Module 9-Leading God's People by Eternal Purpose Institute

be strong, be bold: for you will cause these people to inherit the land … keep this book of the torah upon your lips… meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written it… then your undertakings will prosper and you will succeed —Joshua 1

leading God’s people into their inheritance

leading God’s people I urge the congregation leaders among you… shepherd the flock of God that is in your care exercising oversight not out of constraint, but willingly, as God wants… not out of a desire for dishonest gain, but with enthusiasm… not as machers* domineering over those in your care, but as people who become examples to the flock —

1 Peter 1.5

leading God’s people      

qualifying for messianic leadership messianic leadership is serving leadership is a gift, a skill, a calling task-centred leadership qualities of messianic leadership faith, finances and leadership

qualifying for messianic leadership 

following Messiah • •

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brokenness—being Mastered • •

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an example in humility wholehearted obedience, faithfulness towards a person—Jesus Christ—not a set of rules testing inner motivations brought to willing devotion

qualification comes from God •

recognition comes from God’s servants

Jesus – our example in humility let this same attitude and purpose and humble mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus – let him be your example in humility - who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God … did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained; but stripped Himself of all privileges and rightful dignity so as to assume the guise of a servant, a slave, in that He became like men and was born a human being… —

Philippians 2.5-8

useful to the master in a large house there are dishes and pots not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are meant for honourable use and some for dishonourable if a person keeps himself free from defilement, he will be a vessel set aside for honourable use by the master of the house and ready for every kind of good work —

2 Timothy 2.20

testing inner motivations

the heart is more deceitful than anything else and mortally sick; who can fathom it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test inner motivations in order to give everyone what his actions and conduct deserve —

Jeremiah 17.9-10

messianic leadership is serving Jesus called them together and said, you know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them; not so with you; instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all —

Mark 10.42.45

messianic leadership is serving 

serving Messiah • •

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serving God’s eternal purpose •

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cannot serve two masters delivered from ‘fear of man’ no personal ‘kingdom building’

serving people • •

what you did things for the least important of these brothers of mine – you did them for me serving as an example to others

leadership : calling, gift, skill 

inner calling •

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may take years to develop • •

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natural precedes spiritual responsibility begins in home… or not at all

do not neglect your gift •

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taking responsibility

main thing, to keep main thing as main thing!

being “in the lead” is not leadership •

“best” ≠ best leaders

task-centred leadership achieve task

develop individuals

build team

task performed by team comprised of individuals © john clements 2005 / www.eternalpurpose.org.uk

leadership = caring for needs 

task  visionary, pioneer

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team  administrator, leader

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individuals  pastor, teacher

letting task lead 

task leads • •

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team engages • •

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never lose sight of objectives recognise limits, constraints shared commitment, responsibility structured, recognised roles

individuals contribute • •

personal responsibility, creativity allowed to question, suggest, lead way

over-emphasis 

… on vision  passionate disorganisation

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… on administration  organised inertia

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… on individual development  selfish ambition, disunity, jealousy

team building 

leading, not lording • • •

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commissioning, not commanding partnership, not patronage enables all to pursue own ‘far out boundaries’

recognise Jesus is Master of all • •

seeks to reproduce followers of Messiah, not followers of leadership! charisma without character = chaos

faith, finances and leadership keys to divine providence

faith, finances, leadership

poverty : curse or blessing? wealth : blessing or curse? financial faithfulness financial harvest principles living by the Good News

poor through personal sin chaser (Hebrew) • •

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sin directly causes poverty — Proverbs 13.25 leads to stealing, drunkenness, immorality, disease, violence — Proverbs 30.7,9 laziness a direct cause — Proverbs 6.6-11 & 24.30-34 such poverty a curse

poor close to God’s heart rush, ani (Hebrew) •

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dispossessed, exploited, oppressed by corruption, domination — Exodus 1.11-12 cry out to God in humble dependency

ebyon, dallah, dal (Hebrew) •

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victims of natural calamity, accident, national economic disaster, physical weakness often simple, defenceless

not responsible for their poverty

poverty : curse or blessing? Jesus taught, blessed are you poor… — Luke 6.17-20

special place God’s heart • • •

chosen to be rich in faith chosen to inherit kingdom Good News to be preached to poor — James 2.5; Luke 4.18

humility opens way to God’s heart • • •

poverty invites humility, no guarantee tend towards openness to Good News God loves abandonment

material wealth for those who do have material riches in this world, charge them not to be proud and not to let their hopes rest on the uncertainties of riches but to rest their hopes on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment; charge them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and ready to share in this way they will treasure up for themselves a good foundation for the future… — 1 Timothy 6.17-19

material wealth a blessing, not a curse • •

God richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment shalom = peace, tranquillity, safety, well-being, welfare, health, contentment, success, comfort, wholeness, integrity

a responsibility • • • •

to avoid pride to trust in God to be rich in good deeds sharing generously with others

Jesus became poor…

you know how generous our Lord Jesus the Messiah was— for your sakes he impoverished himself, even though he was rich, so that he might make you rich by means of his poverty — 2 Corinthians 8.9

Jesus became poor… breaking curse of poverty the Messiah redeemed us from the curse pronounced in the torah — Galatians 3.13

giving power to get wealth God… is giving you the power to get wealth in order to confirm his covenant — Deuteronomy 8.18; however many promises God has made, they all find their ‘yes’ in connection with him — 2 Corinthians 1.20

blessed to be a blessing

God has the power to provide you with every gracious gift in abundance, so that always, in every way, you will have all you need yourselves and be able to provide abundantly for every good cause… you will be enriched in every way, so that you can be generous in everything… — 2 Corinthians 9.8-11

blessed to be a blessing provision linked to God’s purpose God… is giving you the power to get wealth in order to confirm his covenant — Deuteronomy 8.18

able to make all riches abound to you • • • •

in every good work enough for own needs enough to be generous to good causes privilege of sharing with those in need

desire for wealth love of material wealth is a trap • • •

many fall into temptation, foolish, hurtful ambitions pierced to heart, many pains

without God’s blessing, riches a deception, a stumbling block it will be very hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven… it is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom — Matthew 19.23-24

poverty or wealth? which is better? •

neither, God’s blessing is better, whether in poverty or wealth

goal is to do God’s will • • •

some will do without wealth some will do with wealth faithfulness to calling essential

key : contentment true religion does bring great riches but only to those… content with what they have — 1 Timothy 6.6

secret of being content

I have learned to be content regardless of circumstances; I know what it is to be in want and I know what it is to have more than enough – in everything and in every way I have learned the secret of being full and being hungry, of having abundance and being in need I can do all things through him who gives me power — Philippians 4.11-13

financial faithfulness key indication of righteousness do not store up for yourselves wealth here on earth… store up… wealth in heaven… where your wealth is, there your heart will be also — Matthew 6.21

requires right thinking, right priorities seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be give to you as well — Matthew 6.33

financial faithfulness main income, ‘harvest’ • • •

provision for family essential — 1 Timothy 5.8 bread – daily sustenance seed for sowing — 2 Corinthians 9.10

first-fruits to Lord • • •

to help needy provision for those living by Good News worship celebrations, feasts

reaping a financial harvest

prayer

faith giving

work

work God’s basic source of providence • • •

work is itself a blessing work in the Lord’s service never in vain provides power to get wealth

primary means of family support •

if a man doesn’t work, he doesn’t eat! — 2 Thessalonians 3.10

increase by blessing work of our hands •

all hard work brings a profit …but only with the Lord’s blessing — Proverbs 10.4 & 22

prayer work supplemented by prayer as source of financial prosperity financial decisions and difficulties should be taken to God in prayer; warfare aspect to finances – enemy uses financial pressure to draw us into • •

discouragement, depression, disobedience in doing God’s work;

God uses such experience to break love of money within our hearts…

giving generously your generosity will cause people to thank God because rendering your holy service not only provides for the needs of God’s people, but also overflows in the many thanks people will be giving to God in offering this service you prove to these people that you glorify God by actually doing what your acknowledgement of the Good News of the Messiah requires, namely, sharing generously with them and with everyone — 2 Corinthians 9.12-13

giving vital aspect of God’s providence he who plants sparingly, reaps sparingly — 2 Corinthians 9.6-13

some harvest take long time to mature be imitators of those who by their trust and patience receive what has been promised — Hebrews 6.12; Galatians 6.9

testing our faithfulness • • •

in trusting him in loving God, rather than money… in supporting his work: a holy service

giving from the heart we must tell you about the grace God has given the congregations in Macedonia; despite severe trials and even though they are desperately poor, their joy has overflowed in a wealth of generosity; I tell you they have not merely given according to their means, but of their own free will gave beyond their means; they begged and pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service for God’s people — 2 Corinthians 8.1-5

how should we give? personally, cheerfully • •

without compulsion, according to determination of own heart God loves a cheerful giver

wisely • • •

first to the Lord as one given a trust regular setting aside, as income received

not only money •

also time, friendship, hospitality — Romans 12.13

faith must be at the centre of all that we do in regard to financial provision if our trust is in our own strength, we will fail

if our trust is in God, he will guide and direct us to prosper so that we may serve him, his purpose effectively

faith must be accompanied by right actions unless we are living a life that is pleasing to God, our work will not be blessed

living by faith every believer “lives by faith” • •

not only Christian workers, leaders ‘the person who is righteous will live his life by trust’ — Romans 1.17

work made holy by faith •

all are “full-time” workers for Messiah

means trusting in God’s providence • •

linked to his purpose linked to obedience

living by the Good News the Lord directed that those who proclaim the Good News should get their living from the Good News… if we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? don’t we have the right to be given food and drink? but we don’t make use of this right; rather we put up with all kinds of things so as not to impede in any way the Good News about the Messiah — 1 Corinthians 9.11, 4, 12

missionary finances we laboured and toiled day and night, working so as not to be a burden to any of you… so that we could make ourselves an example to imitate — 2 Thessalonians 3.8

these hands of mine have provided not only for my own needs but for the needs of my co-workers as well; in everything I have given you an example of how, by working hard like this, you must help the weak… — Acts 20.33-35

next seminar…

overcoming in the arena of spiritual conflict