Posts Tagged ‘Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’

Are You Comfortable or a Comforter? Isaiah 40:1-11

Posted: March 17, 2013 in Sermons, Sermons on Isaiah 40
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Here’s a story of an event in Stephen Covey’s book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People that transformed his life:

“I remember a mini-Paradigm Shift I experienced one Sunday morning on a subway in New York. People were sitting quietly — some reading newspapers, some lost in thought, some resting with their eyes closed. It was a calm, peaceful scene. Then suddenly, a man and his children entered the subway car. The children were so loud and rambunctious that instantly the whole climate changed.

“The man sat down next to me and closed his eyes, apparently oblivious to the situation. The children were yelling back and forth, throwing things, and even grabbing people’s papers. It was very disturbing. And yet, the man sitting next to me did nothing.

“It was difficult not to feel irritated. I could not believe that he could be so insensitive to let his children run wild like that and do nothing about it, taking no responsibility at all. It was easy to see that everyone else on the subway felt irritated, too. So finally, with what I felt was unusual patience and restraint, I turned to him and said, “Sir, your children are really disturbing a lot of people. I wonder if you couldn’t control them a little more?”

“The man lifted his gaze as if to come to a consciousness of the situation for the first time and said softly, ‘Oh, you’re right. I guess I should do something about it. We just came from the hospital where their mother died about an hour ago. I don’t know what to think, and I guess they don’t know how to handle it either.’

“Can you imagine what I felt at that moment? My paradigm shifted. Suddenly I saw things differently, I felt differently, I behaved differently. My irritation vanished. I didn’t have to worry about controlling my attitude or my behavior; my heart was filled with the man’s pain. Feelings of sympathy and compassion flowed freely. “Your wife just died? Oh, I’m so sorry. Can you tell me about it? What can I do to help?” Covey concludes: Everything changed in an instant.

People all around us are hurting. To these hurting people, God can be the God of all comfort as Paul described God in 2 Corinthians 1:3: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.”

I love to use this verse at funerals. I always pray to the God of all comfort in behalf of the bereaved family. I pray that they will find God to be the God of all comfort for them as they say farewell for the last time.

Not only is God the God of all comfort but also He wants us to be His means of comfort to hurting people. This is what Paul writes in the next verse in 2 Corinthians 1:4: “Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”

This is Isaiah’s message in Isaiah 40:1-2:

A. The command to comfort (40:1) “You comfort, you comfort my people, says your God.” Notice, God doesn’t say, “I will comfort my people.” But, “You must comfort my people.”

B. The reason for the command (40:2). Israel was facing their most difficult days which Isaiah has already warned about in 39:5-8. Isaiah predicted the devastating Babylonian Captivity, which would not be over for a century and half.

“Speak comfortably to Jerusalem and cry unto her.” Notice this comfort will come when someone speaks God’s message of comfort to those who are finding life hard.

1) Life is hard because life is like living through a war “her warfare is accomplished” (40:2). Have you noticed that life is a battle every day?

2) Life is hard because of sin “her iniquity is pardoned” (40:2). The hardness of life is sometimes a self-inflected wound.

3) Life is hard because of the problems that sin brings (40:2). Sin brings double punishment. In Exodus 22:4, there is the double restitution of thief. Hosea the prophet said, “You sow to the wind, you reap the whirlwind.”

The Book of Isaiah is God’s message of Salvation to everyone who is reeling under the hardness of life:

In chapters 1-39, Isaiah preaches God’s judgment on sin to the older generation of parents who had sinned and brought on the coming hardship.

In chapters 40-66, Isaiah preaches God’s comfort to the future, younger generation. Hard times are coming because of the sins of your parents, but I will deliver you and comfort you before deliverance comes. But this comfort has strings attached.

I. Qualifications for God’s Comfort (40:1-11)

The qualifications for God’s comfort are spoken. God commanded “speak” and the three qualifications come from the “voice” of someone in verses 3, 6, and 9. The voice spoke the first qualification in verses 3-5.

A. We must prepare for God’s Comfort (40:3-5)

Isaiah uses a common example of one nation preparing for a visiting dignitary from another nation. Raising the valleys and lowering the mountains refer in hyperbole to workmen leveling or smoothing out the roads on which a dignitary would travel when he came to visit an area. They were fill in the potholes, etc. Today an equivalent is, “roll out the red carpet” (BKC).

John the Baptist fulfilled this qualification for God’s people in Matthew 3:1-3 when he called for God’s people to prepare by repenting for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

When God’s people repent, God will come and reveal Himself to His people and “all flesh shall see it” (40:5). This is ultimately fulfilled when in the future, Israel repents and the Messiah returns and every eye shall see Him (Revelation 1:7) as He comes to Jerusalem. But it can happen in our lives now.

God’s wants us to be His “voice” to speak His message of comfort. Paul told us that is one reason God allows us to go through trials in 2 Corinthians 1:3.

Becky’s mom died around Christmas over 15 years ago and I preached her funeral was on Christmas Eve. She can comfort you if your mother has died much better than I can. She will listen to your pain, sympathize and weep with you.

B.  We must claim God’s Promises in HIs Word (40:6-8)

Again, it is a voice that speaks this qualification for God’s comfort. God’s people were asking, “How can we survive such war like hardships?”

You can’t in your weakness (40:6-8a). You are as frail and temporary as grass and flowers under the wilting blast of the hot Palestinian winds. David makes a similar comparison in Psalm 103:25-26.

But God’s Word is powerful, not weak, and eternal, not transitory, and enables us to stand in the greatest of storms. God’s people faced a fierce storm. But God’s Word will enable them to stand and not be cut down like grass and flowers.

Listen to a similar promise from Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “There has no testing taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will permit you to be tested above that you are able; but will with the testing also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.’

C. We must Focus on God (40:9-11)

Notice, God’s people were to lift up their “voice” to comfort others. Before, it was “the voice.” But here it is “your voice.” In verse one, God commanded Isaiah to comfort Jerusalem, but now, Jerusalem, having been comforted, is to use their voice to comfort others.

Joseph Parker, another pastor at the time of C. H. Spurgeon, made two statements in his preaching that have stuck with me: “Every pew in church has at least one broken heart.” Maybe this morning you are the broken heart on your pew. He also said, “God doesn’t comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters.” Maybe you are the comforter on your pew for that broken heart.

How can we comfort others? By helping them focus on God or as Isaiah commanded God’s comforted people to tell others, “Behold your God!” Or, “Look at your God.” Get your eyes on Him. Get your eyes off people, off of your problems, off of your enemies, and off yourself.

When we see our God we will see a mighty warrior who can fight our battles (40:10). God’s mighty arm is all-powerful to defend us. God’s mighty arm will defeat Babylon in 48:14. In Psalm 8, David in a moment of worship looked up at the heavens at night, perhaps as he was tending his sheep at night, and burst out in praise, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, What is man?” If God created the universe with His fingers what can His arm do for us in the midst of our troubles?

God is the arm wrestling champion of the world. He is stronger than any of your enemy. He is more powerful than any of your problems.

When we see our God, we will also see a loving shepherd (40:11). The same arm that can crush your enemies, can carry you next to His heart like a shepherd carries his wounded sheep. Not only are we like grass and flowers that are frail and wilt under the heat, but we are like sheep who must be led by God and sometimes carried by Him. We are not only sheep, but lambs or recently born sheep who are the weakest of the weak.

We are weak and frail, but in the arms of the Almighty Creator and Sovereign Ruler of the Universe we are as strong as He.

I called Gladys Dezern this week. She and Bob joined a few years back and Bob got sick and after a protracted illness finally died. Gladys stayed by his side the entire time of Bob’s suffering. They were married 62 years. She told me yesterday that his death was like losing a part of her body. She was now incomplete. But she said, the Lord was helping her. She also said how much she appreciated how much our church has helped her through her great heartbreak. I remember after the funeral, her son said he could believe all our church had done for his mother and if he lived closer he would come to our church. This is Isaiah’s message fleshed out. God wants to comfort us in our trouble so we can comfort others in their trouble.

Are Leaders Made or Born?

Posted: January 17, 2013 in Leadership
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J. Oswald Sanders in his classic “Spiritual Leadership” believes that leaders are both born and made. “While conversion does not normally make leaders of people who would never become such otherwise, Church history teachers that in the hour of full surrender the Holy Spirit sometimes releases gifts and qualities that have long remained latent and dormant. It is the prerogative of the Spirit to bestow spiritual gifts which greatly enhances the leadership potential of the recipient” (page 21).

But then Sanders make this comment which comes closer to my thinking: “Spiritual leadership and authority cannot be explained solely on the grounds of natural ability is strikingly exemplified in the life of St. Francis of Assisi. On one occasion Brother Masseo, looking earnestly at Francis, began to say: ‘Why thee? Why thee?’ He repeated it again and again as if to mock him.

‘What are you saying?’ cried Francis at last.

‘I am saying that everybody follows thee, everyone desires to see thee, hear thee, obey thee, and yet for all that, thou art neither beautiful, nor learned, nor of noble family. Whence comes it that it should be thee whom the world desires to follow?’

When Francis heard these words, he was filled with joy, raised his eyes to heaven and, after remaining a long time absorbed in contemplation, knelt praising and blessing God with extraordinary fervor. Then he turned to Brother Masseo:

‘Thou wishest to know? It is because the eyes of the Most High have willed it so. He continually watches the good and the wicked, and as His most holy eyes have not found among sinners any smaller man, nor any more insufficient and sinful, therefore He has chosen me to accomplish the marvelous work which God hath undertaken; He chose me because He could find none more worthless, and He wished to confound the nobility and grandeur, the strength, the beauty and the learning of this world’” (page 23).

1. Are Leaders Born Leaders? I would say some leaders are born.

Martin Lloyd Jones believed that God equipped a preacher to speak at birth as a natural ability and if you did not have the natural ability to think deeply and communicate clearly then God would not call you to preach (Preaching & Preachers, pages 110-111).

We all know capable but unsaved men and women who are leaders. Some of these were born with the raw ability to be out front. The Presidents of the USA and Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom for several decades have been close allies: Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher and also Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. More recently President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Blair forged a very tight friendship and camaraderie in their allied fight against terrorism. These Presidents and Prime Ministers were great leaders but not all were believers. We might even say they were born to leave their mark on their generation.

2. Are Leaders Made? I would also say that other leaders are made.

Vince Lombardi, the great NFL football coach of the Green Bay Packers said, “Leaders are made, they are not born; and they are made just like anything else has ever been made in this country—by hard effort” (James Montgomery Boice. Nehemiah: Learning to Lead. Old Tappen: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1990, page 16).

One of the emphases of John Maxwell’s literature on leadership is the encouragement that you can grow as a leader. On a scale of 1 to 10, if you are a three or four you can develop into a five or six if you concentrate for one month on each of his 21 irrefutable laws of leadership.

3. Are Leaders Made When Born Again?

Because there is a spiritual gift of leadership (Roman 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28) I would say that God equips some believers at salvation with an ability to excel at leadership. Just as there are also the spiritual gifts of helps, mercy, teaching, etc. God equips some believers to lead at higher levels in ministries and organizations.

4. Who is a Leader?

What is one common word in all of the following definitions of leadership?

Hans Finzel, “Leadership is influence….A leader takes people where they would never go on their own” (The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2007, page 19).

Chuck Swindoll, “What do we mean when we use the word leadership? Influence. You lead someone to the measure you influence him” (Hand Me Another Brick, page16).

J. Oswald Sanders “Leadership is influence, the ability of one person to influence others” (page 19).

John Maxwell, “Leadership is influence. Nothing more, Nothing less” (21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership).

Leadership is not holding a title or position. Judas had the title and position of Apostle, but Judas had no spiritual influence. Jesus said all believers must have the influence of salt and light. Since leadership is influence, then every believer should be leading and influencing others. Leadership is not just for believers who have the gift of leadership any more that showing compassion on the suffering is limited to believers who have the gift of mercy.

5. Where Do We Start? If leaders can be made, if leadership is influence, where do we start?

Since leaders are readers then reading books on leadership is the place to start, such as the following:

Peter Drucker’s “The Effective Executive”

Dale Carnagie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People”

Stephen Covey’s “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”

J. Oswald Sanders’ “Spiritual Leadership”

John Maxwell’s “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”

Hans Finzel’s “The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make”

One of my favorites is Henry Blackaby’s “Spiritual Leadership”

Sermon: Garbage In, Garbage Out (Philippians 4:6-9)

Posted: July 25, 2012 in Sermons
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Dr. Walter Cavert reported a survey on worry that indicated that only 8 percent of the things people worry about were legitimate matters of concern. The other 92 % were either imaginary, never happened, or involved matters over which the people had no control. If worry is your problem, Paul gives us a three-fold remedy if you are plagued with worry:

1. Pray instead of worry

2. Feed the mind properly

3. Practice Biblical principles

1. Pray instead of worry (Philippians 4:6-7)

Paul simply instructs us to stop worrying about the problems of life and start praying about them. Practically, you can  fulfill this verse by making a Worry List and write down the problems you are worrying about. Then take your pen and mark through the word Worry and write above it Prayer. I challenge you right now to convert your Worry List into a Prayer List.

Worry is not the same as concern. We should be concerned for others as Paul described Timothy in Philippians 2:19-20. Paul said concern for others should characterize the Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12:25: “the members should have the same care  or concern one for another.” Worry is selfish which hinders us from ministering to others.

Worry in self-concern. This is what Paul is condemning. This is what Jesus forbad in Matthew 6:25-33. Stop worrying about your life, what you eat, what you wear. But seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.” Worry is selfish which hinders us from laboring for the kingdom of God.

You might say, “Well I just a worry wart. My mother or my day was a worry wart.” Does that give us the right to disobey God’s Word? What if your mother or day had been an alcoholic?

2. Feed the Mind Properly (Philippians 4:8)

The average American is bombarded everyday with at least 1500 advertisements from all to the media outlets: internet, TV, newspapers, magazines, and billboards.  Each advertisement is an attempt to control our thinking. If they can control our thinking, they can control our actions and ultimately our pocketbooks.

MacDonalds has convinced millions of 3 and 4 year olds it is more fun to eat a Happy Meal than a Kid’s Meal at Burger King. MacDonalds beats Burger King four to one. Four kids persuade parents to pull in MacDonalds and purchase a Happy Meal and drive past Burger King.

Not only has the media succeeded in controlling our minds about their products but also about morality and religion. Homosexuality is no longer sodomy but an acceptable alternative lifestyle. As a result the younger generation has a totally different view of homosexuality. Perhaps our legalistic churches who have ridiculed them as “qreers” from the pulpits have also aided and abetted the secular media.

For example, you can view the YouTube of pastor Charles L. Worley of  Provdence Road Baptist Church who preached for the concentration of homosexuals behind electric fences and the ultimate death of “queers and homosexual.” It is no surprise our young people are turned off by churches. God hates the sin of homosexuality but His Son died for them just as He died for every sinner. Why not corral all adulterers, drunkards, or theives behind electric fences and not just homosexuals?

A much more Biblical approach on YouTube is Matt Chandler’s message, “Jesus wants the rose.”

A. Paul tells us What to think about: “Think on these things.”

Someone called this list “The briefest biography of Christ.” Paul fires off a quick catalogue of worthy objects. The Word of God is the best source of what to think about. Paul’s list of what could be a list of Christ’s attributes is similar to David’s description of the Word in Psalm 19:7-9. Look up these two references and see the similarities between the attributes in Paul’s list and David’s list. In computer science the principle is GIGO or “Garbage In, Garbage Out.” A computer processes the information it is given. The expression “Garbage in, garbage out” became famous when used by the defense lawyer Johnnie Cochran in the O. J. Simpson murder trial. Cochram argued that the mountain of blood evidence was tainted by sloppy technicians and racist police and therefore the evidence was contaminated.

Same is true with human computers or our minds. Paul’s next point tells us how to not feed our minds garbage.

B. Paul tells us How to think: “Think”

A. T. Robertson says, “think” means to put your mind on these things just mentioned. It is not the mere flash of thought like the flitting of a sparrow, but the deliberate and prolonged contemplation as if one is weighting a mathematical problem.

The word “think” is one of Paul’s favorite words to teach the doctrine of imputation. God has imputed or put on our record in heaven the righteousness of Christ. He has not put on our record in Heaven our sins according to Romans 4:3 and 4:8. The application of this in Philippians is to think on the blessings of God and not our sins. Think on the successes God has given you and not your failures. Paul practices this in 3:13-14. Our sins have been forgiven and forgotten by God and so why we should dwell on them and think about them and be defeated by them?

The writer of Proverbs knew the value of proper thinking when he wrote 23:7: “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.”

3. Practice Biblical Principles (Philippians 4:9)

Thoughts lead to actions. Alexander MaClaren phrased this truth uniquely, “Just as the thunder follows on the swift passage of the lightning, so my acts are neither more or less than the reverberation and after the clap of my thoughts.”

Stephen R. Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People gave this quote: Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.

A. Practice according to instruction “the things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard.”

Again, it comes back to Biblical thinking preceding proper actions. The Philippians had heard Paul preach. Now if they receive and learn from that preaching and teaching they can act right. In Romans 10:17, Paul taught how to overcome worry, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

B. Practice according to example “and seen in me, do.” Get the right people in your inner circle. Because our closest friends feed our minds with either positives or negatives.

Conclusion: If we practice these three remedies, the result will be, “the God of peace shall be with you.” Even if you are in the storm of your life, the God of peace is with you. Isaiah promised, “You (God) will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you” (Isaiah 26:3). Jesus promised, “If you know these things happy are you” (John 13:17).

Someone described many Christians who struggle with worry acting and looking like the duck who appears to be sitting quietly and calmly on a placid lake, but underneath he is paddling like crazy. Looks are deceiving. How are you on the inside? If you are struggling on the inside seriously apply these three great remedies to your life.

 

6 Marks of Leadership, (Introduction)

Posted: April 6, 2012 in Six Marks of Leadership
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On the front of one church bulletin always reads, “Ministers: The entire congregation, Pastor: Rev David L. Buttry.”

Rick Warren in his Purpose Driven Church advocates “No ministry, no membership.”

Every believer is a minister or servant of God who should be serving God and exerting influence on others through his/her local church. Leadership is one person influencing positively another person. Christian leadership is one believer spiritually impacting others for God’s glory.

Nehemiah is an Old Testament model of this kind of leadership. “This is a practical book (Nehemiah) about leadership” (Charles R. Swindoll, Hand Me Another Brick, xi).

Cyril J. Barber agreed, “In our study of the book (Nehemiah) we will enlarge upon three important topics: the basic characteristics of dynamic leadership; the importance of spiritual principles; and the necessity of sound administrative polices” (Nehemiah and the Dynamics of Effective Leadership, page 14).

Before we start examining Nehemiah’s specific leadership let’s address leadership in general.

1. Are Leaders Born Leaders? I would say some leaders are born.

Martin Lloyd Jones believed that God equipped a preacher to speak at birth as a natural ability and if you did not have the natural ability to think deeply and communicate clearly then God would not call you to preach (Preaching & Preachers, pages 110-111).

We all know capable but unsaved men and women who are leaders. Some of these were born with the raw ability to be out front. The Presidents of the USA and Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom for several decades have been close allies: Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher and also Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. More recently President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Blair forged a very tight friendship and camaraderie in their allied fight against Terrorism. These Presidents and Prime Ministers were great leaders but not all were believers. We might even say they were born to leave their mark on their generation.

2. Are Leaders Made? I would also say that other leaders are made.

Vince Lombardi, the great NFL football coach of the Green Bay Packers said, “Leaders are made, they are not born; and they are made just like anything else has ever been made in this country—by hard effort” (James Montgomery Boice. Nehemiah: Learning to Lead. Old Tappen: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1990, page 16).

One of the emphases of John Maxwell’s literature on leadership is the encouragement that you can grow as a leader. On a scale of 1 to 10, if you are a three or four you can develop into a five or six if you concentrate for one month on each of his 21 irrefutable laws of leadership.

3. Are Leaders Made When Born Again?

Because there is a spiritual gift of leadership (Roman 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28) I would say that God equips some believers at salvation with an ability to excel at leadership. Just as there are also the spiritual gifts of helps, mercy, teaching, etc. God equips some believers to lead at higher levels in ministries and organizations.

J. Oswald Sanders in his classic “Spiritual Leadership” believes that leaders are both born and made. “While conversion does not normally make leaders of people who would never become such otherwise, Church history teachers that in the hour of full surrender the Holy Spirit sometimes releases gifts and qualities that have long remained latent and dormant. It is the prerogative of the Spirit to bestow spiritual gifts which greatly enhances the leadership potential of the recipient” (page 21).

But then Sanders make this comment which comes closer to my thinking: “Spiritual leadership and authority cannot be explained solely on the grounds of natural ability is strikingly exemplified in the life of St. Francis of Assisi. On one occasion Brother Masseo, looking earnestly at Francis, began to say: ‘Why thee? Why thee?’ He repeated it again and again as if to mock him.

‘What are you saying?’ cried Francis at last.

‘I am saying that everybody follows thee, everyone desires to see thee, hear thee, obey thee, and yet for all that, thou art neither beautiful, nor learned, nor of noble family. Whence comes it that it should be thee whom the world desires to follow?’

When Francis heard these words, he was filled with joy, raised his eyes to heaven and, after remaining a long time absorbed in contemplation, knelt praising and blessing God with extraordinary fervor. Then he turned to Brother Masseo:

‘Thou wishest to know? It is because the eyes of the Most High have willed it so. He continually watches the good and the wicked, and as His most holy eyes have not found among sinners any smaller man, nor any more insufficient and sinful, therefore He has chosen me to accomplish the marvelous work which God hath undertaken; He chose me because He could find none more worthless, and He wished to confound the nobility and grandeur, the strength, the beauty and the learning of this world’” (page 23).

4. Who is a Leader?

What is one common word in all of the following definitions of leadership?

Hans Finzel, “Leadership is influence….A leader takes people where they would never go on their own” (The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2007, page 19).

Chuck Swindoll, “What do we mean when we use the word leadership? Influence. You lead someone to the measure you influence him” (Hand Me Another Brick, page16).

J. Oswald Sanders “Leadership is influence, the ability of one person to influence others” (page 19).

John Maxwell, “Leadership is influence. Nothing more, Nothing less” (21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership).

Leadership is not holding a title or position. Judas had the title and position of Apostle, but Judas had no spiritual influence. Jesus said all believers must have the influence of salt and light. Since leadership is influence, then every believer should be leading and influencing others. Leadership is not just for believers who have the gift of leadership any more that showing compassion on the suffering is limited to believers who have the gift of mercy.

5. Where Do We Start? If leaders can be made, if leadership is influence, where do we start?

Since leaders are readers then reading books on leadership is the place to start, such as the following:

Peter Drucker’s “The Effective Executive”

Dale Carnagie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People”

Stephen Covey’s “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”

J. Oswald Sanders’ “Spiritual Leadership”

John Maxwell’s “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”

Hans Finzel’s “The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make”

One of my favorites is Henry Blackaby’s “Spiritual Leadership”

Perhaps the greatest Biblical book of leadership is Nehemiah. We are going to spend some time reading and studying Nehemiah’s “Manual for Lay Leadership.”

 

 

 

Back to the Basics Series: What is Your Spiritual Gift? Part 2

Posted: December 12, 2010 in Sermons, The Holy Spirit
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Stephen R. Covey teaches The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People for leaders who want to improve their gift of leadership. The second habit is seeing the End from the Beginning. Leaders think, “What do I want to acccomplish in the next 20 years of my life?” What are the five most important accomplishments that I should focus on?

The gift of leadership is also called the gift of “ruling.” This person is gifted by God to motivate others to do ministry for the Lord. In 1 Corinthians 12:28, Paul called this gift “governments.” This gift can be divided into two areas: Management and Leadership.

Here are some differences between leaders and managers. Neither is more important than the other, just gifted differently by God.

Leaders focus more on dreaming the vision of the future like Joseph (Gen. 37). Managers analyze the details of today.

Leaders spend more time looking for opportunities. Managers smooth out current situations.

Leaders focus more on people like Barnabas the encourager (Acts 4:36; 9:27; 11:26; 15:37). Managers focus on accomplishing tasks.

Leaders prefer high risks environments. Managers prefer safety zones.

Leaders have a bias toward creativity, fluidity, and innovation. Managers have a bias toward preservation, protection, and procedure.

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament says that the Greek word in 1 Corinthians 12:28 kubernasis translated “governments” means “to steer a ship.” An example of this gifted manager is in Acts 27:11. On the ship sailing to Rome were both the captain or the pilot and the owner. The manager like captain was concerned about the daily routine of sailing and the leader like owner was a risk taker who saw the opportunity of making money and had already charted the course to Rome.

The last gift that Paul mentions is the gift of “mercy.” This believer will be found at the nursing homes, or the hospital, or the widow’s or widower’s house showing care and compassion. As you read about these spiritual gifts did one or two of them connect with you?

After taking the step of identifying and understanding the operative gifts for today Another Step to discover your gift is the confirmation of other believers. In Acts 13, God called Barnabas and Saul to be missionaries and the church at Antioch recognize these gifted men and laid hands on them. Later, Barnabas recognized Paul as a teacher. What do people recognize you for? What do you hear people thanking you for? What do people request you to do for them? Maybe these are indications of your spiritual gift. No one ever asks me to repair their car. They ask me not to come near their broken down car. I do not have the gift of helps. But that same person will ask me to teach their Sunday school class or preach in their church.

The Final Step which should really be the First Step. Where did Paul begin in his discussion of spiritual gifts in Romans 12? He started where we need to start if we are going to discover our spiritual gift and use them: Presenting our bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord. What is interesting in Paul’s discussion of spiritual gifts in the New Testament is how little he writes about discovering your spiritual gift. The emphasis is on loving God and others. When that happens, we will serve Him and others with our spiritual gift. Once we have surrendered our lives to minister for the Lord then Paul adds that we are also members of His Body, the church. We should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought but serve the body where He has placed us as members. If we make this total commitment to the Lord and His Church, He will make sure we will know how and where we are to serve Him.

When we use the spiritual gift God has given us, the church is edified and God is glorified. What two greater accomplishments could a believer in love with the Lord desire?

Arthur T. Pierson gave a great challenge to all believers concerning spiritual gifts:

“Everyone has some gift, therefore all should be encouraged. No one has all gifts, therefore all should be humble. All gifts are for the one Body, therefore all should be harmonious. All gifts are from the Lord, therefore all should be contented. All gifts are mutually helpful and needful, therefore all should be studiously faithful. All gifts promote the health and strength of the whole Body, therefore none can be safely dispensed with. All gifts depend on His fulness for power, therefore all should keep in close touch with Him” (J. Oswald Sanders. The Holy Spirit and His Gifts. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1970, 115).

Back to the Basics Series: What is Your Spiritual Gift? Part 1

Posted: December 11, 2010 in Sermons, The Holy Spirit
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Do you know what your spiritual gift is? The most prominent spiritual gifts operative today are serving, leadership, exhortation, evangelism, giving, mercy, and teaching. Which one is your dominant gift?

In the beginning of three chapters dealing with spiritual gifts, Paul states bluntly in 1 Corinthians 12:1, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you to be ignorant.” The word “ignorant” comes from a Greek word from which we get our English word “agnostic.” An agnostic says, “I don’t know if God exists.” Paul was and is saying, “I do not want you to say, ‘I don’t know what my spiritual gift is.’”

A concise Biblical definition of a spiritual gift is found in 1 Peter 4:11: “the ability which God gives.” What is implied in all these verses is that the Holy Spirit gave you this ability or gift at conversion. 1 Corinthians 12:4 says: “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” When you were saved and received the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9) you also were gifted by the Holy Spirit. Notice these God given abilities are not called Spiritual Rewards but Spiritual Gifts. We do not earn nor deserve them. They are God given gifts.

The First Step to discover your spiritual gift is to take a spiritual gift test. You can go to Elmer Towns.com and take his Spiritual Gifts Questionnaire. This test will help you determine your spiritual gift. Another helpful source is Fred G. Zaspel’s Spiritual Gifts. He gives 22 brief chapters on-line that thoroughly cover spiritual gifts. This leads to the next step.

The Next Step you can take to discover your spiritual gift is to understand the operative gifts for today’s believers. Paul lists most of these gifts in Romans 12:6-8. As I briefly survey these gifts, ask yourself, “Which one or more of these gifts has the Holy Spirit given to me?”

The first gift Paul mentions is the gift of prophecy. Although this gift is not operative today preaching which was the purpose of prophecy in the Old Testament is a present day gift. Old Testament prophets were interpreters of God’s Word (Exodus 7:1-2). New Testament preachers are also interpreters of God’s Word (2 Timothy 4).

Paul exhorted Timothy to “Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering” (2 Timothy 4:2). Preaching and teaching in a pulpit ministry are synonymous. In 1 Timothy 3, when Paul is giving the qualifications for a pastor, he states that the pastor must be “able to teach.” What is interesting in this list, Paul does not include preaching. The two are interchangeable. In Ephesians 4:12, Paul is describing the different gifted men God has given to the church and he mentions apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastors/teachers. Notice he did not say pastors/preachers. But as we shall see momentarily, it is possible for a believer to have the gift of teaching and not be a preacher. But this has to do with a difference in role more than a difference in ability.

The next gift that Paul lists is “ministry.” In 1 Corinthians 12:28, Paul calls this gift “helps.” This gift by far is the most prominent gift in the church. The church needs more servants or helpers than preachers for example. An example of a believer with the gift of helps is Dorcus in Acts 9:36-41. With her hands she made clothes for women in the church. She was said to be “full of good works and almsdeeds.”

These gifted workers are the behind the scenes people who serve faithfully for the Lord without the need to be publically recognized: such as nursery workers, ushers, greeters, sound system technicians, Children Church workers, AWANA workers, Youth workers, Hospitality Committee workers, etc. This word is also translated “deacon.” Deacons are servants of the Lord and the church who mostly serve unnoticed. Acts 6 describes these men as quietly ministering to the needs of widows.

Another gift in Romans 12 is “teaching” or the ability to make clear the meaning of Scripture. A believer could be a teacher in a church, say in Sunday School, but not the preacher. So there is a difference between preaching and teaching in that one believer may be a teacher but not the pastor of a church. As far as the ability to communicate God’s Word there may be no difference. Our teachers are knowledgeable instructors of God’s Word who care for their students. Elmer Towns from Liberty University teaches that a Sunday school teacher is like the shepherd of a flock. He/she not only teaches but prays for his/her student  and cares for them and visits them with they are sick physically or wayward spiritually. It is a worn out saying but worth repeating: “People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

The believer with the gift of “exhorting” is like a counselor. He/she has the ability to apply God’s Word to people’s problems. Barnabas apparently had this gift which earned him the nickname “son of exhortation” (Acts 4:36). Barnabas encouraged people with his words and actions. In Acts 4:32-36, Barnabas sold part of his land and gave the proceeds to the poor believers in Jerusalem. In Acts 9, Barnabas put his arm around the former persecutor of the church, Saul of Tarsus, who was also newly converted and feared by the early church. In Acts 9:26-27, Barnabas introduced Saul to the leaders of the church and convinced them that Paul was genuinely saved and could be trusted. In Acts 11:22-26, we see Barnabas exhorting the new converts at Antioch. Barnabas, however, knew the church at Antioch of Syria needed a teacher to balance out his exhorting. So Barnabas recruits now matured Paul to come on staff at Antioch and serve as teacher. In Acts 11:23, Barnabas is exhorting and after Barnabas brought Paul on staff, Luke in 11:26 says they “taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”  We call this staffing to your weakness. In Acts 12:25, Barnabas and Paul encourage again the famine victims at Jerusalem with a relief offering. In Acts 15:39, Luke records that Barnabas encouraged Mark when Paul was not yet convinced that Mark was ready again for full-time ministry. When people left Barnabas’ presence they were uplifted and better off than before.

The gift of “giving” does not mean that only these believers give. All believers are to give tithes and offerings. But this believer loves to give beyond the tithes and offerings. When I was a dirt poor college student there was a older man in the church who would very often give me a $20 hand shake at church.

In Part Two, I will continue with the gift of leadership and show the differences between leadership and management.

The Six Marks of Leadership, Mark One, Part 1 “He Shows Concern For God’s Work” (Nehemiah 1:1-4)

Posted: November 29, 2010 in Uncategorized
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On the front of one church bulletin always reads, “Ministers: The entire congregation Pastor: Rev David L. Buttry.”

Rick Warren in his Purpose Driven Church advocates “No ministry, no membership.”

Every believer is a minister or servant of God who should be serving God and exerting influence on others through his/her local church. Leadership is one person influencing positively another person. Christian leadership is one believer spiritually impacting others for God’s glory.

Nehemiah is an Old Testament model of this kind of leadership. “This is a practical book (Nehemiah) about leadership” (Charles R. Swindoll, Hand Me Another Brick, xi).

Cyril J. Barber agreed, “In our study of the book (Nehemiah) we will enlarge upon three important topics: the basic characteristics of dynamic leadership; the importance of spiritual principles; and the necessity of sound administrative polices” (Nehemiah and the Dynamics of Effective Leadership, page 14).

Before we start examining Nehemiah’s specific leadership let’s address leadership in general.

1. Are Leaders Born Leaders? I would say some leaders are born.

Martin Lloyd Jones believed that God equipped a preacher to speak at birth as a natural ability and if you did not have the natural ability to think deeply and communicate clearly then God would not call you to preach (Preaching & Preachers, pages 110-111).

We all know capable but unsaved men and women who are leaders. Some of these were born with the raw ability to be out front. The Presidents of the USA and Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom for several decades have been close allies: Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher and also Bill Clinton and Tony Blair. More recently President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Blair forged a very tight friendship and camaraderie in their allied fight against Terrorism. These Presidents and Prime Ministers were great leaders but not all were believers. We might even say they were born to leave their mark on their generation.

2. Are Leaders Made? I would also say that other leaders are made.

Vince Lombardi, the great NFL football coach of the Green Bay Packers said, “Leaders are made, they are not born; and they are made just like anything else has ever been made in this country—by hard effort” (James Montgomery Boice. Nehemiah: Learning to Lead. Old Tappen: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1990, page 16).

One of the emphases of John Maxwell’s literature on leadership is the encouragement that you can grow as a leader. On a scale of 1 to 10, if you are a three or four you can develop into a five or six if you concentrate for one month on each of his 21 irrefutable laws of leadership.

3. Are Leaders Made When Born Again?

Because there is a spiritual gift of leadership (Roman 12:8; 1 Corinthians 12:28) I would say that God equips some believers at salvation with an ability to excel at leadership. Just as there are also the spiritual gifts of helps, mercy, teaching, etc. God equips some believers to lead at higher levels in ministries and organizations.

J. Oswald Sanders in his classic “Spiritual Leadership” believes that leaders are both born and made. “While conversion does not normally make leaders of people who would never become such otherwise, Church history teachers that in the hour of full surrender the Holy Spirit sometimes releases gifts and qualities that have long remained latent and dormant. It is the prerogative of the Spirit to bestow spiritual gifts which greatly enhances the leadership potential of the recipient” (page 21).

But then Sanders make this comment which comes closer to my thinking: “Spiritual leadership and authority cannot be explained solely on the grounds of natural ability is strikingly exemplified in the life of St. Francis of Assisi. On one occasion Brother Masseo, looking earnestly at Francis, began to say: ‘Why thee? Why thee?’ He repeated it again and again as if to mock him.

‘What are you saying?’ cried Francis at last.

‘I am saying that everybody follows thee, everyone desires to see thee, hear thee, obey thee, and yet for all that, thou art neither beautiful, nor learned, nor of noble family. Whence comes it that it should be thee whom the world desires to follow?’

When Francis heard these words, he was filled with joy, raised his eyes to heaven and, after remaining a long time absorbed in contemplation, knelt praising and blessing God with extraordinary fervor. Then he turned to Brother Masseo:

‘Thou wishest to know? It is because the eyes of the Most High have willed it so. He continually watches the good and the wicked, and as His most holy eyes have not found among sinners any smaller man, nor any more insufficient and sinful, therefore He has chosen me to accomplish the marvelous work which God hath undertaken; He chose me because He could find none more worthless, and He wished to confound the nobility and grandeur, the strength, the beauty and the learning of this world’” (page 23).

4. Who is a Leader?

What is one common word in all of the following definitions of leadership?

Hans Finzel, “Leadership is influence….A leader takes people where they would never go on their own” (The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2007, page 19).

Chuck Swindoll, “What do we mean when we use the word leadership? Influence. You lead someone to the measure you influence him” (Hand Me Another Brick, page16).

J. Oswald Sanders “Leadership is influence, the ability of one person to influence others” (page 19).

John Maxwell, “Leadership is influence. Nothing more, Nothing less” (21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership).

Leadership is not holding a title or position. Judas had the title and position of Apostle, but Judas had no spiritual influence. Jesus said all believers must have the influence of salt and light. Since leadership is influence, then every believer should be leading and influencing others. Leadership is not just for believers who have the gift of leadership any more that showing compassion on the suffering is limited to believers who have the gift of mercy.

5. Where Do We Start? If leaders can be made, if leadership is influence, where do we start?

Since leaders are readers then reading books on leadership is the place to start, such as the following:

Peter Drucker’s “The Effective Executive”

Dale Carnagie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People”

Stephen Covey’s “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”

J. Oswald Sanders’ “Spiritual Leadership”

John Maxwell’s “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”

Hans Finzel’s “The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make”

One of my favorites is Henry Blackaby’s “Spiritual Leadership”

We are going to spend some time reading and studying Nehemiah’s “Manual for Lay Leadership.”

In our next post we will focus on Nehemiah’s model of leadership.