THE CALLING OF SERVANT LEADERS PT.2

8/23/01

 

Matt 20:20-28

20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, brought them to Jesus and respectfully asked a favor. 21 "What is your request?" he asked. She replied, "In your Kingdom, will you let my two sons sit on two thrones next to yours?"

22 But Jesus told her, "You don't know what you are asking!" Then he turned to James and John and asked them, "Are you able to drink from the terrible cup I am about to drink from?" "Yes," they replied, "we are able!" 23 "You shall indeed drink from it," he told them. "But I have no right to say who will sit on the thrones next to mine. Those places are reserved for the persons my Father selects." 24 The other ten disciples were indignant when they heard what James and John had asked for.

25 But Jesus called them together and said, "Among the heathen, kings are tyrants and each minor official lords it over those beneath him. 26 But among you it is quite different. Anyone wanting to be a leader among you must be your servant.

27 And if you want to be right at the top, you must serve like a slave. 28 Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

 

  LET ME BEGIN THIS MORNING BY GIVING YOU A SIMPLE DEFINITION OF LEADERSHIP.  LEADERSHIP IS THE CAPACITY TO INFLUENCE AND INSPIRE SOMEONE TO CHANGE AND MOVE TOWARDS A SPECIFIC GOAL.  LEADERSHIP IS THE CAPACITY TO RALLY, DIRECT, ENCOURAGE, MOTIVATE, INDUCE, MOVE, MOBILIZE AND ACTIVATE OTHERS TO PURSUE A COMMON GOAL OR PURPOSE WHILE MAINTAINING COMMITMENT, MOMENTUM, CONFIDENCE AND COURAGE.  LEADERSHIP IS THE ORGANIZING AND COORDINATING OF RESOURCES, ENERGIES AND RELATIONSHIPS IN A PRODUCTIVE WAY TO BRING ABOUT A COMMON GOAL FOR CHANGE OR REFORM. THE PUREST FORM OF LEADERSHIP IS INFLUENCE THROUGH INSPIRATION.  A LEADER IS ONE WHO DEVELOPS HIMSELF AND BY SO DOING INSPIRES OTHERS TO DO THE SAME. THE PURPOSE FOR LEADERSHIP IS TO INSPIRE EVERY FOLLOWER TO BECOME A LEADER AND FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL. 

 

   IF YOU KNOW CHRIAT AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR THIS MORNING THEN I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE CALLED TO BE A LEADER.  HE MAY CALL YOU TO BE A COACH OF A SOCCER TEAM OR TO GIVE PIANO OR GUITAR LESSONS.  HE MAY CALL YOU AS A CEO OF A COMPANY OR TO TEACH A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS.  I KNOW HE HAS DEFINITELY CALLED EVERYONE OF HIS TO BE AN AMBASSADOR FOR CHRIST AND WE SHOULD ALL LEARN HOW TO LEAD SOMEONE TO CHRIST.  KNOW THIS, IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, YOU ARE DESTINED FOR LEADERSHIP.  GOD IS PREPARING YOU FOR LEADERSHIP.  YOU SEE, ITS NOT A MATTER OF PERSONALITY, CHRISMA, PEDIGREE OR STATUS, IT’S A MATTER OF THE CALLING, GIFTING AND DESIGN OF GOD UPON YOUR LIFE.  LET’S LOOK AT GOD’S DELIBERATE CHOICE IN CALLING INDIVIDUALS TO PLACES OF LEADERSHIP IN HIS KINGDOM.

 

1 Cor 1:26-31

26 Notice among yourselves, dear brothers, that few of you who follow Christ have big names or power or wealth. 27 Instead, God has deliberately chosen to use ideas the world considers foolish and of little worth in order to shame those people considered by the world as wise and great. 28 He has chosen a plan despised by the world, counted as nothing at all, and used

it to bring down to nothing those the world considers great, 29 so that no one anywhere can ever brag in the presence of God. 30 For it is from God alone that you have your life through Christ Jesus. He showed us God's plan of salvation; he was the one who made us acceptable to God; he made us pure and holy and gave himself to purchase our salvation. 31 As it says in the Scriptures, "If anyone is going to boast, let him boast only of what the Lord has done."

 

 THE WORLD’S STYLE OF LEADERSHIP CALLS FOR THE STRONG, CHARAISMATIC, OUTGOING, INDEPENDENT, SELF PROMOTING INDIVIDUAL.  GOD’S STYLE OF LEADERSHIP IS DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSITE.  GOD’S STYLE OF LEADERSHIP CALLS FOR UNSELFISH SERVICE TO OTHERS.  JESUS SAID, IF YOU WANT TO BE GREAT IN GOD’S KINGDOM THEN LEARN TO BE THE SERVANT OF ALL.  THE WORLD’S STANDARD OF LEADERS IS AN OFFENSE TO THE WAYS AND METHODS OF GOD.  GOD USES THE WEAK AND NOT THE STONG.  GOD USES THE POOR AND NOT THE RICH.  GOD USES THE UNIMPORTANT AND NOT THE IMPORTANT.  DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU COULD PERHAPS QUALIFY TO BECOME ONE OF GOD’S LEADERS THIS MORNING.  I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT IF YOU ARE SAVED THEN YOU ARE CALLED TO BECOME A LEADER IN ONE CAPACITY OR ANOTHER.  YOU ARE NOW IN PREPARATION TO BECOME THE LEADER GOD WANTS YOU TO BECOME.  HE’S WORKING TO REFINE YOU AS GOLD AND TO CONFORM YOU INTO THE SERVANT LEADER THAT HIS SON JESUS CHRIST EMPTOMIZED.

 

29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. 30 And when forty years were  xpired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, 32 Saying,  I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. 33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground. 34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt. 35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. 36 He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs  in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.

 

   LET ME REMIND YOU FROM LAST WEEK.  MOSES WAS 40 YEARS IN PREPARATION TO BECOME ISRAEL’S DELIVERER.  HIS FIRST 40 YEARS WERE SPENT IN EGYPT WHERE HE WAS TAUGHT IN THE BEST SCHOOLS BUT THAT WASN’T GOOD ENOUGH FOR GOD.  THE WORLD’S EDUCATION CAN NEVER BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR GOD’S CLASSROOM OF LIFE.  NOW I’M NOT SAYING THAT EDUCATION IS UNIMPORTANT BECAUSE IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.  WE’VE GOT ENOUGH IDIOTS WHO CALL THEMSELVES CHRISTIAN AND ARE AN EMBARASSMENT TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WE DON’T NEED ANY MORE.  BUT WHAT I’M TRYING TO SAY IS THE EDUCATION OF THE WORLD CAN NEVER BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE WISDOM OF GOD, THE METHODOLOGY OF GOD OR THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST DEVELOPED IN US.  YOU SEE, GOD’S NOT JUST INTERESTED IN PERFORMANCE OR GETTING THINGS DONE HE’S INTERESTED IN THE MOTIVE OF YOUR HEART.  THE WORLDS LEADERS ARE MOTIVATED BY THE PURSUIT FOR MONEY AND POWER.  THAT MUST NEVER CHARACTERIZE THE MOTIVES OF GOD’S LEADERS.  THEIR MOTIVE MUST BE ONE OF UNSELFISH SERVICE TO OTHERS.

 

Gen 1:26-28

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that crept upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God

blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

 

   LET ME SAY RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING, GOD’S STYLE OF LEADERSHIP WILL NEVER INVOVLE THE DOMINATION OR MANIPULATION OF  ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.  BY EMPLOYING THE LAW OF FIRST MENTION IN INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE WE CAN SEE CLEARLY THAT GOD GAVE MAN DOMINION OVER THE ANIMALS AND OVER THE SPIRIT WORLD BUT NOT DOMINION OVER MAN.  GOD IS CALLING YOU TO LEADERSHIP FOR MAN, IN YOUR SERVICE TO HIM AND NOT OVER HIM TO DOMINATE HIM THROUGH SOME PROCESS OF ILLIGETIMATE AUTHORITY OR CONTROL.  THAT’S WHY THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHRIST’S CHARACTER IN GODLY LEADERS IS SO VITALLY IMPORTANT.  GOD’S STYLE OF LEADERSHIP IS SERVANT LEADERS. 

 

Col 3:22-24

22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: 23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

 

NOW BEFORE I MAKE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT SERVANT LEADERSHIP LET ME MAKE ONE MORE QUALIFYING POINT.  GOD’S CALL FOR SERVANT LEADERSHIP WILL NEVER CONSTITUTE HUMANITARIN SERVICE.  WE ARE NOT SERVING MAN WE ARE SERVING CHRIST AND MAN IS THE BENEFICIARY OF OUR SERVICE..

 

Matt 20:25-28

25 But Jesus called them together and said, "Among the heathen, kings are tyrants and each minor official lords it over those beneath him. 26 But among you it is quite different. Anyone wanting to be a leader among you must be your servant. 27 And if you want to be right at the top, you must serve like a slave. 28 Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

 

SERVANT-DULOUS

   IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO COMPREHEND THE BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF A SERVANT OR A SLAVE BECAUSE OF OUR WESTERN MENTALITY.  A SERVANT IS NOT SIMPLY A HIRED HAND OR AN EMPLOYEE HIRED TO DO A CERTIAN JOB FOR A CONSIDERATION OF A CERTIAN WAGE OR REWARD.  THE N.T. WORD FOR SERVANT IS DULOUS WHICH MEANS A BONDSLAVE OR A SLAVE.  THERE ARE TWO MAJOR CONSIDERATIONS CONCERNING A DULOUS OR A BONDSERVANT:

 

1 Cor 6:20

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

   1.  A BONDSLAVE IS A BOUGHT SLAVE.  HE DOES NOT   BELONG TO HIMSELF OR EVEN TO HIS OWN LOVED ONES.  HE IS NOT HIS OWN.  HE BELONGS TO HIS MASTER, SOLELY AND COMPLETELY.  THIS IS EXACTLY THE RELATIONSHIP WE CHRISTIANS BEAR TO CHRIST.

 

      AS A CHRISTIAN OUR TALENTS ARE NOT OUR OWN TO DO      WITH AS WE PLEASE.  OUR TIME IS NOT OURS TO SPEND AS WE PLEASE.  OUR SPIRITS ARE HIS.  OUR BODIES ARE HIS.  OUR MIND, EMOTIONS AND INTELLEGENCE ARE  ALL HIS.  ALL WE HAVE, ALL WE ARE AND ALL WE HOLD DEAR, BELONGS TO HIM.  THIS IS ALL IMPLIED IN THE BLOOD-BOUGHT CHILD OF GOD.

 

1 Cor 7:21-23

21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. 22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

 

   2.  AND SECONDLY A SLAVE HAS NO WILL OF HIS OWN, ONLY THAT OF HIS MASTER.  HE IS NOT FREE TO MAKE HIS OWN CHOICES.  HE IS NOT THE DIRECTOR OF HIS OWN LIFE.  HE DOES NOT CHOOSE THE PLACE AND TYPE OF  WORK, HIS MASTER DECIDED FOR HIM.  HE COULD NOT LIVE WHEREVER HE WANTED TO.  HE COULD NOT QUIT WORK AND GO TO BED WHENEVER HE WANTED TO BECAUSE HE WAS NOT A FREE MAN, HE IS A BONDMAN, A BONDSERVANT, A SLAVE.  HIS WHOLE LIFE WAS SUBJECT TO THE WILL OF HIS MASTER.   A DULOUS WAS UNDER THE COMPLETE CONTROL OF A SUPERIOR WHO WOULD EXPECT NOTHING LESS THAN UN-CONDITIONAL OBEDIENCE.  IN FACT THE SLAVE OWED HIS MASTER EXCLUSIVE AND ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE WHETHER HE FELT LIKE IT OR NOT.  HIS WORK EARNED NEITHER PROFIT OR THANKS, HE WAS ONLY DOING WHAT HE OWED AS A BONDSLAVE

 

Luke 17:7-10

7 "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along  now and sit down to eat'? 8 Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was t

old to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"

 

1 Cor 9:19

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

 

      A. THIS IS THE KIND OF SURRENDER AND CONSECRATION THAT THE LORD IS LOOKING FOR IN HIS SERVANT LEADERS TO BE PLANTED IN THE WORLD.  REV. BROOK COMMENTS REGARDING A CHRISTIAN AND THE SURRENDER OF HIS WILL TO GOD:  "IS THIS THE SPIRIT BY WHJICH YOU LIVE?  ARE YOU LIVING IN THE LIGHT OF THIS?  IF ONLY CHRISTIAN MEN AND WOMEN COULD GRASP THIS      VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE!  THERE WOULD BE NO SHORTAGE OF SOUL-WINNERS.  THERE WOULD BE NO LACK OF MISSIONARIES ON FORIEGN LANDS OR WORKERS AT HOME.  THERE WOULD BE NO LACK OF MONEY FOR GOD'S WORK.  THERE WOULD NOT BE ENDLESS JEALOUSIES OR QUARRELINGS AMONG THE SAINTS.  THERE WOULD MORE THAN A MERE HANDFUL AT THE PRAYER MEETING."  WHY?  BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE WALKING IN THE LIGHT OF GOD'S REVEALED WILL FOR THEIR LIVES. WE NEED TO      EXAMINE OUR OWN HEARTS IN LIGHT OF THESE THINGS. AS A CHRISTIAN YOU ARE CALLED TO BE A SERVANT OF THE LORD.

 

John 12:24-26

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

 

      B.  IF YOU REFUSE CHRIST YOU WILL NOT BE FREE FROM SLAVERY BECAUSE ALL MEN OUTSIDE OF CHRIST ARE THE BONDSERVANT OF SIN AND ULTIMATELY THE DEVIL.  ITS BEST FOR EVERY PERSON TO ACCEPT CHRIST AS PERSONAL SAVIOR AND THEN TO BECOME THE BONDSLAVES OF HIS LOVE.  IN MARRIAGE YOU ARE BOUND BY AN OATH TO ONE PERSON AND IT IS SOME      THING VERY POSITIVE BECAUSE MUTUAL LOVE IS THAT WHICH BINDS YOU TOGETHER AND THE SAME IS TRUE BETWEEN THE BELIEVER AND CHRIST. 

 

Matt 20:28

28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

 

MINISTER: 1247

diakoneo (dee-ak-on-eh'-o); from NT:1249; to be an attendant, i.e. wait upon (menially or as a host, friend, or [figuratively] teacher); techn. to act as a Christian deacon: KJV - (ad-) minister (unto), serve, use the office of a deacon.

 

MINISTER (NOUN AND VERB)

1.      diakoneo NT:1247, akin to A, No. 1, signifies "to be a servant, attendant, to serve, wait upon, minister." In the following it is translated "to minister," except where "to serve" is mentioned: it is used (a) with a general significance, e. g., Matt 4:11; 20:28; Mark 1:13; 10:45; John 12:26 ("serve," twice); Acts 19:22; Philem 13; (b) of waiting at table, "ministering" to the guests, Matt 8:15; Luke 4:39; 8:3; 12:37; 17:8, "serve"; 22:26, "serve," v. 27, "serveth," twice; the 2 nd instance, concerning the Lord, may come under (a); so of women preparing food, etc., Mark 1:31; Luke 10:40, "serve"; John 12:2, "served"; (c) of relieving one's necessities, supplying the necessaries of life, Matt 25:44; 27:55; Mark 15:41; Acts 6:2, "serve"; Rom 15:25; Heb 6:10;

 

1 Peter 4:8-11

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without  grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good  stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

 

   Is there any doubt as to the kind of sevant leaders that god is LOOKING FOR TODAY.  HIS SERVANT LEADERS WILL BE MINISTERS BY DEFINITION, MINISTERS BY CHARACTER, AND MINISTERS BY NATURE.  THE TERM MINISTER REALLY MEANS, ONE WHO WAITS ON TABLES AS A WAITER OR A WAITRESS.

 

THERE ARE FOUR MAJOR AREAS THAT COMPRISE SERVANT LEADERSHIP:

 

   SERVANT LEADERS WILL CONSTITUTE Men/women who have the interests of others at heart.  This is central to the gospel message: for god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.  The gospel is other minded.  I think we got it all backwards cause we pick out a church where we can get ministered to instead of a finding a place we can learn and be equiped to minister to others. 

 

Eph 4:10-13

 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

 

Gal 5:13-15

13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."  15 If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

 

   CHRIST WAS OUR GREATEST EXAMPLE OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP, HE CAME NOT TO BE MINISTERED UNTO BUT TO MINISTER AND GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOM FOR MANY.  TURE GODLY LEADERSHIP WILL BE OTHER MINDED AND NOT MODDLED AFTER THE SELF EXALTING, AND SELF PROMOTINGH OF WORLDLY LEADERSHIP.  THE HEART OF GOD IS OTHERS, THE HEART OF A TRUE LEADER WILL BE TOWARDS HELPING AND MINISTERING TO AND FOR OTHERS.

 

   NEXT WEEK WE WILL LOOK AT THE OTHER 3 AREAS THAT COMPRISE GOD’S SERVANT LEADERS.

 

2.      Men/women who have the courage & initiative to act.  SERVANT LEADERS WILL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT AVOID IT.

 

3. Men/women who know themselves & their abilities & limits.  AND,

 

4.  Men/women who are not using all their energy reacting against what is happening around them.