THE CALLING OF SERVANT LEADERS PT.3

8/23/01

 

THE GREEK PHILOSOPHERS SUCH AS PLATO, ARISTOTLE AND SOCRATES EXPLORED THE DYNAMICS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND THE NATURE OF HUMANITY.  A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THEIR INVESTIGATION FOCUSSED ON THE DYNAMICS OF HUMAN SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AS THEY RELATE TO GOVERNING AND LEADING. ONE OF THEIR BASIC CONCLUSIONS WAS THAT LEADERSHIP IS A PRODUCT OF NATURAL ENDOWMENT AND TRAITS OF PERSONALITY.  IN ESSENCE ONE IS BORN TO LEAD WHILE OTHERS ARE BORN TO FOLLOW AND BE SUBORDINATE.  FOR MANY YEARS NOW THIS CONCEPT OF LEADERSHIP HAS PREVAILED IN NUMEROUS SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT.  IT HAS GONE UNCHALLENEGED FOR WAY TO LONG.  Time and again, history has presented us with case studies That contradict the great leadership misconception.  Countless doposed kings and hapless heirs to great fortunes can attest that true leaders are not born, but are made.  Its as if true leaders invent themselves, when in fact it has more to do with the calling and design of god upon our lives.  You become a leader when you decide not to be a copy but and original.  That happens when you accepts god’s call, design  and purpose for your life.  There are individuals who, based on plato’s theory would never have been accepted asd leadership material and yet became some of the  greatest leaders in history and the bible names a lot of them for our encouragement and edification.

 

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. 

 

  EVERYONE OF US HAS BEEN CALLED TO BE A LEADER WHETHER YOU ARE A PARENT, A TEACHER OR A COACH.  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 JUST THE 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.

 

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  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 TO SERVE OTHER and be equiped to minister to PEOPLE IN NEED. 

 

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.  HERE’S THE NEXT AREA OF TRUE SERVANT LEADERSHIP:

 

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

 

1 Sam 17:33-37

33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. 34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: 35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. 36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

 

   AS MOST OF YOU KNOW, KING DAVID WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST KINGS IN ALL OF ISRAEL’S HISTORY.  DAVID WAS KNOWN AS A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART.  DAVID WAS A TRUE SERVANT LEADER.  HERE WE SEE HIM GOING TO FIGHT GOLIATH AND KING SAUL QUESTIONS HIS ABILITY.  ITS HERE THAT WE LEARN OF DAVID’S WILLINGNESS TO TAKE ACTION AND ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT HIS FATHER GAVE HIM TO WATCH HIS SHEEP.  BOTH A BEAR AND A LION TRY TO STEAL ONE OF HIS FATHER’S SHEEP.  DAVID DOESN’T RUN FOR HIS LIFE.  HE’S NOT THINKING ABOUT #1, HIMSELF BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY HIS FATHER GAVE HIM.

 

   THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE A LEADER FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS BUT A TRUE SERVANT LEADER IS MORE INTERESTED IN HELPING OTHERS THAN HE IS IN THE TITLE OF A LEADER.  THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT JUST WANT TITLE POWER BUT THEY DON’T REALLY WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO HELP OTHERS.  A TRUE SERVANT LEADER WILL ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND TAKE THE INITIATIVE WITHOUT BEING TOLD WHAT TO DO.  YOU SEE, ITS IN THEIR HEART TO SERVE OTHERS AND TO MINISTER TO PEOPLE IN NEED.  IF THERE IS A NEED, DON’T WAIT FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE, YOU DO IT AND GOD WILL USE YOU AS A SERVANT LEADER.

 

3. THE THIRD QUALITY OF SERVANT LEADERS REPRESENTS Men/women who know themselves & their abilities & limits. 

 

Rom 12:3-9

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

 

Eph 4:7-8

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

 

Eph 4:16-17

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

 

   WHAT IS THE ONE WORD THAT IS REPEATED IN ALL OF THESE VERSES WE JUST READ.  IT’S THE WORD: MEASURE.  HERE’S THE GREEK DEFINITION OF MEASURE: IT’S THE WORD metron (met'-ron); an apparently primary word; a measure ("metre"), literally or figuratively; by implication a limited portion  OR (degree).  A TRUE SERVANT LEADER WILL KNOW THAT HIS LIMITATIONS ARE BY GOD’S DESIGN AND PURPOSE.  GOD DIDN’T CREATE ANY OF US TO BE SELF SUFFICIENT KNOW IT ALL WHO DOESN’T NEED ANYBODY BUT PEOPLE WITH GREAT LIMITATIONS.  THAT’S WHY THE CHURCH IS KNOWN AS THE BODY OF CHRIST BECAUSE ITS COMPRISED OF MANY PEOPLE WHO ALL PPOSSESS A MEASURE OF THE ANOINTING OR THE GIFTING OF CHRIST.  A TRUE SERVANT LEADER WILL KNOW WHAT GOD HAS EQUIPPED THEM TO DO AND WHAT HE HAS NOT EQUIPPED THEM TO DO.

 

4.  AND THEN THE 4TH CHARACTERISTIC OF SERVANT LEADERS REPRESENTS Men/women who are not using all their energy reacting against what is happening around them.  LEADERS DON’T REACT, THEY ACT BASED ON PRINCIPLES AND NOT SITUATIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

LEADERS POSSESS THE QUALITY OF OPENESS.  THEY CAN ACCEPT OPPOSITION TO THEIR VIEW POINT OR DECISION WITHOUT CONSIDERING IT A PERSONAL AFFRONT AND REACT IN TO NEGATIVE WAY.  LEADERS MUST EXPECT OPPOSITION AND NOT BE OFFENDED BY IT.  TRUE LEADERS WILL BE ABLES TO SHARE IDEAS, REASONS, RATIONALE, WHILE MAINTAINING  GENUINE RESPECT FOR THE IDEAS OF OTHERS.  True servant leaders will not be antagonizers.

 

True leaders see dissappointments as opportunities to maximize their potential and they learn from the surprise and do not react to it.  A good leader has the ability to stay calm in a crisis.  When jesus and his disciples were out in a boat during a storm, jesus fell asleep:

 

Mark 4:35-41

n the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

 

Here we see jesus SLEEPING THROUGH A STORM.  TALK ABOUT STAYING CALM IN A CRISIS.  JESUS ESTABLISED HIS LEADERSHIP HERE BY KEEPING CONTROL OF HIS EMOTIONS AND TO REACTING TO THE STORM LIKE HIS DISCIPLES. THE APSOTLE PAUL ALSO DEMONSTRATES HOW A LEADER HANDLES DISAPPOINTMENTS.  HE WAS HEADED TO ROME BY SHIP WHEN A STROM AROSE.  THE SHIP WAS DESTROYED BUT HE INFORMED THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP THAT NO ONE WOULD DIE.  THEY DRIFTED ONTO THE ISLAND OF MALATA WHERE PAUL TURNED A DISAPPOINTMENT INTO AN OPPORTUNITY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL.  BEFORE PAUL LEFT THAT ISLAND A CHURCH WAS ESTABLISHED THERE.  RATHER THAN REACT TO THE STORM HE MADE AN APPOINTMENT OUT OF A DISAPPOINTMENT. 

 

A TRUE SERVANT LEADER WILL NOT REACT TO ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES BUT HOLD TO THE PROMISES OF GOD IN PRAYER AND SEEK GUIDANCE FROM ABOVE.  WHEN THE ISRAELITES WERE PURSED BY PHAROA’S ARMY THEY PANICED IN FEAR.  MOSES SIMPLY SAID BE STILL, EVERYTHING IS IN ORDER.  THEN MOSES RAN TO GOD AND CRIED OUT FOR HELP AND GOD DELIVERED THEM.  LEADERS KNOW HOW TO KEEP SELF-CONTROL IN A CRISIS EVEN THOUGH THEY DON’T FEEL LIKE THEY ARE.

 

TRUE SERVANT LEADERS WILL POSSES THESE FOUR CHARACTERISTICS:  THEY WILL have the interests of others at hearT; THEY have the courage & initiative to act; THEY know themselves & their abilities & limits; AND THEY are not using all their energy reacting against what is happening around them.