Gospel with others and call them to repent and believe in Jesus.

"baptize them" - Seal the deal of someone's break with their old life by this public profession of their faith.

"Teach these new disciples" - Continue to teach new converts the truths of God's Word so that they can live their life as followers of Jesus with greater effectiveness.

There is no room for passive Christianity. We are called to be leaders - people who influence others. Leaders point the way to something better and invite people to join them.

Is there someone who you need to "lead" to the Lord? Why not pray for an opportunity and take advantage of it when God sends it your way.

Leadership isn't for cowards!

As I continue to look at God's Word with leadership lenses, I couldn't help but realize that in the story I read this morning (Matthew 27) where Jesus is falsely accused and sentenced to death, that God placed two leaders side-by-side for a study in contrast.

- Pilate: the cowardly leader

- Jesus: the silent but courageous leader

As Pilate began to question Jesus, knowing this ordeal could end in Jesus' death, Pilate was shocked that Jesus didn't speak against the accusations. Jesus wasn't consumed with self-preservation as Pilate was:

Matthew 27:12-14 (New Living Translation)

"But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. 'Don't you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?' Pilate demanded. But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor's surprise.'"

Two leaders with two very different motivations. Pilate was fully engaged in self-preservation mode. He was going to protect himself at all costs, even if it meant violating his conscience. 

Yet, Jesus remained confident because His highest priority was not self-preservation. He was intent on carrying out the Father's will - doing the right thing. If it meant that He would have great harm brought upon Him as a result, then so be it.

Only the most uninformed would try to excuse Pilate for shirking his leadership responsibilities. The text clearly tells us that Pilate accurately assessed what was taking place. He knew that Jesus had done no wrong:

Matthew 27:18 (New Living Translation)

"(He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.)"

So, Pilate was the positional leader in this situation. Folks had come to him for his council. He knew that an innocent man stood before him. Yet, since his mind was fully locked into self-preservation mode, he was about to do the cowardly thing, violate his conscience, and send an innocent man to his death. 

Pilate would have reasoned: "Even though he is innocent, it is better for Jesus to die than for me to lose my job and be reprimanded by Rome!"

Rather than use his position of leadership to speak decisively against an injustice, he showed his cowardice and looked for a way out. 

If you'll notice in these next verses, he was shirking his leadership responsibilities. Rather than standing courageous to resist a groundswell of injustice, he continued to entrust the final decision to the people. He was a coward indeed!

Matthew 27:20-24 (New Living Translation)

"Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. So the governor asked again, 'Which of these two do you want me to release to you?'"

"The crowd shouted back, 'Barabbas!'"

"Pilate responded, 'Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?'"

"They shouted back, 'Crucify him!'"

"'Why?' Pilate demanded. 'What crime has he committed?'"

"But the mob roared even louder, 'Crucify him!'"

"Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!'"

Can you believe those last few words! "The responsibility is yours!"? 

Pilate was a coward. He cared more about himself than justice. He cared more about his position of authority than what that position of authority stood for. So, he cowardly shirked his responsibilities and allowed a grave injustice to take place! But, at least he got to keep his job.

So, let's quickly bring this home: what kind of leader are you? As a parent, a boss, a pastor, a student who can influence your peers, etc., are you a leader who is courageous and stands for truth and justice even though it may cause you harm? Or, are you gripped by the motivation of self-preservation that debilitates you and keeps you from doing the right thing?

Refuse to be like cowardly Pilate! Stand for truth and justice! Trust God with the rest.

Leadership and bullies

I was walking on holy ground this morning. As I read through Matthew 26, I was brought into the events that led up to Jesus' arrest and crucifixion. I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with grief even though I've read this story so many times before.

It seemed amazing to me that only hours before His life would be extinguished, Jesus showed that His focus was not upon Himself but upon others.

His selfless attitude showed up beautifully when He found Himself in a room full of bullies. An unnamed lady came into the room and, because of her profound love for her Messiah, she irreparably broke open a bottle of priceless perfume and anointed Jesus' head with it.

Matthew 26:6-7 (New Living Translation)

"Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had previously had leprosy. While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head."

But, instead of being praised for this action, this woman was shamed in front of everyone. There seems to be no way to read these guys' comments and come to the conclusion that they were trying to be tactful. Pure and simple, they were being mean bullies!

Matthew 26:8-9 (New Living Translation)

"The disciples were indignant when they saw this. 'What a waste!' they said. 'It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.'"

So, we see that there is a woman who has a great heart who performed a selfless act. What does she get for it? She gets lambasted by self-righteous folks who aren't afraid to ridicule her publicly. As a result, this woman may have started to gather her things and leave in shame.

I wonder if she may have thought: "I only wanted to show Jesus how much His followers adore Him. I wanted to offer Him a gift worthy of Him and His own followers scorned me for it. Rather than put Jesus into an awkward situation where He has to pick sides, I'll just leave and try to pretend this never happened."

This whole thing wasn't right! If the story had ended at this point, it would have been sad indeed. 

But, Jesus being the incredible leader (person of influence) that He was, could not let this story end here. This woman was hurt by the comments. The bullies needed to be chastised.

So, He did what good leaders do … they step in so that things can be made right. They take advantage of teaching moments. They stand up for those who cannot stand for themselves. And, because they care for others (even bullies), they correct them so that they won't do it again.

Matthew 26:10-13 (New Living Translation)

"But Jesus, aware of this, replied, “Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me. She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.'"

A true leader isn't going to remain silent when someone is being bullied. Whether you are a co-worker, a parent, a student or whomever, if you see someone being mistreated, you need to prayerfully think about how God would have to step in and be a leader to make things right.

Leadership and starting new projects

One lesson a leader must learn if he/she is to lead a successful organization is this: When a new program is set to begin: 1) the leader must see to it that everyone understands how things should happen, 2) adequate training should take place, and 3) complete compliance from the team is expected.

(Remember, a leader is anyone who is able to influence other people's thinking or behavior. It can be a boss, a pastor, a parent, a student, etc. If you are able to affect other's behavior when you speak, you're a leader!)

Throughout the life cycle of a leader, he/she will determine (maybe in conjunction with a team) that a new project/ministry needs to be started. If that project is to have any chance of success, there will be no room for mavericks. When the competent leader makes it clear what needs to happen, compliance is expected. If someone refuses to comply, then that matter needs to be dealt with decisively.

Why is this so important? Because new projects/ministries are fragile. Any number of possible scenarios could play out and destroy the viability of something that could have been extremely successful. Something that could benefit so many could be quickly destroyed by one person!

So, to protect the new program, the leader needs to make sure that everyone understands what is expected, everyone is trained and complete compliance is the only option.

This principle is illustrated in a story I read this morning. God had been very clear in regard to how worship among the Israelites was to take place. The instruction manual is provided in great detail in the first 5 books of the Bible. So, when Aaron's sons (who were probably drunk! - Leviticus 10:8-9) went against the clear instruction of the Lord, God took them out.

Leviticus 10:1-2 (New Living Translation)

"Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the Lord by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. So fire blazed forth from the Lord's presence and burned them up, and they died there before the Lord."

If you are a leader, don't try the "blazing fire" thing! If someone is undermining a new project, you may need to sit down with those under your influence to find out why. Maybe you weren't clear in your expectations. Maybe proper training didn't take place. But, if you simply have someone who refuses to comply, you may need to find a replacement.

Grandpa Ellis (January 31, 1927 - February 2, 2014)

Grandpa & Grandma Ellis (July 8, 1996)

Family and friends gathered yesterday to celebrate the life and honor the memory of my Grandpa Ellis. The occasion wasn't as sad as I had thought it would be. 

I suspect that was due to: 1) my Grandpa's physical and mental health had deteriorated considerably, 2) the fact that he made it clear that he missed his wife (and my Grandma) who passed away about 4 years ago, and 3) the personal assurance that He was with the Lord in Heaven. By God's grace, there is comfort to be had in the death of a believer.

So, it wasn't so much the thought that I would not enjoy Grandpa's physical presence anymore that bothered me. It was the fact that the body lying in the casket had belonged to the man who made so many wonderful memories for me. Those times are gone forever and now remain only in my memory and heart. I hope to never forget them.

Here are some character qualities of Grandpa that made him so special to me:

He was a person of influence.
I'll never forget that when Grandpa was at church, some of the influential men would periodically approach him and ask for his opinion or advice. The fact that he was looked to as a leader was obvious.

Yet, you would have never noticed any evidences of Grandpa's high standing among others by observing his demeanor. He didn't walk with his nose high in the air. He wasn't arrogant. He didn't have the sinful notion that he was better than others. 

He, also, didn't use his influence to bring harm upon others. He cared about people and the organizations of which he was a part. His counsel was sound and pleasing to those who sought it.

Elton Wilson

One of the memories I will always cherish was waking up at Grandpa and Grandma's house on Sunday mornings. The delicious aroma of sausage, biscuits, eggs, and other country breakfast items filled the air. As I made my way to the kitchen to eat, I would typically hear Elton Wilson on the radio preaching and inviting the radio listeners to join him for worship at Bible Baptist Church in a few hours. 

A little later that morning, I would walk into the worship center and see Bro. Wilson and he seemed larger than life. The fact that I had just heard him on the radio and that hundreds of worshipers had showed up to listen to him preach made him seem all the more like a hero to me. 

I didn't realize until yesterday that my Grandpa was the one who submitted Bro. Wilson's name to Bible Baptist Church when they were looking for a pastor. The fact that the church chose this new pastor and kept him for twenty nine years testifies to the fact of my Grandfather's influence and wise counsel.

He was fair.
If my Grandpa spent $20 on one of his grandchildren for Christmas, he was going to spend $20 on every grandchild (not $19.99 or $20.01). Sometimes, it was humorous how meticulous he would get to make certain that he was completely fair with everyone. 

No one could ever justly accuse Grandpa of playing favorites among his grandchildren (or anyone else for that matter). I suppose that the biblical story of Jacob playing favorites with Joseph by giving him the coat of many colors would have left a bitter taste in Grandpa's mouth that would have lasted for days! 

One of the occasions when Kim and I
got to spend time with Grandpa and Grandma Ellis
(July 8, 1996)

He was disciplined.
Among the many words I could use to describe Grandpa, lazy would not be one of them. He was either cleaning up, building, mending, tearing down, or sitting in his recliner thinking about the other projects he would tackle. He always seemed to be busy.

His house wasn't extravagant ... not even close. It was simple but it was always clean and well taken care of. The yard was always cut. The house was neatly painted. The bushes were manicured. The car was washed. On and on I could go. Everything was neat and in order and it was Grandpa's industriousness that kept it that way.

He was a disciplinarian.
If Grandpa ever bit his tongue, you were in serious trouble! I can't remember ever getting a paddling from Grandpa but I knew that he had a clear expectation of how things were to be. The line of 'right' and 'wrong' wasn't fuzzy at all. If you crossed the line, you'd better acknowledge the fault and make the correction.

At the time, I felt that he was a little too harsh. Now, as I look back, I realize that I not only needed clear boundaries; I know that those boundaries also provided comfort. I had a clear understanding of what right and wrong were and if I got in trouble, it was my own fault.

Grandma Ellis with my Great-Grandma Spears

He was caring.
I'll will never forget that Grandpa would often check on some folks who he believed were having a tough time. He cared for his sister Margie. He faithfully took Grandma down to her old home place to care for her mom (my Great-Grandma Spears). When Grandma showed up to do some cleaning and chatting with her mom (it seemed that we usually stayed 2-3 hours), Grandpa would get information on what wasn't working in the house. While Grandma cleaned and visited, Grandpa was hard at work taking care of his mother-in-law's needs. I never heard him complain one single time at any inconvenience this may have posed for him.

I rarely remember a day when I was visiting with Grandpa that he wasn't bringing up the name of someone who needed to be checked on. I also knew that at any moment, Grandpa would provide some last minute instructions to Grandma as he gathered his wallet and keys to head out the door to help someone.

Zach, Sean & Joseph playing checkers with Grandpa
in the nursing home

He was a comedian.
Grandpa never told jokes ... at least I never heard him tell one. Even as a joke was told that had everyone laughing, he would smirk for a little bit before deciding if he was going to laugh. But, when he laughed, you could hear it next door.

But, while he never told jokes, he was something of a jokester. If he knew that by doing something out of character for him that he could get a laugh from others, he'd seriously consider surprising everyone and doing it.

I only saw my Grandpa kiss my Grandma once in my whole life. I remember the occasion vividly. We were visiting with my grandparents and someone came up with the idea of Grandpa giving Grandma a kiss. As they both sat side-by-side on the living room couch, Grandma blushed a little and Grandpa gave a chuckle as he got that look in his eye that said he just may do it. To our shock, after a few more verbal attempts at getting them to kiss, virtually everyone in the room dropped their jaw as Grandpa reaching over to Grandma and giving her a kiss ... On.The.Mouth!!! He knew it would create a reaction among us (not necessarily from Grandma) so he went through with it. We laughed for a long time about that one.


I will sorely miss Grandpa Ellis just as I have missed my Grandma Ellis (click here to read about my reflections of her). I am comforted that they are both with the Lord now. Until that time that I can rejoin them, I will choose to often revisit those special memories with them that line the walls of my mind.